Keeping My Pack (4 page)

Maksim takes his sweet time looking over each one of us carefully before coming to some decision. “Maybe we should take this inside. Be sure to leave your shoes at the door, I don’t want you making a mess of my rugs. I’ll put some tea on.” With that, he stiffly turns and walks into the cabin without another word.

My men look at each other, confused about the old man’s behavior but I just sigh and start unlacing my boots. Clearly, Russian habits die hard.

Shoes left in the mudroom and now settled into the sitting room with Jace, Tristan and Kellan taking one couch, Reed and Finn taking the loveseat and Logan, Ash and myself seated on the couch opposite of the other one, Maksim returns with a tray of tea cups and takes his seat in a recliner. When none of us make a move for the tea, his eyes narrow. I mentally roll my eyes and pick up one of the small cups. The other men follow my lead silently until Ash’s rhino fingers crush the delicate china and he curses at the hot liquid burning his hand.

Maksim speaks over Logan’s sniggering. “Now what’s this about my family?”

Finn meets my eyes, asking for permission to answer and I nod my head at him. “To be fair to you, Sir, we’re not positive that Kitten is, in fact, your family. What we do know is that she was abandoned as a baby with a blanket sporting the Ivaskov family crest. She was being watched by men that we believe were responsible for an attack that led us to find a history of sorts on your family, and right before she was abducted a police officer asked for a Katerina Ivaskov with Kitten’s description, implying her father was looking for her. With that information and your eyes matching the exact unique coloring of hers, it’s a safe bet that you are related. Factor in her age and the lengths that her kidnappers went through to obtain her and that leads me to believe that Kitten is your granddaughter.”

I watch Maksim’s response carefully. For all I know, he could have been in on her abduction. From what I see, which is a mix of hopefulness, anger, sadness and curiosity, I’d have to say that he had no idea Kitten existed.

He takes a deep pull of tea before slouching back in his chair. “Well son, you don’t beat around the bush do you?” He says to Finn. Finn’s cheeks tint a light shade of pink, but he only shrugs a shoulder and looks to me. I know that look, he no longer wishes to speak.

Leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, Maksim’s expression changes to that of someone who means business. “Do you have anything of hers with you?” He asks no one in particular. Ash grunts but reluctantly shoves a hand into his pocket and produces that damn stuffed animal he carries around and talks to when he thinks no one is paying attention.

Ash reaches out to hand it over to the older man before he snatches it back and looks at Maksim suspiciously. “What do you need it for?” He asks gruffly.

Maksim has an amused glint in his eyes as he responds. “I won’t hurt your stuffed animal.” He drolls. “But apparently there’s a lot you boys don’t know about wolves. If this Kitten is my granddaughter, I will be able to tell from her scent. All born wolves carry the scent of their fathers before they are mated.” I sniff the air again, but I get nothing of Kitten from this man’s scent.

Maksim must notice this. “It’s one of the only advantages born wolves have over you changed wolves,” He explains. He sniffs at the stuffed animal for a moment before running his hand over the fabric and sniffing again. He gives the toy back to Ash, who snatches it quickly and places it back safely in his pocket.

Maksim covers his face with both hands, speaking softly to himself in Russian. We all watch him carefully, waiting for the verdict.

“
So…?” Logan blurts out, his knee bouncing so fast it’s blurry.

When Maksim looks up, he appears to have aged twenty years. He gives me a curt nod. “And you believe someone in my pack has her.” It’s not a question, and he doesn’t seem happy about it.

“
Yes,” I answer anyway.

Logan jumps up and punches the air. “Yes! That means he’s gonna help us get her back right? Right, Rem?” He turns to me, blue eyes excited and looking a tad crazy.

Maksim stands abruptly, clapping his hands together loudly. “Alright boys, fuck the tea. I need all the information you can give me. We’ll get this mess sorted.”

One thing I love about Russians is their ability to come up with a crazy ass plan in a matter of minutes. We had shared all of the information we have about Kitten’s upbringing and combed over every detail about her time with us. In turn, Maksim had told us that his son, Mikel Ivaskov, was Kitten’s father. That’s who’s scent he caught from the toy. He had gotten quite emotional as he spoke of his son, who was murdered in his own pack house. Maksim had always suspected his second son, Marcus, but was never able to prove it. Marcus inherited the Alpha title, and Maksim is confident that if he does indeed have Kitten, that nothing good could come of it.

His first call was to the man Ash and I spoke to at the compound. It just so happens that the inside man with the Alpha and Kitten was Mikel’s most trusted advisor and a friend of Maksim’s. Through a series of messages, Maksim was able to learn that the Alpha is currently at his summer home in Alaska, not at the pack house in Colorado. It’s as we first suspected and Kitten is not being treated as a guest, but as a prisoner. Much to all of our grief, the man said he hasn’t actually seen Kitten in weeks, but he knows she’s still in the house. The current Alpha is a sadistic bastard and had a dungeon of sorts built in the basement where he’s been known to torture human women. He’ll die for taking her from me in the first place, but if my beautifully innocent woman has been anywhere near that basement, it won’t be the quick and painless death he will wish for.

