His Reign (The Opeth Pack Saga Book 1) (4 page)

The wind blew hard, sending her hair flying everywhere. Ilona reached behind her head and pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail.

With her slim neck exposed, she looked even hotter.
Damn it!

“Which way is your villa?”

She started walking away from the large church.

Józsi hoped she wasn’t too pissed off, but somehow he knew better.

After an hour of walking, Józsi was certain she had been leading him in circles as punishment for whatever sins she felt he’d committed.

It took another half an hour before they came upon a villa. Smoke rose from some of the houses, fires being lit for warmth this time of year. Fresh meat roasted in one house, another house smelled of simmering goulash, the traditional Hungarian dish using spicy paprika and other pungent spices. A few candles flickered in the windows of some of the houses. A well sat in the center of the dirt road. A few carts and old cars were scattered about the dirt street. Józsi wondered how they ended up getting vehicles this far, but realized he didn’t want to know when he saw a figure walking toward them.

“Les, what are you doing here?”

“I should ask you the same thing. I see you’ve brought him back, Meredith?”

Hearing her addressed as Meredith made him want to punch something. He refused to get used to the idea that she'd taken an American name and sold out her Hungarian heritage when her pride had been so strong for it. "
Ilona
was leading me back here for the night so we could rest and talk a little before I left."

Les nodded, stroking his chin. The way he moved in the moonlight seemed eerie to some, but Józsi never paid the older wolf any mind. As far as he was concerned, Les was the conservative, dressed in blue jeans and a black long sleeve dress shirt. Even the creepy lime-green eye Les sported didn't bother Józsi as long as he didn't make direct eye contact.

Kiba didn't have that oddity. Of course, outcast that he was, Les had other things on his plate to worry about, including his brother's slow descent into madness.

Smooth olive skin betrayed Hungarian characteristics. Les looked more Asian with narrow eyes and a different accent but Józsi had to guess the Eastern Europeans and Asians were not all that different.

In the end, he didn't care.

The jury was still out as to how he and Kiba were brothers. Les’s skin was naturally tanned and his limbs were long, not nearly as muscular as Kiba’s. Kiba dressed more business-like, in dark khakis and a light blue shirt with dark boots. He kept his hair short. They looked nothing alike. Especially after seeing that Kiba’s hair had grown out and grayed tremendously and his facial features had shown age with more wrinkles than he had when Józsi was still a part of the pack.

“I did.” Ilona looked down at the ground.

“Great. Thank you. My brother is ill. Lukina returned hours ago with news of what happened. Are you all right, Meredith?”

“Yes.” She nodded.

“Good. I am glad.” Les turned to Józsi. “Did Lukina fill you in on my brother’s madness?”

The empty smile he gave would have torn at someone else's heart but Józsi never felt anything for either Alpha or his brother. “She did. I am here because of her.” He pointed a finger at Ilona.

Ilona huffed.

Józsi glared at her.

She crossed her arms and turned her back to him.

“I see. Let us discuss things in the morning, then. It’s been a long day for all of us here. My brother has caused enough problems for our pack that we’ve been running rampant all day. The Lunar Flower disease is growing in him I’m afraid. Other members of the pack are out searching for loved ones, searching for the ones who have been helping Kiba.”

Interesting that others would willingly follow Kiba into insanity, he thought. Unless something else was going on, which again, became something Józsi had no interest in. In moments he'd return Ilona to Lukina and then crash for the night only to catch the first flight the hell out of Hungary.

He looked at Ilona, now Meredith, as she scoffed. At least she had no chance of going insane. It would break his heart to find that the ones he'd loved and kept so close to his heart, even as he abandoned them, had been caught up in this mess with deities and grudges.

The Lunar Flower disease was the name given to whatever the wolves contracted that forced them to slowly lose their sanity. Nobody knew how it happened or why. Some guessed that the Flower Maiden, messenger to the Fertility Goddess had bestowed the disease upon the wolves as punishment for being born. Józsi had no idea and refused mostly to believe the stories he’d heard growing up about gods and goddesses. Even the idea that a mere half god created wolves and sent them to live on Earth seemed like bullshit.

