Chapter 1
I
Kajika dove into the back seat of the rented car. "I'm going to sleep. Maybe my dented ego will settle down. Wake me up when it's my turn to drive."
"Dented ego?" asked Nasim. "Why do you have a dented ego?"
"Because I let myself be distracted so a cop punched me in the stomach and against the wall," she grumbled. They, Colt, and mate Morvenna, Tear, Lev, Kira, Nasim, unclaimed mate of Kajika, Caitlyn and Ian, had just completed a mission to help Kira, the mate of Lev, of the FSB, former KGB. She had been employed there as a Sparrow, a sex spy, but had grown so tired of it.
She had taken advantage of her mission for Hans Petersen, in which she had been deployed in a pack, a kind of community for wolfshifters, at a very remote location, to disappear from the radar. Unfortunately, this didn't work out and when Pax, to whom the friends belonged, except for Caitlyn and Ian, found out that she was a spy for Hans Petersen, she had a lot of explaining to do. Pax decided to help Kira.
Pax is a pack that, among other things, worked diplomatically for peace between packs and consisted of the five friends, before Morvenna and eventually Kira joined. Hence, they were now about to leave Moscow with three rented cars. They had a seventeen-hour drive ahead of them, but the atmosphere was a lot better than the outward journey. They were elated by the success, and wanted to see something of the country along the way, now that they were in Russia. It was already dark and they wanted to go to Vigo's place at lunchtime the next day, the friend who lent them the car’s.
"Let's get in and go. I don't really feel at ease until we are on our way through the woods to the Imperial Lycan Empire," Kira urged.
"Me too," said Morvenna, who quickly got into a car and sat in the back seat. Colt and Ian sat in the front seat and Caitlyn crawled next to her.
"Didn't you do your job properly then?", Ian asked teasingly as they finally drove away.
"Yes, I think I did," she said seriously, "but to be honest, I think this is a pretty scary country."
Kira, who shared a car with Lev, came through via mind-link: "I hope those cops who posted in the black car in front of my house are already gone. I'd love to show you my house."
"It would be nice," Colt replied, "but I'm afraid they haven't gotten the message or been called away yet. Everyone... say, worked in the FSB building are still recovering, I think."
"Yes, I'm afraid of that too... We're almost getting past it." Kira leaned forward and looked past Lev to get a good view of her house and the street in front of it. "Indeed, they are still there," she said with a slight disappointment in her voice. Lev squeezed her leg sweetly.
"Then we have an excuse to go there again."
"I agree with Lev," said Tear, "it's a beautiful country to come to and see it again."
"Yes, that's true, isn't it?" Kira smiled at Lev, she shut down the mind-link. "That can take a while, I think it's quite a journey. Although next time we can try to go via a normal route, a normal flight to a normal airport. Or is that no longer possible now that we are living forever?"
"Sure, you know that we have people who make our passports."
"Oh thank goodness, because I think it's a very long ride."
"Romantic, isn't it, together in a car. That way, we immediately know whether our relationship can withstand that." Lev chuckled.
"We have to, we've been stuck with each other for thousands of years." Kira suddenly felt anxious at the thought.
"Hey, that's not nice," Lev said, offended, as he felt her feelings through the matebond . Startled, Kira put her hand on his arm.
"Oh, I didn't mean it that way, if I'm going to live forever then preferably with you."
"Well, great, thankfully," he scoffed.
"Oh sorry." Kira sank a little. "No, it was because of the thought that I've been alive for so long now. I think it's a bit scary, but on the other hand it also feels fantastic, because we can be together for so long before we have to say goodbye. So many developments that we can experience. Okay, it's okay again," she smiled with relief.
"There's a good chance we'll never have to say goodbye," Lev comforted her. "Or it must be that you have made someone so angry that they rip your head off your shoulders. Well, then you’re finished, isn't it? You're such a sweetheart, I don't think you'll be able to pull that off. I just hope we don't get more of those things like the last two. Although we Lycans are quite ruthless and we like a bit of violence. Provided that it is fair."
