Circle of Wolves

by Jacqueline Roth

  He climbed onto the bed beside Kira, sitting with his legs in front of him and his back to the headboard. He stroked her hair with his hand and met the icy blue eyes that stared at him. “I’m sorry I missed your company this morning, Mrs. Gregoravitch.”

  “You are such a gadje you cannot even address me correctly. Do you think Kira is now Mrs. Forester? You are a fool and you are a shame to this family.”

  His eyes hardened in a way that surprised Alexi, who was now standing in the doorway. “I meant no disrespect, however, understand that I am now in your daughter’s life whether you like it or not. That will not change. I am sorry for her sake you can’t accept it but no amount of rude behavior on your part will make any difference to me.”

  “Evan!” Alexi and Sonya gasped at him, wide-eyed. “Evan, she is the Alpha female. You cannot speak to her like that,” Sonya whispered.

  Evan looked at the faces before him, two stunned and fearful, one trembling with rage. “I made this clear last night. My loyalty is to Kira. Not to the family and its caste system. I will not allow anyone, and I mean anyone, to harm her physically or in any other way cause her pain.”

  The older woman snarled viciously at him and swept from the room. In the several moments that passed as they waited for her to be out of earshot, Evan braced himself for Alexi’s anger. A soft chuckle began to his right and he looked down at Sonya whose hand was pressed to her mouth. Strangled guffaws were escaping Alexi until he could no longer hold them in and started to laugh in earnest. Sonya was looking at her mate. “Did you see her face?”

  “Priceless.” Alexi snorted back.

  Evan looked at them confused. The big man waved away his concern. “Come on my little friend, you’ve had to deal with her for all of five minutes. I’ve had her my entire life.”

  “She has made two hundred and fifty years seem like two thousand,” grimaced Sonya.

  “You now see where Nico gets it.” Alexi stood at the foot of the bed and his face grew serious. “We laugh now when she is not here but in her presence, in the presence of others you must be respectful Evan. She is the Alpha female.”

  He nodded and turned his eyes to Kira. “You’re sure she will be okay? I can’t feel her.”

  Sonya smiled at him. “You will soon. She just needs to rest and let her mind sort things out. Try to stay calm and just stay with her. Touching her will help.” She said these last words with a knowing glint in her eyes.

  She rose and pushed Alexi before her out of the room. The door closed and he was alone with his mate. He kicked off his shoes and curled against her. He could sense her still with him but was filled with a sense of bereavement, loss, for what he could not feel. Only hours had passed and it seemed so essentially wrong not to feel her emotions flowing through him. He pressed his cheek to her hair and closed his eyes. He had gotten his extra rest time, he just hadn’t wanted it this way. His mind rolled over Julien’s words. Kira stirred beside him and he hushed her softly. “Rest, my love. Rest.”

  A few hours later she finally awoke. He held her close to him and kissed her face gently. He reassured her he was all right, but the news he related to her from his meeting worried them both.

  “Evan, do you want to leave now? Go home now?” She knew he wanted to be with his friends. He was anxious to be back with them.

  “Not before the hunt, Kira. That’s too important for me to miss. Katerina is my niece now.” The words sounded so foreign to him. Niece. He had a niece. He had family. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and caught the tender smile on her face. He responded automatically with one of his own. “She reminds me so of you. I can’t let her down and I can’t let Alexi down.”

  His leaving would let Katerina down. She had transformed the previous night and put herself between her two uncles to protect him. She had spent much of the celebration bragging to the others her age how Evan would be helping with her hunt. Kira smiled. “I think she has a crush on you.”

  He flushed slightly. “She’s a bit young, don’t you think? And I do have a thing for older women, after all.”

  Circle of Wolves

  Chapter Nineteen

  Beneath the Hunter’s Moon

  The area on the far side of the lake was filled with people. They had not yet started the bonfire Alexi and he had built. Kira’s hand was in his and she seemed to be fine. He could sense no lasting effects from this morning as they started around the lake. He eyed the crowd. “Kira, who will be here?”

