I stumbled back into a large tree because I had no idea what was happening. The bark scraped down my arm. My heart thudded against my chest at the deep growls filling the air. Branches and twigs snapped and the ground shook each time as the bodies hit. It all happened so quickly that I didn’t even realize it was Orin who had attacked until Antan, Phillip, and Daniel were there pulling the brothers apart. With my wrist firmly in his grasp, Orin pulled me the rest of the way home, up the back stairs and into the house.
“Orin, calm down,” I pled through gasps of air. He could move so much quicker than I could and it took everything I had to even keep up. He was seething. I’d seen him angry before but not like this. Or maybe it was fear. I hadn’t ever seen him scared but I was starting to think that was the problem. “I’m ok. I’m ok.” My hands cupped his face to bring his eyes to mine. Before that, he was wild and unseeing but he needed to focus. “I’m ok.”
“Where did he take you?” he asked as the others came through the door.
“To a waterfall.”
“Why are you all wet?”
“We jumped from the top.”
While to normal people that statement may not have been enough to elicit violence, to Orin it seemed to be. He lunged at Roman going for the throat. Luckily his brothers were able to hold him off so he never made contact.
“Orin, calm down.” Roman stood behind the other two with his arms crossed over his chest like he didn’t have a care in the world. He ran a hand up through his hair to rub the back of his neck. “We went to her father’s house. Things didn’t go well. I thought she could use some fun. Give me some credit please.”
Orin’s head snapped to me. “Did he hurt you?”
I didn’t know if he meant Roman or my father. Either way, the answer was the same. “No.” But I knew I needed to elaborate to ease some of the tension in the room. “I said some things my father didn’t like but Roman handled him.”
Orin’s dark gaze bounced from me to his brother than back again.
“I’m getting cold so I’m going to go dry off.” Turning on my heel, I didn’t quite make it out the door before I turned back, my gaze dropping on Roman. “Thank you, Roman.”
He only gave one quick nod in return before glaring back at Orin.
The brothers would have things to work out. I didn’t expect Orin to join me but he was suddenly back at my side, my elbow in his grasp as I stood in the bathroom. I slowly began unbuttoning my blouse but my fingers shook so violently both from the chill I was catching and the adrenalin from the confrontation that it became a difficult task.
“Here.” Orin stepped closer. “I’ll run you a bath then help you with that.”
As the tub behind me filled with steaming hot water, my husband began to work on my clothing. Standing before him completely naked warmed my skin. His smirk meant he knew exactly what I was thinking.
“Get in.” He gestured toward the claw foot tub.
The first touch of the steaming water caused a full body shiver to take over. But as soon as I was in up to my chest the cold from the waterfall receded. Orin dropped to his knees beside me, his arms rested on the side of the tub with his chin on top.
“I have half a mind to join you.” He dipped one hand in the dragged his fingers pulled through the water.
My head dropped back against the cast iron with a small grin. “Don’t you have family things to deal with?”
“I do.” He nodded. “But I think in there with you would be more fun.”
“It would absolutely be more fun. However, your brothers miss their wives, you know. I feel sort of selfish enjoying… us while they’re apart.”
I was grateful to be in water hot enough to have flushed my skin otherwise the blush of embarrassment would have been palpable. I loved this new side of me. The side that wasn’t afraid to say that I enjoyed the time Orin and I spent alone, sometimes in bed, sometimes not but I was still getting used to being that person.
“I don’t mind being selfish.”
The low, raw sound of his voice told me he was already three steps ahead of me and as much as I would have like to lock the world out to get lost in my husband, instead I narrowed my eyes so he’d know I didn’t think that was a good idea. If he would have continued, I wouldn’t have denied him. I was weak when it comes to Orin Vilkatas.
“You’re right,” he said then sighed. “I know you’re right.”
“Before you run off, I haven’t had a chance to read my mother’s journal but I took it from my father’s desk and her name is written on the inside cover.” Our eyes locked and there was no way either of us would look away. I didn’t even know what any of this really meant but I did know that nothing good was headed our way. “It read Thora Balodis Davis.”
Orin closed his eyes and swallowed so hard his Adam’s apple jerked violently.
“She was one of them. What does that mean?”
“That means you need to finish up so we can get downstairs.”
Before that revelation, Orin was going to leave me alone in the bathtub. Now he wasn’t. His presence didn’t make the apprehension or the constant feeling that danger loomed just outside of my protective bubble, leave my body. I had wanted to stay right there in the warmth of that water until my fingers pruned.
Dressing in a simple skirt and top, I threw my hair into a Gibson tuck that looked like an amateur did it. Orin insisted I was fine to leave it down, his family was my family after all but I just couldn’t do it. There were some things about my upbringing that would be hard to overcome.
When we joined the others back in the kitchen it looked like we’d entered the sacred den of a pow-wow. His father sat at the table, very much in charge, with his mother standing just behind him in a clear stance that screamed ‘second in command’ with the other brothers scattered around the table. Orin sat down on the only empty chair.
