Page 18 of Oakheart

It didn’t matter if I’d needed an army. Right then, I wouldn’t have denied either of them anything, especially the distraction Katya obviously would benefit from.

“Not at all. I actually have some drafting work to do—measurements to check. Better to double and triple check than to make a mistake. You ladies go enjoy your afternoon. Maybe come show me when you’re done?”

Evie grinned, nodding.

When Katya cleared up lunch and rose, she offered her arm to Evie, who was pleased as punch to hang off her as they made their way back through the trees.

It made me happy to see it. Evie needed a woman like that in her life—someone who could protect her, but who understood things I struggled to.

As bad as things were for the men in the pack, they were worse for the women and girls. I knew that. I’d seen the coal-black look in Giselle’s eyes as she sized Evie up.

Evie was a pretty girl with long dark hair and eyes like emeralds. There was no way she’d grow up anything other than beautiful.

Every time I caught myself wishing she weren’t so pretty, I hated myself for it. A girl should be pretty and bold and whatever she wanted to be, without ever having to worry about the people who’d harm her because of it.

I loved Evie precisely as she was, but in a pack like this, I was scared for her. Reeve had run things a certain way, with Giselle right at his side, and when Grant had taken over, she’d slid in next to him too. She was an opportunist and a user, and I didn’t want her anywhere near Evie.

Frankly, she didn’t deserve a place in the pack or among decent people at all.

But there were plenty of slimy old men who appreciated what she was willing to do for them, how she’d pressure girls and entrap them.

Evie was too young for me to tell her anything too specific, but one day, I’d have to. She needed to know so she could stay safe. Uncle Tommy wasn’t going to talk frankly with her, and I couldn’t put it on Pa.

We’d never even figured out how to talk about how he’d lost his leg. Talking just wasn’t our strong suit.

But to keep Evie safe, I was going to figure it out, and maybe Katya could help me.

She was one of few women in the pack that didn’t tolerate any harassment, and she got away with it either because Grant favored her or because she was simply that intimidating.

As I watched her walk away, arm in arm with Evie, I hoped that she’d take my cousin under her wing and help me keep her safe. I didn’t know the full story of how Leo and his brother had come under Katya’s care, but clearly, she was the kind of person who looked out for others.

I could ask her for this too; I was sure of it.

CHAPTER 10

Aleks

The trip was... long and tiring, which made it better than expected.

There was no conspiracy, and Anatoliy hadn’t been kidnapped by the government to lure us in. No, he met us upon arrival, looking well-rested and nearly chipper.

The ghost standing behind him, well... that was a different matter altogether.

Oh, Viktor didn’t look half-starved or bruised and battered. He was still in possession of all the limbs and digits he’d ever had, at least the ones that I could see while he was wearing heavy black boots.

The outfit looked nearly like a uniform. Black boots, black cargo pants with lots of pockets for who knew what. A tight black T-shirt covered up with a jacket that had even more pockets. His hair was longer than Leo kept his, but it wasn’t tangled or dirty.

No, the posture and bearing weren’t broken or defeated.

They were military.

The problem wasn’t that Viktor looked beaten and injured. It was that he looked like a robot or a doll, waiting on orders that wouldn’t come.

He didn’t visibly react to our presence, just continually scanned the area, as though assessing threats. His gaze paused on first Leo, then me, but it wasn’t in immediate recognition and joy at seeing his twin brother.

It was because we were threats. We were the tallest men in the room, strong, werewolves. He looked us each over like he was a scanner. No emotions, only gathering information.

“Viktor,” Leo whispered, and his voice was low, pained, and I knew he was on the verge of an emotional outburst.