by West, Tara
“My dad was black, and my mom was white,” Eilea continued. “Everyone was against their marriage, but they did it anyway. Other than dealing with discrimination, they were happy until....”
Amara remembered Eilea telling her about the drunk driver who killed her family. “I’m so sorry. And then you went to live with your grandma?”
“Yes. My uncle was named guardian in my parents’ will.” She sniffled. “But he didn’t have time for me.”
She patted Eilea’s hand. “I can totally relate.”
Eilea released a long breath and cast a woeful gaze at her uncle. “I resented him for a long time for choosing his job over me, but now I see why. He loves the Amaroki and his job. I can’t see anyone else doing it.”
“Me neither.” She leaned into Eilea. “I have a confession. I haven’t been nice to him.” She recalled all the times she’d given Johnson attitude for calling Luc to duty.
“Why?” Eilea asked.
“I didn’t trust him, because he works for the government, but now I see you’re right.” She frowned. “He really does care. I feel bad now.”
“Don’t feel bad.” Eilea chuckled, waving away Amara’s concern. “I’ve given him a lot of grief over the years for not being there for me, but the Amaroki needed him more than I did.”
They flinched at a low groan and loud curse coming from Agent Johnson.
Eilea jumped to her feet. “I think he’s waking up. I’m here, Uncle.” She sat beside him on the bed, taking his hand in hers.
He slowly sat up, scowling at the IV stuck in his arm. “What the hell happened?”
“You collapsed.” Her lower lip trembled, and she looked on the verge of more tears. “You had stage four lung cancer.”
“Goddamn!” He kicked the blanket off his legs. “I can’t be sick. The Amaroki need me.”
“It’s okay.” She flashed a reassuring smile. “Amara Thunderfoot cured you.”
“Thank you,” he said to Amara before ripping cords off his arms and flinging them to the floor. “Now get me the hell out of here.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Luc raced through the forest, hot on the lone wolf’s trail. Or so he hoped. Her scent was strong at times, but other times it was weak, masked by the odd scent of magic and maybe four or five other wolves. Had the lone wolf found another pack? If so, their magic was unlike anything he’d ever come across, so powerful that Luc wondered if he really needed to save this lone wolf or if it was here to save the Amaroki.
He was racing so hard, so focused on catching the lone wolf’s scent, that he hadn’t noticed the whir of the helicopter blades until it was almost upon them. He smelled over a dozen humans, a few of them familiar.
He slowed to a halt and waited for the others to catch up.
What is it? Rone asked, chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.
Something’s not right. Luc shifted back into human form, then picked stickers off of the bottoms of his feet.
Jovan and Geri shifted back into humans, too.
“What is it, Luc?” Jovan asked.
“The lone wolf and others went in that direction.” Luc gestured at the thinning trees in the distance wiping sweat from his brow. “Some of them have very strong magic. I also smell soldiers approaching.”
“Listen.” Geri held a hand to his ear. “Do you hear the helicopter?”
Luc pulled Rone deeper into the shadows. “It’s nearby.”
The helicopter was about half a mile away. No doubt they’d found something. Luc hoped it wasn’t the lone wolf and her pack.
“What’s happening?” Rone asked.
“I’m not sure yet.” Luc steadied his breathing so he could focus on the approaching humans. Some were on foot. Others were in all-terrain vehicles.
They froze when they heard the howl of a wolf, followed by the rapid fire of a semi-automatic gun. The howls ceased, and Luc’s heart imploded. Had he come too late? Had they killed the lone wolf?
Geri and Jovan let out ear-piercing howls before shifting and racing in the direction of the gunfire.
“Wait!” Luc called, but it was no use. Amara’s fathers were long gone.
Curse the Ancients! Luc shifted and followed them. Stay behind me, he said to Rone, or else our mate’s fathers will get us both killed.
“AGENT JOHNSON, YOU don’t know how glad I am to see you.” Drasko clasped Johnson’s hand, giving it a hard shake.
Amara and Dr. Johnson followed the agent out of the room.
