Pack—HIS pack.
Troy and Bernard were two young wolves from his pack sent off to fight for the U.S. Government in Afghanistan. They plowed into him and he let his body roll. For an alpha it was undignified, and for two lesser wolves it was completely out of control, but these were his pack mates.
Their voices in his head were the sweetest sound he’d ever heard.
“You’re alive,” said Troy, the younger of the two.
Wolf fur slid against his—rubbing, rolling, and scenting. Nicolas managed to gain his feet and shift to human. His hands came out and landed on the backs of his wolves. “My brothers, I’ve missed you.”
The two stayed in wolf form and pushed up against their alpha. Nicolas glanced over his shoulder, aware his cats were still in danger. He spoke out loud, “Stay hidden. You’ll be safe, but I need to finesse the leader first.”
“We’re not coming out until you tell us,” Zenya said.
Nicolas walked toward the trucks. Guns lowered and men stepped out from behind the vehicles. He smiled when he recognized Samson, the second in command of Brandt’s Northwest pack. Samson came forward and opened his arms, wrapping them tightly around Nicolas.
“You’re supposed to be dead, old man.” Samson stepped back and looked at the once missing alpha.
“The goddess had other ideas.”
“So who are the cats you’re running with?”
“It’s a little complicated, but they’re my pack and really I don’t want any jokes.”
“You have a vamp, too.”
“Yes.”
“How will they handle my men?”
“I’m more worried about how your men will handle them.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that. If they helped you then they’re on our side.”
“There are six female cats and a male vamp. I think you met him a few minutes ago.”
“He’s a kid.”
“Yes, in looks, but he’s older than you or I.”
“Your wolf chose him as vamp, so I have no problem. Can we approach?”
“Yes, but only a few of you, if you don’t mind. We don’t have any guns, but these women have been through a lot and they don’t trust men in general.”
“You got it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Troy and Bernard, in wolf form, accompanied Samson for the walk to the broken-down huts. Nicolas shouldn’t have been surprised when Esta in all her petulance stepped forward first. Vorlyk immediately appeared by her side and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Smart vampire.
Zenya stepped out from behind the pair, and before anyone could stop Troy, he attacked. Esta went into instant fighting mode against Bernard while Vorlyk grabbed Samson holding him immobile. For a vampire not accustomed to fighting, it was a smart move, but Nicolas didn’t have time to think of that until later. He went for Troy, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and throwing him several yards away.
Nicolas placed his hand on Zenya’s shoulder while looking at the other she-cat trying to kill Bernard. “Esta stop.” He put every bit of alpha command he possessed into his voice and then turned hard eyes to Troy, who was picking himself off the ground.
“What the hell has gotten into you?”
Between breaths, the wolf managed to telepathically reply, “I have her picture. She’s a traitor to the wolves and should be killed on sight.”
“Well how the fuck do you think I escaped, because it wasn’t with the help of your sorry ass.”
Troy looked at Zenya, then at his alpha, immediately lowering his big wolf head. Nicolas looked back at Esta, who stepped away from Bernard. “Bernard, Troy, meet Esta. She’s now part of your pack and if you take a minute you’ll realize you can mind speak to each other.”
“A filthy cat?” Troy said stupidly.
Nicolas reacted without thought, and once he launched his human body in the air, it became wolf. He landed, clenching his teeth around the other wolf’s throat. “She’s pack—cat or wolf. It doesn’t matter. Almost everyone we love is gone. You’ll accept my pack mates or find a new clan.”
All the anger left Troy, and Nicolas’s teeth slowly loosened. He stood and then shifted to human. He looked at Bernard. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, alpha, I will follow you with cats, mice, or elephants if you command me.”
Nicolas turned to the she-cats, who were now out in the open. “Do any of you have a problem?”
“No, alpha.” They looked scared but determined.
Last, he turned to Esta. “They will protect you with their lives or I will kill them myself.”
Esta lowered her angry gaze.