Maksim is currently out in the SUV with Finn sending a message to the guy, whose name is Albert Rosen. I was unsure about trusting him since he now works for Marcus, but Maksim was quick to reassure us that he only does so because Marcus threatens to kill off his family.

“
How did it go?” Reed asks nervously as Maksim and Finn step back into the room.

“
Perfectly. I was able to confirm with Albert that there are a few men in the house that can be trusted to know about Kitten’s real status. Now that they know we’re coming, they’ll look out for her. He told us to hurry. From what Albert told me, he doesn’t plan on keeping her alive much longer.” Maksim says as he rushes past us and into a bedroom. I follow after him.

“
What do you mean, her
real
status?” I question him.

Maksim pauses in his mad rush to throw clothing and other items into a suitcase. His back straightens, and he gives me an unreadable look. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“
Know what?” I bark at him. Shit just got real, and he wants to play fucking mind games?

“
Marcus isn’t holding Kitten just because she is his brother’s daughter, a brother he hated and probably murdered in cold blood. He has her because she threatens his reign as Alpha, something he’s always wanted. Wolf law states that Alpha will always follow direct descendants, Father to son, son to grandson. Marcus only became Alpha because his brother died without any heirs and he was my son. I refused to make any more heirs without my mate, who I lost during The Suffering.”

“
But she’s a female! Females can’t be named Alpha, of any pack.” I shake my head at him. Even I know that about the born wolves. It still doesn’t make sense.

“
Look, son, I don’t have time to explain how wolf society works right now, but the short and sweet of it is, Kitten herself can’t be named Alpha, but her mate can be until she gives birth to an Alpha son. Even if she never has a son, the title stays with her until she dies. Now get your men ready to leave. That girl isn’t only my granddaughter, but also the key to ending Marcus’ reign of terror on my pack and the potential collapse of wolf society as a whole.”

I watch, stunned, as he uses a knee to get the over-stuffed suitcase to close. In the back of my mind, I suppose I knew Kitten was important if she was Maksim’s granddaughter but…this? This is a lot to take in. It also means she’s in even more danger than we could have predicted. That thought snaps me out of my shock and gets me moving toward the others. I hear Maksim begin a phone call behind me to one of his contacts as I stomp my way over to Ash in the living room.

“Time to get our girl, brother,” I tell him as I clasp his broad shoulder in my hand. I see the swirl of emotion in his eyes, my own probably reflecting the same. I hold back a chuckle as Ash rushes Logan and Tristan and throws them both over his shoulders running for the door.

Kitten

I
hear shouting from the other side of the door. I try to sigh at the interruption but end up coughing dryly instead. I wish they would just leave me be. I’ve been lying here, exactly like this for a long time now. I haven’t spoken to anyone in what feels like weeks, though maybe it’s only been days or even hours. Time is an elusive thing when you can’t see the sun. I don’t try to escape anymore, and I don’t go to their stupid dinners. It all seems pointless. Everything is pointless. I won’t get to eat; I can’t escape. Talking to them is pointless too. They don’t say anything I want to hear, and there’s nothing I can say to make them let me go. I’ve found that laying in one spot and not moving is what makes me the happiest now. Uncle beats me no matter what I do, but if I don’t move, I can barely feel it anymore. I’ve become numb to the pain. I like closing my eyes and pretending I’m with the boys. In my mind, we are living out a peaceful life where I feel cared for, cherished and even loved.

My dry, cracked lips sting as I smile at the thought.

The shouting gets louder and even though I don’t want to, I can’t help but hear them.

“
I just need more time!” Adam shouts, sounding panicked.

“
You couldn’t get that girl under control if I gave you a hundred years to do it! I told you, the agreement is off, Vanderson! She’d rather lay there and die than let you put one finger on her; it’s not going to work. I gave it a shot; now it’s time to move on.” Uncle shouts back at him.

“
But…but you can’t do this! You promised I’d be Alpha! You promised she’d be mine! I can get her under control. Just look at her, I already got her to stop fighting us, we can still breed her and sell the pups to the highest bidders. I just need more time!”

“
Oh, we’re still doing that. I’ve just found another way to go about it. One where we don’t have to put up with the defiant little shit and I can finally be rid of her. The humans have been doing this for decades; it should be fine.” Uncle says dismissively.

“
But this could kill her! She’s supposed to be mine damn it! I can’t very well go making my own pack without a mate and heirs.” Adam’s voice gets high pitched and whiny, making my ears hurt.

“
Remember who you’re speaking to, boy. If the little bitch lives, I’ll let you have her. Deal?” Uncle asks.

“
Fine.” Adam huffs.

The metal door creaks open, and I hear what I think is squeaky wheels. I don’t care to turn my head and look. I’m not sure what they’re up to but it sounds like whatever it may be will be the end of my time here, one way or another. A part of me wants to fight them, to try and stop them from doing anything to me. I won’t though. If nothing else, all this time alone has given me a chance to think about my life. How insignificant I was from the very beginning. My entire life has meant nothing; I have done nothing of any worth. I’ve been surviving not living, and I’m tired now. The best thing I have ever done was to meet the boys and because of me, two of them are dead. I ruined their family by trying to be a part of it. Even if I lived forever, I’d never forgive myself for that, so I might as well die today.