Cloaked Ties, page 12
It didn’t take longer than a day to get back and he knew that Casimir wouldn’t be stopping unless absolutely necessary.
“Thank you for telling me first.”
Ice blue eyes were cold. “Don’t make me regret the decision.”
Translation: Tell Shira before she heard it from Dyana.
“Yes Alpha.”
A flutter moved over him and he looked toward the front of the hotel just as Shira stepped out into the morning sun. God, it loved her.
She smiled down at a young child who ran by her, stopped and turned back to say something. Her grin made his stomach clench with a need that wouldn’t be filled until he saw her holding their child.
However, when she stepped away from the front, she didn’t come toward him and Casimir, no she walked off in the opposite direction. Like she’d not even seen them which, with her vision, was a bunch of bullshit.
His snarl grew in volume. Where was she going?
He took a single step in her direction before he felt his Alpha’s gaze on him. That’s all it took for him to lock himself in position and wait for Casimir to say something. Anything.
However, the man didn’t speak a single word.
Kraven kept his gaze firmly on the retreating figure of Shira, not that he needed to see her to know where she went, he could scent this woman anywhere. A small snort of amusement fell from his friend and Kraven kicked his stare to his friend.
“Something to say?”
Casimir Lars, a formidable Alpha and known to make others shake in their boots, crossed his arms and didn’t even attempt to hide his amusement.
“Course not,” he finally drawled out. “Like my mate would say, ‘You’ve got a fight ahead of you, hoss.’”
“If I punched you now, is going to be construed as something you deserve and your mate will side with me, or will I piss her off?”
His friend’s smile grew. “She is fond of my face.” He bent closer. “How is it you’re more scared of my mate than you are me?”
“Because she has final say in your relationship. You would move heaven and hell to make her happy. And she likes me.”
“Now. If you mess up my face or try to ruin my dick, she’ll geld you.” He smiled. “But, you know. Take a swing. I won’t tell. We both know you’ve got a lot more work than I do when it comes to our women.”
By the time he ended his statement, Casimir’s tone held more than a bit of warning. One Kraven heeded.
Giving a small nod in his friend and Alpha’s direction, he struck out off after her. Shira moved fast and he couldn’t see her when he reached the door, but he had latched onto her scent. He wove in and out of the crowd that made it’s way toward the shops along the street.
Picking up his pace, he closed the distance between them, bringing her into view shortly. She took her time, walking with ease as she window shopped.
Or at least gave off the impression she was shopping. With this woman, he wasn’t so sure she wasn’t up to something else. After all, she’d agreed to meet his Alpha here but this woman didn’t let anyone know where she lived, didn’t trust, and sure as hell wasn’t only coming here for one thing.
She lifted her head and met his gaze in the window’s reflection. For half a second, he imagined a smile turned up her mouth. But, when she blinked, he wasn’t sure it had ever happened.
Then came the public, I’m blending smile. The one that drew many an eye from those around them, male and female, but that left him cold on the inside because it wasn’t the one that lit her up from the inside. The special one he had seen only a handful of times.
When her eyebrow lifted, he stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her, tugging her to settle against his chest.
“Hi.”
He dipped his head and brushed his lips along the soft skin of her face. Damn this woman smelled amazing. She trembled ever so slightly and all he could do was hold her tighter.
“Following me, Kraven?”
“To the ends of the earth, sky goddess.”
“Seems like that’s not going to happen as the earth is round, not flat.” She didn’t angle to face him but he never once glanced away from her expression in the window.
Kraven’s mouth tipped up at the corners. “Exactly.”
There it was, the small personal smile that she rarely shared with people. He couldn’t resist. Dipping his head, he kissed her again, making sure to skim his canines along her carotid.
Damn it to fucking hell, the way this woman trembled around him, was enough to kill him. Brain flashing back to the previous night as she welcomed him into her body. Their mingled scent as they curled up together after. More, so much more was what he longed for.
Opening his mouth to say something, he paused as her back pocket vibrated against him. Shira maneuvered her hand between them to pull it free and he couldn’t help but notice how it brushed against his cock.
“Yes?” she murmured into the phone.
All he could hear was the cry of a bird. Both he and his wolf knew this wasn’t a good call for that was an alarm call. Shira’s entire body stiffened.
“Get them out. Do whatever is necessary and I will be there. Protect them all!”
She began to move from his arms and he gripped her, refusing to let her go. Her golden eyes were molten and it wasn’t because of passion. This was the warrior he knew she was. The protector and defender who had survived hell for years as a prisoner. The woman who didn’t back down from a fight and would risk her own life to protect others.
“Shira.”
“Move wolf.”
The tone pushed through when nothing else she could have said would. This wasn’t Shira’s voice. This was a person on the edge of losing control. Hell, it didn’t even sound like her. Two words that were lower, raspier, deadlier than anything he’d heard come out of her mouth before. Like, ever.
“Look at me,” he ordered.
