Chapter 30

30

SKYE

I f I thought last night was cold, the Russian morning was even more frigid. The air practically crystalized into icicles as I puffed out a breath. Montana snow had nothing on the layers of snow and ice coating the mountains of Russia.

Nikolai and Dimitri waited ahead of me, standing next to a snowmobile on steroids that looked like it comfortably sat four people. Light affixed to the top cast sharp slats of illumination across the snow.

Nikolai smiled as I approached, but his smile dimmed when he realized I wasn’t smiling back.

Remy’s news of Damien’s call had soured the good mood I had woken up with.

“What’s wrong?” Nikolai asked softly as I joined them.

I grit my teeth and shook my head. “I just talked to Remy. Damien is causing trouble.”

Dimitri rolled his eyes. “Now what?”

“He wants Remy to give up,” I said flatly. “Even offered to let him keep me and return Maren to Katy, so he definitely has her. Asshole.”

Nikolai and Dimitri looked at each other, their expressions unreadable to me, but whatever they communicated in that glance clearly meant something to them.

Sighing, Dimitri looked back at me. “When we were on the plane, you mentioned her. I told you that we thought Damien and Elias were behind the missing women in your country.”

I nodded slowly. “You said that you weren’t sure, though.”

“One of the things we did when we suspected Elias was doing shady shit was have someone join the Norwood pack. He’s been there for a few months, mostly on the outside, but Damien has gotten cocky. He’s been going into detail with his pack.” Dimitri grimaced and again looked at his father.

“Can you both stop with the looks and tell me what the hell is going on?” I tossed up my hands in exasperation, my patience quickly dwindling.

“Damien is planning to host an auction,” Nikolai said quietly.

“An auction?” I echoed, dread filling my stomach like slippery swamp sludge.

“There’s a facility in upstate New York, close to the Canadian border,” he went on seriously. “He’s been keeping women and young girls there. As he’s taken packs, he’s also taken all of the women who haven’t had a child or are still a child themselves.”

My jaw dropped open in horror. “Why?”

I knew the answer even as I asked the question.

“He plans to auction them off as mates to the highest bidders.” Nikolai’s jaw clenched in fury, his eyes flashing.

“But some of them are kids ,” I whispered, my hand pressing against my chest where my heart hammered wildly. “Kit and Jayla aren’t even sixteen!”

“We know,” Dimitri said gently. “Lulu and I tried getting more information out of Elias last night. Before the Summit, he was staying in the facility, overseeing things. He wasn’t super forthcoming with details, though.”

This wasn’t happening.

I staggered back a step under the weight of their revelation.

Nikolai surged forward, cupping my face in his warm hands, forcing my eyes to meet his.

“We’re going to help you stop him,” he vowed fiercely. “What they’re doing is against everything we stand for. We will help you free them, Skye. Trust me.”

Trust me .

His words rang in my ears, cutting through the fog of confusion and fear. His expression was gentle, his eyes pleading with me to do just what he was asking.

Asking, not demanding.

I licked my dry lips. “I trust you.”

Approval flared in his eyes, and his face softened even more. He pulled me into him, kissing my forehead before wrapping his arms around me. It only took a second for me to return his embrace.

My father’s embrace.

T he skidoo (which I now knew was what the vehicle was called) pulled to a stop just before the treeline broke. Other vehicles were parked in the area as well. Men congregated in a loose circle off to the side. They all stopped, dipping their heads at Nikolai when they realized it was him. I recognized a few from the dinner the night before.

I peered around as Nikolai killed the engine. The moon was just barely visible as light started to break across the land.

“What are we doing here?” I asked, my eyes drifting from him to the men and back.

“Getting out,” Dimitri said from behind me, nudging my shoulder playfully as he jumped out of the side of the vehicle.

“Let’s go, little wolf,” Nikolai added, already standing beside the skidoo.

I unhooked the seat belt and got out, following them to where the treeline broke into an open, snow-covered valley full of dozens of wolves. The same ones from last night. The ridge that Nikolai and I had watched them from loomed to the right.

Natasha and Lulu were standing in front of the wolves. A few other women hovered in the background.

“What’s going on?” I whispered, trying to be quiet, but several wolves still turned and looked at me curiously.

“Just watch,” Nikolai murmured, dropping his head to whisper in my ear.

Nikolai and Dimitri stayed behind me, thankfully blocking out most of the wind that whipped behind us. Even still, I shivered against the cold.

