Ivory Snow
Chapter 22

They were smack in the middle of summer now. Only two more months until they would start their trek to the Duke’s city.

Unfortunately, things rarely went according to plan in real life.

Adam paced in the washroom near Ivory one afternoon. His wolf was feeling antsy. He hadn’t been able to let him out to run in ages.

So far the couple had made do with shifting together in their bedroom and letting their wolves cuddle. Well, sometimes they did more than that.

“Adam, you are going to make a hole in that floor, and I will make you fix it. What’s going on? What’s got you so worked up? Did you hear something at the market yesterday?”

“No. I didn’t hear anything. I don’t know what it is. My wolf can just sense it. This has only happened once before. The week your aunt stopped in. You were here alone so we had to keep coming back to check on you.”

“No.” Ivory smiled, splashing him with water. “You were being a creeper. Spying on me all the time.” She stood up and walked toward him. “Dreaming about something you didn’t think you could have.”

She laid her hand on his chest and his wolf began to calm down.

“All that is true, yes. But I still felt something coming. That’s the only reason I was able to get here in time to head them off. Maybe we should leave earlier than we planned?”

“Adam. We can’t leave the farm until the harvest is done. We don’t want the wheat to become overgrown and risk damaging the fields. And like you said, the more money we have with us, the better off we will be.”

Adam held her close, inhaling her scent.

This was why Mother Nature gave them mates, to help them see sense, to calm them and keep them from acting rashly.

Being mated to Ivory had also helped him to understand Dale a little more. With this new understanding, Adam believed Ivory was right and the two were mates. But Ava wouldn’t fully accept him.

It must have been slowly driving Dale feral.

Miles down the road, in a much larger home, the fake Queen paced in her own room. Nothing was going according to plan.

Andrew was still held up in his strong hold, somehow getting all the supplies his city and land needed. They didn’t need to import much, but even that was still making its way in.

Ava had taken a month and spent a few days in every village, city, and town, within her kingdom. She made the people awe at her beauty. And yet she still felt restless.

Dale had tried to help her earlier when he had brought official orders to start the draft. That didn’t help.

Ava walked back over to her desk and looked at the paper again. The whole idea of the draft had been so she could get access to fresh meat. She needed to spice things up again.

She needed to stop punishing Dale.

It had been more exciting when he watched. Especially when she knew he would be killing the male before he could even wash her scent off him.

Pawns, that was what she needed.

At least until she could convince a certain male to join her in her castle. He said he had brothers. She had asked about them in the neighboring village. They were well known for their strength and brawn. If she had them around, she wouldn’t need Dale anymore. She would have her choice of male every night of the week. No time to get bored.

Yes, she would entertain Dale again, give them both what they needed, then she would send him off to collect her new recruits. If they refused to come, you could just kill them. She never did like sharing her toys.

How many times did she feed something to the royal mutt just so Maria couldn’t have it?

She could have even rejected Dale in the beginning, when she was still mated to the Count. But again, she didn’t want anyone else to have what was hers.

Ava left her room and went for a walk in the garden. She kept her eyes out as she strolled through the castle walls, searching for fresh pickings. Her wish was granted when a young male strolled up to her. He was young, he was handsome. Not nearly as handsome as the male who fixed her carriage, but handsome enough.

“My Lady. You have a message from the Duke.” The young male bowed to her.

Ava dragged a finger down his cheek and lifted him back up with one finger under his jaw.

“And what did he say? Is he ready to surrender yet?” She circled him, checking him carefully. His shoulders were wide enough, he had some muscle on him.

“N… n… no. My Lady. His answer was to decline.”

Ava didn’t remember ever seeing this male before. “Did he send you, then?”

“Y... yes, my Lady.”

Ava laughed as the male trembled. She wasn’t checking him with just her eyes anymore. She had been sorely disappointed more than once and would not allow it to happen again.

The male closed his eyes, unsure what was going on.

Ava lifted his shirt and felt up his abs. She leaned into his ear and whispered, letting her breath cascade down his neck. “Come with me. I have a need only you can fill.”

“I... I am to return immediately, my Lady.” With her hand still on him, she could tell that he was not ready to leave yet.

