My Mate's Embrace (17 page)

“Don’t get defensive. Kolya is a good husband. Of course, he misses you,” Yelena said, smiling. “I’ll leave you to your lessons now. See you later tonight, Laurel. I need to get back and relieve Fanya from babysitting the twins,” Yelena said as she got up and walked out the door.

Laurel looked over at Alena who was finger-combing her hair. “Now, what is next on the agenda?”

§

Anton paced in the sitting room of the lodge. He had argued until he was blue in the face, and still Dmitry and Kolya wouldn’t listen. If Ivan insisted Laurel be taken in for questioning, Anton would never forgive them. Should he grab her and run? If he accessed his portion of the pack fund, they could leave with a good chunk of money to start over someplace else. They could go to Virginia where her grandmother lives.
Idi K Chyortu,
he wanted this done and over with. They needed to be able to start fresh. Making Laurel a part of this would only bring all the terror and pain back to her. What good was having her go through these healing ceremonies if she was going to be dragged back into the mess? There must be a way to keep her out of it. Running his hands through his hair, Anton turned and ran out the door.

Anton ran into the security building and down the hall to the computer room. Dmitry had put the backpack in the weapons locker for safekeeping. Anton opened the combination lock and reached in for the backpack, but it wasn’t there.

“Looking for this?” Kolya asked as he walked into the room, holding up the backpack with the newly repaired strap. “It wouldn’t have worked as bait if they knew we opened it. The tracking device is back in place and, once outside this building, should be picked up easily by Laurel’s stepfather.”

“Give it to me,” Anton said, reaching for the bag. “I’m going to take it off pack lands and hide it. Nobody will get hurt that way.”

“I don’t think so,
HC@8=
, wife’s brother,” Kolya said. “I know what you plan to do, but there is no reason to sacrifice yourself. If you will just wait until Ivan gets here, we will plan this out so everyone is satisfied. Laurel does not need to be a part of this if we catch them red-handed with the drugs in their possession. You need to calm down and think logically. Tomorrow night Laurel will be returned to your care. You cannot risk yourself, for in doing so, you risk her as well.”

Anton stood frozen, his mind in chaos. What should he do?

§

Laurel watched Sonya move to the music like a fish in water. She glided and dipped, her body moving sensuously through the air. In her hand she carried a fan that became an instrument of flirtation. Laurel was transfixed. Even though she couldn’t look away, she could feel her skin heating with embarrassment.

“You want me to dance like that?” Laurel asked in a whisper.

“Don’t worry, you can do it,” Alena encouraged.

“But, in front of everyone?” Laurel asked.

“You are dancing for the goddess and for your mate,” Alena said. “You are celebrating your femininity and the divine mother, giver of life. Once you start, you won’t see anyone. Trust me. All young women dance when they come of age. When they are finished, they often know who their mate will be. The dance calls to their mate. It is full of feminine power and seduction. After the ceremony, the family gives a party for the pack, a coming-out party if you will. You already know Anton is your mate, so once you see him, you can concentrate on him alone. In that way you have it easy.”

“Easy? Alena, I don’t think I can do this.”

“Here we go again with self-doubt. Have you learned nothing this last week?”

“Don’t be so hard on her,” Yelena said from the doorway. “She will do fine once she tries,” she said as she walked into the room. “Sonya, stop a moment and take Laurel through the steps one by one. Alena, turn off the music for now. Laurel can try it with the music once she gets the steps down.”

Laurel obediently moved forward. She liked Yelena, and more, she trusted her. She had been kind and encouraging every time she talked with her. For a mother-in-law, she didn’t fill the role of the jealous tyrant. She was more like a wise mentor. If Yelena thought Laurel could do this, then she would give it her best shot. Sonya took the first dance step and moved her arm, holding the fan down across her body. Laurel mimicked her movements. It was easier once Sonya slowed down so Laurel could see what to do.

“Give Laurel a fan, so she can practice with it in her hand,” Yelena said.

“I’ll get her mine. I have it in my room,” Alena said, smiling and dashing down the hall. “Every once in a while I dance for Kolya. He loves it.”