“Uncle!” Dr. Johnson cried, trying to close the back of his robe, which exposed a naked, saggy ass. “You should get dressed.”
Agent Johnson swatted his niece away. “There’s no time.”
“Mr. Johnson,” the nurse named Maria screamed, racing down the hall toward them. “You’re not supposed to be out of bed.”
“Like hell I’m not!” Johnson spun a slow circle, scratching his head. “Where are my things?”
“Dr. Johnson,” the nurse said, “please help me get him back to bed. He’s delusional.”
“No he’s not,” Dr. Johnson said shortly. “Where are his clothes?”
Drasko shared a look with Amara, who shrugged and smiled.
The nurse stuck a hand on her hip. “You can’t be serious.”
Dr. Johnson stormed up to the nurse, poking her chest. “Try me.”
Whoa. Dr. Johnson had it out for this nurse, and Drasko suspected it had something to do with Boris flirting with the blonde earlier. Curse the Ancients, this human did have the hots for Amara’s fathers. Drasko wished they’d quit tricking humans and shifters into falling in love. They only created messes, like this lone wolf situation.
“Fine,” the nurse said between clenched teeth. “I’ll check his chart.” She sauntered to the nurse’s station at the end of the hall.
“There’s no time!” Agent Johnson said again and headed straight for the exit.
The nurse spun on her heel. “Sir, you can’t leave the hospital.”
He pounded the double doors with both hands. “Like hell I can’t.”
Cursing, Dr. Johnson snatched the nurse’s door key from her and swiped the card. “Sorry,” Dr. Johnson said. “Federal emergency.”
The nurse squawked. Everyone followed Agent Johnson’s bare ass out of the hospital just as several military police pulled into the parking lot, sirens blaring.
LUC ORDERED RONE TO stay back and proceeded into the clearing with caution. Hands raised, he walked before them as a naked man, praying they would see he was unarmed and wouldn’t shoot.
A quick assessment of the situation showed they were in some seriously deep shit. Jovan had transformed into a giant, white protector, eyes blazing. Beside him, his brother snarled at a dozen heavily armed soldiers while guarding the bloody body of a motionless wolf. Though he couldn’t make out who it was, he saw a bushy white tail. Had he been too late to save the lone wolf?
Luc drew nearer, inhaling the wolf’s scent. The first thing that hit him was the smell of death. Rigor mortis had already begun to set in, and he feared it was too late for Amara to save her. The second thing he noticed was that the wolf’s scent was all too familiar—Katarina. He should’ve been relieved the lone wolf hadn’t been killed, but Amara’s fathers would want revenge, despite their tumultuous relationship with her.
Luc’s gaze shot to Agent Richter, who stood with his gun pointing at the ground and about a dozen shells at his feet. “What the hell is going on?”
“I shot the lone wolf, that’s what’s going on,” Richter said. “Call off your monsters before my men fill them full of holes, too.”
“This isn’t the lone wolf, you idiot,” Luc said. “You shot Katarina Lupescu. She was a visitor from Romania.”
Head thrown back, Jovan howled at the moon. “She was our mate!”
Richter’s jaw dropped, then he recovered, face screwed tight. “This wouldn’t have happened if you’d stayed on the reservation, as ordered.”
“Tell these
men the real reason why you ordered us to stay on the reservation.” Luc’s ire rose. “It was because you knew my mate could heal Agent Johnson, and you didn’t want to give up your power.”
Richter shifted from foot to foot, looking nervous. “That’s a lie.”
“Then why wouldn’t you let her heal him?” Luc demanded.
The soldiers shared questioning looks behind Richter’s back.
Richter let out a grating laugh. “He had stage-four lung cancer. He wasn’t coming back from that.”
How could this snake laugh at another man’s demise? “He will, and when he does, you’re going to be in deep shit.”
Veins popped out of Richter’s neck, and the look on his face reminded Luc of a volcano about to erupt.
“Shoot them!” He wildly waved at his armed soldiers. “Shoot all of them.”
A familiar captain stepped forward, lowering his weapon and holding out a staying hand to his troops. “Why? They’re not attacking us.”
