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TATIANA SAT UP, HER wolf-touched eyes instantly adjusting to the dim light. She blinked at familiar floral wallpaper behind an antique ivory dresser. It was dark outside, and the clock on the nightstand told her it was just past midnight.
She looked at the flowery quilt on her bed as awareness slowly returned. This was the guest bedroom at her mates’ grandparents’ house. How had she gotten here?
Horrific memories flooded back. The demons! The haunted forest! She ran her hands over her face and body, shocked there were no cuts or bruises. Her hair was damp and twisted into a tight bun on top of her head. Had it been washed? Where was Dimitri? Had he survived?
She heard a noise and looked over the side of the bed, relief sweeping through her. Dimitri was in human form, sleeping on a mattress on the floor. There were no visible injuries. She slipped out of bed, not caring that she wore only a thin nightgown, and crawled in beside him, exploring his bare chest. He felt whole. Had they truly been saved? They’d wandered so long in that nightmare, she’d thought they’d never be freed.
“Dimitri,” she whispered when she saw movement beneath his eyelids. “You awake?”
His eyes opened, and he looked at her, then went into alert mode, glancing around the room.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Pretty sure we’re in your grandparent’s house.”
Realization dawned in his eyes before he flashed a subtle grin. “Hello, iubita mea.”
She savored the feel of his warm skin against hers. “Your burns are gone.”
“Da.” He dragged his knuckles down the side of her face. “So are yours.”
“Is this real?” she asked, unable to keep the tremors from her voice. “We’re safe, right?”
His nostrils flared as he held her tight, looking around the room. “Da.” He flashed a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “We are now.”
But for how long? she couldn’t help but wonder. Balban had escaped hell more than once. Perhaps Sitri, too. What if they returned?
She fought back a sudden wellspring of emotion. “I never want to go near that forest again.” And to think, she’d be spending the rest of her life only a few miles from the place of her nightmares.
“Nor do I.”
She supposed it was good Romanian wolves rarely shifted or went into the forest. The thought of going anywhere near there filled her heart with dread.
“How do you feel?” she asked, trying to concentrate on making sure he was okay while pushing dark thoughts out of her mind.
“Rested,” he said, stroking her arm, his knuckles coming dangerously close to the swell of her breast. “You?”
His touch set her hormones on fire. She cupped his cheek. “Thankful.” She badly wanted to melt into him until their bodies became one. Perhaps making love to him would chase away the nightmares.
Awareness dawned in his eyes. “I smell your arousal.”
Her cheeks flamed. “I can’t help it.”
“Neither can I,” he said, flipped her over, and pressed her into the mattress.
“We can’t.” She tried pushing him away, but her efforts were futile. Not that she tried all that hard. She wanted to spread her legs, holding him close while he drove away her dark depression. “We haven’t bonded.” She let out a ragged breath when he dragged his teeth down her throat.
“I know,” he murmured against her skin. “I’ll be careful. I want to taste you.”
Taste her! Alarm bells went off in her head. This time she pushed harder, but he continued nipping and kissing down her body. She cringed when he lifted the flimsy nightgown and slipped off her panties.
Again, she tried to push him back. “I don’t remember when I last had a bath.”
He kissed her inner thigh. “You smell good to me.”
Moisture pooled between her legs when he purred against her thigh. When he licked her wet ribbon, she practically flew off the mattress.
“Taste good, too,” he murmured.
She dug her fingers into his scalp, wanting to tell him to stop but powerless to do anything other than moan when he dragged his thick tongue over her clit again. Desire flowed through her veins like molten lava, liquifying her insides. He continued to lick and lick, urging her to spread her thighs. When his forefinger and thumb played with her swollen pearl, she unraveled like a ball of yarn while orgasm after orgasm flooded his mouth.
He chuckled while lapping up her juices. “That didn’t take long.”
She massaged his scalp with a sigh. “A much-needed release.”
Her breath hitched when he climbed the length of her body, a feral look in his eyes as he seated himself between her thighs.
