Her Viking Wolves(76)

At the top of the stairs, he stops to inhale deeply through his nose…

He can smell several wolves below, including his brother. But their she-wolf’s scent is nowhere to be found.

FJ bolts down the stairs. He knows something is terribly wrong. Because even in human form, his brother would never let their she-wolf leave this house alone with FJ still sleeping above. And what he sees when he reaches the bottom of the stairs stops his heart dead in his chest.

His brother’s naked form is upon the ground. The small Alaska fenrir on one side, and his dark-skinned beta on the other. There is a small gun in the beta’s hand, of the same sort Fenrir Rafe did raise to him when he came through the Alaska gate.

And now does FJ’s wolf finally rise violently within his chest. “Where is our she-wolf?” he demands of the two men.

The Alaska fenrir and his beta are in deep discussion over his brother’s body and did not scent his arrival. They start at his words and his mate’s uncle raises his gun.

The Alaska fenrir says, “Now FJ, calm down. Just calm down, son…”

He is not the Alaska fenrir’s son, and he does not wish to calm down—would not be able to do so even if it were his wish. His brother is on the floor. Their pregnant she-wolf cannot be scented. FJ’s wolf knows no thought. No words can be formed upon his tongue.

And with an inhuman growl does he raise his sword. “Tell me where she is. Tell me where she is NOW!” he roars.





33





I wake suddenly from a nightmare in which FJ and Olafr are fruitlessly searching the Alaska mountains for me, calling out my name with despairing voices…only to find I’m now inside another nightmare. Except this one is happening for real on a plane.

The flight, according to the cheerful voice overhead, has landed and we are now taxiing toward a terminal gate at the Detroit Metropolitan airport. After that the line to deplane moves quickly. Too quickly. Even though I purposely flew economy the whole way. One last stupid and uncomfortable way to defy my father, who prefers everyone in his crew fly first-class because “flossing is a habit” as he likes to explain to the few bold enough to ask. This was meant to be my last act of defiance before I give in to his plans for me entirely. Like using all your weapons when you’re only a quarter of the way through a level, because you’re down to your last man.#p#分页标题#e#

But the joke’s on me, because the plane clears out in what feels like record time. And despite not sending anyone my flight details, I find my father, Yancey, and my brother, Clyde, waiting for me at baggage claim. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Dad has always had a way of finding things out. Just ask any of the dead prospects who’ve tried to go behind his back.

No words are exchanged when I come to a stop in front of the small group. Just an angry sniff from my father, followed by a confused sniff from my brother. Yancey remains a true beta though, tough as the leather Dark Wolf vest he wears over his long-sleeved tee. If he can scent the changes in me, he doesn’t give any indication of it, and his face remains the same dead-eyed mask he always wears.

I have no idea how much advanced warning Uncle Ford gave Dad when he called to tell him I was on my way. But it doesn’t matter. They know for sure I’m pregnant now. My nose isn’t that great, but even I can smell the shift in hormones. The seed now growing inside me, strong and true.

However, there are humans everywhere, so no one makes a scene. My brother grabs my luggage and, like silent actors in a kabuki play, we head out to Yancey’s black Cadillac Escalade.

Not until we’re in the car, safely behind closed doors, does my father turn from the front passenger seat to demand, “How many people know about this?”

“Only the Alaska kingdom house,” I answer, my voice dull. “It happened during the full moon.”

My father nods, as if doing some kind of mental calculation. “Good. We can control that. I’ll talk to Wilma.”

I start to look at my brother, but my father says, “Don’t look at him when you’re talking to me, girl.”

So instead, I fold my arms and look out the window, giving him nothing. The backseat equivalent of locking myself in my room.

But this time he refuses to let me retreat. “I can’t believe you did this!” he all but growls between clenched teeth a few moments later. “And after skipping out on your engagement party—do you know how much that party cost me?”

“You mean the party you threw to celebrate my engagement to my brother’s lover?” I ask, my voice filled with stale candy. “Would you like me to pay you back? Because if you want, I can do that.”