So why did it? And it wasn't just a little ache. Her heart felt battered and stomped on.
He's just a stupid, angry wolf.
True, and she needed to put it behind her. She needed to put him behind her. There was nothing she could do for him. She needed to focus on her own future and finding herself a mate who was appropriate for her station. One her family would not only accept, but be proud to bring into their ranks. That was her duty to the ones she loved.
Tomorrow she'd find her a bear and there would be no more thoughts of Fang or any other wolf.
Fang felt like crap. He shouldn't have yelled at Aimee and he knew it. It wasn't her fault. He'd been the one to jump into the fray without thinking. Blaming her was pointless. It was his anger at himself that he couldn't really cope with. Blaming her was easier than blaming him.
But in the end, he knew the truth.
He was the sole reason Anya would die. His temper and need to fight had caused this. The wolf in him wanted vengeance over that. He wanted to bathe in the blood of his enemies. To wash away his anger and guilt with their deaths.
If only it were that easy.
But his human side knew that no amount of violence would undo what had been done. Anya would die and it would be all his fault for trying to save a bear he shouldn't even care about.
So why did he?
Unable to cope with it all, he returned to his wolf form to lie on the damp ground while thoughts chased themselves through his head.
In the end, he kept coming back to a single reality-how could one chance meeting with one person on a crappy afternoon alter his life so much? How was it possible that a bear had somehow wormed her way into his heart and have ruined his entire life?
* * *
Eli walked the floor of his dark, immaculate study as he imagined skinning his own son. Yes, the boy was still young, but how could he be so imbecilic? So reckless . . .
Now the Katagaria wolves knew they knew of their existence and they'd be hunting for them. The element of surprise had been lost.
Damn you, Stone.
"You summoned me?"
Eli paused to find Varyk standing in front of his black wood ro-coco desk, watching him. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. That man had the creepiest ability to travel completely undetected. He'd never seen anyone more accomplished at hiding their scent or presence.
"We have another mess."
Varyk took the news with complete stoicism. Then again, he took everything that way. "Stone?"
Eli winced. "Of course." There was no need to deny what Varyk could easily verify. "Stone's tessera went after a Katagaria patrol and slaughtered some of their members. I'm sure they're now gunning for us."
To Varyk's credit, he didn't make a face or any indication of emotion. "You wish me to clean this up?"
"I want your opinion on the best way to proceed."
Varyk crossed his arms over his chest and leveled a cold glare at him. "I'd start by killing my son and his crew of idiots before their stupidity spreads to anyone else and infects them." There was even less emotion in his tone than in his body language.
Eli retrieved his brandy from the small marble table in front of him and took a sip before he responded. "Spoken like a man who has no children. I can't do that. I'm not an animal."
"I am."
Eli arched a brow at that. There were times when Varyk did seem more Katagaria than Arcadian, but he knew better. Tougher than hell itself, Varyk was Arcadian.
If only barely.
Varyk slid his gaze over to the fire that was blazing in the ornate Victorian hearth. "You asked my opinion and I gave it. Of course you have to remember that if I'd been on the island with Gilligan, he'd have been killed ten minutes into the first episode. Where I come from, incompetence and stupidity are reasons for justifiable homicide."
Eli snorted. "Well, I should like a plan that doesn't result in the death of my heir."