In his periphery, he noticed Casimir near, the man, like when it came to most things not related to his wife or son, calm and collected. Still, regardless of knowing the man was mated, Kraven didn’t want him near Shira. Right now, he didn’t want anyone near her until he could figure out what the fuck was going on.
When his Alpha paused in his approach, one eyebrow lifting, Kraven realized he must have vocalized his displeasure. The wolf was in his Alpha’s gaze as the man took a few more deliberate steps toward the two of them.
For such a bustling and busy city, people here didn’t pay attention to the others around them. Most had their heads buried in their phone, or were lost in a conversation with someone beside them.
“What’s going on?”
There it was, the expecting obedience from everyone tone.
Shira lifted her head again and moved it between them, glancing at them both. The eagle must burn beneath her skin, her eyes were almost completely shifted.
“What’s the problem?” Casimir asked.
Although to be honest, it was more like he demanded to be told.
“Nothing that concerns either of you.”
She went to move away and Kraven wasn’t going to let that happen. “Something is happening, Shira. I will help you protect them. Just trust me.”
The lack of it in her gaze fucking gutted him.
* * *
Her skin buzzed with the need to shift. To take to the sky and wing home as fast as possible. No matter the condition she would be in when she got there.
She didn’t have time to screw around. More than that, she didn’t have time to play games with wolves who wanted to get in her way.
But god, to have even only Kraven at her side, would be immense. Him and Casimir. All the better.
The doubt weighed upon her. They weren’t under the Tatra Pack protection. They weren’t with them.
Both men stepped closer, dwarfing her with their size.
“I know you don’t trust us,” Kraven said. “I will never betray where your aerie is and neither will my Alpha.” He grasped her hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist.
“I meant what I said before, Shira. You are Pack, whether you like it or not.” Casimir never blinked as he spoke but it was hard to focus on his words as Kraven’s lips were still on her skin.
“You need to understand this. My people are being attacked. It’s coming, I have limited time to get there. My people won’t trust you.”
“Do you?” Kraven nipped her palm drawing her gaze from the impersonal one belonging to Casimir.
“I trust Dyana but I don’t think you fully trust me either. If you want to come help, I won’t turn it down. I am leaving.”
She yanked free and strode away. The two larger than life men, fell into step with her, flanking her and for the first time in her life, she didn’t have the urge to protect her back. At her SUV, she unlocked the door and looked back at them.
“What about your Pack?”
The men shared a look. “You need me to call them in?” Casimir posed the question without any hesitation.
“No, I mean, shouldn’t you be there with your Pack. You’re going to fight without them beside you. I have no wish for you to be injured.”
It was rare for Casimir Lars to smile, that was just a cold fact. But, right then, he did. And it wasn’t just a small, trying to appease someone grin—not that he would give a damn to do so—but a full on, even showing a hint of teeth grin.
In her periphery, she noticed the amusement on Kraven’s face as well, as he inched closer and slid his arm around her waist.
“I’m going to kiss your mate,” Casimir announced seconds before he cupped her face in his and leaned down to brush his lips along her cheek.
“Once is enough, Casimir, get your lips off her.”
She wasn’t sure what was going on right then. The Alpha of the feared Tatra Pack was joking with his top lieutenant with her. To prove his point that he could and would do what he wanted, the man did it again before stepping back.
“I have Kraven with me and you, Shira. And your aerie, we will all fight together. Let’s go.”
“Let’s go.” She honestly didn’t have any other words. Shoving into gear, she spun as she raced out of town. When she hit the spot she couldn’t go any further on without sticking to main roads and adding on even more time to her trip, she swore.
“Fly, sky goddess. We’ll keep up.” Kraven’s warm but assured voice washed over her bringing with a sense of calm and relief. A feeling she wasn’t exactly ready to focus on right now.
She nodded. “Follow the river a few miles, there will be a waterfall, head north. You’ll know it when you get there. I’ll leave some clothing out by a tree for you both.” Without saying another word, she tapped her animal and shifted then took to the sky with powerful beats.
A cry escaped from her as she continued to climb. Now, she allowed the passion and anger to spill from her. Tilting her head, she gazed down in time to see two large wolves streaking off in the direction of the river she’d given them. All she could do now was hope trusting them didn’t come back to bite her in the ass.
She took a chance, they were going to have to move the aerie anyway so what difference did it make that they knew where it was. Asking her bird for more speed, she poured nearly everything she had in her to get there fast.
Shira was shifting back to human even as she landed, so it was two human feet that hit the ground when she made it back to her convocation. She shimmied into the clothing which had been tossed in her direction.
Buttoning down the leather jerkin, she shot a slight grin to Aditi. “Catch me up.”
“The lead scout’s are dead. But more are coming. Right now, we have the young readying to move.” Her expression betrayed her nervousness. “We’re running out of room to relocate to that people haven’t seen.”
“I know. I think it’s time to head home. This place will not be used again, we’ll burn it to the ground with those fuckers on it. There are two wolves coming, they are friendly.” God, she hoped.
