AN: Thanks for the amazing reviews! So much love for this story; it literally makes me tear up and swell with pride! Sorry for the late update; I always seem to get writer's block when I don't write for an entire day :/ Anyway, to answer some of your questions/comments: Rose is in fact still a virgin. Adrian and she didn't get to it b/c they were interrupted tehehe poor Adrian. I did enjoy their moment too at the end of the last chapter way better than the violence and sarcasm they treat each other with lol. We'll probably get some Rose flashbacks next chapter. Um, not sure if I should tell you whether Rose&Adrian will be done soon or whether Rose&Dimitri will see each other. Read and find out! Review as always! (:
Dimitri and his wolves run through the darkness of the forest for a couple of hours their paws making the ground tremble. Some jump over the trees howling and yelping in delight for having their leader back. The past six months or so have been tough and long for Dimitri's pack without their leader. At first they didn't know exactly what to do when Dimitri walked into the Voda's domain in Moscow. Of course Dimitri had left them in charge of Mason with strict orders to not try to rescue him from the lords. They had not listened. After two months of their leader's captivity, the wolves became impatient and attacked every time Dimitri was transported to another lord's household. Naturally the wolves are happy to be running alongside their alpha; however, some of them do worry about his wrath which they will surely face for their disobedience. But that is the last thing on Dimitri's mind.
Dimitri Belikov is not delighted or overjoyed that he is free running through the darkness with the autumn breeze ruffling his fur and feeling the leaves crunch under his powerful paws. He is frustrated that his beauty is not his. He is frustrated that either Rhonda lied or getting Rose to care for him will be harder than he thought. There's hope though. Their encounter in that alley has given Dimitri hope that he has not felt in five years. She wanted to touch him; he had felt her hand slowly move towards him, and her heart was beating steadily as he pressed his snout to her chest letting his furry head tickle the skin of her exposed neck. He shivers as he runs remembering how warm her skin was and how intoxicatingly amazing she smelled even slick with the sweat of battle. Shaking his massive head, Dimitri picks up speed concentrating solely on the sound of his paws and the beating of his wolves' hearts to keep from pondering what that strange feeling in his chest is.
Between Istanbul and Bulgaria, there is a cave hidden by the thick vegetation; this is where Dimitri heads to with his wolves right behind him. He is the first to step into the cave and immediately start his transformation back to human. The pain of shifting back to human is the same as shifting to wolf. After the very first transformation, though, shifting becomes second nature and the pain is a reminder of his cursed nature and his mistakes. The pain is the only thing that makes him feel less beastly and more human. Perhaps this is what Rhonda has been talking about all these years. The thought of the witch makes Dimitri growl as his organs rearrange. Once he is on the cold floor naked, he rises and finds his wolves surrounding him still in their beastly forms with their snouts touching the floor.
"No need to fear," Dimitri sighs as he paces the cave. "I will not punish you. Shift, rest, feed, do what you please. Mason, fetch me clothes. We must talk."
The wolves whine thankfully as some begin their shift back to human. The newest members give out howls of pain as they shift which Dimitri ignores. Ideally, as the alpha and creator of werewolves, Dimitri should be there to help his wolves, but he is so caught up in his selfish goals that he lets them deal on their own. He keeps pacing waiting for Mason to show up with clothes, so they can discuss their next course of action which will be finding Rhonda. Last time Dimitri saw the witch was two hundred years ago in Hungary where she read him his fortune and told him he had to find his beauty. Mason is supposed to keep tabs on the witch, so he will know where to go. Footsteps approach Dimitri, and he turns expecting Mason. Someone throws their arms around him and hugs him tightly, but the alpha stands stiffly with his hands by his sides.
"I am so relieved you are alive," Alberta backs away and hands her nephew some clothes.
"What did you expect?" Dimitri grunts as he takes the clothes and begins to dress.
"I do not know," Alberta shrugs. "The last thing you said before walking into Moscow… I was very terrified you would die."