“I won’t take your virginity,” he whispered against her mouth.
She relaxed, sinking into the mattress, and he rubbed his smooth cock against her slippery cunt. He kissed her passionately, their tongues sparring while he continued to slide across her slick sex. The friction felt divine, his silky cockhead teasing her tender pearl until another orgasm gripped her. Digging her nails into his back, she cried into his mouth as multiple climaxes rolled through her, cresting, then starting again, leaving behind delicious aftershocks that triggered more orgasms.
He squeezed her breast with a bruising grip, shuddering while spurting his seed across her belly.
“Thank you, iubita mea,” he murmured against her lips. “I needed that.”
She heaved a contented sigh, stroking the hard contours of his back. “So did I.” And not just the orgasms, but the much bigger release—the burden of guilt she’d carried for too long over his dead mother. No longer did she feel she didn’t deserve her mates because of Katarina’s death. That woman had nobody to blame but herself for her foolish, selfish choices. Tatiana was relieved her sons were nothing like her, and she was more than ready to finally complete their bond.
After their breathing slowed, he cleaned her with a rag and then climbed in beside her. They sighed contentedly and held each other tight.
“I’m sorry I’m so tired,” he said, sounding drunk on sex.
She stroked his hair. “You’ve literally been through hell. No apology needed.”
Her eyelids growing heavier, she was soon lulled to sleep by the steady beating of his heart and his gentle snores.
She relished the feel of his warm skin pressed against hers, hardly believing how right it felt to be nestled in his arms. And to think she’d been denying herself this pleasure for the past five years. Never again would she part from him. Not even if hell opened and tried to suck her down its giant maw, for she knew Dimitri would walk through fire to save her.
* * *
EILEA SAT IN BED, NURSING her newborn son. It had been two days since he’d been born in the heart of a demon battle, and she and Jovan had yet to name him. She hadn’t seen Jovan since the battle. Her second alpha mate had moved into his oldest sons’ home without telling her.
He had a right to be upset with her, but she thought his reaction was extreme and couldn’t deny she was crushed.
Her other mates had already forgiven her. Thank the Ancients for Marius, who’d stayed close by, helping with the babies and letting her cry on his shoulder.
Ever since the battle, a pall had settled over her heart, and she didn’t think it was going away anytime soon. She hadn’t told anyone, but when she’d healed Tatiana and Dimitri, she sensed something left behind. But how it could happen, when her healing magic was so powerful, she had no idea. Perhaps that dark seed was a reflection of her heartbreak after Jovan’s rejection. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself, because the alternative was too frightening to consider. If she hadn’t fully cured them, the goddess would’ve sent her a warning. She decided to ask Amara to place her healing hands on them, too, just in case.
Jovan appeared in her doorway, haggard and unshaven, dark circles framing his eyes.
“Jovan?”
His face was a mask of stone. “Eilea.”
“I’ve missed you so much,” she blurted, her frayed nerves making her ramble like a love-struck schoolgirl. “I’m sorry for what I put you through.”
His expression remained unchanged, other than a slight twitch above his lip. “How is our son?”
“He is well.” She gently pried him off her breast. “Do you wish to hold him?”
“Da!” His dark expression fell for a heartbeat before he plastered on an impassive façade again. He quickly crossed to her and took the baby in his arms. He rocked the child and kissed his forehead.
She fought the urge to reach for Jovan. “We still haven’t named him.”
“Odin,” he answered tersely. “Named for the war god, since he was born in the heart of a battle.”
The accusatory look he gave her over his shoulder would’ve made a lesser woman cower. He was lucky she wasn’t vindictive.
“What can I do to earn your forgiveness?”
“I don’t know, Eilea.” He frowned, tickling Odin’s chin. “I can’t get past what you did. Our son could’ve been killed.”
“But he wasn’t.” She resented him for reducing her to a whimpering puppy.
He gave her a pointed look. “Dimitri and his mate could’ve been killed, too.”
