Victor felt a set of sharp teeth sink into his front leg just above his paw. The burning pain of his muscles being torn drew an ungodly roaring of pain from him and he shifted. Semi-transformed into something more resembling a wolfman from a horror movie, he howled his rage into the air. The other wolf actually whimpered at the sight of him. Victor imagined the invaders had no idea that this pack was the Feral's. The rest of the werewolf population had two forms. A man or wolf. Feral's had many different variations in between wolf to man.
Weak and tired the other Alpha seemed to decide fleeing was his best option. To race after him had crossed Victor's mind. But his cousin yelped in the distance and he needed to go to his aid. Victor ran into the small clearing and saw Sam bleeding badly. He wasn’t faring as well, but there were two wolves attacking him. The shaman women were going to be very busy tonight, Victor thought. He entered the fray snarling and ripping into the bigger of the two wolves.
The fight ended with one of the interlopers having their throats torn out and as he died in his wolf form Victor howled. The death of an enemy may be a victory to him but the death of a werewolf was a loss to all Lycanthropes. Their kind was far from populous and the rate of actual werewolf births had been constantly declining within all the packs. The Feral pack had suffered the decline the hardest.
They regrouped and Victor, Sam and Bryce headed towards the hall. When they cleared the forest edge he heard the distant howl of the interloper’s Alpha. He was telling his pack to fall back. There most likely would be a fight for leadership within the marauding group as they had failed to force Victor's pack out. The fight had seemed too easy to him. Too much like a test to see their actual strength than anything else. Victor knew he just might be paranoid, but he wasn't taking any chances anymore.
Once everyone was clean and mended, they would meet at the hall. Victor would bring his suspicions to the Beta of the Valtors. He limped towards his home and saw Jenni on his steps with one of the healers. Her clothes looked tattered and torn. She was bleeding from many bite marks and Victor's blood went cold. The bastards had attacked the women of his pack too.
Victor stepped up to her and could tell the blood was not only hers, but that of her attackers. The smell of cordite from a gun clung to her and he knew she’d used her Colts to defend herself. The guns had been a wedding gift from his Uncle when she mated Jake. They had been a part of the Feral family for years.
"Jenni are you okay?"
"Hey, it’s not as bad as it looks!"
"She’s tough; this one will make a great Alpha Bitch.” The healer said as she worked on Jenni's arm.
"Yes I know she will" Victor said with a smile.
"Here comes your mate. He looks to have fared worse than you.” He told her as he watched Jake limping badly. Victor made his cousin side and helped him into the house. Many more of the wounded were coming this way and as he tried to do a head count, he noted not a single one of his pack was lost. Many were injured, but none had been gravely so. Again it made him feel a sinking unease. It had gone way too smoothly.
Chapter 15
Greg and Collin stood in the operating theatre overlooking the bone marrow transplant being preformed.
"Is this safe to do while she's pregnant?" Greg asked. He was in more than just shocked horror of the experiments they had so far inflicted on Mica and his brother.
" Not if she was human. It would most definitely kill her." Collin answered. The man gaze never left the viewing window looking down on Mica. "But Mica's not human and Greg you know that!” He added with a near smile.
"What about the baby? For god sake Collin you exposed her to chemotherapy and radiation!" Greg snapped as his hands trembled.
"Look in order to replace the bone marrow we needed to destroy her and the baby's first before giving her the transplant." Collin said as he turned his head briefly to look at him.
"But you could kill them both!"
"I'm aware of the risk Greg. It's my call to make.
"Why are you doing this to her?"
"Mica is the key to the evolution of her species. With her DNA and the stems cell we will inevitably collect from her and your brothers fetus' we will make a new breed of lycanthrope. The kind of creature other countries will pay a fortune to have manning their ground troops.”
Greg turned to look back to Mica. She lay on the gurney while the transfusion slowly ran into her via an intravenous. She was staring daggers at the doctors and nurses. The transplant team seemed to have no ethical qualms with doing any of these experiments on the very pregnant girl strapped down to the table. Mica's blue eyes caught the reflection of the overhead lights and he saw the glistening in them. He figured she was trying to control her tears.
Greg felt a pang of regret. Mica although fifteen years younger than him, should have been his mate by now. But Alaric had stabbed him in the back by cutting the deal with the Timber pack.
"Mica shouldn't be tortured like this!” He said softly. He turned and walked out of the operating theatre.
"Greg, don't forget our meeting tomorrow!" Collin said dryly just before the door shut.
None of this was what he’d wanted to happen. As the two ex-military guards escorted him out of the building, he knew he’d have to do something or Mica would end up dead. Provided this procedure didn't kill her first. Greg got into his car and picked up his phone and dialed his friends in the seals. He thought maybe the Sea Dogs needed to get together for more than just a beer next week.
"Hey Max. It’s me Greg. We need to talk!” He told his friend and fellow werewolf.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Mica sat in the corner of the room with her arms wrapped around herself. She eyed everything over to try and distract her mind. Her bed was neatly made and the books she’d taken off the shelves and sorted through. She’d planned on asking Karen for new ones now that she was able to get up and about. The treatment she’d undergone last week had made her so sick that she still didn't feel right. But this new feeling was different and it scared her.