“They all do,” Yelena added.

With Kolya at his side, Anton ran to the police helicopter, as the blades swung around, blowing dust into the air and into the eyes of everyone within range. Dmitry stood out of range of the wind, watching, a confident look on his face. But Anton didn’t know whether Dmitry was over-confident or not. Ivan already sat in one of the front seats with the backpack in his hands and a headset on his head. The four men had talked into the early morning hours, and now it was time to put their plan into place. After strapping himself into his seat, Anton quickly put his headset on.

“This better work,” he said into the mike.

“If everything goes according to plan, it should work perfectly,” Ivan said over the radio that connected the headsets. “Once you and Kolya deliver the backpack to the mafia, my men will step in and arrest them. Classic maneuver, old as time.”

Anton looked down at the pack village as the helicopter took off and flew over the shops and homes. If he leaned forward, he could make out the house Laurel was in, as well as the high meadow decorated for the party this evening. If they didn’t get back in time for the dancing, Laurel would be crushed. But keeping her safe was worth taking a chance. He glanced at Kolya and saw an expression of worry cross his face. Was he thinking what Anton was thinking? The women would make their lives miserable if they ruined the ceremony for Laurel.

Needing to touch her before he was out of range, Anton reached for the mating bond and briefly touched Laurel’s mind. He could feel the comfort and pleasure of his touch floating into her thoughts. They had come so far this last week, sharing each other’s minds and thoughts, even though they weren’t allowed to speak except in an emergency. Sharing their dreams had helped as well. Did she know how much he wanted her? She had to feel desire and love blooming in his heart and mind. It seemed to comfort her, knowing they were never alone, but always connected and accepted.

Would she accept that he needed to keep her safe? That right now he rushed to confront her stepfather and the Russian mafia he was working for? Realizing he didn’t want Laurel to read his thoughts, he withdrew and focused on the work ahead.

With help from Ivan, they discovered that Laurel’s stepfather and Gleb, the local mafia boss, reportedly returned to the village holding the Sakha Festival. Today was the last day of the festival, and the many merchants and tourists would be heading home. Outside the village on the edge of the river, near the field where the festival was set up, was an open area. There were several warehouses along the docks. Anton and Kolya were to take the backpack into one of the empty buildings and stash it there. The local police already had the spot under surveillance. Ivan would drop Anton and Kolya off at the airport, and they would drive into the village. It seemed like such a simple plan, but Anton knew from previous experience that nothing about this would be simple. More than anything, he wanted this nightmare to be over for Laurel. Hopefully, the tracking device would alert Gleb to the fact that the backpack was no longer on pack lands but was approaching the village.

§

Laurel felt the brush of Anton’s mind-touch and smiled. After the ceremony tonight, they would finally be together. She missed his warm body wrapped around hers and his tender kisses. She knew that the first time she physically shared her body with him, it would hurt. But Alena had reassured her. She pointed out that the mating bond would ensure they shared the pleasure they both felt and that would help the pain pass quickly. Laurel knew how intense the sharing of pleasure could be. Anton took her to heaven in their dreams. If the real act turned out to be even half as good, she would be happy. She wasn’t afraid anymore.

Hearing the sound of a helicopter going over the house, Laurel ran to the window and looked out. What was that about? It was so quiet around here that she had almost forgotten about the big world out there. Sometimes, she felt as if she existed in another dimension. She loved the solitude and magic of the lycan community.

Loving Anton and being his mate was a special gift she was looking forward to. Every time she thought of his handsome good looks and his sculpted body, tingles of excitement shot through her. She was ready to take what was hers and cement the mating bond into place. She didn’t know where she and Anton would fit into the pack, but they would figure that out together.

Picking up the beautiful red-silk fan Alena had lent her, Laurel began practicing the steps of the ceremonial dance. She had worked on it for hours, but repetition was paying off. She didn’t miss one step as she rehearsed in front of the mirror in her bedroom. She liked how seductive she felt and endeavored to flirt with the fan. She wanted the movements to flow and look natural.

