Romanian Proverb #13

Nu încap douã sãbii într-o teacã.

When two ride on one horse, one must sit behind.

“I think Serghei has lost his mind,” Alina told her parents as she sat in their small living room holding a cup of tea her mother had made.  “He was going on about showing me that Vasile was a liar, and he tried to take me with him—by force.”

“Serghei has let his feelings for you remove his good sense. He is too young to be a male who has struggled over the years wrestling with the darkness and is getting desperate for a mate, but that is exactly how he is acting.” Her father’s brow furrowed as he considered the young male’s action.

“What about Vasile’s parents?” Alina asked. “Does it really matter if they indeed did lie to the pack about being true mates?”

Her mother let out a long breath and leaned back in the chair she occupied. “It should not. Unfortunately, the sins of the parents often haunt the child or children left behind. There will be some who will want to see Vasile endure the punishment for their deceit because Stefan and Daciana cannot.”

“That is preposterous,” Alina huffed.

“While we agree with you, more than likely the majority will not feel as we do,” Petre explained.

“What will happen to Vasile?” Alina did not try to hide the worry and fear that boiled up inside of her. He was hers, and she was stuck there unable to help―unable to ensure that he was well.

“He could be challenged by other males for position of Alpha, or he could be usurped by the Beta who brought all of this out to light. If the majority agrees with the Beta, Vasile would have to step down.”

“He would never do that,” Alina shook her head adamantly.

“No, I have a feeling the only way Vasile would willingly step down is if there are lives in danger. He will not sacrifice others for his place.”

When night fell and Alina’s parents had retired to their room, she still sat where they had spent most of the day pondering what was happening in their pack. A single candle burned casting soft shadows that hopped around the room onto the walls. She watched the dancing images without really seeing them. Her mind was focused solely on her mate. Her mind was as open as she could possibly make it, hoping that he would reach out to her. And as if he had heard her, suddenly, he was there.

“Mina.” His voice was rough with emotion and she could tell how hard he was fighting to keep them under control.

“Are you alright?” she asked him, but what she wanted to say was how much she missed him, how sorry she was, and that she had not understood what she had been asking.

“I am so much better now that I hear your voice and feel you in my mind.”

She waited because she knew he wanted to say more, and she did not want tointerrupt him.

“I do not know if you can ever forgive me for how I have behaved. I let my pride blind me and instead of thinking about how you felt and what you needed, I only thought of myself. I am so very sorry, beloved.”

Alina’s heart was beating so hard she could hear it. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she let the love he was pushing through their bond wrap around her and reassure her that he wanted her, that he missed her, and when she looked deeper into his mind, she could see how broken he truly was over his actions. Maybe she should have be angry after the months of silence, but she did not want to waste another second being upset over something that could not be changed. It would not be the last mistake she or he made in their relationship; she did not see the point of dwelling on it.

“I forgive you, Vasile. I will always forgive you because my love for you is unconditional.” Relief flooded through the bond. He had been afraid that he had gone too far, that he had lost her. “You cannot lose me. I belong with you and because of that I cannot belong anywhere else.”

“I do not deserve you, Mina, but I praise the Great Luna that she gave me you.” She felt his fingertips on her face, and her eyes fluttered closed under the assault on her senses. If only he was there, really touching her she would finally feel whole.

“It is going to be awhile before that can happen,” he told her, obviously picking up on her thoughts.

Her eyes snapped open; his touch was forgotten as she remembered the fear and worry from the day. “Why? What is going on? Are you alright?

“I am fine, love. It is you that I am worried about.”

For the next half hour he told her all that had happened. How Emilian had brought his parents bodies to the courtyard, bared his mother’s marks for all to see, and used what Stefan and Daciana had done as a means to get the pack to question Vasile’s honesty and ability to lead.

“I would not step down; I would not leave if there were not lives at stake.” He sounded as though he was trying convince himself as well as her.

“Where are you going to go?”

“For the moment I am going to give Emilian’s hunters a chase they will not soon forget. He has declared that I cannot live; I am too much of a threat to him. And since dying is not on my agenda at this time, I have to make sure that he does not succeed. Then I will have to work in secret to find those in the pack who still support me as Alpha. With numbers behind me, my chances of victory increase.”

“You could not defeat him in a challenge?” Alina asked.

“I could defeat him; of that I have no doubt. But I am not foolish enough to believe that he would fight fair. The vulnerable in the pack still need protection. Just like he did at the castle, he will attempt to control me through others.”