Nicholaus nodded.
Józsi took a long puff off his cigar, blowing smoke straight into the darkening night sky. “I love the mountains out here.”
Nicholaus set his cigar down and reached for a glass of port. Taking a long sip, he set the glass down and retrieved his cigar from the porcelain ashtray. “I do too. It’s part of what drew me out here to Albuquerque. All the openness. The somewhat cleanliness of the air. So what were you going to ask?”
“I need someone to be my right hand man. Lukina is acting as an enforcer of sorts but we’re really focusing on her being the messenger, rounding up strays and mates, concentrating on helping as an ambassador of sorts when we need her for that. She’s very persuasive as I’m sure you know by now. But she's not a fighter. Feisty, spirited, yes. But her place isn’t on the front lines in battle. Nor is it in meting out justice.”
Nicholaus heard Katarina snickering. He turned to glare at her.
Her smile widened.
“So, where do I fit in?” Nicholaus leaned forward, holding the cigar between his teeth.
Józsi wrapped an arm around Selene’s waist. “I’m asking you to be my right hand. Nothing overly heavy at this point, but as you grow back with our pack and fit in to the place you always had, you’ll be able to handle more should there be a need.”
Nicholaus shifted, the chair creaking. “What about your other mate?”
“Ilona has been away from me too long. She and I need to spend more time together so we can get back in sync. As for our relationship, much like yours, she fits in as my emotional check point. It won’t take her long, but then still, she’s one of our healers. You know they’re treasured among wolves.”
Nicholaus nodded. “So you are looking for a show of strength?”
“Yeah. I could really use the show of strength among the males, especially the last few we’re looking for. I understand Kiba did bad things to their heads while I was gone. But it’s important that we find them and continue to grow in order to hold what’s ours.”
“I still…” Nicholaus looked back at Krystyna and then to Katarina. “What about my children?”
“Dude, didn’t you hear? We’ll be raising them together when I figure out which one of my mates is pregnant.” Józsi gave Selene a pinch.
Selene yipped and glared at Józsi.
“Indeed.” Nicholaus closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. This was not the way he wanted to go, but he promised himself, promised his lovers he would. They were not to be turned down again, that much he knew. But pack responsibility on top of raising kids?
He’d have to be man enough to do it. One glance into the eyes of both his lovers, their beautiful faces, both with pretty mouths hanging open in anticipation of his response…both looking so damn sexy as the wind blew their hair to and fro.
“I’ll do it.” Nicholaus felt Krystyna’s arm sling around his waist and Katarina’s hand grip his tighter.
“That’s settled then.” Józsi raised his glass. “To our new beta.”
Selene snickered. “To our beta.” They raised their glasses in toast of Nicholaus.
Laughter flowed through the rest of the evening on the balcony.
Life was good, Nicholaus decided.
THE END.
An Excerpt from Kisses Fall (The Opeth Pack Saga 3)
“I don’t understand, what’s going on?” She turned to the cloaked figure, ran a hand through her hair to peel it off her forehead. The humid weather created an instant pool of sweat on her skin the second they’d…
What had they done?
She knew she wasn’t where they started, couldn’t remember how they’d arrived here or even who she was, but the figure refused to speak.
“You have to tell me what’s going on.” She did a mental check, figured if there had been abuse, her body would be sore. Her head ached, but that was about it.
The cloaked figure pointed straight ahead.
She shook her head. “What?”
“The Opeth Pack,” the voice croaked, “shall not have a second pack witch. You shall remain here for all your days, else prophecy will come true and they will return. We…cannot allow that.”
She quirked a brow. “What?” The words seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite place the why. Or the how.
Yet the scent in the air, heavy, toxic almost, held little clues to her whereabouts. Nor did they tell her what this hooded figure was. Only that the land was barren where they stood, except for buildings she could see in the distance.
Life.
Life barely pulsed where those buildings stood, and acted like wilting flowers, sad yet resolute in their future death.
Where had that come from?
She scratched her head. “Why?”
Something warmed in her hands. She lifted them to her face, saw the balls of light forming, then realized exactly what the figure was before her.
“You…” She shook, but not with fear. Something inside her radiated anger, protectiveness. “You’re…”
Only the height of the figure gave any indication of physical size, the gray cloak hid everything else from view, including the creature’s face. But she knew what this was, sensed the awesome power flowing from him to her.
“You’re one of them. And you’re betraying your heritage.”
“Silence.” The voice cut through her, chilling her despite the oppressive heat.
She clenched her fists. In her exhausted state, she couldn’t fight back against the Noble, he’d obliterate her in seconds if she’d tried. Slumping her shoulders, she resigned to play this game out.
The Nobles were the race above witches, the wealthy who controlled things like fate, watching the world spin in and out of control, sort of like how humans perceived the Elementals in their witchcraft.
Only the Nobles were way more pompous and fearful. She’d heard the legends, knew they would come for the Opeth Pack one day.