“And so, you shall, after you take care of the Queen first. Tell me, dear one, have you ever lain with royalty before.” She removed her hand, took one of his, and led him back towards her room. She aimed toward the path that she knew would bring her to Dale.

“N… no, my Lady?”

Right outside the Garden, Dale was waiting for her. He frowned when he saw her hand on the pup. She signaled for him to follow. It had been a long time since they played this game. His wolf hadn’t tasted blood in a very long time. They had become addicted to the taste of it.

Half an hour later, Dale followed the messenger out of the castle. When he was far enough down the road, and had been seen by many, Dale’s wolf attacked. When he returned to the castle, he went straight to his mate’s bed.

When she finished with him, she was calmer than she had been since he killed the King.

“Dale.” She said, ready to fall asleep. “Tomorrow start the draft. And bring me those brothers. I want to make them my honor guard.”

“I do not know that they will come. What would you have me do?”

“I will not share, Dale.”

“Understood, My Queen.”

Four days later….

Adam, someone’s coming. I can hear them.

Ivory had been in the garden on the other side of the house, when she heard the sounds of horse hoofs on the road.

Hide, we are on the way.

Adam turned to his brothers, who were all helping him pick the peaches off the tree.

“We have a visitor. Pups, in the house, stand guard. The rest of us will be outside. No wolves, not yet.”

They all took off running. The visitor had dismounted from his horse and was knocking on the door when they arrived.

Adam strolled up, listening for the pups to make sure they all got inside safely.

“Can I help you?” He hollered over. The male turned and Adam cursed.

Love, it’s Dale. He looks alone though.

These days they were nearly always partially shifted. They had both grown in unity with their wolves and were stronger for it.

“Yes. I was sent to collect you and your brothers.”

“Collect us for what, exactly? Our taxes are paid.”

“The Queen has initiated a draft in order to ensure we have enough fighters against the tyrant Duke. He is taking supplies our people need. He has tried on more than one occasion to usurp the throne. He even had the royal family killed, including their young pup, in his attempt. When the Queen tried to hang those responsible, he helped them escape.”

Don’t believe him, Love. I met your cousin. You know my wolf and I can assess if a wolf is trustworthy. This wolf is not trustworthy. Your cousin is.

Yes, Jack is. But that doesn’t mean my uncle is as well. Why did Jack not tell him he was helping with the underground?

“That’s all well and good. But why should we fight a war that does not concern us?”

Dale frowned. “The war concerns everyone in the kingdom. It is only a matter of time before you feel the effects here.”

“The only effects we feel are the high taxes the Queen has set.”

“All of which you will no longer have to worry about when you are living in the castle.”

Adam was so dumbfounded by that statement, he started laughing. That female was beyond insane. She sent her own mate to collect her new toys.

“Why would we be living in the castle if we are fighting a war? Is the castle so big it can house an entire army?”

“You and your brothers have been selected as her majesty’s personal honor guard. You will only fight if there is a threat on her life.”

Adam bit back the retort he badly wanted to throw at him.

That was Dale’s job after all, was it not? It was obvious he was having a hard time saying all this. Dale looked like he was trying to swallow gravel.

“And if we decline her offer?”

Dale didn’t answer, he just raised one eyebrow. Adam nodded.

“How long do we have to decide?”

“I’ll be back in the morning. Be packed and ready to go.” Dale turned and jumped onto his horse.

The four brothers stood there, watching, and listening. Dale headed into the village, well, that was the way he had turned anyway. Who knew where he might really be going.

They walked into the house. Ivory stood at the bottom of the steps, waiting for him. All three pups covered her. Adam was proud.

“Pack your things, we leave after sundown.” Adam told them.

The others ran in different directions, grabbing what they had already agreed on. Adam had the necessities packed already, sitting near the back door.

His wolf had been warning him for days.

“Will you make up as much food as you can? I don’t know how many people he brought with him. We will have to stick to the trees and go deeper into the forest. When we replace somewhere safe to stop, we can hunt. Until then…”

“Yes. I have some meat already cooked. I was planning on making meat pies for the next market day. I will make them now. They will be easiest to carry and eat while moving. I’m so sorry I brought this on you.” Ivory added the last in a whisper.