  “Everyone, Evan. Every blood Wolf who lives inside the gates will be here. All of them are related to us in some way.” He watched her out of the corner of his eye. A change was taking place in her as they neared the others. Her face was becoming calm and gentle but distant. Her smile was pleasant and polite but impersonal. Her shoulders were straighter than he had seen recently and her voice more soothing. He could still feel her softness and warmth but saw little of that softness reflected in her outward appearance. It made him stand taller, square his shoulders and lift his chin as he walked. He could not but stand proud when he stood next to her.

  “Kira, I offended your mother today by addressing her as I would have addressed a married, or mated, woman in the human world. How should I have addressed her?” He stole a quick look at her from the corner of his eye.

  “How did you address her?” She turned briefly to look at him with a puzzled expression.

  “Mrs. Gregoravitch.”

  Her laugh rang in his ears and in his mind. “That explains why Alexi called me Mrs. Forester earlier.” Her blue eyes turned to him sparkling mischievously.

  “I take it he was wrong to do so,” he muttered dryly.

  She stopped him, reached for his other hand and pulled him closer to her. “In your world, Evan I shall be proud to be called Mrs. Evan Forester. It is your way and I will respect that and be honored to do so. But here a female retains her family name and adds her mate’s. To my family and those in my world I am now Nakira Magdelena Forester Gregoravitch. It works the same for men. You are Evan William Gregoravitch Forester.”

  He smiled mischievously at her. “So you are a liberated society, eh?”

  She shook her head grinning. Dropping his left hand she turned and urged him to resume their pace. “No such thing, Evan. The retention of the name is a part of status. A person does not lose the status of their family when they join another. It also provides for important bloodline information. I carried my mother’s name where yours now stands until I mated. It told everyone who my family was, who my parents were, what my bloodline was.”

  “So how am I to address your mother?”

  “You could try Mom.”

  She laughed at his face and he yanked her hand pulling her into his arms. “You know, I’ve always heard it said a woman turns into her mother after you marry her. I have this horrible feeling, however, you’re going to turn into your brother.” He kissed her playfully and felt her nip at his lower lip.

  “Come on you two,” a deep voice bellowed out behind them on the path. “There are children present.”

  Katerina had been walking behind her father and she blushed furiously. “I’m not a child.”

  “Of course not, dear,” Sonya said with a wry smile. “Your father was talking about himself.”

  Alexi caught Sonya in his large arms. “So Evan, is this how you keep an unruly woman in line in your world? Kissing her?” He lowered his face to his wife’s and kissed her, tipping her head back. His daughter groaned in embarrassment.

  “I think there may be things about the mage world that aren’t so bad.” Releasing her, Alexi kept one arm looped around his mate’s waist as he shepherded them all toward the gathering.

  Evan noticed her immediately, the lone figure sitting on a stump away from the others. No one approached her, no one spoke to her. He left Kira talking to a young couple whose new infant had been recently born. Another name for her to add to the archive. He walked over and stood next to the woman. She smiled up at him.

&nbs
p; “Hello, Evan.”

  “Hello, Sasha.” He held his hand out to her and she hesitantly lifted hers and slipped it into his grasp. He turned her hand palm down and bent over it, brushing the back with his lips. Looking up into her eyes he brought his left hand up to hold her slim one in both of his. “Thank you. Thank you for what you did last night. I wish you had stayed afterward.”

  “I couldn’t,” she sighed, “but you are very welcome, my dear. Very welcome.”

  He squatted down next to her. “How can I ever say thank you enough? How can I repay you?”

  She smiled sweetly. “You are a dear boy. Just take care of my girl. She will have trouble adjusting to your world but perhaps it is the place where she will be able to be all of who she is.”