"You do remember what is supposed to happen do you not?" Dimitri snaps annoyed. "Or would you prefer to always be… this?" He motions with his right hand to the wolves shifting while others can be heard fighting over something most likely a piece of meat. "Do you wish to always be a beast?"
Alberta crosses her arms over her chest and glares at Dimitri. "You are my nephew. The only family I have left and I will not allow you to kill yourself for us."
"I am the reason I am your only family," he practically growls back to his aunt not addressing that he does not care for anyone but himself. "I am the reason you have blood on your hands. I am the reason you are a monster."
Alberta sighs and fights to give her nephew the space he has always kept between him and other people. It saddens Alberta that her nephew has never let anyone in at least not since he was cursed. She hates the curse with all her might not because of what it has done to her or the others, but because it has turned Dimitri's life upside down. The wolves know. They know the reason behind the curse and what must be done to break it. Knowing the story behind Dimitri's curse gives the wolves a sense of protectiveness for their alpha, who does not admit it but has been hurt and keeps hurting. None of the wolves want their alpha to die. To Alberta is not only the attachment a wolf has for her leader, it's the blood they share as aunt and nephew. Once again she wishes he didn't have to push everyone away for his fear of being betrayed again or hurting more people he cares about.
"No one understands," Alberta whispers. "No one but us. You have us, Dimka. Do not push us away. Let us help you."
"Where is Mason?" Dimitri asks as he shakes his head refusing to acknowledge the pack and their undeserving support.
He can never grasp the reason behind their undying loyalty. Well, he knows some of the wolves do end up giving up their loyalty for their more beastly desires for blood and flesh therefore turning rogue. But those who have stayed with him from the beginning, they always amaze Dimitri. Alberta, Mason and Ivan have been his constant companions since he woke up from his very first slaughter. Not once have they complained or blamed him for what he has made them. The same goes for all his wolves, the ones who do not go rogue, stay by his side always protecting him giving their lives up for a monster. They all claim to understand him, but Dimitri wonders if anyone truly understands. How can they know what he feels? How can they know about his past and yet still remain by his side? It just doesn't add up. At the moment though, he does not care. He must find Rhonda, demand she give him answers, break the curse and be free.
"Where is Mason?" Dimitri repeats when Alberta looks up at the cave's ceiling.
"He is not here," she says meeting his eyes but quickly looking away as his once gentle brown eyes harden.
"Explain yourself." He bares his teeth and fists his hands trying to control his sudden rage. If Mason is dead, it will take Dimitri months to once again locate the old hag. Mentally, Dimitri curses his stupidity. He should have made several wolves keep tabs on the witch not only Mason. Out of all the wolves, besides Alberta and Ivan, Mason is the most over protective of all wolves. He is always by Dimitri's side ready to give his life up for the alpha.
"He was captured three months ago in Serbia. The Dashkovs are holding him captive in their household." She explains as Dimitri takes a deep breath relieved that his right hand man, or wolf, is not dead.
"He is not dead, is he?" Dimitri asks for confirmation. When Alberta shakes her head, Dimitri becomes pensive. Why wouldn't they kill a beast?
"They are attempting to get information on how to kill you out of him." Alberta says as she seems to read Dimitri's worries.
"Why did you not rescue him?" He shakes his head exasperated as a plan of rescue begins to form in his head.
"He ordered us not to do so."
Dimitri snorts. "So you listen to him but not me?" He chuckles humorlessly. "I ordered you not to attempt to rescue me, and yet you attacked every damn time I was transported from one lord to another." He shakes his head.
"It is our fear of losing you," Alberta shakes her head as well. "You cannot get that through your thick skull."
"Why cannot you get it through yours that I must die? I want this! As a bonus, you all will recover your damn humanity!" Dimitri shouts his voice echoing through the suddenly silent cave. All his wolves have gone quiet feeling the rising temper of their alpha.