I had no idea what to do with this awkward and uncomfortable grouping. Mostly because I didn’t know what was going on. As I tried to slink back to the corner on the other side of the room, Orin’s hand shot out, wrapped my wrist firmly in his grip and yanked until I fell into his lap.
“Really?” Ivan growled.
Looking from the angry brother to Orin, I thought my husband was about to bring out his famous temper. Or what Roman had said was the worst temper of them all.
Instead, Orin smirked and one eyebrow lifted infinitesimally.
“Palikite jį,” Emmie snapped which made Ivan slump back into his chair.
I made a mental note to ask Orin later what his mother had said. For now, it was time for me to find out what exactly was going on and how I figured into it.
At first, no one spoke. I got the feeling that me being in their private group made them as uncomfortable as me. Whatever they were going to say had to do with me directly and with my mother.
“Lizzie took her mother’s journal while at her father’s house.” Orin’s eyes looked from me to his father. “Her mother was a Balodis.”
Dead silence filled the room as all of them looked directly at me. I’d never felt that amount of scrutiny including in all the years I spent under my father’s watchful eye.
Ivan sat back with his large arms crossed over his mountain of a chest and glared at Orin then said, “Then wouldn’t it be easier to give her to them. Or dispose of her?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“If we handed Elizabeth over to them, it would keep the peace for a while. They’d be too preoccupied to be a bother with us,” Ivan said.
The brother’s obviously hadn’t gotten on board with the plan that included not killing me.
Orin gently lifted me off him. I took two steps back and held onto the edge of the counter to keep from falling. My knees weren’t cooperating and threatened to buckle. Given the climate of our kitchen and the anger rolling off my husband, I was surprised I was able to stand at all.
“Say that again, Brother,” Orin spat. “And we’re going to have a serious problem. You will g
et to her over my dead body.”
“And mine,” Roman agreed, sliding in next to Orin.
“And mine,” Phillip joined them as well.
“We don’t need her,” Ivan yelled.
“I need her,” Orin yelled even louder.
The room erupted in chaos, words in a language I couldn’t possibly know. As a group, they fell into Lithuanian without realizing it sometimes and I hated not knowing what was being said. Especially since it was clearly about me.
I couldn’t take the arguing so I took the one giant step toward the table, putting myself in the middle of very angry werewolves. Swallowing down any fear that I had because, honestly, you couldn’t be in the middle of that group and not have some fear, I took a deep breath.
“Before we start with the “Kill her” part of this scenario may I ask a question?” I made sure to enunciate loudly so they’d hear me.
The group fell silent and while I could feel them all looking at me, I couldn’t focus on any of them. Orin tucked my hand inside his for support.
“If the Balodis… pack?”
Emmie nodded at my word choice. I saw her out of the corner of my eye.
“Ok, if their pack were to get me, what would they do? I mean why would they even want me? I just want to understand.”
“Elizabeth,” Emmie spoke before anyone else had the opportunity. Her voice was so soft and gentle that I knew I wouldn’t want to hear what she had to say. “From what we know so far, you are the last of the purest bloodline for them. Your mother was the only child of their oldest branch of the family. Her parents had been brought together with the specific purpose of continuing the bloodline. Your grandfather was pure and important. Your grandmother healthy, and chosen. Your mother was the hope for the future. When she left, hope left with it. Half human babies are working but they aren’t nearly as strong. The hope would be that if one of them mated with you, your offspring would be stronger and shift even though you have not.”
“And not being strong is the real problem?”
“Yes. It’s why some of the Vilkatas were not ecstatic about you pairing with Orin.” She shot the brothers a scathing look. “With strength comes power. With power comes greed.” This time she glared at Ivan then Roman. Roman put his hands up in surrender. He’d offered his life to protect mine just moments before. He wasn’t on the other side anymore.
“So if they get me, they’ll want to… ” I wasn’t sure how to say it in front of everyone. I didn’t even want to think it. I’d only been with Orin and I only wanted to be with Orin. The thought of someone touching me against my will brought on a physical sickness that was extremely hard to control. “They would want to impregnate me?”
Emmie nodded softly but Orin pinched my chin between his thumb and finger to turn my head toward him.
“I will not let that happen, Lizzie. If you trust anything, trust that.” The intensity with which he spoke along with the look in his eyes made me believe completely that if the Balodis got their paws on me, it was because Orin was dead. I hated the thought. Yet it made me feel safe at the same time.
“On a much lighter note,” Phillip interrupted. “I called and the women will leave in the morning to arrive around dinner time. We need to figure out where we’ll all stay because I am not having my wife sleep on the floor in a room with you three.”
What he said lightened the tone of the room and brought on a bout of laughter. Their wives could not sleep on the floor. That would make me a terrible hostess and made me even more nervous. I would once again be the only human in a pack of werewolves, Only now there would be more of them.
Orin sighed then said, “I own the house next door.”
“What?” He’d never told me that.