“You okay?” he asked Zenya.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She wouldn’t look at anyone.
Nicolas took her hand in his and walked her to Samson. He spoke loudly. “Amy and Marcus set Zenya up as a traitor so she would be safer with the cats and able to rescue me. She contacted Amy over an hour ago and they are supposed to be sending help.” Nicolas stopped talking and looked at the vampire’s hand resting on Samson’s shoulder. “My liege, Samson is not your enemy. He is second to the alpha of the northwest clan.”
The vampire’s hand unclenched and Samson took a deep breath. He stepped forward and put his hand out to Zenya. She placed her shaking fingers in his. “Thank you, Zenya. We gave up hope long ago.”
She refused to lift her eyes and it made Nicolas angry, though he wasn’t sure why. The stubborn she-cat stood up to him just fine.
Samson then put his hand out to Esta, but she didn’t take it. Samson only smiled and turned to the vampire. “I know you’re a vampire and all, capable of killing everyone in sight, but you look like you’re going to drop. I think you need to get out of the sun.”
“I believe you’re right. Do you want to bring your trucks in closer while we wait for nightfall?”
“No, I think I’ll leave them back.” He looked at Zenya. “If you don’t mind, will you let Amy know we’re here and we’ll guard you until her wolves arrive?”
Zenya nodded her head, then followed Vorlyk into the adobe hut.
Samson looked back at Nicolas. “We have food and water.”
“Thank you. We’ve depleted our supplies and will take anything you can spare.”
“Troy, Bernard gather food and water and bring it back here. Tell my pack mates to stay back and give the she-cats space.”
“Yes, sir.” The two men said in unison.
Madayah, Sheeba, Nikka, and Talya stood still watching everything happen. Samson looked them over slowly. “I think we can all fit in the vamp’s hut and get out of the sun if you want. We might as well be comfortable.”
Nicolas entered the hut first, walked over to Zenya, and sat beside her. He took her still-trembling hand and squeezed her fingers. She exhaled slowly and then her heartbeat decreased. Samson sat down across from the two of them, and then the other women took seats on the hard dirt floor. Madayah leaned into Vorlyk hiding the mutilated side of her face.
Nicolas looked at Samson. “How did you know cats were in the area?”
“We’ve had scouts in the towns. They caught their scent this morning, though they didn’t notice the wolf smell. I will admit, I think you smell more like cat than wolf right now.”
Nicolas laughed. “Yes, I probably do, but I can no longer tell a difference. I haven’t noticed our different odors in a few days.”
Talya’s voice broke into their conversation. “I think you smell different. It’s not a bad smell anymore, but it’s not totally wolf or cat.”
“Thank you, Talya, for saying I no longer stink.”
“You stink, alpha, don’t fool yourself.” Esta just had to have her say.
“I agree with Talya. It’s a different smell.” Sheeba finally spoke up, though her voice was soft.
“Stink is stink,” Esta said grumpily.
Samson looked at Nicolas and said with humor, “You have quite the pride, Nicolas.�
�
“They have agreed to be a pack, but yes I’m quite proud of these ladies. Besides my smell, they haven’t complained.”
“Well then, please take Troy and Bernard back because they’re a couple of young whinny pups.”
The two wolves entered the hut in human form, fully clothed with downcast eyes.
Nicolas looked at them knowing they heard Samson’s comment. “I leave it up to both of you. If you decide to stay with my pack it will be an even playing field for wolves and cats. Esta and Nikka do a good job of dispatching our enemies and protecting our clan.”
“We’re with you, alpha.” Surprisingly, this came from Troy. He turned to Zenya. “I apologize. I didn’t think and only reacted. We had no idea Nicolas still lived, but we never stopped searching for his body.”
Nicolas knew Troy craved strength and stability, and he let his alpha power seep slowly out from his pores. Zenya felt it, but the cats and the wolves of his pack reacted instinctively and scooted or walked toward him. He partially rose to his knees and they surrounded him. He used his hands to soothe, over their bare arms and legs simply to offer comfort.