Józsi scratched his head. “I heard the humans were mounting an attack against us.”

Les flinched. “Holy smokes, I hope not. We’re outnumbered, if that’s the case.”

Ilona started to walk off, but Józsi caught her by the wrist and pulled her to him.

“Hey,” she cried out, eyes glazed over with fiery determination to establish her independence. “That hurt.”

Callously, he let go of her wrist.

She rubbed her arm where his nails had dug into her skin.

He ignored the ire coming from her.

“Meredith can show you where you can sleep for the night. Pray we don’t have any incidents.”

Józsi nodded. If what Les said was true, they'd all be dead in an instant. When he’d left the pack ten years ago, they numbered in the dozens, but now, seeing the village around them, it appeared as though only a handful of wolves remained. Worry settled in the pit of his stomach. “Indeed.”

Ilona bowed to Les. “Goodnight, Les.”

“’Night, Meredith.”

Les turned and walked away, almost disappearing into a fine mist. He was one of the few wolves that had apparently been blessed with the goddess’ kiss. His illusions were stronger than those of many of the other wolves in Hungary. Józsi couldn’t remember seeing another wolf in the States who had such strong gifts of illusion, either.

Yawning, he realized the time difference and jet lag had probably slammed into him, considering how active he'd become once setting foot on the ground. Without looking at her, he motioned with a hand. “Come, Ilona.”

“My name is now Meredith.” She turned her lip up at him.

How he ached to free his cock and bury it between her full, pouting lips and yell her true name. “No. I will not call you by that name.”

She cocked her head and blinked, giving him a shit eating grin. “You won't respect my sovereignty?"

"I never had control over you or Lukina to begin with. I'm not a ruler. I was…” He couldn't bring himself to say it. He couldn't. The memory hurt too much.

"There were no kings or queens in this triad, Józsi."

"I know. That's what I just said."

She stamped her foot. "Respect me as an adult and call me by the name of my choosing."

He found her gesture cute but it changed nothing. "I've always respected you, regardless of age. But no. I will not call you by an absurd name designed to remove you from your heritage."

She snorted. "You mean like how you removed yourself completely from this land and stopped speaking our mother tongue?"

He refused a reply.

She crossed her arms over her chest again, drawing his focus to her luscious breasts. "Then I will call you by your childhood nickname.”

He groaned and glared at her. “I will beat you.”

“And fuck me?” Her eyebrows rose.

His body hardened hearing her use such vulgarities. Letting out an exasperated breath, he set a hand on her shoulder and met her gaze. "I cannot do that."

“Your loss, Wolfie.” She giggled.

Józsi huffed and let her take his hand.

She led them down the dirt road until they’d passed a few familiar houses. All were small, tiny two-story buildings of wood construction. The white walls looked pale blue in the moonlight, and the brown trim only looked darker. They stopped in front of a familiar house. The large brown door had been left slightly ajar. A candle was lit in the window, indicating someone was home and up still.

Ilona pushed her way past the door and brought Józsi with her.

He glanced around and saw things just as he’d left them years ago. The house even smelled of the same cinnamon and cardamom spices used frequently in Hungarian cooking.

A table sat by the window, pen and paper lay on the desk. Józsi noticed writing on the paper and knew a letter to him had been started. He recognized the handwriting as Ilona’s.

She dragged him down the tiny hallway into one room at the end of the hallway past the mess of things in the living room.

L
ukina sat in bed reading
, practically nude. A white tank top hung off one shoulder, partially exposing the top of a luscious breast. Her red curls fell over alabaster skin. Black thin-framed glasses sat perched on her nose.

He swallowed at the sight. “You’re certainly not a modest woman.” Józsi smirked.

“I’ll go fetch us some tea.” Ilona let go of Józsi’s hand and disappeared.

Lukina pulled off her glasses and looked up, setting the book down. “I told you, I refuse to spit on my heritage. I am a wolf. We are sensual creatures, with raw power and that includes lust. I acknowledge that fact and embrace it, as my pack sister does.”

