The Burning Claw
Page 32

Both Evie and Isa took seats at the bar and struck up a conversation with Sally as Jericho moved away to take care of customers. He’d whispered in her ear before he’d left. “Stay and get to know them. I’ll handle the bar.”
She thought that perhaps it was a little, okay a lot, too soon to be meeting family, but what was she going to tell him? No? Sally couldn’t do that. She didn’t have it in her to be rude. So she smiled and leaned against the bar as the girls began their inquisition.
“So, Sally,” Evie, the redhead, began. “Tell me, how do you feel about wolves?”
 
 
Alina knocked on the door of the suite that had been given to Zara. It had been several days since she’d left the young woman to get adjusted to having her own space, and the Alpha felt that it was time to see how she was doing. Zara seemed to be a very private person, but Alina knew what being alone could do to someone, especially someone who’d undergone something as horrific as Zara had.
When the door finally opens, Alina’s heart hurt at the sight before her. “Have you been eating?” she asked gently.
Zara pulled the door open further, making room for her to enter. “A little,” she answered in a tired, broken voice.
Alina was at a loss for what to do for the girl. Zara had been uprooted from one life and thrown into hell and now she’s been uprooted from hell and thrown into a wolf den. How does someone cope with that?
“I hate to ask how you’re doing because that feels like a stupid question, but I’m not really sure what else to ask.”
Zara’s lips twitched so quickly that Alina was not sure that she really saw it.
“I don’t really know how I’m doing,” Zara admitted. “Vampires exist, werewolves exist, and my life will never be the same. In some way that’s good because I honestly thought I was going to die down there with those monsters. So it’s great to know that I’m not going to die, but I have no idea what I’m supposed to do now.”
Alina rested her hand on the girl’s arm, hoping the touch would help ease her mind. “You don’t have to know what you need to do or want to do. All you have to do right now, in this moment, is survive. That’s step one. You eat, you drink, you rest, and you do whatever it is you need to do to survive.”
“What if I never get to step two?” Zara asked.
“Then you can remain at step one and live here, or at the Romania pack mansion, for as long as you want,” Alina assured her. She could tell that the girl wanted to heal; she just didn’t know where to begin. “You will soon find out that we are not like the vampires. We care for our own. I know it may seem overwhelming right now, but you are one of us. And, believe it or not, you’re safe here.”
Finally, she nodded. “Okay, I’ll do step one. But” —she paused— “I’m not ready to be around others. Not yet. I don’t know when I’ll be ready.”
Alina nodded. “Of course. Will you allow me to come visit you at least a few times a week? Nothing long, just a few minutes to say hello?”
“Sure, I can handle that.”
Alina closed the door behind her but she didn’t walk away. She felt as though she was abandoning Zara, even though the girl didn’t want her to stay.
“She’s safe, Mina. She’s sheltered, fed, and protected. That’s all she needs right now.”
Alina knew that what her mate said was true, but the mother in her wanted to wrap Zara in her arms and hold her. She wanted to give her all of the hugs that she had been deprived over the years. She wanted to sing to her all the songs a mother sings to her child. Alina wanted to give back to Zara everything that the vampires had taken from her.
Alina turned and placed her forehead against the door with one hand pressed against it as if she could reach through the barrier and offer comfort to the young woman. Maybe Zara didn’t want that comfort now, but there would come a day when she would not only want it but need it. Until then, Alina would be waiting.
 
 
“Whatever you’ve got for me, history boy, it had better be as awesome as that shirt,” Peri said as she pointed to the t-shirt Wadim was wearing.
Wadim looked down as if he didn’t even remember what he was wearing. That did not bode well for Peri.
“You’re the one that called this meeting,” Wadim pointed out. “Do you think if I had uncovered anything useful I wouldn’t have called you straightaway?”
Well that’s just peachy, Peri thought to herself.
Having decided that Peri’s bark wasn’t as big as her bite, Wadim was now attempting to read his shirt upside down and it looked painful. She decided to help him out. It says, ‘Freak out and stand still,’ she snapped. “Loving the play on words of the original Keep Calm fad. Although I was around when that saying was more than just a cute phrase on a t-shirt or coffee mug.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jen huffed as she entered the room. “You’re so old your panties are crusty and turn to dust at the slightest touch. We got it.”
Peri started to respond but stopped short as she watched the line of people follow the mouthy blonde into the archives. First came Decebel, cradling Thia closely to his chest, then followed Fane, Jacque, who was holding Slate, Alina, Vasile, Lilly, and finally Cypher.
“I think you forgot a few pack members, Jen. Perhaps, you should go back and gather them,” Peri said dryly.
Jen shrugged. “You said to meet you here, well, actually…” Jen smiled wickedly. “Your exact words were ‘Get your butt over to the Romania pack den and meet me in history wolf’s dungeon. I have news. Do not bring Costin. I do not have the patience to coddle his broken heart.’ That was a little harsh,” Jen pointed out. “You didn’t tell me not to bring anyone else. Not to mention” —Jen narrowed her eyes on the fae— “you could have flashed us instead of making us travel the old fashioned way.”
“I am not your damn taxi service. Besides, a little exercise might do you some good. Have you looked at your behind lately? That pregnancy weight isn’t going to lose itself.” Peri’s smile was positively wicked. She could almost hear Jen clenching her fists and grinding her teeth.
“What’s the news?” Vasile spoke up, getting down to business, as usual, and silencing the scathing retort Jen was formulating in her mind.