by Tara West
He grabbed her hand, pressing it against his cheek and closing his eyes as if he was trying to absorb her touch. We’ve been living a nightmare this past week, Amara.
Luc joined them. When you stand close to the veil for more than a few minutes, the feeling of depression is almost suffocating.
She hadn’t noticed before, but Luc looked even more haggard and thin than when he’d returned from North Korea.
Her hand flew to her throat. “I’m so sorry.” Guilt washed over her for welcoming them home with a cold shoulder and anger. After their ordeal, they needed warm hugs and love.
“Come to bed with us, Amara,” Hakon said. “We won’t force ourselves on you. We just want to keep you safe.”
“Of course.” She sent the dogs to their beds downstairs and let her mates take her to bed.
After she and Drasko applied goo to each other’s arms and wrapped the burns in bandages, she took turns holding each of them, infusing them with love and kisses, her heart breaking when Rone shook in her arms. What had that place done to her men, and would they recover? The kisses were only meant to be comforting, but then they started getting heavier and hotter. If they wanted to make love, she wouldn’t stop them. Anything to make them feel better.
Hakon’s large hands roamed her back, his thick erection pressed into her naval, making her so damn horny, she wanted to rip off his clothes and ride him hard. She cupped his face, pressing into his hard angles when he captured her mouth in his. She returned the kiss urgently, as if she was dying of thirst and his lips were nectar from heaven. When Drasko’s hand found her nipple as he trailed hot kisses down her neck, she arched into him with a gasp.
And then that slight buzzing in her abdomen intensified. The baby! How had she forgotten?
She broke the kiss, panting. “We can’t.” She hated rejecting her mates, but the thought of her baby between them while they had sex was just too unsettling.
Hakon pressed his erection into her with a groan. “Why?”
She kissed his palm before placing it on her abdomen. “He knows what we’re doing.”
He frowned. “How can he?” Then his eyes widened. “What’s that buzzing?”
Her libido screamed as she untangled herself from Hakon and shoved off Drasko. Heat flamed her face. “It’s his magic. He knew I wanted to see you, and he took me to the forest. He’ll know we’re having sex.”
Hakon gave her a quizzical look. “But he’s not developed.”
She vehemently shook her head. “I’m not having sex while I’m pregnant.”
“That’s almost five months!” Rone protested.
He sat by her feet, looking like Buster begging for table scraps.
She cringed. “And I’m sure there will be recovery time after.”
Rone threw up his hands. “This blows!”
She narrowed her eyes at him, aggravation tightening her chest. He acted like she had a choice. “This isn’t easy for me either.” She tried to crawl over Hakon. “I’ll go sleep in my bed.”
“No, Amara.” Hakon wrapped his arms around her waist and rolled her back between him and Drasko. “After the incident with the Stormwatchers, you’re staying with us at all times.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” Rone said. The poor guy looked like he hadn’t slept in a week. He needed release, and Amara felt bad she couldn’t help him.
“We’ve all been on edge since guarding the veil,” Drasko said. “It’s put us in dark moods.”
She remembered the crazed look in Drasko’s eyes when he’d shifted and charged the demon at the veil. He was right. That place had changed them. She only prayed she could change them back.
“I know.” She laced her fingers through his, forcing a smile. “I understand.”
Luc climbed over her, placing a hand on her abdomen. “I feel the buzzing.” He kissed her stomach before resting his head on her hip and settling between her legs.
She frowned at her tracker. He’d grown so thin, his weight didn’t crush her.
“Five months is a small sacrifice.” Hakon cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead, the longing in his eyes replaced with a gleam of pride. “Our son will have magic unlike anything the Amaroki have seen in centuries. He will guarantee the Thunderfoots are the true chieftains.”
“I’ll be right back,” Rone huffed and stomped into the bathroom.
A wave of guilt washed over her, but at least Rone could take care of himself. She had to be as chaste as a nun until after this baby was born. “So the Devoras are lost in the Haunted Forest?” she asked, needing to change the subject. She inwardly berated herself when Hakon’s face fell, but she had a right to know what had happened to them.