He looked at Zenya and saw a lone tear fall down her cheek. He wanted this woman to be one of his pack, but he wanted her in other ways, too. He tapped down his desire for the sake of those present, but slid his hand over the wetness on her face and then licked it from his finger. The taste hit his gut. It was salty, but all her, and his wolf absolutely knew who she was. Mate.
Chapter Fifteen
They ate, drank, and then rested inside the hut. In the wild, wolves and cats preferred smaller dens and the cramped space didn’t deter them. Nicolas talked quietly to Samson and caught up on events. Talk of war spiked his anger. He wanted to feel cat flesh between his jaws.
They ate again in the early evening and then heard the sound of more trucks heading their way. While they still remained far off, a lone vampire head peeked into the hut. It was Amy. She had eyes only for Zenya, and the two women managed to scamper over bodies in order to wrap their arms around each other.
“We almost lost hope when months went by without hearing from you.”
“I know, but the cats have a vampire who can intercept communications and I was afraid to make contact. It took months of living in the cat’s camp before they trusted me enough to leave me alone. How are the babies?”
“Growing, but they ask about you every day.”
“They’re talking?”
“Only a few words, but ‘Wena’ is one of them. They miss you so much.”
“I’ve missed them. Did you find another wet nurse?”
“We tried, but they refused. The she-rascal bit the new one in the worst possible place. They’re handling cow’s milk just fine.”
The others quietly left the hut now that it was dark, though Nicolas stayed behind. The sound of Zenya’s laughter was music. He knew she loved the twin wolf cubs.
The other trucks drew closer and he decided to head outside, but gave Amy a quick hug first. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. It was Zenya’s idea. I would have let you stay dead.” She didn’t say it meanly, just matter of fact.
This wasn’t the story Zenya told him, but he realized they would have plenty of time to speak alone later. He looked at her, but she avoided his gaze. He went out to see who was in Amy’s rescue caravan.
He recognized different wolves from both Cheri and Marcus’s clans. Cheri, the vampire leader of the northwest clan, had Brandt and Emily as her alpha wolves. Marcus and Amy led the Southwest Clan with Columbus as alpha, but neither Cheri nor Marcus was with them. Nicolas knew it was safer to keep one vampire with each group of wolves, if possible.
He shook hands and watched the wolves’ reactions to the cats carefully. Word spread fast and they seemed to be taking everything in stride. It helped that the cats were female and obviously tormented by their own kind. Madayah’s scars and Talya’s missing arm went a long way in bringing out the protective instincts of the male wolves.
They gave Vorlyk weary respect and mostly kept their distance. Vorlyk and Amy would have an easier time if they stayed away from each other after their first meeting. Unless two vampires mated, their territorial natures were difficult to control. This was why the cat’s vampires creating too many vamps was foolish and downright dangerous.
Amy brought a large, comfortable van for Nicolas and his new pack along with two other large SUVs. They wasted no time leaving the area. Samson’s crew would follow them to the border for added security.
Nicolas didn’t like it, but Zenya drove in the front vehicle with Amy. His wolf needed her within sight. Sex wasn’t anything he’d thought about in months, but now he couldn’t get her body out of his mind.
Soon, sleep took over and they all rested through the drive.
Nicolas woke up when they eventually stopped. They hadn’t gone to the normal border crossing and he realized a large contingent of military personnel surrounded them. He wasn’t worried knowing Amy had everything handled.
His eyes sought out Vorlyk and noticed the vampire was looking at him. “Are you doing okay?” Nicolas asked.
“Apprehensive, relieved. It all rolls together.”
“We’re up to a clan of nine and that’s a start. Troy told me I have three other wolves alive that were away fighting in Afghanistan when my pack was slaughtered.”
“What about Zenya?”
“What about her?”
