Circle of Wolves

by Jacqueline Roth

  As if summoned by his name being spoken, Alexi walked into the room. “I was there for what?” He dropped down good-naturedly in the armchair next to the fireplace and looked up at her expectantly.

  She smiled at him. She loved this older brother. What was more, she liked him. As much as she loved and adored Nico, she didn’t find much about him that was likable. That would, perhaps, change when he grew older.

  She walked over and placed her hand on his massive shoulder. “Mother has been telling tales. It seems she has run out of her own adventures and has started telling Nico mine.”

  Alexi looked at her sharply. “Valeri?” The name was almost a whisper. She nodded. Alexi looked hard at Nico. “What did she tell you about him?”

  He had thrown the name out to get a reaction from his sister but he hadn’t expected this. Now he had not only upset her but from Alexi’s stare Nico could tell he was unhappy at the mention of this name too.

  “Come on, Alexi. You know what she said to him,” she answered for the younger boy. “I almost threw my life away. I have no judgment. Thank the gods they have their wonderful sons because I’m certainly not fit to be in this family.” She turned her sad eyes to her baby brother. “Right, little one?”

  “As much as I love your mother, I suggest it’s time you all stopped putting so much stock in what she says.” The man’s voice startled them all. He had appeared behind them from an access panel behind one wall. It was how the great Stanislav Gregoravitch managed to appear and disappear from one portion of the house to another without entering the corridors. He was very like his older son, or rather his older son was very like him. He had the same broad build, dark hair and eyes. They could have been brothers as the older man looked barely over forty. He was carrying a file filled with clippings as he crossed the room and placed an affectionate kiss on his daughter’s cheek. Alexi had risen and he took the now vacant chair. His eyes sought his younger son.

  “You would do well to remember that you are not an adult yet, Nico. You have no right to challenge your sister’s words or actions. You would further benefit by keeping your mouth shut from time to time.” The brown eyes bore deep into the boy who did not raise his head. “You cannot hear the approaching hunter while you are baying at the moon.”

  She watched her father scan the face of his younger son. She knew what he was looking for. They had talked, father and daughter, of his fears for his youngest. The dark regard shifted and he was again looking at her. He was smiling.

  “So, I understand I have decided to invite our visitor to stay a few days?” His words were light but she heard the reprimand.

  “I’m sorry, Father, I meant to discuss this with you immediately but other matters interrupted my intent.” She shifted her gaze knowingly to Nico. Her father nodded.

  “It is a good thing for you, my girl that you are generally right. I know no one else who should even begin to dream of taking such liberties.” The words were a warning, not only to her but also to her brothers, especially Nico. “So come here my lovely girl and tell me what you’ve learned.”

  She sat on the arm of the chair and relayed the story told by Evan. He looked up at Alexi. “Where is our guest at the moment?”

  “I left him in his room. He has been shown the pool, the garden, the satellite system, all the basic toys and entertainments.” Alexi chuckled slightly.

  “Nakira?” Using her full first name, her father asked a hundred questions with that one word.

  She sighed. “He seems decent enough. But that’s just it. He seems decent, we don’t really know him. How can you take the warnings of a stranger to heart? How can you help one who is not your own, risking yourself and others, if you don’t know him?” She shook her head and the dark red curls shifted sending a spiral lock into her face. “He seems sincere. I think he believes what he is saying. The question that remains is, can we believe it?”

  She looked over at Alexi. He was nodding his agreement. Nico was scowling at the floor. She knew him well enough to know he was considering some comment and hoped he’d be wise enough to keep it to himself. He wasn’t.

  “What does any of it matter to us? Sincere, not sincere, why does it matter?” He raised his eyes to his father’s face. “What should we care if their kind has problems?”

