Page 36 of Protected By Her Wolves

Chapter Twelve

Amara awoke to a strangeenvironment, and it took her a moment to grasp where she was. The wind whistled somewhere outside the dark room. She would’ve panicked hadn’t she been nestled in Hakon’s arms. She recognized his smell and could make out his strong jaw and solid chest. As the heavy curtain of sleep slowly lifted from her mind, she tried to recall her dream. The goddess had visited her. That much she remembered, but not the entirety of the conversation. Weird. She tried to recall what the goddess had said to her, but she could only remember the warning for Amara to stay close to her protectors because the darkness was coming. What darkness?

She slowly sat up, looking around the room as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. She wore nothing but panties and a bra that was soaked from leaky breastmilk. Her boobs felt like two rock-hard grenades ready to explode. Rone was sleeping on her other side on the floor of what she realized was the tent back at Luc’s camp.

They’d taken her back to camp? Fuck. She wanted to go home. She missed her babies so much her chest ached as if her heart had been carved up with a blade.

Hakon sat up beside her, rubbing her back. “Are you okay?” he whispered.

“I miss my babies.” She wiped the sleep from her eyes. “You?”

He kissed her shoulder. “Good now I know you’re safe.”

“Why are we back at Luc’s camp?” she asked as she looked around for Luc and Drasko.

He wrapped his arms around her waist. “We couldn’t very well bring Rone back to Nome in his bloodied wolf form.” He nodded toward Rone, who slept as a naked human. He had some crusted blood on his side, but he looked otherwise whole.

“He’s shifted into his human form,” she said, dragging her knuckles down his smooth cheek. He slept so hard, he didn’t move a muscle when she touched him.

“He must’ve shifted back in his sleep,” Hakon said.

She frowned, trying to recall more of her dream, but coming up blank. “I slept through the flight?” She was surprised the helicopter noise hadn’t woken her.

“Like a baby.” He kissed her shoulder again. “Are you hungry?”

“Famished.” She placed a hand on her hollow stomach.

She’d used so much energy healing Rone, and she was eating for two now. She thanked Hakon when he handed her a box of chocolate chip granola bars, her favorite flavor. She ripped open two with her teeth, eating them like candy before devouring a third. She took several swallows from a canteen of water, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. The granola bars barely sated her appetite. She needed a real meal.

“Where’s Luc and Drasko?” she asked when she heard male voices outside.

“They’re around here somewhere.” Hakon frowned, averting his gaze.

She grabbed his hand, her heart rate quickening. “What is it?”

Hakon blew out an exasperated breath. “Drasko’s angry with himself for failing you.”

She gave a start at that. What? Her protector who’d saved her from a helicopter crash, Russian spies, a hungry polar bear, and a deadly snowstorm? “Do you think he failed me?”

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