Fated for Her Wolves - Tara West Page 0,64

his sons. “They have been cast into hell.”

Tatiana and Dimitri tensed when those present burst into cheers. She was grateful when he slipped an arm around her waist, giving her support.

“Though several of our brave warriors were injured, Eilea healed them all. Most importantly, none of our brethren were killed. Almost all of the demon’s soldiers perished, and Eilea has altered the memories of the few survivors,” Klaus continued. “Our government believes the battle took place between two warring Russian mobsters. Our village is safe once again.”

Again cheers went up, and again Tatiana and Dimitri tensed. When the people stood, mouthing their thanks to Eilea, she simply nodded, holding her baby, three of her mates flanking her. Tatiana knew the empty seat beside Boris probably felt as wide as the Grand Canyon, and she cursed Jovan for being a pigheaded wolf.

Tatiana spied Jovan across the room, standing against the wall, arms crossed, face impassive. Her heart ached for Eilea, and she wondered how long Jovan would stay angry. She knew firsthand it was no fun being the target of a second alpha’s grudge.

After the cheers died down, and people took their seats, Tatiana was not shocked to see Atan Albescu and his family still standing.

“Fuck,” Constantine grumbled.

Her other mates and their families grumbled, too.

If Klaus’s eyes had been lasers, they would’ve shot Atan full of holes. He clutched the podium with white knuckles, staring at Atan until the people fell eerily silent.

“What about your son and daughter-in-law?” Atan said without being asked to speak. “What are you going to do with them now that they’ve returned from the Hoia Baciu?”

Tatiana tensed when all eyes turned to her. Though Dimitri and Constantine each placed a protective arm around her, she still felt uneasy, as if they were back in the haunted forest, being watched by dozens of glowing, red eyes.

“Do with them?” Klaus snarled. “We’re going to let them live their lives in peace.”

“Must I remind you of our laws written centuries ago?” His brothers nodded. “Wolves who cross the veil must be beheaded upon their return.”

Before she could stop them, her mates jumped to their feet, faces shifting while they roared at the Albescus. Her fathers and brothers held them back.

“Easy,” Tor said. “We won’t let that happen.”

“Who’s going to behead them, Atan?” Klaus pounded the podium. “You raise a finger against them, and you’ll regret it.”

“I did not write the laws, but they make sense.” Atan pointed in her direction. “How do we know they won’t attack us in our sleep, turning us into demons, too?”

She clutched her throat. He thought her a demon? A dark seed took root in her chest, telling her he was right. She’d been cursed by the forest.

“My grandson and his mate are not demons.” Klaus shook a fist at Atan. “Those laws were written before they had healers.”

“There were healers among our ancestors,” Atan argued. “Our great-aunt was a healing witch.”

Could that be true? Tatiana looked at Eilea, whose downcast eyes were not reassuring.

“She did not have Eilea’s healing skills.” Klaus laughed. “I guarantee it.”

“No matter.” Atan snarled. “We do not feel safe with them living among us.”

Was he for real, or did he have an ulterior motive?

“We could say the same for you, Atan.” Klaus’s top lip pulled back in a snarl, and his eyes shifted to blinding white. “I have not forgotten it was you and your family who tried to send our four boys into the veil.”

Her mates growled their agreement.

Atan defiantly turned up his chin, balling his hands into fists. “That is not relevant.”

“It’s all relevant.” Klaus’s voice dropped into a protector’s deep baritone. “You’ve been trying to steal the chiefdom ever since your fathers lost it, and you think you can bring up some archaic law, robbing our boys of their inheritance.”

Constantine cleared his throat. “We don’t want the chiefdom, Bunic,” he said, and his brothers nodded in agreement. “We secede in favor of our little brothers.”

Tatiana was stunned. This was the first she was hearing of it.

Klaus blanched. “What?”

“We’ve given it a lot of thought,” Constantine continued. “and we want to start a new life with Tatiana in Alaska.”

Her jaw dropped, her mind reeling. Were they really willing to relocate for her? She’d thought their visit to Alaska was going to be temporary. “You do?”

Her mates turned to her with confident grins. Dimitri tightened his arm on her waist, nuzzling her neck with a sultry growl.

“Da,” Constantine said, taking her hand in his. “We want you to