  Evan tried not to frown. Kira would not be welcomed with open arms in his world but not for the reason she felt out of place here. For exactly the opposite reason.

  “Oh, and Evan?”

  “Yes, my dear new aunt.” He grinned at her.

  She smiled back but her face grew very serious, very quickly. “Make sure she transforms before you do. Always. Make sure before the moon takes you, she has transformed. It will be easier for her in her wolf state. Easier for both of you. The pain will not seem so intense.” She looked down as she spoke, “My mother mated with a curse wolf. She told me it was horrible until she learned this little trick. I have warned Kira but she may forget. You must help her remember.”

  His eyes widened at the implication and Kira was suddenly very much in his mind with her unspoken questioning of his sudden change of feeling. His transformation, she’d feel his transformation. She’d share the pain. He turned to find her and found her looking at him, frowning.

  What had Sasha told him to bring the fear? To bring the anxiety? She excused herself and walked toward him. She heard Sasha’s words as she approached.

  “Did you not think of this? Did you not realize she would share your pain?”

  Transformation. He was worried about the transformation. She had not forgotten Sasha’s advice and intended to heed it. Such pain could cause a serious feedback loop that could harm them both, especially with the bond so fresh.

  He stood looking at her wordlessly, almost accusingly. She smiled at him. “Evan, don’t worry so much. I knew before I agreed to become your mate. You are worth it.” She brushed her hand down his face and it came to rest over his heart.

  He reached for her and pulled her to him, pressing her against his chest. Her face turned into his and she placed a kiss on his jaw. He turned into her lips and tangled his hand in her hair, pressing his mouth harder against hers. He was immensely thankful for the bond at that moment as he was certain he’d never have found the words to express what roared through him. He couldn’t remember ever feeling such powerful emotions on such a consistent basis, he had always kept that part of him contained, calmed. In his days here as he felt freer, he knew the pleasure of relaxing and becoming who he was meant to be. Still, a part of him had stayed guarded and cautious. Now he couldn’t. He could no longer hide or calm what she made him feel.

  Sasha’s voice drew his attention back to the fact they were not alone. “She is remarkable, Evan but then I think you are too.”

  “You both give me too much credit.” Kira turned to her aunt. “I simply am who I must be. There is nothing remarkable in that. Now Evan on the other hand…”

  He pulled her back against his chest and ducked his chin to rest on her shoulder. His hands clasped hers and she held them tight against her stomach. He placed a kiss on her neck and a faint concern flickered as he remembered the prohibition on touch among Elena’s people. He looked over at the crowd and relaxed. They were an affectionate people. No such prohibition existed here. Husbands stood touching their wives, sisters and mothers. Wives reached out to touch husbands, brothers and fathers. Soft words were being exchanged between Kira and Sasha as he watched the laughing and animated people around him.

  He caught their curious glances and outright stares in his direction. It was to be expected. He recognized several faces from the crowd the night before and was struck by the realization that these people, despite their prohibitions on the curse wolf had stood witness at the happiest night of his life. A bitter thought struck him as he saw Katerina wandering alone among the crowd. The younger girls her age now seemed to avoid her, though they had giggled with her in small groups just last night. Something had changed in the last few hours. Even the adults seemed to avoid the girl. The pieces fell into place. He was to be tolerated. Tolerated just as Katerina, Sasha and Kira were tolerated. Perhaps they believed he was the best Kira could hope for. A curse wolf and a gadje.

  “We should do this, Kira. We should get it over with before the hunt.” Sasha’s voice was sad and defeated. “Word has spread already. Let’s confirm or refute it once and for all.”

  He felt Kira’s head nod and drew himself back to the conversation. He felt her reluctance. She didn’t want to do this thing. Comprehension dawned. The sun was streaking pink in the sky, night was approaching. Katerina would be tested. She would be tested as more than a Wolf this night, she would be tested to see if she bore the curse.

  Kira turned to him. “Evan find Alexi for me and tell him it’s time.” She pulled away and walked toward Katerina.