“This wasn’t you. Her stopping here before had nothing to do with you. We’d be running from this offer no matter what.” Adam pushed a hair behind her ear. “You’ve made all this easier. You brought joy back into our lives. Mine especially. I don’t know if you ever noticed, but I have a reputation for being a little on the cranky side.”

Ivory burst into a laugh. Adam smirked, feeling grateful that he could cheer her up during a time like this.

The rest of the day dragged on. They had everything ready within an hour. All except the food. A little before sundown Adam pulled her aside.

“I was waiting for your birthday to give this to you. But I don’t want it to get lost during our travels.” Adam handed her a small, folded cloth. She unwrapped it and started crying.

He had given her a silver chain and hanging from it was a wooden dolphin.

“The dolphins brought you to me. And the silver is for your pure goodness that shines in the darkness. I love you more than I can ever express, Ivory.”

He helped her put it on her neck, then she kissed him long and hard. Her fear and desperation mixed with her love for the male.

When it was dark enough, they looked around the farmhouse one more time.

“I’m gonna miss this place.” Ivory whispered into the dark.

“We will come back. I promise.” Adam held her hand tight.

Just then something bright shot through the front window, landing on the family sofa they had been sitting on moments before.

It was an arrow, lit on fire.

Ivory screamed and ran for the backdoor. More burning arrows began to fly through the house, most landing on the outside walls. They grabbed everything they could and ran toward the back door, dodging the fire already spreading throughout the first floor.

Right as Brian twisted the doorknob, they heard a thunk and smelled the fire.

The archers were in the back as well. They were trapped.

“Adam!” Ivory yelled in desperation.

“This way!” He pulled her with him, down to the washroom. “I told you my wolf has been on edge lately. We wanted to be sure we could get you out no matter what.” Adam stopped them in front of a bookshelf.

He pushed it to the side, revealing a hidden doorway.

“Where did this come from?” Eric gasped.

“I couldn’t sleep this week. Looks like it was a good thing. This side of the house leads directly into the forest. They should only have the doors covered, expecting us to try and escape. As soon as we hit the trees. I need you three to shift with me. Each of the pups and Ivory will ride.”

“Why can’t I shift and run with you? I don’t want to risk slowing you down.”

“No, your fur will stand out in the darkness. It will lead them right to us. I will blend into it. Everybody ready.”

They all nodded, some warily, some excited.

Adam pushed the hidden door open and peaked out. “Run!” He yelled in a whisper.

They all took off into the night.

Ivory paused in the trees as the males shifted. The whole farm was on fire.

The barn.

The shed.

The fields.

Even her little garden.

She sobbed and jumped when someone grabbed her arm. Gabe pulled her over, a look of urgency plastered on his little face. She and the pups collected the clothes that had been shed and stuffed them into their bags. They each then mounted a wolf.

Eric rode on Charles. Fitz on Dean. And young Gabe on Brian. Ivory climbed onto her mate.

This wasn’t the kind of mounting I was hoping to have you do tonight.

Ivory wanted to laugh but all she could do was sob harder. They ran in silence all night. They stopped for only short breaks here and there, letting the wolves get water.

When the sun began to rise, they finally stopped and shifted back.

“I haven’t heard or smelled anyone but us. Brian?”

Brian had been in the back, while Adam had led in the front.

“No, there has been no sign of anyone. Should we rest and continue on?”

We need to keep going.

“My wolf says to keep moving.” Ivory passed the message on.

Adam nodded. “Then we keep moving a little longer, we should be fine all in human form now.”

An hour later, and they were all on the verge of collapsing, Adam stiffened. He put a finger to his lips, telling them to be quiet. Then touched his nose and pointed off to the left.

He smelled someone. Many someones.

The brothers must have been practicing some things when they were in the field, because a large cloak was suddenly thrown over Ivory, and she was completely surrounded. Adam placed himself directly in front of her. She gripped the back of his shirt. Their actions had all been synchronized with some unseen signal by Adam.

They all waited.

A lifetime went by before a male appeared out of the trees, flanked by two more. Behind them were another two males in wolf form.

