Page 5 of Henri's Little One
Vitas began to cry again.
“What is your gift that causes such an uproar, little one?” Henri continued to gently stroke Vitas’ hair.
“You’re my Mate, you won’t hurt me, right?” Vitas asked, his eyes glistening. Henri sat down on the bed and laid Vitas back against his chest.
“I swear to you, you’ll never be hurt again.” Henri could barely get the words out through gritted teeth. Vitas’ eyes opened wide, then he whispered in Henri’s ear, “I am a truth seeker and a seer. I can tell the truth from lies and see the future in my dreams.”
“Oh, little one, you are so young for such a burden. Our First Alpha is The Alpha and a good loup garou. His Mate is an Omega who heals. Alpha Davidoff’s Mate welcomes lost wolves, and Alpha Martin’s Mate can ease your mind. They will help you. All of them are human or part human Omegas and mated to council Alphas. You will be cherished here.”
“You’re a council Alpha?” Vitas started to shake.
“Easy, pet, it’s not like Russia here. The council gives, they don’t take. Talk to the Alpha Mates, they’ll tell you.”
“Yes, I’ll talk to the other Mates.” Vitas nodded. “I can tell if they are telling the truth.” He hiccupped.
“We’ll go to my home in Anchorage.”
“Anchorage?”
“That’s in Alaska, little one.”
“That close to Russia? He’ll find me and take me back.”
“No, little one, the council is well-guarded. Once we get to Anchorage, you and I will mate. If The Alpha doesn’t object, we’ll all go right after Alpha Bellaire’s wedding tomorrow. Then, we’ll fly to New York and get married. You will be safe. The council travels with forty-eight Enforcers and sixteen Betas, and I’ll guard you with my life.”
Vitas yawned. “I have to trust you, you’re my Mate.” Still shaking a bit, Vitas agreed to the plan.
“Go to sleep, my little one, while I sort this out. Dr. Artis is going to give you something to help with the pain, then maybe you can make the change to get better. When you wake up, I can help you take a bath and give you some clean clothes.”
“I can’t make the change, Alpha.”
“Little one, my name is Henri.” He stopped stroking Vitas’ hair and listened, struck with the feeling he wasn’t going to like the answer to his next question. “Why can’t you make the change, pet?” Henri inquired in a soft voice sensing his Mate’s fear, yet holding back the rage he knew he would feel as soon as Vitas answered him.
“Alpha Chernof gave me a drug to prevent me from taking my other form. They gave it to me once a week during my captivity. He took me from my parents three months ago. I can’t change for another week. They gave it to me the day I left right before my last beating. I kicked his balls, so he wanted me to hurt.”
Henri strangled on his suppressed howl of fury.
He must have silently conveyed his wrath because Dr. Artis placed a strong hand on Henri’s shoulder and squeezed. “Alpha Giraud, let me administer an antibiotic, a sedative, and some pain medication. I’ll take a blood sample to see what drug Chernof put in his system. I may be able to come up with an antidote. You need to give The Alpha and the council the information Vitas relayed to you, immediately.”
“I’ll stay until he sleeps. The council has operated in ignorance this long, they can wait for another few minutes.” Vitas fell asleep in Henri’s arms within minutes of Artis injecting the antibiotic, sedative, and pain meds into the IV bag. Henri pressed his lips to his Mate’s forehead, vowing to protect him no matter what.
§ § §
Julien’s Home, Library
Fifteen minutes later
The council sat in the library with Armand in the chair closest to the stone fireplace, Sean on the rug at his feet. They watched as Henri burst into the room, his every step an indictment against the Russians who had damaged his Mate. He stood in front of Alexei who sat on the Victorian love seat with Donal, Henri’s face mottled with rage.
“Easy, Henri. I left the packs more than four years ago. Chernof wasn’t so out of control then, and Vitas hadn’t yet come of age. It seems Chernof got bolder after imprisoning me. What happened to Vitas? His parents were very careful with him. Everyone knew he carried a great gift. The boy paid homage to the gods and always behaved with great dignity, even as a teen. He’s only just turned twenty-five.”
“The day before yesterday…” Henri went over to the bar and poured himself a double scotch. Alexei stood and walked up behind him measuring out a half glass of vodka. Henri turned back to the group. “I wish wolves could get drunk. Chernof murdered Vitas’ parents, slashed their throats and then beheaded them right in front of Vitas for refusing to turn their son over to him. Then Chernof dangled his parents’ heads, laughing while their blood splattered my Mate.” Henri’s voice went soft but deadly. “My Mate’s mother was from Ireland, one of the few full loup garou left on the isle, the only she-wolf. By killing her, he effectively wiped out the Irish loup garou bloodline. She was young enough to bear another pup. That’s not all. The Russian First is killing all the human and part-human Mates, thereby effectively killing their loup garou partners.”
Julien whistled. “Good gods, what could he be thinking?”
Henri choked up. “My Mate has been so badly beaten he can’t move without pain.”
“Chernof forgets that he is part human,” Alexei commented dryly.