She blanched. “They are safe now. Everyone is safe.” She prayed that was the case. “My magic is much stronger now,” she said as he turned away. Resentment was festering like an old boil. How long would he make her suffer?
“Your magic didn’t help Dimitri and Tatiana defeat the demons.” His face turned an alarming shade of red. “Your magic didn’t prevent the sniper’s bullet from barely missing Constantine’s heart.”
He was right, though he was taking this grudge too far. Second alphas could be such dickheads. He handed Odin back to her and stood, sparing her a fleeting glance before walking to the door.
“Where are you going?” she asked, again resenting that he’d placed her in this submissive position.
He paused, his spine and shoulders stiff. “I can’t be here right now.”
“With me?”
“Da,” he said tersely, “with you.”
Her heart shattered when he walked out the door without a backward glance.
There was no mistaking the venom in his last words. Was this more than a grudge? Could he hate her?
* * *
“WAKE UP!”
Dimitri’s eyes flew open, and he swung his fists, on the verge of shifting into protector form. Tatiana jumped up, too, letting out a yelp and clinging to him.
“Easy, you two.” Constantine backed away, holding out both hands, then motioning to the two brothers behind him. “It’s only us.”
Momentarily disoriented, Dimitri slid beneath the blankets, taking Tatiana into his arms, their hearts still racing. It took him a moment to realize they were no longer in the forest, though he somehow still glimpsed a stifling darkness, like a spot deep inside.
“After the hell we’ve been through,” he snarled, “you have the nerve to wake us like this?”
Tatiana buried her face in the crook of his arm.
Constantine scowled at him, and he gave Dimitri an accusatory look. Why do we smell mating fluids?
Andrei and Dejan flanked Constantine, arms crossed, eyes practically crossing, too.
Yawning, he wrapped his arm tighter around her, inwardly laughing when they glowered. I branded her, brothers. I didn’t steal her virginity.
Constantine relaxed. I supposed you deserved this after what you’ve been through.
Dimitri sneered. What the hell do you know about what we’ve been through? He couldn’t deny his rage at them. Since none of you bothered to come for us.
We were about to, Constantine projected. Eilea held us back.
Dimitri snorted. She held you back while we wandered lost for days?
His brothers shared quizzical looks.
Tatiana’s eyes were still glossy from sleep. “Are we safe?”
“Da.” He nuzzled her cheek, purring in her ear. “Good morning, iubita mea.”
Tatiana kissed his cheek. “Are you sure?”
He returned the kiss. “My brothers are here. We’re safe.” He imagined it would be a long while before either of them felt safe again.
She blinked up at his brothers, her cheeks reddening while she tightened her hold on Dimitri. She was as beautiful as a goddess. Her long, dark hair had come out of her topknot and cascaded over her shoulders in waves, complementing her large eyes and thick lashes. Her tanned skin had a rosy hue, reminding him of a flower in full bloom. Memories of their lovemaking came back to him, the taste of her sweet essence and the feel of her slick heat. He wanted to take her virgin blood and join with her for good.
Constantine knelt beside them. “How do you feel, Tatiana?”
She shrugged. “Like I’ve been to hell and back.” She turned wide eyes to Dimitri. “How long have we been asleep?”
Dimitri shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Almost two days,” Constantine answered.
Two days! Dimitri’s stomach rumbled as if to confirm. He was so hungry he could eat an entire cow.
“How long do you think you were wandering in the forest?” Andrei asked them.
“Huh?” Tatiana rubbed sleep from her eyes and sat up with a yawn, hugging her knees to her chest.
They were still on the mattress on the floor. Dimitri sat up beside her and leaned against his grandmother’s antique dresser, the hard, brass nobs poking his back—a welcome discomfort compared to demon burn.
“A few days at least,” Dimitri answered, refusing to thank Dejan when he handed them each a hot cup of tea.
“You were inside about twenty minutes,” Constantine said. “We were about to go in after you when Eilea used her magic to guide you out.”