Then memories flashed in her head, slamming into her with such force it made her grip her skull and fall to her knees.
White hot warmth settled around her heart, not from the Noble, the energy felt too strange, too beautiful.
Images showed of a lover, playing, a wolf with silver hair, and blue eyes with silver sparkling irises. Tall, definitely on the muscular side, but she couldn’t remember his name.
Only that he belonged to her.
Who? She reached for the memory as if it were real.
Then the fog settled around him and she shook her head, still reeling from the pain spiking through her temples. “What are you doing? Stop this shit!”
Her voice sounded foreign to her own ears but the power behind it felt comforting. She stood, angry eyes glaring at the Noble. “You pompous fuck.”
For a split second she swore she felt a frisson of fear from the Noble, but then it dissipated as though it’d never been.
She even swore she saw the whites of his eyes before the hood moved to cover all but his chin.
The fireballs in her hands seeped back into her skin, easing the pain in her head enough that she could focus on the Noble without too much emotional interference. “What was all that?”
“Your past.”
That’s it?
That’s all he would say?
“My past? What do you mean?” She raised the power again, unsure how she did it. This time, it sunk back into her, not of her own volition. “What the fuck just happened?”
She resisted the urge to stalk up to him and punch him. Even in her slightly disoriented state, she knew better than to screw with a Noble, though that power surge earlier…
“You’re not going to tell me anything, are you?”
The figure stopped, pointed at the buildings in the distance. “Your future.”
“No.” She clenched her teeth. “Take me back home.”
The Noble turned. “Do you even know where that is?”
She narrowed her eyes, blinked, then realized no, she had no idea where home was.
&nb
sp; “I thought not. So you’re left with my guidance and I’m sending you there.”
“But,” her heart sank at the loss she couldn’t remember. “The pack…”
“The pack is to die off. That is how this shall work. Prophecy.”
“I don’t understand.”
“No, you won’t.”
She blinked, hating the impending doom starting to surround her. The air seemed to waver, flicker with nervous energy before the Noble turned, removing his hood and letting her truly gaze upon him.
“Be aware, no more.”
A hand brushed against her forehead and the last thing she remembered was being caught before she fell to the ground.
“What’s your name, child? Are you hurt?” An older man with white hair and a wrinkled face touched her shoulder gingerly. The voice a little ragged and his breathing labored.
Coming to full consciousness, she looked up through thick red strands of hair.
A soft, worn hand brushed her hair back from her face, giving her a view of the man that stirred her.
She looked around, saw tall grass, smelled the air and picked up the putrid stench of exhaust. Oil stained the concrete beneath her.
Vehicles sped past her, oblivious to her existence.
The dull pounding in her head throbbed louder, and then a cool washcloth brushed across her forehead.
“Here.” He offered her a black jacket. “Relax, child. I’m here to help you. Can you remember your name?”
She shrugged off the coat and met the face of a kind, older man. Eyes worn, smile lines, and worry, etched into his face, but his concern for her seemed genuine.
“I don’t…” she shook her head, put a hand on her temple.” I have no idea.”
Vision faded in and out, her stomach lurched. She sat up, and quickly doubled over.
The man put a hand on her back, making sure to keep his touch light, yet heavy enough to remind her of his presence. “Do you have any identification?”
She brushed strands of reddish brown hair behind her ears. Examined herself.
No other obvious pains.
“You don’t look injured but maybe you have a concussion. We should get you medical help immediately.”
“No.” She put a hand out, touched his chest. “No help. I’m,” she forced herself to stand, finding her knees unsteady. “I need…”
She didn’t know. She stared into the face of this man and for some reason, waited.
His dull, dark skin had the appearance of working in the sun for many years. Nothing seemed extraordinary about him other than his eyes.
They sparkled purple and bright green and seemed penetrating.
She swore for a moment she saw wolves, smelled the heavy lupine muskiness associated with the beast but that thought seemed ridiculous.
Looking around, she had to guess she was in a modern city, no wolves would exist here.
She drew her legs to her chest when she realized she was completely naked.
For a second time, the older man handed her his jacket. “I have a blanket in the car, though you should know it’d just be easier to drop your human magic.”
She pulled the jacket tighter around her. “What?”
He wiped his brow with a hand kerchief he’d pulled from his shirt pocket, folded it neatly then put it back where he’d retrieved it from. “Drop your human magic. Do you not remember anything?”
She shook her head. Closing her eyes, she thought hard, but couldn’t recall anything. No memories surfaced, no visions appeared. “I don’t know anything. I’m sorry.” She blinked. “Why are there wolves here?”
“Oh, those aren’t live wolves.”
“Thank goddess.”
“They’re the spirits of the dead, guardians of a sort sent to watch over the church.”
She nearly choked when she swallowed. “Excuse me?”
“Oh dear.” He sighed slowly. “I can give you shelter in the church for a few days while we try to figure this out. Would that be okay?”
