Fated for Her Wolves - Tara West Page 0,53

guarding the veil, but that was all the information he was willing to share. She had a sinking feeling Jovan was furious with her, and she’d soon know firsthand the wrath of a second-alpha.

She pushed aside her worries and focused on patching a hole in Luc Thunderfoot. He’d been shot in the shoulder while shielding a Romanian wolf that had stumbled into the crossfire. After she finished healing him, she checked on her babe again. He was still asleep under her robe, nestled closely to her breast.

Luc stood, looking not the least bit bashful with only a small towel wrapped around his waist. “Thanks, Dr. Lupescu.”

She gave him what she hoped was a warm smile. “You can call me Eilea. We’re family, after all.”

He flushed. “Okay.”

As he turned to go, she asked, “How is Amara?”

“Busy healing tribe members for every little thing.” Scratching the back of his head, he anxiously shifted from side to side. “I need to help find my sister.”

“Of course,” she said, feeling ten shades of selfish for keeping him.

She looked up as he shifted into a wolf and sprinted away. Though it was still bone cold, the snow wasn’t falling as fast. There’d been a break in the storm, but another one was close behind it. She’d initially tried to triage outside, but snow drifts were so high in some areas, a few wolves had fallen in them, needing protectors to dig them out. They’d had to move to the castle courtyard, which was protected by three walls and a canopy. The castle itself wasn’t stable enough for use.

She’d addressed the most seriously wounded first, trying not to think about what would’ve happened to Constantine if she hadn’t arrived in time. He’d been barely clinging to life, with a bullet wound close to his heart. His brother Andrei wasn’t much better off, suffering severe blood loss and a busted artery. After she’d healed them, both brothers had refused her orders to rest, mumbling that they were going after Dimitri and Tatiana. She’d wanted to go with them, but there were too many injured who needed her attention.

Eilea had just finished with a protector when she scented a familiar presence behind her. She craned her neck. Jovan was bearing down on her, still in protector form, teeth bared and heaving shuddering breaths.

“Where is my child?” he boomed.

She blinked, momentarily stunned into silence. He wasn’t going to hug her or at least ask if she was all right? It was expected he’d be angry with her, but he could’ve shown relief she was safe.

Opening her robe, she revealed the child, milk drunk and sleeping. “Right here.”

What he did next shook her to her core.

Holding out his arms, he fell to his knees. She put the baby in his arms, her heart twisting with guilt when tears streamed down his furry face. He scattered tiny kisses across the child’s face, then handed him back to her.

Shoulders stiff, he stood and turned away, his back like a massive wall.

“Jovan,” she whispered, “are you okay?”

He turned, eyes glowing white. “What the hell do you think, Eilea? I almost lost my mate and infant son to demons. Constantine and Andrei nearly died. Dimitri chased the demon who took Tatiana into the Hoia Baciu. Who knows if they will survive?” He pointed an accusatory finger at her. “All this could have been avoided if you hadn’t foolishly gone after demons by yourself.”

Regret swelled in her chest. “I had no idea Katarina was among them or that she’d try to kill me.”

“Katarina?” His jaw dropped. “Our dead mate was there?”

“She was with the demons. Tatiana asked me to free her, and when I did, she attacked me.”

He clenched the matted fur on his head by the roots. “Great Ancients!”

This was the first time she’d told any of her mates about Katarina. She’d been waiting for the right time, but she supposed there wouldn’t be one. Several of the protectors were going through the castle rubble, looking for survivors. It wouldn’t be long before they found her host body and recognized her scent.

Boris scowled. “Where is she?”

“I’m sorry, she’s dead. One of the demons crushed her.”

“Why would you be sorry?” Jovan looked at her as if she’d kicked his puppy. “Do you think we care about her? Do you think our love for you is an afterthought?” His deep voice rose with each word.

“I never said that.” Yet deep in her heart she was nervous about their reaction to Katarina’s second death. Her mates were