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Softened to the point of pity, Riaz drew her into his arms. The woman buried her face in his chest, curling into his embrace as shudders wracked her body, drawing on his power for calm. His dominance made the wolves in his pack better able to process threats and fear, because they knew someone stronger had their back and would support them.
“I would’ve been fine if they hadn’t startled me.” Muffled, her pleading tone tore at his heart. “I just didn’t expect a Raeth to be here … in my office. My home.”
“I know, sweet.”
He gently cupped the back of her head, letting her raw emotion wash over him as he trailed his hand down her blonde locks. For werewolves, touch was essential. Right now, Ava needed it to ground herself, and his alpha wolf would always help.
He still needed to warn her of the oncoming storm. Remmus wasn’t going to simply disappear now that he’d dropped off Toni, and he wouldn’t allow Ava to be taken by surprise again. Considering what’d been done to her as a child, her frantic response was expected. Sighing, he straightened against her.
“Remmus asked for a room for the next few days, Ava,” he said. “His sovereign has requested he watch over Toni while she’s here. I will do everything in my power to make you comfortable and ask him to leave as soon as they’re done.”
She shuddered against his chest, her fingers tightening in his shirt. “I’ll be okay now that I’m aware he’s around. But after we sort out this plant, I don’t want to be on the same turf.”
“Understandable. You can take the long scout through the mountains once we’ve completed this mission.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Settling Toni and the charming Raeth Remmus into their rooms, Cortana headed back toward the offices. Stunned by Riaz’s untoward behavior, she’d been mortified when he had swiftly abandoned them to their own devices.
She needed answers, but what she found floored her.
Ava was curled into Riaz’s body, clutching at his shirt, and visibly shaking. Each strangled cry wrung from the depths of the woman’s soul. The way her alpha held her was akin to a parent comforting a child. The she-wolf had disappeared in his hold, her muffled sobs lancing Cortana’s heart.
Without a doubt, she knew this was her fault. “I’m sorry.”
Neither made any move to part company, but Riaz’s eyes found her. “We’re unaccustomed to Raeth travel. In the future, I would appreciate a warning before we have any unexpected visitors that travel by way of teleportation.”
The chastisement was clear; Cortana’s actions had been without thought. “Of course. Ava, please forgive me.”
At the sound of her name, the other woman reared back slowly from Riaz, sniffling. In a tribute to her steeliness, she offered Cortana a dip of her chin. “Just surprised, that’s all. I’m fine now.”
It was clear she wasn’t, and guilt settled a heavy burden over the vampire’s shoulders. Instead of prying, Cortana moved on. “Toni is game to go create the fire line now if you are. As her husband is a vampire, she holds the same hours as us.”
Riaz nodded. “And the Raeth?”
“He’ll accompany Toni.”
Cortana didn’t miss the way Ava breathed a sigh of relief. Riaz’s russet eyes regarded his second with a calculated gaze before focusing back on Cortana.
“I’ll take them around the territory. Ava will remain behind to hold down the fort.”
The pack, eager to see the Elemental’s abilities, became her fluffy hiking companions when they set off an hour later. Remmus gamely donned Toni’s backpack and engaged in animated conversation with Riaz and several interested she-wolves before they disappeared into the woods.
Beside her, Ava’s posture became notably less tense. Before Cortana could ask her why, the other woman disappeared back into the den, leaving her alone amidst the stars.
With a startle, she became aware of the wolf trotting towards her. A smattering of grey on a mostly tan coat, the wolf bore the cat-green eyes that she instantly recognized as Renata.
Shifting seamlessly back to two legs, the she-wolf’s lip curled in disgust. “Riaz is mine, vampire.”
“Funny, I don’t remember him agreeing to that.”
Renata sneered. “That’s because you’ve manipulated him with your mind tricks, you worthless Fang.”
“I actually felt pity for you and your delusion until just now,” Cortana mocking tone changed to a slight threat, idly plucking her dagger from her holster and tossing it back and forth between her hands. “If that’s all the respect you have for Riaz and his strength of will, you aren’t fit to be in this pack.”
The deep throated snarl that roared from Renata’s lips was the only precursor to the attack. Fingers curled into claws, the woman leapt at her. Renata was skilled and far nimbler than Cortana had given her credit for, but the vampire had centuries of grappling under her belt.
Renata’s bared teeth snapped viciously—and harmlessly—in a predictable attack at Cortana’s throat, which she easily sidestepped.
