Vulfen Alpha's Mate by Laina Kenney Page A

we were up to something as youngsters. Valeri and I did not get away with anything. We all believe she has eyes in the back of her head.”
    Mura raised her eyebrows. “I’m sure those boys did get away with one or two things I didn’t find out about, but assuredly not many.”
    Rylek nodded. “It is true. Mura is still in charge of training our young. She has many contacts among our people and always knows the very best gossip.”
    Mura patted his arm. “I promise you, I never pass on gossip,” she said. “But I do enjoy hearing it.”
    Rylek and the Cadre warriors near them chuckled at that, and Ellie laughed with them.
    The night wore on. When the individual introductions were over,
    one man pulled out a hand-held drum, someone else produced a curious stringed instrument with a mellow tone and they began to play music. Some of the vulfen people danced, in couples or in larger circles, but many just talked in small groups.
    Valeri grabbed Ellie’s hand and pulled her into the group of dancers. He whirled her around to the energetic beat until she was shrieking with laughter at his antics.
    Her laughter died in her throat when Rylek appeared over Valeri’s shoulder. With his black hair loose around his shoulders and his gaze warm and intense, he took her breath away. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and he was hers.
    “I would like to dance with my mate,” he said. His eyes were a brilliant black, not glowing yet, but close to it. His possessiveness in claiming her was clear for all to see.
    Valeri stepped back.
    Ellie walked into Rylek’s arms as if mesmerized and the music slowed to a beautiful waltz. He led her around the floor with smooth
     
    control. She found that in his arms she was a better dancer. Perhaps it was his warrior training that made him so light on his feet, or just the man himself, but he was an artist on the dance floor. Ellie enjoyed every moment of their dance.
    When the music ended, he leaned in for a slow brush of lips. The people stomped their feet in rhythm with each other. The sound was loud and somehow exuberant.
    Ellie wondered if that was the vulfen version of clapping, but she didn’t get the chance to ask. Rylek kept her in his arms and dancing until the wee hours of the morning.
     
     

 

     
     

Chapter 13
     

     

 

     
     

     
    “I’ll never be able to remember all of this by the ceremony tonight,” Ellie complained. Her bite mark felt swollen and itchy, and she could feel a headache starting behind her eyes. She rubbed her temples and tried not to squint at Mura.
    The brilliant afternoon light shone in the wide windows of the west parlor where they had spent hours reading from a dusty old scroll. Well, Mura was translating and reading it aloud to her, since the scroll was written in Russian.
    They had spent most of the previous day doing the same until Rylek had stolen his mate away for some “quality time” in the bathing room, claiming he could feel her need and couldn’t stay away. Built to take advantage of a natural spring, the dim, cozy bathing chamber was quickly becoming one of Ellie’s favorite rooms in the house.
    Mura laughed. The sound was like tinkling bells. She poured Ellie a fresh cup of tea and passed it to her before pouring for herself.
    “Of course you’ll remember, Ellie. And if your mind goes blank during the ceremony itself, please remember that most members of the vulfen community have never seen a crowning ceremony. It has been quite some time, nearly sixty years now, since Rylek’s mother was crowned. You can make up some of it if necessary. The only one who will know is Rylek.”
    Ellie didn’t know if that was reassuring or not. As she sipped her tea, a frightening thought occurred to her.
    “Mura, is the ceremony in Russian?”
    “Goodness, no. We live in America, now. The crowning ceremony will be in English, of course, just as we have practiced it.”
     
    Well, that was a relief.
    “Rylek has given me