A grin crossed his face. “I see that.”

"You would do well to embrace it with us, remember who you are."

Józsi cut her a sharp look.

She stuck her tongue out, giving him a better view of plump breasts and pale skin.

The gesture hardened him, made his stomach tighten from curls of desire forming low. His fingers itched to touch her, his head screamed at him to maintain some semblance of sanity. Sleeping with them, taking Lukina's virginity, presuming Ilona hadn't already, would only serve to involve him more, make it harder for him to leave.

Ilona returned with a tray and three cups. She set the tray down beside the bed and offered a cup to her pack sister first, then one to Józsi, before taking the last one for herself.

Józsi sniffed the cup, letting the warm spices fill his nose and comfort him, just as it had done years earlier.

He took a sip of the warm liquid, tasting the many different spices. “This was my favorite.” He set the cup down on a table behind him.

“Come.” Lukina motioned to the bed. “Both of you sit here with me. It’s been so long since we’ve been together like this.” She glanced at Ilona, then Józsi with a radiant smile. Hands extended, she held her palms up.

Józsi's lips curved upward. He could stay only for a short while, and then he'd have to run back to the airport. Being here was dangerous to his head and heart. He couldn't afford to let them back in.

Except Ilona began to smile.

Józsi moved and sat at the edge of the bed, glancing at his teacup; Ilona sat next to her sister.

Ilona stared at him, heat burning in her eyes. “Afraid of us?”

Józsi wasn’t sure whether the heat in her eyes was anger or a lustful challenge so he took a sip of tea, then looked down and away. “No, I just prefer my solitude.”

“He made me sleep clothed, Ilona.”

“He did?” Mock horror registered on Ilona’s face.

“She’s still a whiner.” Józsi didn’t bother to look up or hide the monotone pitch in his voice.

Lukina leaned forward, letting her top fall and expose more of her healthy cleavage.

He caught sight of her breasts from the corner of his eye. Unconsciously, Józsi licked his lips. His cock grew hard and that annoyed him. “You’ve already been told about that, Lukina.” He reached for his cup of tea and took a sip, keeping his eyes on Ilona.

Ilona snuggled closer to Lukina. “When did you get a hang up over seeing two women together?”

Heat crept slowly up his cheeks. He refused to be embarrassed or moved to react, no matter how hard he grew or how painful the erection. “I do not have any hang ups about seeing two women together.”

“Then come closer,” Lukina reached for him, purred.

“Yes.” Ilona’s husky voice dropped another note. “Closer.”

Józsi stood and started for the door. If he walked out now, he’d be resigned to masturbation or tantalizing nightmares for the rest of the night and he’d lose sleep. “You two are sisters,” he turned to face them both. “It’d be incest.”

Ilona laughed, her voice still deep and husky. “Silly Wolfie, we’re not blood sisters. Pack sisters don't have to deal with the incest issue.”

“Besides,” Lukina interjected, “our love for each other runs much deeper.”

He settled his hands around the teacup before looking at her. The expression on Lukina's face changed from fiery anger to lust as her eyelids lowered partially, nostrils flared and her mouth opened. Józsi wanted to refuse, but the ever mounting tension in his body wouldn't let him do anything other than speak. “But why me?”

Ilona started crawling toward him, her breasts swaying beneath her top. When had she changed clothes?

He swallowed and found his mouth dry, throat parched.

“Because your heart needs to be healed.” Lukina spoke first. “You won’t be of any help to us if you’re so stolid.”

“So this is for the pack?” He knew he was treading dangerous water if he pushed this line of questioning. But he'd made a vow to avoid pack politics. For all the trouble it was worth, the only reward would be a quick death from stress.

“In a way, yes.”

Looking into Lukina’s eyes, he couldn’t stop his body’s reaction. But at least with her, he could stand his ground. His gaze shifted to Ilona’s. Her beautiful sea blue eyes held promise of something much deeper. “Come on, Wolfie,” she giggled again, “play with us.”