LT. Adams stood near the door watching her. The concern was more than evident on his face as he looked right at her. She felt it again. A slow burning cramp radiated from just above her pelvis to encircle around to her back. She took a slow deep breath and closed her eyes, waiting for it to stop.
The light sound of hard boots on her floor forced her to open her eyes before the pain stopped.
"Mica...are you okay?" LT. Adams asked as he knelt down in front of her. His eyes held her gaze. This seemed so weird. He never looked at her unless he thought she couldn't tell he was looking. Now he hadn’t taken his eyes off of her for the half hour she’d been curled up on the floor in the corner. The cramps started several hours ago, but she’d hoped they would stop. When Lt. Adams had asked her what was wrong she’d lied and told him it was heartburn.
She held his stare and tried to smile, but could tell by the increased look of concern that it had turned into a grimace
"I'm okay. Just indigestion” She said. Mica prayed that is what it was. It was too early for the baby. She wasn't due for another month and a half.
"I'm getting Karen!” He said. He stood Mica rose to stop him.
"No please.... don't leave me Scott!” She blurted out as a painful cramp washed over her.
"Mica!” He shouted as she felt something wet gush down her legs and soaked the floor. The lieutenant's eyes went from her face and straight to the puddle at her feet.
He helped her to the bed to lie down and Mica noticed Lt. Adams face had turned very white.
"I need help, Mica's water broke!” He stated as he tapped the earpiece he was wearing.
"Come again?” She just made the other voice out.
"I said Mica's water just broke!” He snapped more anxious sounding.
"It's too early!” She cried out. She was getting upset. The sound of the door being released was followed by a set of rushing footsteps.
Mica looked up at the middle aged woman and felt ano
ther wave of pain. This time she whimpered.
"Get me a stretcher, call Doctor Martine down here and notify Mr. Feral of her condition." Karen snapped the orders out to the other guard who had come in with her.
"It's okay Mica, you need to relax." Lt. Adams said. She felt his hand slip into hers.
"Please don't' leave me!" Mica panted, clutching tightly to his hand. Fear started to wash over her and she felt a trickle of sweat break across her brow. She trembled and looked wildly at the faces staring at her.
Karen Trimble with her soft dull green eyes and glasses that seemed to always flop off to one side was telling her to stay calm. For some reason Mica noticed the woman's tawny brown wavy hair was oddly messy tonight. As if she’d just woken up. The plump lady had been extremely kind to her since she came here. She was always sneaking her in sweets and telling her things about what was going on in the world outside. Now as the worry showed in her eyes, Mica felt true panic set in.
LT. Scott Adams voice sounded deep and anxious as he said her name drawing her attention to his face. His cold grey eyes stared back into hers as his strong warm hand held hers. He was so different from everyone else here. He looked so handsome and shy even with his military cut blond hair. Mica liked him as a friend and now when she needed him, he was here for her.
"She's bleeding." A deep bass voice said. She clung desperately onto the hand in hers while the room spun out of control. The faces blended together briefly in a strange morphing before her vision righted itself again.
The chattering sound of her teeth reverberated in her head as she shivered. The clammy dampness of her skin caused her to feel chilled to the bone.
"Doctor Martine is on his way honey!" Karen said as she took her other hand.
"It’s too early Karen." Mica sobbed over and over.
"She’s going into shock. Come on let's get her on the stretcher and get her upstairs." Doctor Martine's voice said from out of nowhere. Mica hadn't heard the doors open again or the sound of the stretcher enter her cell.
They took her down the hall and lay there still not letting go of Scott's hand as they made the elevator. As the doors closed she heard the other guard talking to Karen.
"Is there supposed to be that much blood.” He whispered.
"No she's haemorrhaging!" Karen replied.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Victor lay in his bed and intently staring at the bleeping on the screen. It had been cutting in and out. Something had warped the signal and it only showed sporadically now. He watched it fade out then die and he felt hopelessness creep into him. It was the only thing he had to let him know she was still there waiting for him to rescue her. The pain in his heart would never be able to be measured as he thought of how things should have been. Mica was sweet and gentle with a wild untamed side lying just under the surface. The first time they mated he’d worried about forcing himself on her and she’d delighted him by claiming him first.
Humans would never understand the delicate nature of their beast's sides. How the animal within each one of the werewolves needed to act on their base natures. It was primal, barely being contained in each one of them. For the Alpha's it was worse, as the need to keep a dominate, protective hand on his pack sat there constantly. As was the responsibility to bring more young into the world. Mica couldn't help but give herself over to him. It was the way things worked, her wolf needed to mate.
Victor gave her wolf nature what it needed after he forced her into a heat. But it could have gone the other way too. If she didn't think he would be a good mate she could have refused him and not lay claim to him. It had baffled him then and it still did. Mica said her wolf side chose him. That it held the control over her need to have him. Victor got up and walked to his dresser. He gently picked up the dried flower and let the memories of that last day with her flow in his mind. Nearly every day he thought of how she’d cried when he gave her the flower. How such a simple act had meant so much to her. If only he could have her back in his arms he thought, he’d give her a flower every day for the rest of their lives.