A low growl escaped his throat. “There was no way we were only there twenty minutes.”
Again, his brothers shared looks.
“Our bunics said time passes slower behind the veil,” Andrei answered.
Dimitri glared at them. “That slow?”
“Da,” they all said, vehemently nodding.
His shoulders relaxed as he gave his brothers assessing looks. Could they be telling the truth?
“Andrei and I were shot.” Constantine pointed to his chest and then Andrei’s leg. “Or we would’ve immediately followed you.”
He remembered the bloody battle, and Andrei falling with a howl.
“We were ready to go into the veil after you.” Andrei placed a hand on his heart. “We swear, brother.”
“I believe you,” Tatiana said, squeezing Dimitri’s hand.
Pressing her hand to his lips, he smiled at her before nodding his agreement. “So do I, brothers. I’m sorry I doubted you.”
Constantine shook his head. “Say no more on it. We saw your wounds and know how much you had suffered.” Kneeling beside Dimitri, he clasped his shoulder, his eyes misty. “Thank you.”
Dimitri nodded curtly, unable to say more. He wished he could forget that time in the haunted forest, but he’d do it all again to save Tatiana.
“What happened to the demon?” Dejan asked.
Dimitri held Tatiana close when she shuddered. “He went back to hell.” Along with the other demons he’d killed, he wanted to add, including one with their mother’s face, but he wasn’t ready to go into detail about their ordeal and doubted he’d be able to revisit those nightmares anytime soon.
“Good,” Andrei grumbled. “He belongs there, along with our wicked mother.”
Tatiana gasped. “You know about her?”
“We know,” Constantine answered, his eyebrows drawn low.
Dimitri looked from his brothers to Tatiana. “What about her?” Had there been some new development with their dead mother? He tightened his hold when she shivered again. “It’s okay,” he murmured in her ear.
She looked guilty. “She came up from hell with the demons.”
Dimitri froze at that. His mother had conspired with the demons? The wicked bitch! He seethed with anger, managing to hide most of it when Tatiana’s tremors worsened. “Did she help them try to bring us down?”
“Not all Amaroki,” Tatiana said. “It was Eilea she was after.”
“Our stepmother? While she was pregnant with our baby brother?” Dimitri could hardly believe what he was hearing. Their mother had always been vindictive, but this was too much even for her. He was ashamed to have her blood flowing through his veins.
Constantine grimaced. “It was awful.”
“Are Eilea and the baby okay?” he asked.
“They are fine,” Andrei answered. “Resting after their ordeal.”
“What happened to our mother?” he asked, then cringed, almost afraid to know the answer. Was it wrong that he hoped she’d been sent back to hell? He didn’t think that demon in the haunted forest had been her. It was known among the Romanian Amaroki that the demons in the Hoia Baciu liked to pretend to be dead ancestors to try to lure shifters into the veil.
Constantine looked more haggard than Dimitri had ever seen him, way beyond his twenty-six years. “Eilea said she was crushed to death, most likely by the demon Sitri.”
“She was.” Tatiana paled. “I remember.”
Dimitri heaved a sigh. Just the mention of that woman and a heavy fog settled in the room, blotting out all joy. How long would her memory plague them? “She can go back to hell, where she belongs.” Dimitri cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. “She’s not worth any of our tears, especially yours.”
Tatiana sniffled and nodded.
“You should’ve seen Eilea’s magic.” Dejan flashed a slanted smile. “Something changed, and now she’s as powerful as a god.”
Dimitri silently thanked his brother for changing the subject. “Good.” Dimitri laughed. “Maybe those demons will think twice about messing with us again.”
Constantine sighed and Andrei fidgeted while Dejan stuck his hands in his pockets, looking uncomfortable.
“What is it?” Dimitri asked.
“Our father Jovan has not forgiven our stepmother for putting herself and the baby at risk,” Andrei said.
