while the women in front of him slowly stopped talking. They all gathered in close, waiting for him to speak.
“Welcome back,” he greeted them. “Thank you for your willingness to participate. We have vehicles waiting to take you back. You will be able to shower, rest, and eat. As you know, our consultant will speak with you this afternoon to help you with your next steps.”
I looked at Natasha curiously. Who was the consultant?
“Lulu,” she mouthed with a smile.
I nodded as the men from the woods made it to the treeline and waited patiently.
“Is anyone in need of medical attention?” he asked, scanning the crowd for anyone who might need help. Satisfied they didn’t, he waved an arm at the men. “Please, follow my men. They will take you back. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Two of the women immediately broke away from the group, running through the snow and hurling themselves into the waiting arms of their mates, who had come to help bring everyone back in.
I couldn’t help but smile at the reunions. My wolf whimpered plaintively, wanting our own reunion with Remy.
Soon, I promised her, rubbing the claiming mark on my neck absently.
“That went well,” Natasha said, her eyes sparkling as she turned to us both. “Not a single problem shifting back.”
Nikolai nodded. “It’s a good day.”
She paused and smiled at him, reaching up to touch his cheek. “I’m proud of you, Nik. For what you’ve accomplished.”
“What we accomplished. These women looked to you for guidance.” The look he returned to her was full of pride and fondness. Maybe they weren’t together romantically, but it was obvious my father and stepmother cared a lot about each other.
“For now,” she agreed with a secret smile.
He instantly scowled at her. “Not now, Tasha.”
Her eyes narrowed in return. “Don’t ‘not now, Tasha’ me. She’s your mate, Nik.”
Oh, shit. They were talking about Mom.
Nikolai looked at me before leaning towards his wife, his teeth grinding together. “And I said we’re not discussing it.”
Instead of backing down, Natasha stepped forward, the toes of her boots nudging his. “She’s your mate. Your bonded mate.”
“A bond that is broken!” he roared, loud enough that I flinched. “She destroyed it, remember? You were there in the days after!”
But Natasha barely blinked at his sudden fury. If anything, she swayed closer.
“I know you’re hurt,” she started, her tone softer.
“You know nothing,” he seethed. “That bond was broken a lifetime ago.”
“I know nothing?” she challenged archly. “You’re not the only one who lost a mate, Nikolai.”
His mouth shut, but he still glared down at her.
“You have a second chance, Nik,” she said, quieter now as tears shimmered in her blue eyes. “Do you know what I would give for that? For another chance to be with Marcus? You’re right; I saw you when you came home. Losing your mate damn near killed you.”
I looked up at him, stunned by her admission.
“I know that pain,” Natasha added, sniffling. “I live with that same pain every single day, but there’s nothing I can do for it. You can.”
It was impossible not to feel Natasha’s anguish. I couldn’t imagine the daily agony of losing your mate.
Nikolai sighed, his head dropping. “There’s much you don’t know.” His eyes lifted and darted to me for a beat. “So much that has happened. We aren’t the people who met years ago.”
“Tell me you don’t feel bonded to her, even if by nothing but pain.” Natasha reached out and grabbed his hand. “There’s a reason you kept me as your wife even after you bonded. You wanted to protect your heart, and I understand that. It’s why I married you after Marcus died. It’s why I try to lose myself in the touch of a different person most nights. But they’re all poor substitutions for what I’ll never have again, and I’ve accepted that. I won’t let you accept the same miserable fate when you can have better.”
He looked away, his throat working as he held back whatever he wanted to say.
He was right; Mom had been through so much that she might not want anything to do with him.
“Can a broken bond be fixed?” I asked hesitantly.
Natasha’s piercing gaze met mine. “No one knows. No one has tried that I know of. But I believe that the way your parent’s bond broke wasn’t the usual way, was it?”
I shook my head slowly.
It had been brutally, cruelly severed. They never had a chance at a happy ending thanks to Long Mesa.