The ringing of his cell phone barely registered in his mind as his tears threatened to flow from his eyes. "Yeah!” He snapped.
"Ah...it's me Shea Valtor...I was supposed to call you when I got here!” The girl said nervously.
"Oh yeah. Are you at the hall?” He asked.
"Yes, but there is no one here."
"Oh shit. Okay I'm on my way, give me ten minutes to get there.” He said and grabbed his shirt and truck keys.
Babysitting Frank's oldest daughter was not one of the things he thought came along with joining forces. However, there was concern of a rival pack stealing her and Frank thought it better if she was away from the threat. Victor couldn't fathom someone willingly stealing a shaman from the Valtors. It would be like committing suicide.
The drive to the hall was shorter than he’d realized as he sped all the way there. As he pulled up to the curb, he saw her standing there with her two small suitcases. The girl was extremely pretty with long raven black hair and the pale skin of her father. Her large deep brown eyes looked at him and she smiled faintly as she got in after she tossed her bags in the bed of the truck.
"I'm sorry Shea, I forgot about the bus dropping you off today.” He grumbled as he headed back towards his home.
"It’s okay, Mom said you'd be distracted.” She said and he felt a shiver run over him.
"Is there any way I can ask you to kinda turn off the mojo magic stuff while you’re living with me?” He asked suddenly not sure how having a shaman living in his home would work.
Shea laughed and stared at him incredulously as she thumbed a small hand carved bear hanging from her neck.
"It's not as easy as that Mr. Feral! Sometimes the spirits take control and do their own thing. It’s part of what being a shaman is.” She smiled shyly at him.
"Victor, just call me Victor. Please don't ever call me Mr. Feral again!” He groaned. Being thirty made him feel old as it were and having a girl near the same age as his mate call him Mister didn't help.
"All right Victor.” She giggled. Shea busied herself with her cell phone as it buzzed and she began texting frantically.
A smile danced not only on her lips but also in her eyes and Victor knew it was a boy she was receiving messages from.
"Your boyfriend?” He asked. Victor knew he was being very forward.
“Um not really...Dad hasn't approved it yet?” She flushed bright red.
"Well if he’s right for you, I'm sure your dad will approve of him." Victor told her as memories of how the arguments' with Mica's father had led to the attack on the houseboat and to his brother's death.
They pulled into his driveway of his small pale blue bungalow. He looked it over frowning at the sight. His front yard had a dull green lawn and overgrown flowerbeds. He noticed Jenni walking over from across the street where her minivan was parked.
"Hi Shea nice to see you again. I'm here to help get you settled in!” She explained as she stepped up to them.
"Well she can have my old room." Victor said. The three of them walked into the house.
"Oh boy.” Shea said as she looked his home over.
"I don't get much time to clean up. Sorry about the mess.” He said. He hurried to pick up the empty beer cans and pizza boxes.
Jenni was giving him that motherly look and helped clean up as did Frank’s daughter. Shea folded the pile of clean clothes in the hamper beside the dryer while Jenni did the dishes and he swept the floors.
"I'll take you to get groceries after." Jenni told him. She was looking in his fridge. He knew all she would find was three cans of beer and part of a leftover pizza.
"I'm sorry I should have been more ready for this. I just lost track of time Shea.” He apologized. Now he felt worse.
"It's okay Mr...I mean Victor. I like beer and pizza!” She told him as she grabbed a cold slice and a beer.
Jenni took the beer right back out of her hand and gave her
a motherly look.
"The pizza yes...beer no. You're not old enough to drink!” She scolded and he saw Shea smile mischievously.
"Hey it was worth a try!” She told them. Victor knew he was going to get along just fine with her.
Chapter 16
Frank was stretched out on his back looking up into Ajei’s eyes. He loved her more than life itself. She moved her hips into his and he knew tonight he’d get her pregnant again. Her scent told him she was ovulating. The glassy near blackness of her eyes reflected the light as she moved herself slowly on top of him. The sea of raven black hair swam around her, gleaming in the light of the bedroom lamps. Her skin was a lovely deep tan colour, except where she bore the marks of bearing his children. Frank ran his fingers along the marks on her tummy. He wanted her plump and round again. To be carrying another one of his children.
He felt his way along her curvy hips and marveled at how soft her skin was against his rough calloused hands. As he gripped a hold of her tightly, she gyrated into him. The feeling sent jolts of pleasure over him.
“Mm baby you know how to make it feel so good!” She moaned as he tilted his pelvis enough to give her more and she ground herself into him.
The sweltering heat inside his mate made it hard to control his release. The ever tightening constriction on his cock was making him grit his teeth in the pleasure she brought him.
“Frank...I’m going to cum!” Ajei said and her body shook. The sheath enveloping him pulsed and quivered tightly along his length. He moaned as he pushed deeper into her. The vibrations rolled from her over him and he lay there bathed it the heated cream that flowed from her. How he had managed to not explode inside her as she came was nothing short of a miracle.
The Lycan Wars- Revised Edition Page 10