This dance needed to be full of confidence, showing the pack that she was assured of her place as a mated female and that she was celebrating her femininity. Tonight was all about being a woman and rejoicing in male-female differences. Laurel dipped down into the final position, the fan covering her face as she knelt.

“That was beautiful. My brother is a lucky man,” Alena said from the door.

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course,” Alena said. “You are exquisite. Gone is the scared little girl. In her place is a confident woman. Anton won’t be able to get you alone fast enough. It’s a good thing we set up a small cottage near the high meadow for you two. Think of it as a honeymoon cottage.”

“Oh, I never thought about where we would go. It’ll be nice to be alone with Anton.”

“I’m looking forward to having Kolya home and back in my arms. But at least I’ve gotten to visit with him. You and Anton have been forced to stay apart. I’m sorry we put both of you through that.”

“Alena, you’ve done so much for me. I can’t thank you enough.”

“You are my twin’s mate. It is natural for me to want the best for you. That is what family is about. That is what being part of the pack is about.”

§

Anton would have enjoyed the helicopter ride if he weren’t so worried about Laurel and getting back in time for the ceremony. Twice, Kolya had looked a little green during the flight. Anton would have teased his brother-in-law about his reaction, but now wasn’t the time for teasing.

When Ivan let Anton and Kolya off at the airport, Anton heaved a sigh of relief. The quicker they got this done, the quicker he could get back to Laurel. Kolya jumped out of the helicopter and ran over to the car.

Ivan would take one vehicle into town, and Kolya and Anton would take another. Kolya slipped into the driver’s seat of a new Lada-Niva, which sat waiting on the tarmac for them. Anton smiled at his brother-in-law’s need to always be behind the wheel. After retrieving the backpack from Ivan, Anton walked over to the passenger side and got in.

“Dmitry approved the purchase of the new vehicle, I see,” Anton said, while putting the backpack on the back seat and enjoying the new-car smell.

“Was there ever any doubt?” Kolya asked. “Once Alena told Violet about the situation, everyone knew Dmitry would give in.”

“How did he manage to get it here this quickly?”

“He was owed a couple of favors. The rest of the packages ordered for Laurel should be in the trunk. Violet and Alena picked out a coat for her for the coming winter.”

“Will we make it back in time for the ceremony? You know Laurel will be crushed if I’m not there for the traditional dance,” Anton asked, needing reassurance.

“We’ll get you back in time, lover boy,” Kolya said. “Don’t worry. Alena will have my head if you aren’t there. I haven’t lain with my mate for a week. I don’t want her mad at me.”

“I appreciate your sacrifice,

“Yeah, yeah. You’ve got it bad, I know. Let’s get this done, so we can get home to our mates.”

Anton smiled at the warmth that settled in his heart. Get home to our mates was a phrase he hadn’t been sure he would ever hear. It sounded good.

The drive into the village was only a few miles. The road approached from the south of town and went past a housing complex before entering the main square. Kolya made sure to drive by the local drinking establishments before heading down to the river and the warehouses. He was hoping the Russian mafia would pick up the signal from the tracking device and follow them down to the docks. Shipments of freight often arrived by boat and were unloaded into the different structures.

Kolya pulled up behind one of the empty metal buildings and parked.

“Do you want to leave the car here? Dmitry will get upset if you scratch it before we get it home,” Anton said as he grabbed the backpack and climbed from the car.

“I’ll move it after we hide the backpack. We aren’t supposed to hang around. The police will keep the building under surveillance. Who knows how long it will take to flush out these vermin?”

Anton followed Kolya into the building. The dirty windows left the inside dim and shadowy. Sparkling dust motes floated through the air. The metal sides of the building were turning red from rust. Someone had spray-painted graffiti on one of the walls in black. A thick layer of dust coated all the surfaces. Anton looked behind them on the floor and saw their trail of footprints as they moved farther into the space. On the one side sat a stack of wooden crates leaning against the wall. The rest of the building was empty. Before they entered the building, the dust layer on the floor hadn’t been disturbed at all. Not even a rodent had walked across it.