Richter’s face flushed deep crimson. “Are you disobeying my orders again?” he hollered.
“I’m sorry, sir.” The captain frowned. “You don’t have the authority to order murder.” He turned to Luc. “Sgt. Thunderfoot, I don’t know if you remember me, but we served together in Afghanistan last year. It has been an honor working with the Amaroki.”
“Thank you.” Luc splayed a hand across his heart. “I do remember you, and it was an honor to serve with you and defend my country.”
“She was trying to get away from us,” the captain said, “then he ordered us to corner her. She was scared. We refused to shoot her, so Richter did.”
Luc closed the distance between them, until he was standing next to Katarina’s body. His shoulders caved inward with sorrow at the number of holes in her chest.
Geri shifted into a naked human and tenderly lifted Katarina, hugging her to his chest. “Do you think Amara can bring her back?” His voice cracked with raw emotion.
“I’m sorry,” Luc said, “but her soul has passed.” He’d already witnessed Amara try to save a family’s dead horse. It had been crushed by a falling tree limb, and Amara had worked for several minutes trying to bring its soul back, to no avail.
Jovan howled again, stomping and shaking the earth. “You murdered our mate!”
Richter backed up, nearly tripping over a soldier before ducking behind him and cowering like a frightened rabbit. “I shot her in self-defense.”
Jovan’s eyes dazzled white, and his voice dropped to a deep, menacing growl. “You cornered her and shot her in cold blood.”
Time seemed to move in slow motion as Jovan lunged for Richter. Luc hollered for him to stand down, but he doubted the giant could hear over the thunderous sound of his wild roars.
With a terrified squeal, the agent raised his gun and shot Jovan in the chest. Jovan grabbed the gun and crumpled it in his fist. The giant protector pushed the soldier out of the way and grabbed Richter’s head, popping it off his shoulders like he was dismembering a doll. He tossed the head into the forest. The headless corpse dropped like a puppet with its strings cut, spilling blood on the ground. Jovan stumbled back when soldiers fired at him.
“Stop! Stop!” Luc cried. “He won’t hurt you!”
Jovan let out a heart-wrenching wail and fell to his knees, clutching his wounds. Chest heaving, he fell on his back, blood pooling around him.
Geri shifted back into a wolf, whimpering and licking his brother’s wounds. When Jovan’s eyes shut, Luc cried out. He went down beside Jovan, trying to stop the bleeding, but he’d been hit in a major artery. Please Ancients, he cried. Don’t let Amara’s father die.
He squinted into the bright summer sun at a helicopter hovering above them.
“Lower your weapons!” a familiar voice hollered through a megaphone.
“Agent Johnson?” Luc whispered. “Please tell me you’ve brought Amara.”
“FATHER!” AMARA CRIED, racing from the helicopter. Great Ancients, please don’t let him be dead.
She fell on top of him, throwing all her healing magic into his wounds, barely aware of the shouting going on around her. Beside her, Eilea knelt, holding Jovan’s large paw and checking for his pulse, tears streaming down her face.
“Do you feel anything?” Amara asked Eilea. It seemed that she’d heal one bullet wound only to find another.
“There’s a pulse.” Eilea wiped her tear-stained cheek. “But it’s barely there.”
Amara spared a glance at her other fathers, who were huddled around Katarina’s lifeless body, sobbing into her fur. Though Katarina had never been kind to her, she felt terrible for them. Her heart clenched when they lifted their heads to the sky and let out mournful howls. She turned her attention back to Jovan, determined to heal him. Her fathers should not have to grieve the loss of their brother, too.
After what felt like an eternity, Amara drained the last of her magic on Jovan. It hadn’t been enough to completely heal each wound, but it would keep him alive until she gathered more strength.
Chapter Twenty-Three
You are safe now. The largest of the shadow-wolves, named Amarok, glided into the copse of trees where they’d been hiding. Follow the path. You will find your own kind.
Takaani was apprehensive. Who are you?
