Theo
Theo was half listening to Gemma talking to Clara. He noted that his aunt was completely entranced with Gemma. She had nothing to worry about. She was about to charm every person in the entire dragon clan.
He looked at Madeline, staring at Gemma with hatred in her eyes. Maybe not everyone, but everyone who mattered.
He had to admit he was entranced with her, as well. And that was his problem with her. He couldn’t want her, need her, or love her. He shouldn’t be happy when he was spending time with Gemma. That was a complete betrayal to Savannah, and that was not something he could live with.
Reassuring himself this was just for tonight, and tomorrow he could go back to avoiding her, he talked amiably to the people around him. He had been in seclusion for so long that it had been more than a century since he had seen some of his friends and relatives.
There was a small part of him that did miss them. Not enough to come out of seclusion, but a little.
He was in the middle of a conversation when a woman’s voice called out from the crowd, “I know who you are,” she said, pointing a finger straight at Gemma.
Gemma stood straight, her head tall and proud. Theo squeezed her shoulder to let her know he was still there with her.
Still pointing, the woman walked closer to Gemma. Then, she turned to face the astonished faces of the council. “She’s the white wolf of the wolf shifter pack not far from here.”
Theo looked at the woman speaking and groaned. It was his cousin, Phoebe. The gloating look on her face told him this was another attempt for her bid for power on the elder council.
Gemma stood straight. He could feel her pulse beating rapidly, but outwardly, she remained very calm. She stood tall and stared at the woman.
“I am Gemma. And you are?” Gemma asked, her voice stoic and steady.
“I’m Phoebe. I’m right, aren’t I? You are the white wolf. The only pure white wolf born into the pack in several centuries,” Phoebe declared.
“You are correct,” Gemma said formally. “I take it you are acquainted with some of my pack mates and relatives.”
Phoebe just smirked. “What do you know? A living legend right here at our own dragon shifter ritual, who just happens to be my dear cousin’smate.” The sarcastic emphasis on mate hinted she doubted Gemma’s true status.
The silence hung in the air like a musty old velvet curtain no one wanted to touch.
Then, one of the elders laughed loudly and came forward.
“Well, I welcome you to the family, Gemma. It is fascinating that you are a white wolf. I would love to see your white wolf form someday as I have never seen one before,” he said. “I am Claude.”
Gemma smiled at him warmly. “I will certainly show you,” she said. “It is so nice to meet you.”
Germaine said, “Isn’t it fitting that such a person of such important status becomes Theo’s mate. They make the perfect couple.”
Reagan also defended her. “Gemma is an amazing woman, and if I didn’t have my own mate, I would truly envy the love I see in Theo’s eyes for her.”
Theo thought he could almost see Phoebe’s teeth busting out of her head because she was clenching her jaw so tightly. Her thunder was being stolen from her, and she wasn’t pleased about it.
“The elders in her pack decreed when she was born that she was to be sacrificed to their moon goddess on her twenty-fifth birthday. She was stolen from the pack by her parents, and she has been in hiding since. She should be returned to her pack to avoid a conflict with them,” Phoebe declared.
Theo felt Gemma stiffen. If the entire dragon shifter clan turned against her, she would have no hope of survival. She could not possibly fight off an entire dragon shifter clan, even with the help of Germaine and Theo.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Germaine stand beside him. He would stick by his promise to Theo. He would help protect Gemma, even if it cost him his life.
Damn Phoebe and her reach for power. If she wasn’t so stupid, she would realize that she could have had his place on the council a long time ago, ending her bid for power. He didn’t want it.
Just as Theo was about to announce that no one was sending his mate anywhere, Claude, who was still holding onto Gemma’s hand, laughed loudly.
“Turn over such a magnificent creature to the wolf shifter pack? Turn over the mate to one of our most powerful members to the wolves? Child, have you gone daft?” Claude asked Phoebe.
Her face turned bright red, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “There will be a war,” she said, refusing to back down.
Claude laughed loudly again. “Since when have dragons been afraid of war? Let the wolves come,” he yelled.
Everyone cheered his statement, and Claude winked at Gemma.
Theo thought he was going to have to send him a bottle of the ninety-year-old scotch he had in his basement.
“There is an astonishing number of wolf shifters while our numbers are very few,” Phoebe protested.
Claude looked at her again. “Are you afraid of the wolves, Phoebe?” he asked. “Are you afraid of war? Are you afraid of fighting for our clan?
If we allow them to attack Theo’s mate and take her, they would consider us all cowards, and they would take whomever and whatever they wanted. Would that be acceptable to you?”
Phoebe shook her head. “No, sir, it would not. However, how are you so sure that she is his true mate and therefore deserving of our protection?”