"Well, thank goodness then."
"Only if someone, in my eyes and in Pax's eyes, has earned it."
"You have chosen the name peace in Latin for a reason."
"Exactly. We can't stand injustice and oppression."
"I think it's fantastic that I can help now, although I don't know exactly what that will be like yet. Whatever I can contribute at all."
"It always starts with brainstorming. Everyone can contribute with ideas, right?"
"Yeah, okay. On the plane, I overheard Colt talking to Ian about sheep being slaughtered?"
"Yes me too, that was a problem with his other pack, the Full Moon pack. I'll ask what it was exactly."
"I’ll do that, you're driving and I don't want you not to see what you're doing when you look at the inside of your eyes. That's what it seems like when you mind-link," she chuckled. Kira made contact with all the members of Pax. "Colt, are you driving?"
"No, Ian."
"Good, because Lev and I wanted to ask something. We heard you and Ian talking about sheep being slaughtered at home, um... I mean the Full Moon pack."
"I hope you continue to consider my pack as your home Kira," Colt broke in. "We are very happy with you."
"Oh thank you so much, that’s so kind, I haven't felt so at home anywhere, although I also had a good time at Whispering Winds," she thanked him shyly.
"Sorry to interrupt you, what did you want to ask about the sheep?"
"Well, I didn't quite follow it, because my head wasn't really in the mood to let it sink in."
"I understand, it was very exciting, especially for you because you didn't know what we're capable of," Colt laughed. "It was also just a short meeting with Ian. We'll talk about it at home."
"But now that we don't have anything to do except look outside, at the beautiful nature of Russia..," she chuckled a little mockingly, "maybe we can think along for a plan to protect them."
"If we feel like it now? We could also do nothing for a while."
"Oh, only for a moment we can don’t we, we still have hours to do nothing."
There were similar murmurs from the others. "Wait a minute, just letting Caitlyn and Ian know." Those two were not members of Pax but members of Colt's other pack, so could not participate in the mind-link between the Pax members. "I'm back. So it is true that sheep have been violently killed and people want to blame the wolves. Wolves, as far as I know, hunt to eat, but these sheep are only mutilated. So there must be something else that is the culprit. We suspected a human to put the wolves in a bad light or and I hope not, it's a wild wolf shifter. We need to find out."
"How do you want to do that?" asked Kira.
"We have increased the surveillance and the amount of surveillance around the sheepfolds and the moors where they graze. It's a huge area, so there's a bit of luck involved in catching them. We have help from a forest ranger who knows what a wolf shifter is."
There was silence for a while as they all searched for a solution. "If we do conspicuous surveillance in certain places, so that there are only a few other places with sheep left. Then we kind of force them there. This will make the area smaller," Kira thought.
"Ian thinks it's a good idea," he says, a few small groups that let their scent be clearly present," Colt said.
"Maybe I can soften the smell of those who patrol those other places or make it disappear," Morvenna suggested. "A good idea indeed," Colt said.
"But if they're people, then those who patrol have to show themselves a bit by accident, don't they?", Kira thought.
They were quiet again for a while and drove through a small town where it was still pleasantly busy on the streets despite the fact that it was starting to get cold. "Might it be an idea to grab some food here somewhere?", Tear joined the conversation. "We can also swap drivers right away. Let's wake up Kajika, after all, she's been asleep for four hours so she can take over from me."
They found a restaurant with the sweet name Milli in Yaroslavl that had just opened and where they could also take away. They took double the amount so that they could eat again at night. The town had a historic center that they walked through after dinner, before they sat in the car for hours. After two more changes, they came to a very small town near the Sukhona River, where they decided to eat the meal they bought and enjoy the beautiful area for a while.
They had to drive for more than six hours before they arrived at Lev's friends, Vigo and Dunya, now also their friends, whose cars they had rented. "Would it be a good idea to give the spare key to my house to Vigo and Dunya?", Kira asked as she took a little ice-cold water from the river with her hands to freshen up.
