Try to keep up. Nikolai’s amused voice ghosted through my head before he hurled himself into the impending darkness with a playful growl.
My wolf immediately gave chase, and I happily took a backseat as her competitive streak pushed us faster until we were on Nikolai’s heels.
The terrain was different and we slipped a few times until we found our footing, but the peace I felt settle around my heart was unlike anything I had ever known. Everything about this place felt right.
The best part was under it all, I could feel my bond to Remy. It felt like he was inches away instead of miles, just under the surface of where I could reach.
Nikolai swerved right, pushing us higher up the mountain peak. I had lost count of how long we had been running, our breaths puffing white clouds into the night air as we went.
He turned another corner and slowed, finally stopping at the edge of a cliff.
My wolf flinched. This icy drop off looked too familiar. Too much like when I had tackled Cassian off of it.
I stepped back with a low whine.
Nikolai turned, his gray eyes alert.
Trust me, he said simply.
With a huff, I stepped up to the ledge again and looked over.
There was a clearing in the middle ringed by trees and sharp slopes of the mountain. In the clearing were wolves. At least four dozen of them. Some were burrowed into the snow together, sleeping. Most were playing, chasing and nipping at each other with high pitched yips and teasing growls.
Dimitri told you of our system, yes? He sat down and watched me with those eyes that looked like melted silver.
I sat down, too. Yes.
He dipped his head at the wolves beneath us. These wolves are in the final night of their lunar cycle. They shift back tomorrow to rejoin their packs.
They aren’t from here? My head swung in his direction.
A chuffing noise rumbled out of his chest. No. Only a dozen are from Narodnaya. The rest are from neighboring packs. They will go home tomorrow.
This is what Elias was trying to do? I asked.
A low growl escaped his bared teeth. Yes. He tried to take this and force it on others in your country.
There’s magic involved in this, isn’t there?
He sighed, sliding his front legs forwards so that he was laying down. Lulu helped me. She binds their human so their wolf can run free for the lunar cycle. Every woman down there is a willing participant.
Shock hit my system. They’re all female?
His eyes sparkled. Yes. Most are already mothers. We’ve found that if women repeat this process every half decade, it usually triggers another fertility cycle. These women are hoping for a second, third, or even fourth, child.
Are they bonded? My mind was racing.
Gabe and Mallory had four kids, but they were bonded mates.
Only a handful, Nikolai replied.
The average, unbonded female only had one child. Maybe two if she was super lucky. Nikolai had completely thrown that average out the window.
How does it work? I demanded, needing to know more.
We encourage them to not suppress their true nature, little wolf. In doing so, they find a balance. Nature does the rest.
I stared down at the dozens of women.
Elias tried to do this? I sank down beside him.
Tried and failed. While our participants are willing, his are not. The effects of an unwilling person being forced to submit into this process can end disastrously. Nikolai’s lip pulled up over his teeth in a snarl.
How can he force them? Doesn’t he need magic like Lulu to do this?
Nikolai surged to his feet with a growl. His Alpha found someone with magic like Lulu. Unlike Lulu, they are willing to break the laws of nature to force the process.
Someone like Lulu? I looked up at him. Another Romani?
Not only Romani have magic, sweetheart. There is magic and those who wield it on every continent. Some do it reverently, with respect to the elements. Some are reckless and careless. Elias and Damien have found the latter to do their bidding.
I stood up beside him. We have to stop them.
His eyes caught mine, the full moon reflected in their darkness. We will.
26
Remy
Sleeping was impossible after Skye hung up. My mind was too busy twisting all the possible ways she could still be hurt while I was here, powerless to protect her.
The agitation and frustration ate at me until my wolf took over, pushing us from my bed and