  “Because the problems never stop with their own kind.” Her father was looking sadly at the boy. “You’re too young to remember the horrors some of us have seen. This is the way with humans. Whenever power is at issue, whenever there are divisions, the quickest way to consolidate is to create a common enemy. Based on what I’ve just heard, it seems that we could become just that enemy.” He reached into the file he was holding and pulled out an odd-looking clipping of paper.

  “Here, reports from our Watchers, stories of what these people have done to his kind. They restrict their movement, they would lock up or destroy those among their kind who are like him. Those who have any link to us. It goes on and on.” He closed the file.

  “This is proof then, Father, that we should leave them to self-destruct. And if they dare to come after us, we will destroy them.” Nico’s voice was defiant and very young. His father sighed.

  “Perhaps. That is what I need to know. I need to find out if this offer of alliance and peace is a real one or if it is simply a ploy to try to control us.” He looked down at the folder for a long moment.

  “You know I must keep my distance in this matter. One of you is going to have to find out more for me. Decide if we should cooperate with them.” She knew it was coming. Alexi knew it too. He was looking at her sadly. Only Nico seemed unaware of what was going to happen. It was on the tip of his child’s tongue to volunteer.

  Her father looked up into her eyes and held out the folder. Nico made a startled noise. His father looked at him sternly, then back at the blue eyes of his darling girl. “Proceed carefully my child. Watch your boundaries and proceed carefully.”

  “What is more important, Father? Arbitrary boundaries that you yourself have taught me are unjust or finding out the truth?”

  Her father looked warily into her eyes then let out a sigh. “You know the answer to that. Just be careful. You know what would be at risk.”

  “Those things no longer matter now, Father.” She glanced quickly at Nico. “I no longer carry that burden. I will not be the youngest for long. Besides, Evan Forester is not Val.”

  Alexi closed his eyes momentarily. When he opened them he stole a guarded glance at his sister. Her eyes were on his and the sadness made his chest ache. He’d do anything he could to take it all back. But he couldn’t. An idea formed in his mind and with it came an absolute sense of certainty known only to those who seldom doubt their impulses.

  Their father spoke again. “No, he is not. And you’re not the same girl you were twenty years ago either.” He stood to leave the room. Glancing back at his children his heart filled with pride. The two older ones had had their foibles but they would do their family proud. If only Nico… His eyes rested on the elder two again and his thick brows furrowed.

  “He’ll have to be told. This Evan Forester, he’ll have to be told everything.”

  Kira was the only one to find her voice. “In my own time, Father. Please grant me that. In my own time I will explain everything.”

  “Even his potential?” Alexi raised his own brow.

  “Everything.”

  Alexi sighed. “I should probably be the one…”

  “No,” she cut him off. “I will tell him.”

  When the man who ruled more than just their lives exited, Nico jumped to his feet. “Why you? Why is it always you? Why not Alexi or me?”

  “Father makes his choices for his own reasons,” she answered softly, not looking at him.

  “It’s not right.” He turned to Alexi. “It’s not right and you know it. She’s already shown she can’t be trusted with something like this.”

  Alexi rose to his feet but Kira stopped him. She walked over to her younger brother.
She reached for his hand and slid her other hand up to touch his face. “Nico, don’t force this. You are stepping too far over the line and you are going to force me to push you back.” The young boy’s eyes widened. There was none of the usual tolerance in the face of his devoted sister. “Don’t make me hurt you,” she whispered.

  She stepped back and walked to the door. She opened it and stood waiting for them to leave. Alexi pushed Nico ahead of him. As he passed the door he leaned down and gave his sister a quick kiss on the cheek.

  When the door had closed behind them Nico found himself shoved hard against the wall. “Don’t you ever do that again!” Alexi hissed at him. “I don’t care how old you get or what role in this family you hold, don’t you ever do that again or you will answer to me.” Alexi’s eyes were hard and furious. “If you ever intentionally hurt her again I will hurt you and you’ll be lucky. Push her to deal with you and you will end up dead, little brother. Do not underestimate her.”

  “But why her? Why choose her?” Nico tried to keep his voice calm and was disappointed to hear it sound so much like a whining child.