Dimitri didn’t understand why Eilea had tricked them all and had gone off to fight the demons alone. “I can understand why he’d be mad.”
“Sitri would’ve raped me if she hadn’t shown up when she did,” Tatiana said.
Dimitri and his brothers gaped at her. That put things in an entirely different perspective.
“I will be sure to tell our father this,” Dimitri said.
Tatiana smiled sweetly and squeezed his arm.
“He’s moved out his things,” Constantine grumbled. “He’s staying at our house.”
Dimitri jerked upright. “What the fuck?”
Constantine elbowed Dejan and Andrei. “That’s what we said.”
“He’ll have to move back before our honeymoon,” Dimitri said. “We’re not letting him ruin it.” He cast a surreptitious glance at Tatiana, hoping there would be a honeymoon soon.
“No, we’re not,” Constantine said, also giving Tatiana a hopeful look.
Dimitri turned to Tatiana, nearly losing himself in her large, amber eyes. “Maybe I should explain to him it’s not wise to stay angry with your mate.”
“Maybe you should,” she said.
His heart swelled with joy. After years of blaming herself for their mother’s death, was she finally going to be theirs? He hoped she’d finally realized his mother wasn’t worth mourning.
Dejan cleared his throat, his cheeks flushing. “Tatiana.” He paused, looking at them like a mouse caught in a trap.
“Yes?” she asked, biting her lip and batting her lashes.
They all knew what was coming. Funny, how the gamma of the group had been the first to gather the nerve to ask.
His cheeks turned even redder. “Do you want to bond with us now?”
She nodded, toying with the frayed end of the blanket in her lap. “I’ve always wanted to bond with you.”
“But will you?” Constantine asked. “Tonight, after the tribal meeting?”
When her eyes widened with alarm, Dimitri’s heart plummeted.
You’re pushing her too hard, brother, he scolded.
“I want to, but....” She trailed off.
Kneeling beside her, Constantine took her hand in his. “But what?”
“It feels like we’re still there.” When she looked at Dimitri for confirmation, there was no denying he felt it, too, the strange sense that their nightmare wasn’t over.
“In the forest?” Constantine asked.
“Yes,” he answered for her.
“You’re not.” Dejan knelt beside Constantine and rested his hand on her knee. “You can safely put it behind you.”
She swallowed hard, a flash of fear in her eyes. “Alaskan packs run the forest after they bond. Will we do that here?”
“Nu.” Constantine frowned. “We do not leave the tribal house after our bonding.”
Tremors rocked her voice. “We won’t go near the forest at all?”
Constantine’s expression softened, saddened, as he twirled a lock of her long, dark hair around his finger. “No, my love. You won’t have to go anywhere near the forest again.”
Tension still radiated off her in waves. “But it’s not far from here.”
Dimitri hated that his mate was so terrified. Not that he blamed her. He prayed the memory of their experience would abate soon.
“Tatiana,” Andrei said as he knelt at her feet, “we’re not going there.”
She reminded Dimitri of a child, worried about monsters in the closet, when she said, “A demon could come back and take me.”
Constantine gave him a hopeless look. What do we do?
An idea suddenly popped in Dimitri’s head. Maybe a change of scenery would help. “How about this? How about we all go to Alaska for a while, and we bond there?”
She perked up like a kid in a candy store. “Really? For how long?”
He looked at his brothers, who gave him nods of approval. “Until you feel safe again.” He wanted to say until they both felt safe again, but he decided to keep his concerns to himself. Tatiana was worried enough without him piling more on her.
Her bottom lip trembled. “I don’t know how long that will be.”
“If you’ve learned nothing from us,” Constantine dropped his voice to a soothing whisper. “You should know we’re patient.”
“Okay.” Her shoulders relaxed and she smiled. “I want to be your mate. I’ll bond with you in Alaska.”
Tatiana would be theirs soon! He and his brothers shared ecstatic looks. He wanted to howl with joy, something prevented him from getting too excited. He prayed their sanity would be restored soon.