"At what cost, Dimka?" Alberta whispers though her voice also echoes in the still darkness. "You do not deserve this. We all know. Perhaps if you explain to Rhonda…"
"Enough!" Dimitri cuts his aunt off brusquely. "I will not beg! I will not beg. Now find Ivan and gather a group of thirty. We are paying the Dashkovs a visit."
Alberta takes a deep breath and leaves to do her alpha's bidding leaving him to brood and lament his fate. Once she is gone, Dimitri sits in a corner and closes his eyes briefly relishing the quiet and peace. Alberta always manages to make him lose it with her plans of begging Rhonda to reconsider the curse. What she doesn't know is that Dimitri has already begged. He explained his reasons behind his actions, but Rhonda wouldn't have any of it. She claims there were other ways, and the reasons did not justify the end and the loss of Dimitri's humanity. But she doesn't understand. No one does. All they see and saw is an illusion of what truly lies behind the beast. However, over the years Dimitri has begun to see himself like everyone does: as a beast.
"I do not think you are a beast," Red told him once. "You turn into a wolf and kill people, yes, but I think it is more of a choice right? Right now you are choosing to be human like me."
Of course today, Red does not think that anymore. She finally saw him for what he truly is and there's no going back. Once again the feeling of her skin against his makes him question whether the façade of ruthless huntress is only that a façade and a delusion constructed by her as a way to protect herself from the world. In some ways, Rose is like him. Dimitri lets people believe he is a monster, even if he sometimes hates it, because it keeps them away. The walls around him keep him safe from betrayal and hurting anyone. If people were to know the type of contact Rose had with Dimitri, they would condemn her. Dimitri opens his eyes as the realization hits him that not everything is lost. First though, he has to get Mason out. Ivan shows up then with thirty of the strongest wolves.
"Are we tearing up the Dashkovs household?" Ivan asks too excitedly.
"Yes, yes we are." Dimitri replies as he removes sets out of the cave.
The trip to Serbia took Adrian until dawn. He traveled with only two other Guardians as he wasn't much too concerned about being attacked by Dimitri and his beasts. The paw prints lead to Bulgaria perhaps in the direction of Romania, so Adrian wasn't much too concerned with his safety. He is more concerned with the safety of his Little Huntress who is heading to Romania to warn the Dragomirs, and Christian who is heading home to Bulgaria and then Moscow. Adrian believes that he is the least one of being in danger. However he is very wrong as Dimitri watched from afar as Adrian introduced himself to the Guardians at the gate of the Dashkovs household. Seeing the arrogant son of a bitch in his target village pleased Dimitri greatly. Finally Dimitri will get the chance to get the drunkard out of the way. However, Dimitri was curious as to what Adrian is doing in Belgrade, so he ordered his wolves to stay down while he found out the reason for the visit.
Sneaking through the back walls was entirely too easy for Dimitri even with three Guardians patrolling it. He stole a cloak from a maid washing clothes by the river and hid his face from the crowd. Like Dimitri expected, Adrian is treated like a king receiving a bath by two damsels and very fine clothing. After the bath and a meal, Ivashkov retires to bed for a while, but in the afternoon, Lord Viktor Dashkov finally meets with his guest alone in his grand dining hall. Dimitri hides in an empty room close enough to the hall to hear what the two men are talking about.
"I hope you enjoyed the damsels company and services," Dashkovs snickers as his lips touch the cup of wine.
"Very," Adrian smiles politely. "Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Dashkov."
"It is always a pleasure to have you in my household Lord Ivashkov," if there is anything Viktor is good at is flattery this Adrian and Dimitri know. "Though I must say you and Lady Tatiana do not visit enough."
"Ah yes," Adrian tries to hide his smirk with his own cup. "It is a pity that the beasts do not allow us to travel as much."
Viktor nods as he takes a bite out his food. "Very pitiful. Of course Lady Mazur has accomplished her deed has she not?"
