“My wolf has spent the last few years trying to kill me or get me killed.”
“What does Freyja’s Redemption do to the wolf?”
He pulled the Hummer into a parking spot next to three other vehicles. “I’ll need to move these underground and then get rid of all the tracks,” he said, clearly thinking out loud. And obviously not answering her question.
She waited patiently—on the outside. Within, she was irritated and unaccustomed to having men not answer her. Most men seemed to fall at the feet of Valkyrie. Not only in battle but also to their feminine charms. Of course, Valkyrie did not fall for the opposite sex. Men were good for one thing and then to be left behind. So, how did one manage to get Eira? To infiltrate his way into her heart so she would cast aside the sisterhood?
Patience gone, she prompted, “What does it do to the wolf?”
“Why don’t we wait until we’re all gathered together. I’m sure the same question and others will come up.”
He helped her out of the vehicle and led the way up a porch and into the house which had undoubtedly been decorated and furnished by men. Dark hues and austere minimalism reigned supreme. Brown and navy seemed to be the favorite colors of the inhabitants. They went through a kitchen and down into a sunken living area which reminded her of a cave.
Two men awaited. One sported a rather long blond beard while the other wore a dark, short one.
Asa waved toward the two. “My brothers, Jason and Davin.”
Well, that simplified matters. She had no idea who was who. Both nodded.
Dark Beard said, “Range and Eira are down below.”
“And you are?” Blond Beard asked.
“Eira’s sister. Emme,” Asa said in a clipped tone.
“You?” Emme pointed at Blond Beard.
He thumbed his chest. “Davin.” Then he slapped Dark Beard on the back. “Jason.”
“Nice to meet you,” she said, though it seemed a weird thing to give voice to under the circumstances. Crazy circumstances as they were.
“Lead the way,” Asa told his brothers. Then he put a hand in the small of her back.
A shiver ran through her, one she hoped he didn’t notice.
“We’re going to the underground portion of our bunker. It’s custom-made. A command center, one would call it.” A few paces later. “Hang on.” He sidestepped, opened a door—she peeked in while he ventured inside, and opened a drawer in a dark wood chest.
A bedroom, obviously his, maroon and tan colors, and a king-sized bed was all she managed to get a glimpse of before he was back and pulling a thermal over his pecs and shoulders and closing the door behind him.
She hadn’t noticed how one of his brothers opened the access as she’d been behind Asa, but before them now loomed the dark entrance to the subterranean part of their place. A narrow, sloping corridor hidden behind a bookshelf.
“After you.” Asa let her precede him.
Down and down the semi-dark passageway she followed Davin and Jason, who were evidently the littermates to Asa and Range, as they’d mentioned earlier at the cabin. Littermates. The thought played on her mind. Their mother was a shifter in wolf form when she gave birth. She was stuck in wolf form for many years. Their father unknown to the boys who were born wolves but had no memory of it.
Davin paused midstride, turned around and faced Asa, he sniffed, breathing in deeply, his head tipped back. “Where’s your wolf?” He snarled, his canines extended, much longer than a human’s should be, much different.
“We’re going to discuss that with Range,” Asa countered. “Stand the fuck down.”
Davin released another growl, until Jason put his hands on his brother’s shoulders, applying pressure, turning him around to face forward. “This can wait.” Jason’s voice was gravelly, sounding more animal than human.
They proceeded, once more heading deeper and deeper underground. These wolves were unpredictable. How did Eira manage to find herself attracted to one long enough to—
Asa’s hand found the small of her back again, then moved around to her waist, guiding her to walk behind him, as though seeking to protect her in case his brothers acted out on their wolves’ intentions.
Now, she understood, though it was only a glimmer of understanding, why Eira felt she could stay with Range. He was a gorgeous man with a phenomenal body, as was Asa. And if he were as protective as Asa, indeed, she could understand that.
Shortly, they arrived at a room with a large round table. Eira and Range were already seated at the far side. Jason and Davin parted. One sat next to Eira, the other next to Range. This left the last two chairs for Asa and Emme, next to one another. Bottled waters sat in front of each seat, as well as legal pads and pens.
Eira smiled at Emme, probably noting the expression on her face as she checked out the setup. “They’re extremely organized. Briefings and such.”
Emme nodded calmly, but her mind was racing. Her sister seemed so at home with these wolf shifters. That was very contrary to the teachings of the Valkyrie. Men were to provide sex, nothing more. They were to be used once and discarded. Valkyrie were not to need a man, ever. The sisterhood did not accept partnerships with men. And yet, Eira was working with these men as though they were her equals. And she had created a partnership with Range. More than a partnership, it seemed.
She wanted some one-on-one time with her sister, to find out how she’d come to this arrangement. To learn why she’d turned 180 degrees from what they’d been taught. Not simply what they were taught, but how Valkyrie had been raised to live for centuries.
Picking up the pen, she placed the tip on the lined yellow paper to keep from fidgeting and chanced a glance at Asa from beneath her lashes. His light-blue gaze was focused on her.
Range took charge, beginning with, “Where’s your wolf?”
Chapter Eleven
Asa watched Emme like a hawk. With every passing second, he felt an attraction to her that grew exponentially. This confused him because all his life, his attraction to females had been a shared experience. One he and the wolf partook of equally. Now, the wolf was silent—or absent—and it was all Asa. He’d noticed the wolf had indicated an interest in her before Asa had fashioned the armband which kept the wolf away, but the wolf’s feelings for her were no longer part of the formula.
He was attracted to her strength as well as her weakness. Her love for her sister was her weakness, but for him, that made her even more attractive. There was nothing more valuable to a wolf shifter like him—even with his wolf dysfunctional and removed—than a woman who appreciated the importance of a pack. Eira was Emme’s pack, and Emme wasn’t willing to give up on her packmate. It moved him in the same way he’d been moved all his life when it came to the pack.
She picked up the pen and placed it against the paper as though she were ready to take notes. What she probably didn’t realize was how her fingers shook, almost imperceptibly, giving away her emotions, maybe even her fears.
What’s on your mind, pretty lady? He couldn’t ask her this, though. They were hardly more than strangers, though she’d seen him at his weakest and most vulnerable. Though she’d saved his life. He caught her watching him and gave her the tiniest of nods then allowed his lip to curve slightly, as close to a smile as he was willing to allow at this moment.