Hunted Wolf: Moonbound Series, Book Eight (11 page)

He found his steps quickening when he walked out of the command center and out into the cool night.

They were home.

Nora would’ve gotten the flash about their return, just like all the other wives would have.

Wife
.

He still marveled at the sound of that, every time he said it. Their marriage ceremony had been a backyard cookout at Cap’s, with the unit chaplain there to perform the ceremony.

It hadn’t been much, but it had solidified for him that he was now Nora’s protection—mate and husband.

And he couldn’t wait to get home so he could leave behind the horrors of that island and relax into the comfort of Nora’s arms again.

He would always love coming home to her.

H
annah reached
for Dani’s hand as they walked up the stone path toward Niko’s Uncle’s house.

The Hollywood wolf shrugged away. Dani didn’t want comfort from anyone, and hadn’t accepted any either.

The Rangers had Niko’s body in beautifully carved wooden coffin.

Julianna had come through quickly to provide their fallen friend with a place to rest as well as making sure all the children had shelter until they council found places for all of them.

Hannah hung back a few steps, keeping pace with Viper and the other Rangers carrying the casket.

Dani stepped forward to knock on the door, but it opened before she touched the polished oak.

People dressed in black poured from the house and surrounded them. They were pushed faster into the house, along a wide hallway and into a room that was typically used as a living room. But all the furniture had been removed and a low table had been set in the center.

Unfamiliar tear-stained faces milled back and forth. No one had spoken yet. Silence hung in the air like a storm cloud waiting for the right moment to burst. The Rangers set Niko’s casket on the low table and then backed away toward the wall.

Viper’s hand ran down Hannah’s arm, and he curled his fingers around her wrist, pulling her back toward him.

A large man entered the room. The magick rolled off of him in swaths. The Lupesco alpha. Niko’s uncle. His face was drawn and taut. Angry brown eyes were rimmed with redness and his mouth trembled, revealing a sample of the hurt his magick conveyed.

He stopped beside Niko’s casket and placed a gnarled hand on the hand-hewn lid.

Julianna had asked for half moon to be carved on the top and the carpenter had done an amazing job with so little time.

“Milla and Natalja, come forward, and bring your parents.” Three women and another man stepped out of the throng of people.

Hannah couldn’t really see their faces, but the one woman she could see looked hauntingly like Niko. She had to be his older sister.

“Niko died protecting those closest to him. He died leaving people behind that loved and cared for him deeply. The death of a Lupesco is never taken lightly, especially a murder. I have been informed that no plans of revenge must be made, that one of his own team avenged his death not more than a few minutes after he fell.”

Hannah’s breath left her in a hurried gasp. The alpha turned to face her and the crowd of people in front of her parted, allowing his powerful gaze to fall directly on her. She trembled. Killing Adrian hadn’t been for Niko. She’d been afraid of losing Viper. When she’d pulled that fateful trigger, she hadn’t even known Niko was dead. She deserved no praise for avenging her friend.

Or for taking a life.

“Hannah Lee. Our pack owes you a debt that can never be repaid. For as long as you live, anything you need, any support in any situation. You have only to ask.”

The alpha’s words brought a new flood tears. She didn’t want or deserve anything. “He was my friend. I’m sorry, I—”

A raised hand stopped her words. “This is our way, little one.”

Her mate’s palm squeezed her shoulder, sending relaxing vibes through her nervous system. But it wasn’t enough. Hot tears streamed down her face, mirroring Dani’s and all his family’s grief.

Had it not been for the mission to Choaca, she would never have met Niko Lupesco, but because she had her world was forever changed. Because she’d met so many different wolves. Seen so many ways of embracing the wolf spirit, she was a better person because of it. Because of Niko. Because of all the enforcers.

A
ndrea VonBrandt leaned
with her good shoulder against Vadik as they exited the Austin airport terminal onto the sidewalk.

Aaron pulled one of the big ranch pickups to a stop in front of them and threw open the passenger door.

Vadik tossed his backpack into the bed and then lifted her to the front seat, snapped her belt into place and gave her a kiss before closing the door and getting in the back.

She stared straight ahead through the windshield, watching cars trickle past the drop off points. Andrea could feel her brother’s anger simmering beneath the surface. The way the alpha magick licked and sizzled against her skin.

Not only had she lied to him and
not
come home, she’d failed to mention on any of the multiple phone calls thereafter she’d mated. Much less that she’d mated a Russian mercenary and she had no intention of staying in Somewhere longer than it took to gather her things and say goodbye to everyone.

They drove through the airport in silence for several minutes before she finally couldn’t handle it any longer. “I’m sorry.”

Aaron didn’t answer.

“I had to follow through. I couldn’t leave. Not when we were so close to making it all count. To finishing it.”

“I am your alpha. You obey me. That’s how our pack works. It’s how it’s always worked. That’s how we’ve stayed safe all these years. Everyone does what’s best for the pack.”

“I wasn’t hurting the pack by not coming home.”

“Yes,” he snarled, gunning the gas and going around a puttering beat-up sedan. “You did. You challenged my authority.”