“You don’t fool me, wolf. You want her and I think it’s a good idea. These women will never find mates unless they can mix with wolves. It won’t be easy, but you could help them on a new path.”
Nicolas stubbornly refused to admit the truth to the vampire. “The wolf chooses its mate. The man has little say.”
“I’ve heard of this, but never seen it in the cats. What happens if the man falls in love?”
“Love can be there without the bond, but it’s hard if not impossible if one of them finds their true mate.”
“Do you really allow your females to mate with humans and produce children?”
“Some do, but from what I hear it’s not easy. I hope to never make that decision.”
“These women need children.”
“I don’t care if they want to mate with humans, but we need more soldiers to protect them. The babies are precious. I’m sure Brandt and Columbus will donate wolves to help keep us safe for the short term.”
“Just one child would make a difference.”
“Could we leave the specifics to Madayah? I’ve grown protective of them and the thought of their sex life doesn’t sit well right now.”
The vampire laughed loudly causing the others to stir.
Amy opened the van’s door and looked inside. “They have two trailers for our use during the day. After the sun goes down we’re out of here, and about six hours from home. We’ll be safe then.”
“Sounds great. We could all use a shower and clean clothes.”
“If none of you mind army fatigues you can shower and change here.”
“I’ll look bad ass in fatigues,” Talya piped in.
“They will be baggy and unshapely,” Nicolas said in a stern voice.
“You’re no fun.”
“And never forget that.”
“I bet you let Zenya have tight clothes.”
Nicolas could feel redness creep up his neck. He had no idea his feelings were so obvious.
Vorlyk tried not to grin. “I’m glad someone else has control of the females now. A vampire needs other things to occupy his mind. Ouch.”
Madayah pinched the vampire’s side and they all laughed.
The world remained dangerous. A war threatened, but for a few hours they could rest and relax.
Chapter Sixteen
Everyone took showers and changed into clean clothes. The women used one trailer and the men took over the other. Troy and Bernard had no interest in leaving Nicolas’s side, though he managed to take a shower by himself. T
he three of them sat and talked when Vorlyk went to check on Madayah.
“Bernard’s little sister died in the attack against us and we both lost our parents,” Troy said.
“It took two weeks for us to get home. By then the funerals were over. They burned the bodies in a mass pyre due to the number of casualties. We went there, but nothing remained but a few cabins that escaped fire. The main house burned completely. We each took a small jar of ash and that’s all we’ve had.” Bernard’s voice broke.
“Will we return?” Troy asked.
“Yes. There aren’t many of us, and right now the danger is high, but I promise we’ll return. Vorlyk is a good man. He’s not yet proficient in warfare, but he’ll learn, and he’s strong. Don’t let his pretty boy face fool you.”
“We’ll honor anyone you follow. I don’t mind the females you brought. They need our protection and it feels good.”
Nicolas couldn’t help but be impressed with Troy. He attacked first, but part of that was his youth. “These women have been tortured for most of their lives. The cats kill their babies in front of them if they mate with a human. I’ve spoken to Vorlyk and what they need most is a child.”
“Each of them?” Bernard asked in amazement.
“Just one or two to begin with. I can hook them up with Dr. Stevens and let them decide.”
“Do you think there’s a chance we could mate bond with one of them?”
“I think it’s possible.” Nicolas wasn’t ready to share his wolf’s eagerness to mate with Zenya. “I didn’t think I could mind share with them or become their alpha, but I did. And just so you know, Talya is off limits.”
“You take the fun out of everything,” Bernard said with a grin.
“I thought you wanted Zenya.” Troy said carefully.
Alpha eyes looked at Troy. He couldn’t believe it was that obvious. “I do and she’s off limits, too. Talya is too young.” Two sets of wolf eyes lowered beneath his stare. He turned at a soft sound at the door.
Talya stood in the doorway. “Pizza and beer are in the other trailer. I’ve never had pizza before, but it smells wonderful.”
Fang Chronicles: Zenya's Story Page 6