  “Because she’s the only one who hasn’t already decided.”

  * * * * *

  Evan started awake. He wasn’t sure when he had dozed off but he woke to find he had fallen asleep in the large chair. Someone was tapping on the door. Before he could rise to admit the visitor, a tall very thin man with a wrinkled and pinched face entered the room. Evan stood and walked toward the man who refused to acknowledge him at all. The servant walked past him and laid a tray on the small table near the hearth. He tried to leave but Evan stepped between him and the door, forcing the man to look at him.

  After a moment of tense silence, the wrinkled face clenched its jaw. “Is there something else you require?”

  “What is your name?”

  “I’m afraid I don’t see the relevance of that question.” The man’s dark eyes glared at him.

  “I’d like to know whom I’m addressing.” The man did not answer. “What is your name?”

  The man hesitated.

  “Is this how a guest of the master of this house is treated?”

  “It is how your kind is treated.”

  “I see. I’m surprised. I thought your Alpha was a powerful man, yet it seems he can’t even control the behavior of his own servants toward his guest.”

  The lined face flushed. “I am called Pavel.”

  Evan stepped out of his way and the man hurried for the door. “Thank you, Pavel. Thank you for the tray.”

  The man paused, his hand on the door handle but he didn’t turn to look at Evan. As if he had decided against whatever impulse had halted him, he straightened his spine and moved out the door.

  Evan had just finished the food when Alexi burst into the room. “So my little friend, how are you finding your surroundings? A damn sight better than last night?” The broad face broke into a grin.

  Evan found himself answering he smile. “Even the chair was more comfortable than that bed.”

  Alexi had dropped into Evan’s abandoned chair. “Thought you looked a bit rumpled. Napping were you?”

  “Well, someone poured a massive amount of rotgut down my throat last night and then woke me far too early.” Evan’s words and rueful smile pulled an exclamation of protest from Alexi.

  “I poured nothing down your throat. You could have said no.”

  “I did. But I didn’t mean you. I actually meant me.”

  A deep laugh came from the Wolf. He sobered a bit and addressed the lean, lanky and obviously gentle-spirited man before him. “I actually came for several reasons. Firstly to make sure old Pavel hadn’t poisoned you. But you look healthy enough. So I also came to warn you we dress for dinner here. Mother insists.”

  Evan was confused. “But I was told, by you, I’d have no contact with the family beyond the three of you.”

  “True enough but it is habit and Kira will still conform even if she is only eating here with you.”

  Evan frowned. He suddenly realized that he was actually going to be having dinner with that woman. To say she had impressed him was an understatement. Nervousness began to creep into him. Don’t think about it, he admonished himself.

  “You dress for dinner?”

  “Jacket and tie, my little friend.”

  Evan cataloged the contents of his bag. He doubted it contained anything appropriate. When he looked up, Alexi was smiling at him strangely. “Don’t fret, Evan.” Alexi rose and walked to the window. “You remember Ivan. You’re the same size as his little brother. He’s already on his way over with some help.”

  “It’s that important?” Evan was starting to realize there could be complications here he hadn’t expected. He knew how to handle someone like Alexi. He knew he could handle Nico. He even believed he could handle Stanislav Gregoravitch. But handling females was not something he excelled at. For the first time in his life he was beginning to wish he were more like his friend Marcus. Marcus would have greeted her in jeans and a t-shirt and pulled it off. And Julien? Julien would have told her to eat by herself and leave him alone if she didn’t like his clothes.

  Alexi didn’t look at him. He simply shrugged. “It is your choice. But that brings me to the next thing I wanted to tell you.” He turned and Evan recognized that he was now very serious. “Father has put your fate in Kira’s hands. It is she who will decide.” Alexi watched the realization sweep over the younger man.