"Why do you want that?" asked Lev.
"I thought, maybe they can go there on holiday if they feel like doing that gigantic journey."
"They can just take a plane. The reason we did everything by car was because you were wanted," he teased.
"Oh, yeah," she sighed, "that was true." She laughed loudly and happily. "Were," she shouted, throwing water into the air. "Oh shit cold," she screamed as she gave herself the full brunt of it.
"What a fool you are, aren't you," Kajika chuckled.
"Great, nice and fresh," grumbled Nasim, who had also wanted to freshen up a bit. Controlled, that is, not with a splash of unexpectedly cold water in his neck. He slammed his hand on the water so Kira got it back. A little crooked on purpose, so that he hit Kajika also. They screamed. "Heavens, did you have to? This is so very cold," Kajika growled.
“Really,” mocked Kira, while she dried her neck real quick with her sleeve before the druplets ran below her clothes over her skin.
"Sorry sweetheart, come here quick and I'll warm you up," said Nasim, while he pulled Kajika towards him.
"Of course, that's what it was all about," Tear chuckled. "You both go and sit in the back seat." He looked at his cell phone. "We still have almost six and a half hours to go. It's my turn, but don't make too many weird noises, huh?"
"Then you turn up the radio."
"Well, I don't know what I can handle better: strange Russian music or your smacking."
"Strange Russian music," they said in unison. Their loud laughter resounded in the quiet nature and caused sleeping birds to fly up in fright. Which caused another burst of laughter.
"Come, let's go again, and we'll be at Vigo for lunch," Lev exhorted. "I'll send him a message." They stopped halfway to change drivers, take a bathroom break and drink coffee and tea.
"I'm glad we only have a few hours left. I'm even looking forward to those few hours of running through the woods," said Morvenna, who was now behind the wheel.
"I get it, and then halfway on my back," Colt chuckled. "Just a little longer, sweetheart. Later, we'll have a nice chat with Vigo and Dunya. Indeed a nice run and then reunite Lev with his sister." "Maybe we can have a tour through Timofei and Anastasia's castle before we fly home," Morvenna hoped.
"That would be pretty cool," Caitlyn said.
"Is it an idea to spend the night there or do we want to go home right away?," Colt asked them.
"On the one hand, yes, but I think it's better for all of us if we ask Lev's cousin or sister if we can sleep there," Ian replied. Colt mind-linked Kira because he knew Lev was driving. Kira passed it on and said that as soon as they exchanged again, he would immediately inform his nephew, Emperor Timofei, if they could stay overnight. That would be good for Nasim and Kajika too, because they were the pilots of the plane home.
Groaning, they all got out of the car. Finally they had arrived at Vigo and Dunya. Because they had gotten fed up, they had only had a drink standing up at a gas station and had a pee break at the last exchange. But because of that, they were now completely stiff from sitting. Vigo and Dunya walked towards them with their arms spread wide. "Dobro pozhalovat, dobro pozhalovat, zdorovo chto vy vernulis v khoroshey forme, welcome, welcome, great that you have arrived in one piece again." Vigo was almost jubilant. The man, almost as tall as Lev, embraced them one by one in a bone-crunching embrace. His wife radiated the same gratitude, but more calmly followed her husband's cordiality.
The friends looked quizzically at Kira and Lev, although they understood that they were warmly welcomed. Seeing the questioning faces, Dunya translated her husband's words into a well-understood English with a beautiful Russian accent. "Come on, dear people, come inside, it's not exactly nice outside anymore. Especially if you come out of a hot car. I have a delicious lunch ready for you."
"Oh, you didn't have to go to all that trouble," Morvenna said as she returned Dunya's hug. "We could have gotten something."