"That is why I have come to see you Lord Dashkov," Adrian sets his cup down and clears his throat. "Rose has not…"
"I knew it!" Viktor throws his head back and laughs. "I knew she would not be woman enough to please a man of your magnitude. Lord Ivashkov my offer still stands." He leans forward and continues speaking more fervently. "Natalie will make a far better match."
Adrian stares at Viktor for a while unable to comprehend how Viktor changed the direction of the conversation. As he catches on to his meaning, Adrian fists his hands under the table while he keeps a pleasant and polite smile on his lips. As the leader of the thirteen lords, Adrian cannot afford to cause a drift between them and insulting Dashkov will simply not do. Of course Dashkov has no right to insult Rose so by calling her less of a woman than his whore of a daughter Natalie. However, Adrian must stay calm and deal with the situation with the outmost politeness and diplomacy.
"Tempting offer Lord Dashkov," Adrian nods and takes a sip of his wine. "However, Rose is the only woman I shall ever want."
Dashkov raises his eyebrows at Adrian. "So you have been, huh, intimate."
"No sir," Adrian says a little too forcefully and indignant. "Rose Mazur is a lady and my future wife."
"My apologies Lord Ivashkov," Viktor quickly amends with a nervous chuckle as he finally realizes he has crossed a line. Both gentlemen remain in silence for a couple of seconds. "However, Natalie will be more than happy to keep you company until Rose puts out."
Adrian sighs and gives Dashkov a tight smile and a nod. "Generous offer. I do not think it will be necessary. Now, the reason I came to see you is to inform you that Dimitri Belikov has escaped."
Viktor begins to choke on the meat he was just chewing. He quickly spits out the food and takes a drink. Once he is calm, he stares at Adrian disbelieving. No matter how many times Viktor puts Rose down, he secretly hoped that she would be the one to kill the beast. She was their last hope but they have been wrong.
"She attempted to eliminate the beast," Adrian quickly defends the honor of his lady as he can see disappointment in Dashkov's face. "As you probably saw when the beast was in your household, he cannot be killed. He kept coming back to life, and just last night, he escaped. A horde of werewolves destroyed the Mazur household."
"Enough Lord Ivashkov," Viktor sighs and shakes his head stroking his chin as he does so. "I did see it with my own eyes. That man is Satan himself." He sighs once again. "Well, at least we still have that mutt. Perhaps he can leads us to the beast."
At the mention of a mutt, Adrian's interest is piqued while Dimitri freezes in place. "What mutt?"
"Oh we captured Belikov's second in command three months ago," Viktor explains nonchalantly though clearly proud to hold the only hope left to finding Dimitri. "We have been questioning him on how to kill his leader, but the mutt is stubborn and will not speak."
"And you have kept this to yourself all this time?" Adrian asks rising his left eyebrow and suddenly wanting to punch the older man repeatedly.
"We figured Rose…"
"I wish to see the prisoner," Adrian demands as he rises from his chair. "Immediately, Lord Dashkov."
"Of course, of course," Viktor rises hastily as well and rushes out of the room with Adrian following closely behind.
Dimitri, though, is ahead of them. He is already shifted into wolf and is opening his mouth to call his wolves into battle. Throughout the conversation, Dimitri wanted nothing more than to rip both men apart for speaking of Rose as if she is nothing but a piece of meat. However Dashkov's mention of Mason to Adrian did not suit Dimitri. He cannot risk Adrian speaking to Mason even though Dimitri knows that Mason will never say anything. On the other hand, Dimitri does not want to wait anymore. He wants to rip Adrian to pieces. His howling resonates through the castle stopping Adrian and Dashkov halfway down the stairs to the dungeons. Adrian pulls his sword out as does Viktor. As the screaming commences above, Dimitri appears at the top of the stairs and briefly makes eye contact with Adrian's green emeralds. Dashkov begins to pray while Adrian, giving out a battle cry, runs towards Dimitri who is inwardly smiling and savoring his blood.