Józsi swallowed hard. Anyone—man or wolf—would be lucky to be in his shoes right now. But he was concerned with the bigger picture. He didn’t want to be pack Alpha, didn’t care about any sort of Heaven. It couldn’t exist. Kiba always was a madman in his own right and it was his pack, not Józsi's to run into the ground.

Still, Józsi’s heart wasn’t about to let him get away with walking out of the room. He let his eyes roam up the line of Ilona’s body. Gone was the peasant skirt and light yellow top she had been wearing earlier, replaced by a silver chemise that fell to the top of her cream colored thighs. He hadn’t any idea whether she had panties on or not.

Ilona shifted against the covers, moving to expose luscious flesh. The lack of a string waistband stirred his desire even more. Józsi swallowed hard. His body stiffened, muscles remained rigid while he drew in the sight of both of his former lovers on the bed before him, coaxing him into their embrace. Blood pumped through his body straight to his cock, making him painfully hard. By now he smelled his own precum along with the heady musk of feminine arousal.

Lukina put her book on the nightstand beside them and sat up straight. Reaching behind her, she removed a few pins from her hair, letting her red curls cascade down her slender shoulders before she shook it out and let it frame her face and fall past her breasts.

His eyes widened. “You’re both so…”

Fingers pressed against his lips. “Don’t.” Ilona remained mere inches from him. Her hair fell in ringlets over her breasts, but her proximity gave him a view of her creamy flesh.

“You’ve hardened your heart,” she whispered, “even to me. Why?” She frowned, cocked her head to one side.

“Because.” He crossed his arms but found himself unable to reply. Words stuck in the lump in his throat, sweat broke out on his brow and his skin grew cold. The real reason he’d hardened his heart to Ilona was because she was the more emotional one between his two former lovers. She was the first to cry, to express pain or joy, and every time he saw her hurt it tore his heart to shreds. Every time he caught her smile, it built his world anew. Lukina could do those things as well if she’d only let herself, but focused more on logic, due to her belief in the prophecy that she would be pack messenger to the new Alpha.

Him.

Well, not if he wasn’t here to fulfill his duty.

Ilona reached for him, fingertips brushing against his forearms. Heat sizzled at her touch.

Her eyes smoldered with intensity, the same look Lukina had had in her eyes the previous night.

Why hadn’t he told her that he would not come back to Hungary? Loosening his grip on his arms, he let Ilona take one hand and pull him to the bed.

“You need this.” Lukina leaned forward, batted her eyelashes. “Just as we do.”

He fought against the insatiable lust slowly replacing his self-control.

An auburn hue began to surround Ilona's body, giving her a soft glow.

Józsi recognized that aura as the one she used to heal others. He didn’t need healing. Didn't want it. There was nothing wrong with him as he was.

Józsi clenched his teeth, feeling stressful tension mount in his jaw but found himself unable to stop moving toward them.

Lukina purred again, providing him with enough distraction to disarm him enough so he could relax his jaw while his cock remained erect.

The sound of glass shattering in the distance sidetracked all three of them. Ilona and Lukina covered up. Józsi rushed to the living room window to look outside.

Peering out the window, Józsi saw torches in the distance. An angry mob of humans were making their way toward the villa, burning everything along the way. Smoke filled the air behind them as the forest and grasslands took in the flames and caught fire. Unable to make out the screams, Józsi only had to assume they were hunters fearing the existence of wolf shifters.

Damn it, who let the truth out? He sighed and looked back at the bedroom.

A bell sounded and a few howls could be heard in the distance. “Damn it, we’ve gotta go.” He rushed back into the bedroom and yanked Ilona by the hand to the bathroom. “Get dressed.”

Ilona moved with him, Lukina trailing behind. “What’s going on?”

Angry mobs yelled not too far away. In a few moments they'd be past the edge of town.

“Can’t you hear that? The humans are here to wage war on us. We’ve got to get out of here.”

“But what about our home? What about the others?” Tears fell down Lukina's cheeks.