Ivory felt her heart stop. They were outnumbered, by wolf numbers and skill.

Adam moved slightly in their direction, keeping her completely hidden behind him.

“Why are you out this far?” The male in front asked.

Something about his voice soothed Ivory. Like a warm blanket once used to put her to sleep. She recognized the deep voice but couldn’t place it. Her heart told her this voice was not one to fear.

“We were forced off our lands late last night. We were searching for somewhere safe to hide. We mean you no harm.” Adam tried the diplomatic approach first. He didn’t want to fight unless he had no other choice.

The new male scoffed. “Words don’t mean anything. We don’t know you. We don’t know that we can trust you. Trust has to be earned.”

Ivory closed her eyes, a memory rushing forward.

She was maybe eight years old, standing in front of a male on his knees.

“Now, Ivory. I want you to remember this. Words have power to them. You can’t just believe everything someone says. They have to earn your trust. Trust is not freely given. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Uncle Richard. I understand. Trust me.” She giggled at her taunt.

The serious soldier fought the smile and lost. He laughed with her. “You never have to earn my trust, sweet Princess. You already have it.”

“And you already have mine!” The young princess threw her arms around her favorite uncle.

He stood up and started spinning her around in a circle. She giggled and giggled until he set her back down. The room spun so fast, causing her to fall on her butt. They were both still laughing when the Queen stepped into the room, her fists on her waist.

“I thought you said you were going to put her to bed?” The memory faded as a tear slipped out of Ivory’s eye.

Ask him for his name. I need his name, Adam.

“Who are you? Trust goes both ways. I can’t trust someone I don’t know.”

The older male smirked. He kind of liked the young pup. He was only coming off rough because it was a lot of males. Why would they be running so far?

“My name is Richard. I was once the Captain of the Royal guard. Your turn.”

“My name is Adam. These are my six brothers. For the last four years, I have been responsible for raising them and running our farm. The Queen had our home and farm burned last night, we barely escaped with our lives. We have been running all night and are seeking sanctuary. Please, we need your help.”

The Captain looked over them carefully again. Reassessing to see if he believed them.

“First, she is not the rightful Queen. She is a traitorous murderer. Second, why did she attack you?”

Ivory thrilled at his words. She wanted so badly to step out and go to him.

Adam could feel her desires through their link and reached back to hold her there. He remembered who this male had been to her, as well as the role he may have played in her parents death.

Adam smiled. “We do not honor her in our home. She sent her lackey to offer my brothers and I positions in her honor guard. I fixed her wheel months ago. I know enough about her character to know that we would be protecting her from inside her bedroom, not outside. She did not like our answer to her kind offer.”

“Ava never did take rejection well. Nor did she risk letting someone else have what she couldn’t. You are still hiding something, or someone behind you. I cannot trust someone who hides things.”

Adam took her hand and let her join him.

The brothers moved simultaneously. Keeping all but her front covered.

The guards on the other side moved as well. Keeping themselves in ready position.

Adam raised a hand. “Please, we mean no harm. This is my mate. We found her half dead a few years ago. She is very precious to us. That is all.”

“You say you knew the King and Queen?” Ivory asked softly.

“Yes. It was my job to protect the royal family. Alexander had been one of my best friends.” The love and sadness he still held for them both could be heard in his voice.

It made Ivory want to cry again. She must be really tired, to be feeling so emotional.

“And what about the Princess? Wasn’t it your job to protect her too?” Part of her still didn’t understand why he left that day. Why did he leave her when she needed him the most?

The Captain’s voice grew rough. “I loved her like she was my own. There isn’t one male among us who wishes we had not listened to Ava’s lapdog that day. One of my wolves spent hours searching for her. We had planned to join him after we delivered the King and Queen’s bodies. But Ava had us arrested, claiming we killed the royal family. I never would have laid a hand on their heads. To this day, no one has found the Princess’s body.”

“I still say she is out there somewhere, Captain. Hiding.” The soldier standing next to him murmured.

Richard acted as though he had not heard him. As though it was not uncommon for this topic to be brought up.

“And what would you do if you ever saw her again?” Adam asked carefully.