“Yes,” he answered.
“Do you think they’ll come out?” Though she didn’t like forcing her mates to revisit those demons again, she had to know. Tatiana had told her that wolves who’d returned from the forest were evil. She wouldn’t be able to get any sleep if the Devoras were still a threat to them.
Hakon’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “We don’t have to worry about them again.”
“I hope you’re right,” she said, a wave of fatigue washing over her.
“Right now my only concern is the Stormwatchers,” Hakon said. “They’re not finished causing trouble for us.”
Her heartrate quickened, a burst of adrenaline shooting through her. “What will you do if they threaten us?”
“Whatever it takes,” Hakon grumbled.
Fuck! Was this to be Amara’s life among the Amaroki? Packs battling each other for dominance?
Rone returned from the bathroom, shuffling his feet and casting Amara an apologetic look. He wasn’t kidding when he said he’d be right back. Lucky. She sank into the mattress, trying to get comfortable. Luc shifted with a snort. Was he sleeping already? She ran her fingers through his shorn hair, gasping when he jerked awake.
“Wh-what?” He looked at her in shock.
“It’s okay, Luc.” She forced a smile. “It’s just me.”
“Oh,” he spoke dreamily. “Sorry.”
Her heart imploded when he rolled off her, clutching a pillow to his chest. Hakon let Rone squeeze between them. She held her gamma, running her hands down his back while he trembled in her arms. So much for her getting any rest tonight. How could she when she worried about threats from disgruntled wolves and pined for intimacy with her mates? Even worse was that she feared her mates were broken, their souls fractured into a million tiny pieces, and she had no idea how to put them back together.
Chapter Eight
The Alaskan Amaroki gathered at the start of every season in a big circular lodge that reminded Amara of a cross between a concert arena and a megachurch. With its massive hand-carved pine columns, pristine hardwood floors, and polished benches, it was a far cry from the Romanian tribe’s rundown barn. The only similarity was that the benches were arranged in a circle with a raised platform in the center.
Looping arms with Luc, she held her head high, smiling and greeting many familiar faces as she followed her mates down the stairs to the front row. Her senses sprang to life when she breathed in the smells of rich pine, spices, and roasting meat. She was so glad her bed-rest sentence had finally been lifted, and she could go out again. Her neck no longer pained her, and the nausea had subsided. Though her arm bore the faint scarring of her nightmare visit to the forest, the burning pain was just a memory, albeit a very dark one, that she hoped to one day put out of her mind forever.
Rone broke from the pack, carrying a platter of smoked salmon to the buffet in the adjoining dining hall. His hands only trembled slightly. Rone’s tremors since he’d returned home had her worrying nonstop. He tried to shrug off her concern, but she wasn’t buying it, no more than she was buying Luc’s loss of appetite.
Despite worry over her mates, her cravings remained strong. She couldn’t believe how much she ate. Three waffles, bacon, and eggs at breakfast and large meals for lunch and dinner. She tried to stick to healthy
snacks, like nuts and berries, but chocolate somehow found its way into the mix. Her cravings for that sweet treat were out of control. Just this week, Drasko had to drive twice to town for an emergency chocolate run.
Her mouth watered when she caught the scent of sweet buttery crust. Another gamma, carrying two large pies, rushed past them, joining Rone and several other gammas as they filed through the door. No sooner had she reached the bottom floor and sat between Drasko and Hakon than the buzzing in her stomach intensified, followed by a call from her bladder.
Drasko, who had to accompany her, grumbled that the meeting was about to start, but it couldn’t be helped. She thought about telling him that she didn’t need a babysitter to follow her to the toilet, but after Tor’s confrontation with the Stormwatchers, she knew it would do no good. He stood outside the restroom with several other alphas, giving her a “hurry up” look before she went inside. The bathrooms were as nice as the rest of the lodge, offering a sitting area for nursing mothers. She smiled at a few women she recognized, then scowled when she noticed Daniella Stormwatcher clutching her baby in a rocking chair in the corner. Though the other women were chatting while their children played together on the floor with blocks and other toys, nobody talked to Daniella, whose face was screwed up tighter than a constipated nun’s asshole.
