Chapter 33

(**Irina’s POV**)

I sense Sebastion’s nervousness as he drives out of town. The black car is still behind us. The question of who it is in the car is at the forefront of both of our minds. Would Vicktor have another tracker that I am not aware of? Quite possible, but I highly doubt it. He was always quite proud of what he did to break us. He laughed, knowing we did his bidding to capture others of the supernatural world.

I was not the last one he broke to use as a tracker or spy. There was one after me. Leonna. She was a weretiger. Shortly after she was captured, Vicktor did something to her that broker her beyond anything he had expected. Her mental stability was so bad that he couldn’t put her in the field with me.

A week after he captured Leonna, he killed her in an attempt to make her bend to his will. As far as I am aware, he hasn’t tried to make another one of his collection into a tracker. I share this information with Sebastion as we drive out of Portland. This makes his nerves go haywire. Because if the person following us isn’t from Vicktor, then we are both at a loss as to who it could be.

“This rest stop up here looks like a good place,” Sebastion tells me as we near it.

The parking lot is empty of vehicles and I can see no one as we pull in. This is good for us. Once he parks the car, he wastes no time getting out to wait for what is coming. I get out of the car and join him as he casually leans back against the trunk of the car. As expected, we didn’t have to wait long.

The black car pulls into the parking lot, circles around as if looking for something, then pulls up near us. The engine turns off, but no one gets out immediately. This makes me nervous. The minute the driver’s door opens, my eyes widen in shock as a scent is carried to me. One that I haven’t smelt in five years.

Belonging to someone I was told was dead. My brother Pavel Belova.

Pavel exits the car and stares at me for a moment. His nostrils flare as he takes in my scent. I can see his ice-blue eyes narrow as he looks at Sebastion next to me. His scent is all over me and I know my brother picked up on that. A growl rips from Pavel’s throat as Sebastion’s hand lands on my shoulder.

Pavel was Gustav’s best friend. I can see this not going so well. “Pavel, stop!”

I was too late to stop him. Pavel launched himself into the air and shifted into his wolf, Igor. Sebastion took this as a sign of aggression and moved away from me. Then he shifted into Aries. The second he finished transforming, Pavel lunged at him. Brown and black fur become a blur as the two wolves fight each other.

I am debating on how long to let them continue this foolishness when the passenger door of the black car opens. The sounds of angry growls and howls of pain are suddenly drowned out by the blood rushing to my head at the sight of the person who steps out of the car. Before I know what hit me, I am rushing across the distance that separates us.

My father, Alexei Belova, opens his arms wide for me and catches me as I jump into them. I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on tight. “Enough, Pavel,” he yells in Russian.

I burry my face in my father’s shoulder and just breath in his scent. “How are you alive? I saw you take a bullet to the chest during the raid.”

“Shh now, I will explain all once your brother is done acting like a fool.”

The familiar popping of bones lets me know that the fight is over. Grunts of annoyance then the sound of car doors opening let me know they are both going after clothing. I don’t look up at all but stay with my face on my father’s shoulder and my arms around his neck.

I am terrified of letting go because I don’t want this to be a dream. A dream I have had many times in the past where my family is alive, only to watch them all die again. The sounds of their screams, the smell of their blood, and the knowledge that I was why Vicktor came to our pack, always greet me when I wake from those dreams.

I desperately want this to be real.

“Ok, Rin, you can let go now. I promise you I am not going anywhere.”

Stubbornly, I shake my head as he reaches up to loosen my arms around his neck. Feeling Pavel’s presence behind a sense of peace that I haven’t felt in five years settles over me. I want to get back to Redwood as fast as we can so Natalia can feel what I am.

Reluctantly, I let go of my father and step back. Turning to face Pavel, I grimace at the now healing scratches on his face. It is a good thing we heal fast or it would scar his pretty face. His eyes light up when I face him. Pavel opens his arms for me, and like I did with my father, I rush into his arms. I feel like a part of me has found home again.

Voices bring me out of my peaceful place, making me lift my head to see who is speaking. My father has walked to Sebastion and they are talking. Sebastion reaches his hand out to shake his hand. I tense up instantly, but let out a sigh or relief when my father accepts the gesture and shakes Sebastion’s hand.

I step away from Pavel to go to Sebastion. “I think introductions would be a good idea. Sebastion, meet my father, Alexei Belova. The idiot that tried to kill you is my oldest brother, Pavel Belova.”

“Nice to meet you both. Under the circumstances, and because of the past trauma you all lived through, I understand the reason you would want to kill me. I am not Gustav, but I am her mate now.”

“So you have told him of Gustav?” Pavel’s voice held a hard edge to it that Sebastion doesn’t deserve.

“Sebastion doesn’t deserve your hatred, Pav. He is not at fault for Gustav’s death.” I let the pain show in my voice as I remember how Gustav died.
Pavel looks away as he sees the look on my face. I sense his guilt and his pain. Gustav was like a brother to him. He was elated when I realized Gustav was my mate. There was a four-year age gap, but I had a crush on him since I was thirteen. Finding out that my brother’s best friend was my mate made everyone in my family happy. We already considered him family long before I turned eighteen.

“How did you find us?” Sebastion’s question brought my attention back to him.

“We were looking for Natalia. We were in the little town where her shop is, but no one could tell us where she went.”

I frowned at Pavel’s answer. “Then why were you at the factory today watching us?”

“Natalia dates one of the supervisors there. I got his name and contact information from her desk in her office.”

“You broke into her shop?”

“She wasn’t there, and we needed to find her. Wait, how do you know about her shop? Have you been in contact with her?” My father asked with hope in his voice.

“She is safe in my pack territory.” Sebastion told him calmly.

“So, I have you to thank for keeping two of my children safe? How did you find Irina?”

“That is a complicated story, papa. One that we no longer have time to tell.” I nod my head in the direction of the parking lot’s entrance.

A minivan is pulling in to the rest stop.

“You can follow us back to my pack. There we can discuss this further after you have reunited with Natalia.”

“You are an alpha, that I can sense, but of what pack?”

“Redwood.”

My father nodded his head, “Your family sits on the Werewolf Council. Julian and Lenore Drakos.”

“That would be my parents.”

“They are very respected members. This is good. I have met them once, a long time ago. Are they in Europe or here in Oregon?”

“They are here. They came home recently because I was injured.”

That was unexpected. My father knows Sebastion’s parents. This will make introductions easier when we get back to Redwood.

“Well then lead the way,” Pavel demanded.

This will be fun. Pavel, Natalia, and myself all under one roof again. Now to find Kat and Oleg, then our family will be whole again. Well, as much as it can be.

**Author's Note**
Thank you all for being patient with me during my move.