“You sent me on that mission. You could’ve sent Miles or Lee, but you trusted it to me. Your sister. I made the right choice. You weren’t there.”

“You almost died!”

“But I’m not. I survived.”

“You’re still leaving me, aren’t you?”

There it was.
The real reason her brother was pissed as hell.

“Aaron, meet Vadik Nabatov. Vadik, my oldest brother and alpha of the Somewhere, Texas pack.”

“Nabotov? Really, Andrea. So next you’re going to tell me you’re skipping off to Siberia.”

“Aaron!” Heat flamed in her cheeks. She’d never seen her oldest brother lose his shit before, but there was a first time for everything.

Vadik chuckled. “It’s alright, Andrea. I’m used to the Russian jokes. It doesn’t bother me. But I don’t have plans to immediately return to Russia, and I don’t live in Siberia. Much too cold. Andrea couldn’t handle it there.”

She looked down at her lap and smirked.

“I see why you two hit it off so well. Sarcasm all around.”

Andrea drew in a deep breath. “Look, I know you’re angry and scared all at the same time. Shit happens, . People get hurt. But I lived. I’m here. Vadik saved my life, so maybe you should be a little nicer to him.”

“I’m grateful you saved my little sister,” he said between gritted teeth.

“It was my idea not to stay in Somewhere,” she whispered. “He was willing to stay.”

Aaron glanced at her quickly, a haunted look in his eyes. Then back to the open highway. “I’m upset, but I don’t want you to leave. I love you, sis.”

“I love you too, big bro, but I need to leave. I need a fresh start with my mate away from a town where everything I see stirs up painful memories of Paul.”

“Did you tell him you live in your old boyfriend’s bar?”

Andrea sighed. She had, and Vadik had taken it quite well. Her past was over and done with. She was a different person now. Moving on was more of necessity than a choice at this point.

“Yes she did,” Vadik answered softly, taking the burden off her shoulders. “Sometimes it takes finding just the right person to make you move forward from your past.”

“It doesn’t make it any easier for the ones who get left behind,” Aaron said.

“I’ll be back to visit.”

“I know, sis. I’ll just really miss you.”

A
n hour and a half later
, Aaron dropped her and Vadik in front of the Wolf Den bar. It was still early, but she could hear three heartbeats inside.

She waved to Aaron as Vadik grabbed their bag from the bed of the truck. She walked to the front door and knocked.

It flew open and her brother, Adam grabbed her into his arms before she could react. “Andrea!”

“Arm! Arm! Arm!” she screeched.

“Shit! Sorry. What the hell did you get yourself into? Aaron said you got shot.”

“I’m okay. Just lost a chunk of my upper arm. It’s going to be angry with me for a good long time. Probably for eternity.”

“Geeez.” He looked over her shoulder and stiffened. “I see you went and found yourself a mate.”

Andrea stepped to the side, and Adam extended his hand. “Adam VonBrandt.”

“Vadik Nabotov. It is nice to meet another of Andrea’s brothers.” Vadik glanced down at her and smiled reassuringly.

He is taking this so well.

“She tells me there are three of you.”

Adam thumbed over his shoulder. “Yep. Come on in. Allan’s inside with Reyna. She’s working through the inventory lists or something.”

They shoved through the old wooden door, and Andrea breathed in the smell of whiskey and Old English polish. The wall of liquor in the back sparkled and every single piece of oak in the place shined with pride. Reyna had done and excellent job tending to the place.

“Andrea!” Reyna called out, popping up from behind the bar counter. “Heard you kicked ass,
chica
! Battle wounds to prove it.”

Her other brother, Allan stood and walked to her side, enveloping her in a gentle hug. “I’m so glad you’re home safe.”

“Me too,” she whispered into his chest.

Reyna was waiting for her hug once Allan released her. She gave Reyna a gentle one-armed squeeze and smiled.

“So introduce us,” her brother’s mate said, gesturing to Vadik.

“Reyna, this is my mate, Vadik. Vadik, this is Reyna, my brother Allan’s mate,” she waved toward her other brother, “This is Allan.”

Vadik shook hands with each of them. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too, and congrats,” Reyna said, side-stepping to stand next to Allan.

“The place looks great,” Andrea said.

She beamed. “I tried. It’s been a blast. The bikers who come here are really good guys. They’ve got a lot of respect for you, and this place. I’ll miss not being here every day. I’ll probably drive Allan insane at the station.”

Andrea smiled. “Maybe not.”

Reyna cocked her head and a look of suspicion shadowed her brown eyes.

“Vadik and I don’t plan to stay in Somewhere permanently. I’d like to give you the Wolf Den. I don’t know how I’d ever sell it, but if I knew you wanted it and would take good care—”

“Say no more! I want it. I’m really sorry you’re leaving, but I want the bar,” she answered with a wide grin.

“Does Aaron know?” Adam asked from behind her.

“Yes,” she answered.

“There will always be a place for you in Somewhere. No matter what,” Allan added. “I’m glad you are moving forward. It’s been a long time coming.”

She sighed. It really had been. And it’d taken just the right person to get her to take that first step.