What do you want to do, love?

We need his help. She showed him the memory in her room. He has always been a beloved friend.

“Help her take her throne back. We’ve tried many times to get back to the Duke. He tried to go to the castle, but Ava had a trap waiting for him. She planned to hang him along with the rest of us. My wolf that had been searching was able to stay free, since he wasn’t with us.” Richard pointed at the guard who had spoken.

“I stopped the Duke’s carriage in the middle of the night and warned him. It was his idea to free the rest of them.”

“We split up. I promised to come to his aide when the time was right. Ava’s soldiers have been blocking us at every point.”

It’s your call, sweetheart. I think we can trust them. In any case, we all have the same goal in mind.

Ivory let go of Adam’s hand and stepped forward.

Gabe grabbed her other hand and tried to pull her back. She looked at him and winked. He nodded once and let go.

When she looked forward again, the guards were watching her curiously. With both hands, she lifted her hood off her head, and lowered it onto her back.

Less than a second went by before every male in front of her dropped to their knee.

“How?” Richard pleaded. “We searched everywhere. How did you...” Richard stopped; his voice unable to continue.

“I was on the wall. I turned as a gray wolf attacked my father. My mother ran toward me, yelling for me to run. I tried to run to her, but it was too late. I slipped in the moss. A large wave came up and knocked me down, keeping me from running to her. I hit my head.” Ivory lifted her hair, showing them the scar. “Another wave pushed me off the wall. The last thing I saw was the gray wolf stepping over my mother’s body to come to me. When I woke up. I was in a new house, with people I had never met before. But I felt safe.”

“My brothers were fishing on the pier. I was standing guard in the forest. Our father had been killed by thieves the year before. At the time, I was the only one who could shift. I was 15 when I first shifted.” Adam explained, smirking at the gasps and mumbled comments from the guards.

“My brothers pulled in their rods when they saw a pack of dolphins swimming their way. They rarely came that far inward. So, of course, the pups were mesmerized. It wasn’t long before they saw Ivory in the seaweed the dolphins were pushing. They pulled her out and brought her to me. The moment I breathed life back into her, a spark struck us both. I knew she was mine to protect. That was all. Over time, I fell in love with her but kept my distance. Until a few months ago, when she shifted. Now, she is mine. Period.”

Adam lifted Ivory’s hand and kissed it. He was making a statement to the other males. He turned back to the still kneeling audience.

“I visited the Duke’s city a few months ago. I know of a secret passageway in. The Duke’s pup, Jack, promised to care for precious cargo I said I might deliver to him. That was before I knew she was mine. Now, we are going there for help. We could work together. You help protect our family, and we will get you to the Duke.”

Richard stood back up and walked over, his arms out.

Acting on instinct. Ivory grinned and ran the last few steps to him. She jumped into his arms, and he spun her around. He lowered her and kissed her forehead.

“I missed you, my Princess.”

“I missed you, as well, Uncle Richard. You still have my trust.”

He grinned and hugged her again. “You will always have mine.”

She pulled him over and introduced him to her family. Richard laughed as they made it through all seven brothers.

“You always did want a brother.”

Ivory grinned back. “Yes, and now I have six. Mother Nature saved me from the gray wolf and led me to the hands of those she knew would protect me. Even an odd Innkeeper.”

They walked toward the encampment as they continued to catch up. It was filled with soldiers who had deserted the royal army and wolves who had been running to seek safety. In other words, rogues.

They were in the village of the rogues.

“I’ve been baking to help with funds. The Village Innkeeper had once apprenticed with my grandmother. No matter what changes I made to my apple pie recipe, he still recognized it.”

Richard stopped and looked at her. “You mean, Sawyer?”

Ivory looked at Adam, who was holding one of her hands, Gabe had the other. Adam shrugged.

“I’ve never heard his given name. Everyone always calls him the Innkeeper.”

“Anna only took on an apprentice one time. And she only agreed because he was her nephew.”

“Wait. Are you saying the Innkeeper is a distant cousin?”

Richard laughed. “Yes, I guess he is.”

“Guess that explains why he was always sending gifts for you and checking on you.” Charles added, whistling as they walked.