The woman shook her head again. Her stomach rumbled loudly.
“Father Gregori, at your service.” The Priest extended his hand to her. “Again, are you hurt? Can you walk on your own?”
She made the attempt to stand again, this time her legs didn’t falter nearly as much, though the priest’s hand on her elbow helped her tremendously.
The man handed her a blanket from his vehicle. “I’m glad I found you. Hayward isn’t too fond of wolves roaming the town. Cover up child and we’ll get you back on your feet in a few days. Okay?”
What did he just say? “I’m sorry but I’m not following.”
“Once we feed you and get you cleaned up, clothed, and in a better mindset, we can talk about your lupine side, my dear. Come along.”
She’d remembered her name. Éva.
Such a pretty Hungarian name, the priest remarked once.
She ignored the comment but realized the name just clicked. It, like a few pieces of memories she couldn’t place, came to her in dreams.
Out of the first few days since her arrival, lucid dreams beckoned her to inquire about things she had no rhyme or reason to know.
Wolves flooded her dreams, barking, chasing her, never harmfully. But the dreams were vocal enough, feeling almost real enough that when she woke for the day, she found herself more exhausted than when she went to bed.
“Tis prophecy, I’m certain,” the priest merely mused.
She ignored him. Questions on her mind had no place in her new world. Well, if it could be called new at any rate.
Éva stayed another week, taking advantage of the church’s kindness while helping out with chores and some of the culinary duties. Father Gregori continued to tell her she had no need, her kind wasn’t the type to do mundane chores but when she asked about his statements, he started doddering off like a crazy old man.
“You’re a very special one,” he’d say.
Then, smile, turn his head to the side and walk away.
After a few more days, blissful sleep had returned and that’s when it became apparent she needed to leave the shelter and make her way back into the regular world.
“You’re not for the humans, but you’ll protect them,” she heard him mutter beneath his breath one day.
She decided it best not to question him. Religious folk had their own ways, that’s all she needed to understand. Besides, had it not been for him, she may have ended up dead, or worse. She shuddered at the thought.
She gathered her meager belongings, consisting of two dresses, some under garments and toiletries, stuffing them into a knapsack Father Gregori gave her.
She heard his soft footfalls on the stone concrete before he’d entered the room. She looked up, and saw him filling the doorway, a sad smile on his face. For some reason, the scent in the room changed.
She swore she saw tears in his eyes.
“What will you do once you leave, child?”
The reticence to ask the question made her curious. “I hear there are job openings downtown. I figure I can find a wage, a place and make my mark on the world.”
“Spoken like a true wolf. Are you Opeth Pack?”
Before she could rebuke the craziness of his statement, she stopped and blinked. The words seemed akin to something she…
No. She shook off the incoherent dreamlike memory. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Father. Why do you keep asking if I’m a wolf? They don’t exist in this part of the world anymore.”
“Mystery is always something the pious tend to study, Éva. We may learn how God performs His duties but that never stops us from asking for more information. You should take this advice to heart.”
“Why?”
He rubbed his chin, appearing to study her closer now. “I wonder if you are the missing sister of their current witch.”
Éva smirked. “I’d certainly remember something like that, wouldn’t you think?”
He shrugged.
“I’m still confused
, Father.”
He sighed, the kind of heavy release of air that said she’d better sit down.
She did, patting a space on the scratchy comforter before taking her seat.
“This world is not what it seems, dear child. Éva are you at all remembering anything from your past? Who you were before I found you? What your abilities were? Where you fit in with the world?”
The questions shocked her. Anger rose in her gut but not because he’d asked the questions. She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t want to seem ungrateful so I’ll ask this basic question. What are you saying?”
“Have you studied our tomes?”
“I have looked through them but like most things they were over my head and in languages I could not understand.”
“Did they not seem in the least bit familiar?”
She gasped. Trying to gather her composure, Éva stood, slung the knapsack over her shoulder and started toward the door.
“Just asking, as is our way, child.”
She glowered, exhaled, inhaled, then repeated the process one more time before her nerves settled. “The worst thing is, I can’t remember why these questions upset me. I don’t know what’s wrong or why a total stranger’s pressing concern seems to set me off. But I’d rather not deal with any of this. My idea of normalcy just returned.” She realized she sounded desperate and in truth, she was. The nightmares, vivid dreams, the weirdness around her had finally settled and let her have peaceful sleep.
She didn’t hurt anymore.
“I suppose it’s only natural to wonder about the myriad who come through here and then pick at them out of curiosity all while forgetting our manners. Forgive me child.”
“I can understand that, I suppose. People of all kinds must come through here.”
“Be on your way then and come back should you need the Lord’s help. He gives it freely to those who ask.”
Éva slung the sack over her shoulder, adjusting the weight for comfort, then hugged the Father one last time.
“There are places you can rent for inexpensive prices, though the neighborhoods are less than perfect.”
Raining Kisses (The Opeth Pack Saga Book 2) Page 20