I had no idea when I would have time to wear a diamond bracelet, let alone where I would be wearing it, but Natasha insisted I take it, going so far as to clip it around my wrist.
I glanced down at the bracelet with a sigh. At least it wasn’t the same bracelet I had come to this pack with.
“There,” Alexei said, pointing to the horizon. “Those are the last helicopters.”
Finally.
He smiled down at me. “We will leave soon.”
“Define soon,” Tate demanded before I could.
“Within the hour,” he replied.
The side door opened and Nikolai came out, followed by Dimitri.
Now I stood up and headed for them.
“Ready to go, love?” Nikolai asked me with a smile.
“More than ready,” I answered.
“I’m starting to think you didn’t enjoy your time here,” Dimitri said with a smirk.
“I might have if I’d known I was taking the trip,” I retorted lightly, still a tiny bit annoyed that he had essentially kidnapped me.
He made a face. “Most girls love surprises.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “I’m not most girls.”
Respect shone in his eyes. “No, you aren’t, little sister.”
I groaned, rolling my eyes. “I’m barely your sister.”
He wrapped a strong arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side. “You love it.”
I hid a smile. I didn’t hate it.
Nikolai shook his head at us. “If you two are quite done, we need to get everyone ready.”
“On it,” Dimitri said, letting me go and jogging down the runway.
I glanced around as the two approaching helicopters landed on the other end of the airstrip. “Is this everyone going?”
“For now.” Nikolai answered. “More will meet us after we land. I didn’t want to overwhelm your Alpha with all of us at once.”
“And how many is that?”
“About thirty of us on this trip,” he replied calmly. “Another three hundred will be prepared to take off when we land, if he is agreeable. Once the rest of the packs sort out their numbers, another thousand or so will be ready should he want them.”
My jaw dropped a little. “And all these people are willing to just go help us? Drop e everything and come to a different country because you asked nicely?”
He nodded.
“Why?”
His gaze snapped to mine. “Because you are my daughter. These men will fight for me, and I will fight for you. My war is theirs. And your war is mine, little wolf. Never forget that.”
I was still wrapping my head around that when a figure exiting the first helicopter snagged my attention.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” I snarled, every muscle in my body tensing as Linden was led down the runway towards us.
Nikolai simply smiled down at me. “It’s rude not to bring a gift when visiting another pack.”
“My uncle?” I choked out, staring at him incredulously. “How the hell is he a gift?”
“Based on what you’ve told me, I believe your mother may have some questions for him. She deserves answers, as do you.” His voice lowered. “Dimitri also told me of your aunt and cousin. Perhaps they need closure as well?”
I nodded mutely for a second, until my eyes rounded for a second time. “And him?”
Nikolai grimaced as Elias started being led down to us. “He may yet prove useful.”
Linden glared at me as he came closer, but the swelling around his eyes dimmed the effect. His skin was mottled with purple and yellow bruises.
“They’ll be locked away with guards in the back of the plane,” Nikolai told me. “And you see the bracelets? They cannot shift. They are no threat to you, sweetheart.”
“I’m not worried about them,” I answered honestly as Elias walked by. My eyes narrowed into thin slits as they were led to the plane. “I’m more worried I might kill them before we land.”
Nikolai tipped his head back and laughed, the sound warm and inviting. “You are most assuredly my daughter.”
I didn’t hate that, either.
Ten hours in, and almost everyone was asleep on the plane. Tate was curled up in a ball against the window seat beside me. Across from me, Dimitri’s head was resting on the back of his seat, his eyes closed. Oddly enough, Lulu was sitting to his right, her head on his shoulder as she slept soundly. Our seats were separated by a table that my phone rested on.
I lit up the screen, unlocking it so I could see the last message sent ten hours ago before we took off.
SKYE: We’re leaving now. Expect 30 people, not counting Tate and me. I love you.