Amara couldn’t resist the opportunity to ignore Daniella, too. She greeted the women she knew and introduced herself to those she didn’t, inwardly smiling when Daniella rocked the chair so hard, the wood squeaked in protest. Knowing Drasko was waiting, Amara made hasty goodbyes, promising to visit their animals.
No sooner had she turned her back on Daniella’s spiteful expression than the bitch called to her. “Hey, Amara. Did your mates find the Devoras, or did my cousins prove to be too clever for them?”
She slowly turned, forcing a smile. “You haven’t heard? The Devoras are inside the Hoia Baciu.”
Daniella’s jaw dropped. “I don’t believe you.”
She shrugged, forcing a note of indifference into her voice. “They ran in there two months ago while escaping my fathers. I guess they’d rather face the Haunted Forest than the Lupescus.”
Daniella’s lip pulled back in a snarl. “You lie.”
The other women whispered behind their hands.
Amara smiled. “You can believe what you want. It makes no difference to me. Maybe if your mates would’ve put them in their place for trying to dishonor you, they would’ve learned a lesson and wouldn’t be trapped in the forest now.”
Daniella stopped rocking, clutching her baby so hard, he cried out. She immediately loosened her hold on him. “How can you pretend to know anything of honor? You were raised by humans.” She made a mock gagging sound, as if the mention of humans left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Amara knew Daniella meant to insult her human blood, but she didn’t care. She turned up her chin, plastering on a smile so wide, her face strained with the movement. “I know honor because I have lived an honorable life, showing compassion to animals, rather than letting them suffer from neglect.” She paused, letting that sink in. “Also,” she added with a sneer, “my mates are honorable, not reckless drunks.”
Daniella jumped to her feet with a curse, crossing to Amara in a few long strides. The other women called their children to them.
“You mistake honor for pride.” Daniella tossed her head, a grating squeal of laughter erupting from her throat as she encroached Amara’s personal space. “Your mates’ pride will be their downfall.”
She held her ground, refusing to back down. “You confuse bravery with pride. No surprise, given your mates’ family history of cowardice.”
The other women gasped, then broke into a cacophony of whispers.
With a menacing growl, Daniella moved closer, until they were toe-to-toe, completely oblivious to the whimpering baby in her arms.
“Back off before I get angry,” Amara warned. Not that she’d ever hit a woman holding a baby, but Daniella didn’t need to know that.
A low deep horn sounded outside. Most of the nursing mothers jumped to their feet and left. A few stayed behind while their babies continued to eat.
Amara, Drasko projected. We must take our seats.
“If you will excuse me.” Amara gave Daniella her best haughty expression. “The meeting is about to begin, and I don’t want to miss the part where Tor punishes your mates for running us off the road.”
She inwardly smiled when Daniella gasped, looking like she’d just eaten a shit sandwich. Amara turned her back on her, knowing Daniella wouldn’t attack with a baby in her arms. She quickly relieved herself and washed her hands, not surprised to find her second alpha brooding when she came out.
“Did something happen between you and Daniella?” he asked, parting the crowd with a low rumble.
“How did you know?”
He nodded at Daniella, who was whispering to her alpha. “She just stormed out of the bathroom.”
Amara flashed Daniella a broad grin and waved, then laughed when Daniella raised her middle finger. She enjoyed watching Daniella’s cheeks turn crimson and knew the bitch was aggravated that she hadn’t upset Amara. Did she expect Amara to cower? After surviving mistreatment by her mother, and being tossed around in foster care, Amara could out-bitch anyone. Pushing Daniella would only give the Stormwatchers more cause to hate the Thunderfoots, but she couldn’t help it. If the pack wanted war, they would soon learn they were messing with the wrong wolves.