"Oh well, what kind of friends would we be if we could serve you good food, but instead had to get that junk from a supermarket or from the restaurant here. No, doesn't happen in my house and don't worry, it's simple but delicious and I love being able to cook for friends. You know that, don't you? But come on. Hurry inside, I'm getting cold." She pushed them ahead of her to the cozy house next to the garage. Once in the dining room, they uttered a cry of surprise. The dining table was loaded with marinated and pickled vegetables, rice, salmon salad, Tefteli, meatballs prepared with rice, Coulibiac, puff pastry snacks with salmon in them, omelette with mushrooms, Okroschka, a cold soup and Borscht, a hearty Russian soup.
"Dunya, this is not simple, you have to make us pay as compensation for all your work and the ingredients." Lev was shocked. "If I had known this, I wouldn't have let you know when we got here." Dunya stood on her tiptoes and gave him a twist around the ears.
"Don't insult me, boy. We won't see you for centuries again. Can't I spoil you?" Kira chuckled at the "centuries." Chances are that was just literal. Dunya looked sternly at Kira. "Why are you laughing?" With a smile in her voice, she explained. "Ah so. Yes, it's embarrassing, isn't it, that we always stay away from each other for so long when we have so much time. But Lev stayed away because he wasn't having a good time when he left Russia." Dunya gave Kira another hug. "Thanks to you, we have seen him not once but twice and I have had the opportunity to go all out and spoil you."
"I see Coubiliac, so you won't hear me complaining. That was so long ago." Kira kissed Dunya on the cheek. "Thank you, it all smells great."
"Well, come on, sit down, everyone," exhorted Vigo, "and let's enjoy ourself while you take us on your mission. We could hardly sleep because of tension."
"I would have expected a little more confidence from you," Lev said, almost disappointed.
"Ha! In you, yes, but in the rest..." There was loud protesting grumbling and laughter.
The afternoon flew by, everything was eaten and the girls were a lot recipes richer. They didn't say that Morvenna could conjure them up with her thoughts alone. But from time to time it was more fun to make it by hand and cook together. If it failed, Morvenna could still rescue it.
The friends stood at the edge of the forest with the oversized backpacks and said goodbye with tears in their eyes. "Promise you'll come to us sometime, please," Kira begged.
"We certainly do," Vigo said.
"Good, I'll prepare my nephew a bit, then you can all come at the same time."
"Oh, I'm forgetting something." Kira pulled a bunch of keys and a piece of paper out of her pocket. "This is the key to my house and my address. Maybe you can spend your holiday there." She took off the spare key and handed it to Dunya along with the piece of paper. "I wouldn't recommend it by car, such a long journey, but maybe it's possible to go to Moscow by plane from here."
"Are you sure you'll just lend us your house?"
"Yes, then maybe there will be a bit of fun with it. It's a very nice house." Dunya looked at Vigo.
"This is fun, isn't it, and so kind." They looked at Kira and pulled her against them in a group hug. "Oh, we're going to miss you all so much," Dunya said with tears in her voice. After a few final hugs, Kajika took the plunge.
"Come on, we'll just agree to come back next year. As a tradition, okay?"
"Yes, I totally agree," Vigo said. "Go or you'll be late for dinner." There was laughter.
"Yes, we can't miss that. My belly is still full from the extensive lunch. But we do have to hurry because those Lycans must be hungry again," Tear chuckled with a wave of his head at Kira and Lev.
"No, it's not that bad," Lev chuckled. "But indeed, we have to leave at some point, even if it is with pain in my heart." Another round of hugs followed and then they were really on their way. After a final wave to Dunya and Vigo, they walked deeper into the forest so that they could undress, except for Morvenna because she could turn into a wolf with clothes and all. They put the clothes neatly in their backpacks with the long straps and hung them on. As soon as they had transformed themselves into a wolf, the backpacks hung appropriately around their bodies.
They sniffed the scent of the autumnal forest through their sensitive noses. The smell of damp earth and rotting leaves filled them. They felt lightheaded in a good way. It made them throw their heads back and howl passionately at the dim sky. Underneath their fur they got goosebumps from the beautiful sound of each other. Far in the distance, they were answered by a pack of common wolves. They never got used to the sound, they felt blessed.