  He knew he was taking a risk telling Evan this but something in his gut told him he could trust him. Alexi was big on trusting his gut. Another man might use this information in a way that could hurt Kira but Alexi had looked into those blue-gray eyes, sober and not, guarded and unguarded and decided he saw someone who would never harm another. Hadn’t Evan told him he had never harmed anyone even in his wolf state? He took precautions to ensure he did not risk harming others during his moon times. Evan had never taken a life. That part wasn’t necessarily good news but he’d deal with that later.

  “Great,” muttered Evan.

  Alexi raised an eyebrow. “What is it little friend? This is actually good news. He could have simply tossed you out or, worse, left the decision to Nico. He’d have had you dispatched quicker than you could have grabbed for that little magic wand, fairy dust, or whatever it is you wave about.”

  Evan slumped down in the chair. “You’ve read too many fairy tales. Real magic doesn’t work like that.” A sick nervousness twisted his stomach.

  “Come on Evan, I know she can be intimidating at times but she’s not that scary is she?” Evan looked up and saw Alexi regarding him with a solemn gaze.

  “No. She’s not scary.”

  “Then what? You’ll spend some time with her and convince her to see things your way. I saw your face. I’m certain it won’t exactly be an unpleasant task for you.” A light blazed behind Alexi’s eyes as he saw Evan flush. “Good God man, you’re blushing.” He began to laugh.

  Evan’s face burned with embarrassment, more from Alexi’s having read his thoughts than from the original discomfort. Dealing with girls, women, females in general, had never been something Evan felt he was very good at. They were a mystery at best and a painful torment at worst. They made him nervous, very aware of whom and what he was. And very aware of the deception that was his entire life. They reminded him of the boundaries his deformity put on his life. Hell, if anyone in his world found out he’d be “dealt with”. This could mean locked up, contained somewhere, or even exterminated.

  And women meant only lies and deception. Not to mention it would be incredibly unfair to even start a relationship with one. He would be unable to tell her and if he did and it was discovered she didn’t report it, she’d face punishment by the circle masters. No family would ever be possible. No werewolf had been allowed to raise their own child in a century. The tot was taken away and placed under the protective care of the masters. And with good reason. Alexi’s people were right. Those like him were pup-eaters. The
y were a great danger to those around them. They would kill their own young if precautions were not taken.

  Rare had been the woman who had not left him feeling unsure about what he should say or do, lost for words and stuttering. Those women with whom he’d felt comfortable had been children when they met and the one who remained in his life was now married to one of his friends. Arianna Lasater hadn’t made him nervous since he was thirteen. But even now such entanglements were something he avoided. Those kinds of relationships were complicated for him. Women made him remember just how inadequate he was as a man. How he could never be a true husband or partner.

  He looked up at Alexi who was still snickering and muttered a rude remark. This only made Alexi laugh harder. “So my little friend is shy about girls? Did your father not explain the birdies and the bees to you?”

  Evan’s next comment wasn’t just rude it was downright coarse and made Alexi begin to snort and wheeze with laughter. Damn but he was an ass. Evan fought the twitch that was pulling at the corners of his mouth. It was absolutely ridiculous. He was a grown man and still his hands had begun trembling at the idea of having to spend an evening alone with a pretty woman. Okay, Evan admitted to himself, a very pretty woman. Most men would have been overjoyed but his palms were sweating. The pained expression on Alexi’s face as he fought for air was funny and Evan allowed himself to smile. He began to laugh as Alexi grabbed his side and began to gasp about it hurting.

  “Oh, my little friend,” Alexi wheezed. “You may be very handsome but no brother could ever feel half so safe leaving a beautiful sister in the clutches of a man as I do you. I dare say if she smiles at you, you may faint.”

  “Shut up, you horse’s ass,” Evan grumbled.

  Alexi drew deep breaths and tried to calm down. “Seriously, Evan. She’s not scary. Just tell her what she wants to know. She wants to believe you. She just needs you to give her a reason.”

  Circle of Wolves

  Chapter Six