It didn’t matter. “We’ve got to get out of here. I can’t be responsible for them. Now follow Ilona to Köröshegy. We’ll stay the rest of the night there and wait this out. We’ll leave for the States first thing in the morning.”

Ilona yanked on her top and stepped into her skirt, cinching it tight around her waist. “But this is my home. I can’t just leave. I am the Opeth pack healer.”

Damn but that woman frustrated him with her emotions. Józsi looked back at her, anger filling his veins. “Forget them, if you want to live,” he growled. "Grab a chance of clothes and come back to me."

Gunshots in the distance followed screams and growls. Where was Kiba? Had Les vanished too?

Wolves and humans filled the main street in the villa, fire and smoke clouding Józsi’s visual path. Gunpowder and heavy oils burned, making the air around them heavier. Ilona coughed when smoke invaded their room.

Ilona appeared with a change of clothes and stood before him, motionless. Her shock filled expression let Józsi know just how scared she was because she wore her heart on her sleeve.

Swearing, he grabbed Ilona’s hand and yanked her with him back into the house and through the window in the back room. “We’ll go this way through the forest to the church.” Adrenaline pumped through him with vigor.
This
was why he didn’t bother with pack politics. Trouble always followed the wolves.

“Through the window,” Lukina cried, and slipped out first.

Ilona jumped afterwards and they took off running, both of them as wolves.

Józsi looked back and sighed heavily.
This wasn’t going to get any easier was it?
Shotgun blasts echoed in his ear. The cry of defeat from one wolf signaled someone had been downed. Screams grew louder with each passing second. Their attackers weren’t too far from this house.

Ilona stopped a few hundred yards away and looked back, a sad expression on her face.

Józsi hesitated before climbing through the window.

Ilona barked and whimpered.

“Go! God damn it, move!” He shook his hand furiously at her.

A bullet whizzed past his ear and landed in a tree near where Ilona stood. “Damn wolves will not terrorize us anymore,” a human yelled.

Józsi turned around and lunged at the man, fist cocked back. He swung, caught the hunter in the chest.

The man stumbled back, dropping his rifle. In mid punch, Józsi shifted his hand from human to wolf, baring razor sharp claws. He connected with the man, caught him by the throat.

The man cried out in agony, his last breath a gargled sound. Józsi had ripped his throat out and tossed the limp body aside. He shook blood and guts off his hand, made his hand appear human and looked around until he spied the gun.

Picking up the gun, he ran to the front window and fired off several shots into the crowd, knocking down a few of the hunters. When they turned their scattered focus toward him, he’d picked off four or five more, delivering kill shots to each of them before the gun was empty. “Damn it!”

Bullets flew at him, shattering more glass and wood paneling around Józsi. He looked around and found an exit before he tossed the gun aside. It wouldn't do him any good without ammunition anyway.

The only way out would be through the back porch, but found it better to jump through the window rather than the door, whereby he'd give himself a few extra seconds of time since any assailants would have to correct their aim from the door to the window when he appeared. Quickly, he ran to the back of the house and jumped out the window. He hit the ground on all fours, shifted and took off running fast and furious, catching up quickly to Ilona and Lukina.

Run, God damn it!

He watched as Ilona looked at Lukina and back at him before taking off into a full sprint.

Gunshots fired after them and Józsi wasn’t about to stick around and wait for anything. Breaking into a full sprint, he quickly chased after Ilona and Lukina, nipping at their heels when they slowed down.

Both of you keep running, or you’ll die!

“They are running into the woods! After those damned wolves!” The voices shouted in Hungarian and English. Józsi expected Hungarians to be chasing after, but in this part of the country, not too many people spoke fluent English. Odd, that.

Trees passed by in a blur while Józsi ran. He lost sight of Lukina, but had Ilona panting after him.

I can’t keep this up for much longer.
Her breath came in short gasps now. Her tongue hung out and she slowed to a trot.

Damn it, Ilona! I thought you said you’d been embracing your true nature.

No. That was Lukina. Where is she, by the way?