The Gift

5

"Freak! You'll never be one of us. Your daddy was a hybrid and not worthy of being with a wolf!" Emerald didn't duck in time for the rock to miss her. She felt it strike her temple, causing her to see stars and making her fall.Feet running towards her and a deep voice shouting was the last thing she saw and heard.

Emerald frowned in her sleep. The voice called to her. It touched something deep inside. Then, she heard her mother's voice, as well as her father's. "This has gone on long enough! Dad needs to know about these malcontents that seem to have joined our pack. We have always been a diverse pack with many species. We have always welcomed anyone not wolf. Where did this sudden sentiment come from."

"I'm just glad I came along when I did. " The voice said.

"So are we, Enforcer. Cal, your father's on the phone. It seems that someone called hima dn sent him a video of the whole incident. Dan said that after looking at it carefully, they aren't even members of our pack." Emerald recognized her mom's voice.

Moaning, she raised her hand to her temple. A large, but gentle hand grabbed her's and said, "Don't. It's bandaged, little mate. It should be healed by now. We'll remove the bandage as soon as Misty gets here and can check you over. I'm taking no chances with you."

Emerald forced her eyes open to see the source of the voice. She already that they were mates. I wasn't that he had proclaimed them to be mates. It was the tingles of awareness that accompanied his touch. The first thing she noticed was his deep auburn hair and his forest green eyes. The freckles on his face gave him an air of youthfulness. But his eyes were were his age showed. They were things in the depths, things that a man didn't like to talk about. Violent things, Merciless things. "Enforcer......." She whispered.

"Yes. For many years now. Will it bother you to know that your mate is considered a killer, an assassin, by many? I would never harm you. You are the safest person around me." He said while gently trailing his finger across her cheek.

Emerald pushed herself up into a seated position. Leaning back against her headboard, she looked over at her mate. He was huge! Bigger even than her uncle Zach. With even bigger muscles. "How old are you? And no, it will not bother me in the least. I should be asking you if a hybrid mate will bother you. My dad is half vampire, half wolf. Mom is all wolf. I'm one quarter vampire. I don't require blood, but I do have fangs, and when the full moon comes, I get bloodlust. Mom locks dad and I in the basement in silver chains. Will you be ok with that?"

The Enforcer didn't have time to reply as a host of people entered her bedroom. First was her mom, Jade and her dad, Calderon. Second was the healer MIsty. Behind her was her grandfather, Alpha Dan Whitestone and his huge Beta, Stephan.

Her grandfather, seeing the Enforcer, came forward and shook his hand. "Glad you came back in time to save my granddaughter. Archer, you have my deepest gratitude. Can you and I go downstairs ad talk while Misty looks over Emerald?" Dan put an arm around his shoulders and quietly led him out of the room.

Misty quickly examined her and declared her to be fine. "I figured as much. I knew that considering who my new mate is I knew better than to argue." The two women smiled in understanding at each other. 

"My father is the pack Scout and my mate is next in line for lead warrior. So, I definitely understand. These men are determined to wrap us up in cottonwool and protect us. Even from ourselves if necessary." 

"Exactly. Help me up, will you. I want to go downstairs and see my mate and family." Wincing as some residual pain shot through her head, Emerald tried to stand up. With a helping hand, she got up and went downstairs. Entering the kitchen, she watched her mother start to get up to help her. But her mate was there first.

"Your name, it's Archer, correct?" She asked as she looked up at him.

"Yes, and your name is Emerald. Like the gemstone."

"My mother wanted to keep it up. My older sister is named Diamond and my brother is named Jett. They were going to going, but mo had a hard time carrying me so the doctor called a halt to any more babies." She blushed deeply, thinking about making babies.

As her smell wafted up to his sensitive nose, he growled. Emerald, knowing what he was smelling, blushed even more and ducked her head. 

Dan, seeing what was going on, cleared his throat. "Let's discuss this morning's incident. I have looked over the video and gone through pack files. Those people do not belong to this pack. They were identified as a splinter group that is known for hating cross-breeding of any kind. They want purity in all ways. Human, bear, vampire, elf, etc. They have moved across the country, inciting pack violence and unrest. I have contacted the pack elders and sought their advice. This is not an easy situation to deal with. If we move too hastily, some might say that we are being too harsh. At least, they might have, had they not attacked my granddaughter." 

Archer realized a growl at the mention of the attack on his mate. Emerald squeezed his hand, calming him. "I have never realized that there were people like this. Why would they do this? This isn't about purity. The attack on me was a thing of hate. Pure and simple." Emerald looked at each and every person gathered at the table. "They were laughing and jeering at me. They started by throwing small stones at me, then larger ones. The one that hit me was the size of Archer's fist." She shuddered at the memory.

Dan's cellphone rang before anyone else could say anything. "Right. Well, that's something at least. Thanks, Zach. Yes, that's fine." Dan disconnected the call as he looked around the room, before continuing. "They have caught the leader of the faction and several of the members. However, the leader's son escaped as well as several other members. They can't and won't get very far.' 

Getting up from the table, he addressed his granddaughter and her mate. "You know, don't let this stop yo from getting to know each other. I'm going home to my own mate." Nodding to the assembled, he left.

Archer turned to his mate. Picking her hand up and holding it in his, he gently tugged. "Come on. Let's go. We are going to walk around and get to know each other. Then, I'm going to take you to get the biggest steak to be had in town." Leaning down, Archer kissed her gently on her lips, only to have it deepen.

"I'm going to enjoy dessert tonight, My Gem."