Lulu stepped forward. The wind snatched the words she was saying before I could hear them, but moments later, a field of naked women stood where the wolves had. Immediately Natasha and the other women surged forward, handing clothing to all the women.

It was clearly a well organized, familiar system. Women were clothed within minutes, excitedly chattering and laughing as they covered up from the elements.

“Come on,” Nikolai said, reaching for my hand and pulling me through the snow with Dimitri following. When we got close to Natasha, Dimitri split away from us and headed for Lulu, his long strides eating up the distance between them until he was at her side.

“Is she okay?” I asked, watching as she gave Dimitri a thin smile and actually leaned into him when he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Nikolai followed my gaze. “She will be. What she just did took a great deal of energy. It always does, but this group is larger than any we’ve had in the past. She’ll rest and then complete the rest of the process before we leave tonight.”

“I thought they hated each other,” I admitted, watching as Dimitri started to lead her away, finally just swinging her up into his arms and carrying her the rest of the way to the skidoo.

Lulu didn’t seem to mind as she all but cuddled against his chest, her head tucked against his shoulder. Dimitri got her situated in her seat, tucking a blanket around her like she was made of glass. Lulu was all but asleep as he started the vehicle and pulled away.

“Lulu and Dimitri have a complicated relationship,” Nikolai informed me. “But they don’t hate one another. Far from it.”

Clearly .

“What else does Lulu do?” I asked, turning to look up at him.

“Lulu’s gifts are exceptionally unique. She possesses the ability to determine a woman’s fertility cycle. This process,” he inclined his head to where Natasha was addressing the women, “often triggers a fertility cycle within months, sometimes weeks. She’ll be able to help the women navigate their next steps before they return home.”

“You said last night that they were all trying to get pregnant,” I murmured.

“And most will,” he confirmed with a quick grin, dimples flashing for a second. “But the important fact is that they’re doing this by choice. Because it’s what they want.”

“And Norwood is forcing it.” My wolf stirred, as pissed off as I was.

“What they’re doing is dangerous. Reckless.” He gave me an odd look, almost apologetic. “We should have stepped in before it came to this.”

I blinked up in surprise. “What do you mean?”

He sighed. “We’ve known that the American packs were struggling, both in the northern and southern continents. But we let old rivalries and feuds keep us from offering help. It wasn’t until Elias approached us that a connection was established and we learned the extent of the issues.”

“Old feuds?”

“Most of it is ancient history. When the Americas were discovered, it opened a new world and divided a lot of packs here. A few went at the behest of Alphas, like Nortosce establishing Norwood in what is now New York, but most were less than amicable splits. Over time, the packs grew more and more distant.”

I frowned. “But it doesn’t have to be that way now.”

He looked back at me. “No, little wolf, it doesn’t. I think much will change in the coming years.”

“Nik?” Natasha called.

He looked up, smiling warmly at her before starting forward. He turned and arched a brow at me when I didn’t follow.

I trailed behind him as he joined her side 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 could 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 about 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.

She drew in a shaky breath. “Nikolai Dashkov, you are my best friend. I know you married me to help me raise Dimitri because it’s what you felt you owed Marcus. Those first years, I couldn’t have done it without you. I could barely breathe, let alone raise a child. You took Dimitri on as your own.”

“He is my son,” Nikolai gritted out. “He is as much my child as Skye is.”

I clenched my hands into fists, resisting the urge to reach out and touch him, hug him. To do something to alleviate the pain that twisted his face and hunched his shoulders like a physical load he had to bear.

“He is,” she agreed wholeheartedly. “And I’m grateful every day that Marcus and I had you as a friend to help raise him. But he’s not a child, and I’m not broken anymore. The only thing stopping you now is you .”

She stepped forward, lifting to her tiptoes and kissing his cheek. “I want you to be happy. Out of everyone I know, you deserve it most.”

He let out a soft breath and closed his eyes, a single tear sliding down one cheek.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

Natasha rocked back and wiped her eyes. “Now, I believe you have a few hours left before we leave. I believe you had plans to spend that time with your daughter, didn’t you?”

His gray eyes met mine. “Yes. If she’s willing.”

I held my hand out, blinking back my own tears. “I’d love that.”

Spending the next few hours with my father, learning about his pack and meeting the people in it was a surprisingly perfect way to end a trip that started under the worst circumstances.

By the time we were heading to the airport, I knew it wouldn’t be my last time with these people in this place at my father’s side. It couldn’t be.