“I had to buy it. It was the only way that I could ensure total privacy. The other houses are either far enough away or blocked by the trees. So I could… ”
“Folic naked in the woods?” I couldn’t keep the small smile from crossing my lips as I remembered the first time I came to Orin’s house and he’d come out of the tree line without clothes on. It was also the first time I’d seen him naked or any man for that matter. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t keep curiosity from taking over and taking a peek.
“Exactly.” He laughed.
Ivan immediately said he wanted to stay in the other house. Not surprising considering how he felt about me. We had three bedrooms in our house. We had one, of course, Roman said he’d be staying in one, and the third Phillip claimed. Leaving their parents and Daniel to the other house with Phillip. Emmie assured me that they were still close enough should anything happen.
Sitting on our bed that night, I asked Orin to give me the rundown of his brother’s and their wives. I had a good memory and wanted to know who was who before they arrived. To be prepared. Orin said I’d get along quite well with Phillip’s wife, Diana, and Roman’s wife, Karina. Ivan’s wife Nell would be an obstacle considering that she usually chose whatever side Ivan was one. Which wasn’t mine.
Lastly, Daniels wife, Aras, and Nell had been best friends before they married into the family and tended to stick together.
I slept better that night with the Vilkatas who hated me the most away in a different house.
The next morning, everyone was restless while waiting for their wives to arrive. I helped Emmie properly open the house next door, making sure that each bed had fresh linens and clean towels. Orin must’ve bought it completely furnished because it looked like the family who lived there was about to return at any moment.
We washed the towels that were there so everything would be clean and ready for the new visitors. Emmie snuck a few things from my house just so we wouldn’t have to go to the market right then.
Around dinnertime, a dinner that I helped Emmie prepare, Daniel and Ivan returned with their wives and a toddler while Phillip and Roman returned with their wives and a small baby.
Karina and Diana hugged me when introductions were made. Aras shook my hand but Nell just gave a slight nod. Then I got to meet Daniel junior, a two-year-old cherub of a boy that hid behind his mother. And Phillip brought the baby over to me. She was six months old, he said and her name was Ruby. Her chubby cheeks and big dark eyes were precious. When he said, to Ruby, that I was her Aunt Elizabeth, I almost burst into tears. It wasn’t logical but I knew it was his way of making it clear to everyone that I was part of the family and I was permanent.
Emmie and I had figured out how to extend the table so that we could all sit together but it was still close quarters at dinner. Yet it didn’t feel close. We were side by side and it was the exact opposite of every dinner of my life.
“So, I hear you’re a member of the Balodis pack,” Karina said breaking the awkward silence. “How come your hair is so light?”
“I got it from my father.”
“Your mother was dark then?”
“I think so. I’ve only seen one photo of her and that was several years ago. I think I remember her hair being dark.”
Karina scrunched up her face at me. “What do you mean you only saw one photo?”
I figured it was as good a time as any to just get my life story out there. Well, not all of it but the part about my mother. They listened quietly, not asking me to elaborate on the parts that I skimmed over and held all questions or comments until the end. Even then they didn’t have many.
The next morning the brothers were gone before I woke up.
The Vilkatas women were already in the kitchen when I arrived which earned me a snide glare from Nell, who’d barely spoken last night at dinner. Karina, on the other hand, bounced over and pulled me into a tight hug.
“Good morning, Lizzie,” Emmie said over her shoulder as she worked with some beef on the countertop.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I think Orin turned my alarm off.”
“That sounds like him,” Diana said with a laugh.
I didn’t know what she meant and I didn’t ask. If her comment was in regard to a
past sweetheart, I really didn’t want to know.
“What can I do?” I asked pulling an apron over my head.
“Why don’t you cut up these vegetables? We’re making stew. The guys will be starving when they get back.” Diana pointed a knife at a stack of carrots and potatoes.
Wrapping my hand around the knife, I worked slowly, starting with the carrots and cutting them into bite-sized pieces. The others talked amongst themselves but for the most part, we just kept working. It was easy and normal.
“Where’s the closest market?” Karina asked. “We need a few more things.”
“I can go,” I offered.
She was already shaking her head. “Sorry. Orin said you weren’t to leave the house alone.”
“He isn’t my father. I can go to the market.”
“Why don’t we both go?” Karina asked instead. “You can show me where it is and Orin won’t have a fit at the thought of you being out there alone. I promise I can hold my own.”
“Didn’t doubt that for a minute,” I said back smiling.
Karina was tall and thin, not to mention absolutely beautiful. Not someone to normally fear.
But if I’d learned one thing, it was not to judge a werewolf by their human form. With my father out there in the world and would no doubt cause problems for me if given the chance; Orin’s werewolf brothers, some of who still wanted me dead; and now the Balodis’ out to get me so that I could help them repopulate their pack with what they saw as purer blood… I’d keep Karina as close to my side as humanly possible.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Karina walked beside me, talking fast like the girls in school used to, about nothing in particular. It was like she was going out of her way to make me feel comfortable being around her. What she didn’t know, couldn’t know, was that I was more at ease because of her. We were halfway to the market when she finally asked questions.
“I have to know how you and Orin met.”
It wasn’t exactly a question but still a normal curiosity.
Moonstruck Page 18