  Alexi was easy to find. He was pacing his daughter, trying not to seem as if he was. “Alexi…” He had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when the big man turned to him with a pained and haunted look.

  “I know. Let’s get this over with.”

  He placed his hand on the large shoulder. “Alexi, remember Kira. Whatever happens, however this comes out, remember Kira. Katerina’s life need not be like Sasha’s.”

  Alexi’s eyes closed and his head shook slightly. “I am remembering Kira. You have no idea what it was before you came. They accept her, they admire her in their way,” he said, indicating the people now behind them. “But did you see one blood Wolf courting her? Did you see any of them greet her with a hug or even a simple clasping of hands? Do you see one of them pass her a baby to hold? Yes, I know the children aren’t here but if they were, you’d see them kept well from her. Her curse might rub off. Oh, they respect her. They fear her. You’ve never seen her angry, even I fear her then. They would even accept her in whatever role fate cast her but not one of them would love her. Not one.”

  They remained silent for a moment as they followed the women into the woods. Finally Evan spoke. “But Kira is loved, Alexi. Does it matter so much that it’s not a blood Wolf who loves her?”

  The dark head shook. “It doesn’t matter because it’s you. As much as Kira is accepted by the family for her past, you are cautiously tolerated for your potential. For your future. You are the only one of your kind. I cannot hope for another Evan Forester to come along for my little girl. The best I can hope for is a millennium of loneliness or a curse wolf who will rob her of her life.”

  They had come to a cleared area where a small creek fed into a still and calm pool of water. Evan knew he should disavow Alexi of his misconception but just couldn’t do it. The man obviously still believed Evan would transition and become one of them. He believed that Kira accepted his decision but Alexi would be different. He would argue, rage and threaten. He would provoke, push and prod. Now was not the time for that. Instead he whispered softly, “Would you rather she had a short and happy life or a long and lonely one?”

  “I am her father, Alexi replied,” the brown eyes looked deeply into his. “I want her to have a long and happy life. I can’t accept anything less.”

  There was nothing left to say. They turned and joined the women. Sasha and Kira were kneeling beside the pool. Katerina was standing between them looking down fearfully. Kira reached up for her hand. “Come on, Katerina. Don’t be afraid. We love you. That will not change. Sit with us.”

  The girl joined the women on the ground. The three chestnut heads pressed close together. They could have been the embodiment of t
he Celtic Mother, the three stages of womanhood. Kira’s hand stroked Katerina’s head and whispered softly to her. “Look into the pool. Look in and tell me what you see.”

  “I see water,” the girl said hurriedly. “I see water and stones. I don’t see anything else.”

  “Katerina,” Sasha sighed. “Pretending will not solve this. It will not make this go away. If you have the cur— The gift of seeing, then we must know. You must be taught to control it, to use it.”

  “Look into the water, darling.” Kira’s voice was soft and soothing.

  The girl leaned over the pool and looked into the water. Her face suddenly cleared and the tension in her muscles smoothed. No one spoke.

  “I see Johannes. He is hiding under the stairs. He doesn’t want to take his bath.” Her voice broke off and she looked up, tears in her eyes. She shook her head. Kira tried to calm her but she pulled away from them, standing. She backed away from the adults, her breathing coming in soft gasps. “No.” She turned terrified eyes to Alexi. “Daddy, please.”

  Alexi groaned with pain and Evan placed his hand on his arm, steadying him. “I love you, little one,” the big man whispered softly. “Your mother loves you. Nothing could change that.”

  The girl was sobbing, her hands pressed to her face. “Well, I don’t love you. Your blood did this to me.” She turned suddenly on her aunts still kneeling beside the pool. “I hate you,” she spat at Sasha. “This is your fault. If you had just left me alone. If you had just let me be, no one would have to know. You want me to be like you so you won’t be lonely when Kira goes away.”