WHILE WAITING FOR AMARA to come out of the bathroom, it had taken all of Drasko’s willpower not to beat the living shit out of Aguk. That foolish drunk was going to pay for running his mate and father off the road. If Tor didn’t mete out a strong enough punishment, Drasko would see to it himself. His inner beast screamed to break free as he steered her down the wide stairs. If it wasn’t for his mate’s soothing presence, he couldn’t have controlled his rage. That dark, depressing feeling that weighed down his shoulders and compressed his chest had not gone away after he’d returned from the veil. If anything it was worse, leaving him constantly on edge and looking for a fight.
None of them had left the forest unscathed. Panic clung to Luc like a second skin, and fear gripped Rone. He hadn’t stopped trembling since they’d visited that haunted place. Drasko’s affliction was rage he barely kept in check. There seemed to be a fine thread of peace that Tethered Drasko in place, though that thread could snap at any moment. The only one who seemed untouched was Hakon, but he suffered in silence rather than voice his feelings aloud. He could tell by the twitch Hakon developed above his lip ever since the first night guarding the veil. Drasko feared that by internalizing it, Hakon was making it worse.
Drasko felt like a fool for complaining. The Romanian tribe couldn’t leave the forest. They had to guard it for weeks or even months—as long as it took for the Devoras to show a sign that they were still alive, if they were alive. Amara’s fathers had been guarding the veil every night with their grim faces and silver hatchets. To make matters worse, they had to return home to Katarina, that deceitful shrew. At least Drasko and his brothers got to return home to a loyal and loving mate.
As Drasko helped Amara into her seat, his dark thoughts were broken when Tor sounded the deep horn again from the center of the platform, calling the meeting to order. Behind Tor stood Skoll, with three other alphas and their second alphas from the tribe’s strongest packs, representing the council elders. They had grim looks on their faces, their stoic gazes trained on the Stormwatcher pack, who sat below the stage, one pack away from Drasko. Though their ancestors had been disgraced, because they were once a powerful and brave pack, they maintained their seats at the front of the hall.
The Stormwatchers sat with their golden, elongated gazes locked on Tor, their inner-beasts taunting the tribal chieftain. These wolves were fools for challenging Tor. Drasko couldn’t wait to hear their sentencing.
“Welcome, brothers and sisters.” Tor held up his arms in a warm greeting. �
��After our Ancients revealed to the Romanian tribe their plans to integrate lone wolves into our culture, we have much to discuss. Many of you have met my gifted daughter-in-law, a blessing to our tribe, thanks to the Ancients.” Drasko’s chest swelled with pride when Tor smiled at Amara. “We may discover more lone wolves who need our protection and guidance. I urge you all to be alert and aware should you come across the scent of an unfamiliar wolf. But before we begin our discussion on how best to find them, we must settle a pressing matter.” Tor’s tone turned grim as he frowned down at the Stormwatchers. “Some of you may have heard that my pregnant daughter-in-law and I were run off the road last week by Aguk Stormwatcher. He smelled strongly of whiskey and should not have been driving.”
The crowd broke into quiet chatter.
Drasko didn’t like the heated glares the Stormwatchers were giving Tor. He almost hoped they would make good on their threats, so he could jump into the fray and tear off their limbs.
Skoll stepped forward and silenced the crowd with one sweep of the hand. Tor thanked Skoll with a hand on his back.
Tor cleared his throat, his eyes and nose lengthening as his protector fought to break free. “Stormwatchers, the council has decided your punishment. Starting today, you have lost your driving privileges for two years, and you must pay to repair the dent in my truck.”
Ranko Stormwatcher leaped to his feet and thrust a fist in the air. “That’s bullshit!”
White hot rage shot through Drakso’s skull. “Mind your tongue when you address your elders,” he rumbled as he and his brothers stood, “before I rip it out and shove it up your ass.”
Amara rose, her hand shaking on Drasko’s arm. Her presence was enough reason to calm him down. Lucky for Ranko, Daniella Stormwatcher clung to his side, begging him to sit. He slowly did so, his heated gaze shifting from Tor to Drasko.
Just try me, Drasko mouthed, pleased when Ranko averted his eyes.
“How will I get to work?” Aguk asked. “And what about when we need to go into town for supplies?”