Aditi frowned but didn’t argue. “I’ll get some clothing for them?”
“Burly’s size.”
Aditi waggled her eyebrows despite the situation and hurried off. Shira stood there, head tipped back and surveyed the place she’d made into a home for the past few years. It wasn’t her true home, but this was close to the look and feel.
We are under attack. We will defend those who need it and we will prevail as we always do. To my warriors, there are two wolves coming in to assist. You will treat them with the utmost respect. They are from the Tatra Pack.
She sent the announcement to her people. Tone unflappable and words that she issued a decree. It would not be ignored.
Walking to what used to be their staging area for training scenarios, she looked at Tane who stood there, a scowl on his face then dismissed him. While a good solider and member of her team, he wasn’t her equal and she didn’t have to discuss anything with him. The burden fell on her shoulders, the succuss or failure of what she did for the aerie.
As they pointed out where the scouts had come from, her gaze narrowed. This was well planned and the attack would be coming from multiple fronts.
“Any idea what Pack the bastards were from?” she asked.
“No,” Tane replied. “There were two wolves and one lynx.”
She hissed. “Larkin. We need to dispose of him as well. Far to long people have overlooked his dealings because of the others he knows and associates with.”
“Shouldn’t we be doing that as well?” Carlie questioned, moving her blond braid behind her shoulder.
“No. That man is why we are never running out of children and adults who need help.” She lifted her head. “Besides, we are heading home. We will no longer be in the area. I’ll kill him before we leave.”
Shira looked around the ones gathered by the tall trunk slab that they used as a table more often than not. The tree had been cut down but they hated ripping the roots out so they left it and turned it into something they could, and did use. Less of a fingerprint they left behind. Or would, when they vacated the area.
Aditi set the clothing by her. “I’ll be right back.” She ran it out to the tree she wanted to leave it and put both piles down.
Taking advantage of the moment alone, she closed her eyes and let her mind pull him up, giving her the visual she craved more than she would ever admit out loud. Kraven. Mattias Kraven.
God she was going to miss him.
They come!
The cry from one of their sentries blared like a foghorn through her mind. Instantly shifting her focus, she swiftly returned to where her people waited. Expressions set she gave them all a nod.
“We have layers of protection on the young. We have planned for this and will not fail.”
Tane stepped up beside her. “Assignments have been given. We will take the fight to them that we can. Stick to the plan. They are sneaky and strong but we are survivors. We scrape by and fight for everything. Nothing has been handed to us and while we know we are going to be giving up this home, they don’t know that yet and will think we’ll die to defend it.”
“We won’t!” Aditi added her strong voice to the air. “We will die to protect the young and the weak. But not this place.”
Energy moved through the fighters standing there. Shira took a deep breath, proud of her people and what they had accomplished.
What we will accomplish.
“We will let the ground slake its thirst by offering up the blood of our enemies. And when it’s done and they cannot fight any longer, we will be victorious. We will gather those important to us and we will head home.”
Her people moved off in groups of two and headed off to do what was required of them. Shira took a few moments to make sure the young were protected. She laid down her expectations, even though they should all know what to do. Even Magdaline who sat in a corner, eyes wide with fear.
Then she walked out, mind firmly on the battle some fools thought to bring to her door.
Chapter Twelve
Kraven ripped the throat out of the man who was trying to sneak through the trees. Not far from him was his Alpha, doing the same thing as they worked up from the back of the approaching group.
The staggered formation told him a lot of the people behind this. He recognized the training, they were mercenaries who thought they were after easy targets.
Your mate is good. She’s taken the fight to them, not even waiting for them to breech the compound.
Kraven smiled as he retracted his claws from the flesh of the dead man who collapsed in a heap at his feet.
Yes, she is.
The clothing had been where she’d said, they had found it without difficulty. After dressing, he and Casimir had gone hunting. Trusting that Shira had told her people about them, they focused on taking down as many as they could. They’d started at the same point and moved out in different directions.
The closer he got to the main of her home, the more his nerves ratcheted up. He wanted to see her. There were battles going on in the sky but mostly it was on the ground. Her people were good, no denying that.
They killed swiftly and in silence, leaving the bodies to stay where they fell. Coming up on one body, he crouched by it, the scent slightly familiar to him. Male. Unmated. And one that had been around his woman.
His wolf snarled deep within and he responded in kind. Mind flashing as he tried to place where he’d smelled this one before, he gnashed his teeth when it hit him. When she had told him she’d not met anyone after she went flying.
Who the fuck was this man to her?
A wolf howled and every inch of his frame went rigid. Fury pushed through him at the sound. It wasn’t a wild wolf, no this was a shifter and he was taunting those there.
More are coming, Casimir.
I hear them. Do not lose focus. We are here as support. Not to be the attention.
He gnashed his teeth. She’s my mate. You wouldn’t sit back if people were after yours.
Of course I wouldn’t. But you need to remember, this is her Clan. Her group. They look to her. Not to me and not to you.