The one the others called Fenrir stepped forward, bowing to Takaani with large, luminous eyes. We are your fathers.
All moisture in her mouth dried up in an instant. All of you? You’re ghosts?
No, Amarok said, his black ears twitching as voices drew near. We’re Ancients.
Takaani stepped back into the shadows, feeling more bewildered and alone than ever before. I don’t understand what that means.
The distant voices grew louder. Takaani thought she heard them calling “Annie.”
Fenrir nudged her with his long snout. They are looking for you. Go. We will visit you again.
When? she asked, pleading. She’d only just met the wolves claiming to be her fathers and already they had to go? And how did she have more than one father?
In your dreams, Amarok answered, affectionately nuzzling her ear. The other wolves did the same. She closed her eyes, basking in their love. She wasn’t ready for them to go. She had many more questions. For starters, how was she able to feel them when they were only shadows?
When she opened her eyes, they were gone and in their place was a man in military uniform with luminous, golden eyes. Shifter eyes. She reminded herself of what Amarok had told her, that she would be safe with her own kind. Still, she couldn’t help but worry. Her innards twisted. Why was he wearing a uniform?
“Annie?”
Who are you?
He blinked hard. “Wow. You can speak telepathically.”
Of course, she answered, backing up a step and checking escape routes, just in case. Can’t you? Had she been fooled by his eyes?
He shook his head. “Only with my mate and my brothers.”
“Am—am I your mate?” she stuttered. Odd, because her instinct told her this man was not destined for her.
“I already have a mate.” He knelt down a few paces from her, setting a blue hospital robe at her feet. “I’m Luc Thunderfoot. I’ve been looking for you.”
Thunderfoot! She’d heard that name before. You know my cousin, Amara?
He flashed a wide smile. “She’s my mate.”
Relief swept through her. Amarok was right. She was safe. Will you take me to her?
THEY FOUND REFUGE IN the abandoned clinic on the outskirts of the reservation. Agent Johnson issued orders to the troops, starting with the removal and storage of the bodies.
Dr. Johnson hadn’t had time to get the clinic in order, but the hospital had a giant table that could accommodate Jovan, and she was able to scrounge together basic medical necessities. Amara had healed him as best she could. The rest she left in Dr. Johnson’s capable hands.
Amara stumbled into a dusty waiting room and slumped in a chair next to Drasko. Her fathe
rs had taken Katarina’s body to a back room, their faces blotchy and covered with the tracks of their tears. Though she knew it was terrible of her, she couldn’t help but wonder if their tears were for Katarina or if they cried because they were ashamed of rejoicing in finally being rid of her.
Hakon joined Johnson in his temporary office, discussing the best way to move forward and also speaking with Chieftain Tor on the phone. Luc had gone looking for Annie. He’d been gone over an hour. Amara worried he wouldn’t find her. She also fretted for Luc out there on his own. She wanted to go home, cuddle Hrod, and put this awful day behind her.
Rone got her some ready-to-eat meals from one of the Army captains, which tasted disgusting, but they were loaded with calories and helped her gain back her strength. After she ate two of them, she belched, wondering what the hell was in the gooey turkey gravy and then decided she didn’t want to know. She was relieved she wasn’t as sick during this second pregnancy as she had been with Hrod, and she was able to hold down food.
“Amara, you need rest,” Rone said, handing her a box of juice.
“I won’t be able to rest until my family is safe at home.”
She had no idea where Rone got the lukewarm juice, and she didn’t care. It tasted like heaven. She drank it in a few swallows, then crumpled the box and tossed it in the wastebasket before curling up in Drasko’s lap.
“Do you think she’s okay?” she asked him while he stroked her back and kissed her forehead.
“The captain said they only shot one wolf.”
She relaxed into his embrace, wishing she could enjoy him, but her anxiety overshadowed everything. “I hope so.”
“Amara, someone’s here to see you.”
She started at the sound of Luc’s voice. To her amazement, a familiar raven-haired girl in a blue hospital robe stood beside him. She unfolded herself from Drasko’s lap and got to her feet. “Annie?”