When Zenya came out, Nicolas approached, whispering in her ear, though he knew the other sensitive beastkind ears could hear every word. “Walk with me outside for a moment.” He didn’t wait for an answer. It wasn’t a question.
He closed the front door behind them and took her hand, leading her to the side of the cabin. She didn’t resist. He turned, stepped into her body, causing her back to make contact with the house.
He didn’t give her time to say no. He couldn’t stop his lips from taking hers. Letting her breathe completely or complain was also not an option. Her exotic taste flowed through his body, igniting small electrical charges. Mate.
She sighed and gave in, kissing him back. His arms went around her shoulders, pulling her closer. He went instantly hard when the juncture of her thighs pressed against him. He had her arms trapped, but her small hands found purchase on his hips, squeezing, then relaxing.
He finally pulled back without releasing her. “Thank you for not saying no.”
“You didn’t give me a chance.”
“Good.” And he kissed her again.
This kiss lasted longer and they both gasped for breath when he pulled back.
He looked into her beautiful eyes, now sparked with yellow. “I don’t like you sleeping so far away.”
“It was hard being away from everyone this morning.” She placed emphasis on the word “everyone.”
“Move in with us.”
“My place is with the children.”
“They sleep at night and you can sleep with us.”
“No.”
“I don’t like that word.”
She smiled and he couldn’t help kissing her again. He pressed his body firmly against her so she couldn’t miss his large erection. Traveling from her lips, he placed small kisses on her cheek and jaw, moving to her neck and inhaling deeply. He loved her scent. “I want you.”
“You want to get laid.”
“Yes, I do, but not just any cat will do. I want you.”
“It’s not right.”
His head came up and his eyes sharpened. “It’s not wrong.”
Her chin dropped, which bothered him more than her saying no. He kissed her nose then lifted her chin. “There is nothing wrong with us being together. I am alpha of a house full of she-cats. Do you want me with one of them?”
The heel of her foot came down hard on the top of his.
“Ouch.” He couldn’t help his smile. “If you won’t come to me, I’ll be at the main house to get you tonight at midnight.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Be waiting downstairs or I’ll come up and get you.”
“Nicolas, please.”
“That’s what I want you saying tonight.”
“You’re crazy.”
“For you.”
“Argh, that’s sappy.”
“Yes, I’m a sappy alpha when it comes to you, but I’m also a stubborn one.”
They heard the front door open and then two high-pitched wolf whimpers.
Zenya disengaged herself and hurried to the cubs. “They need a nap and we should get back to the main house.”
He grabbed her hand and gave her one last kiss. “I’ll see you tonight.”
She didn’t say anything, just collected the cubs and started making her way back. Nicolas noticed her guards following and realized they had seen them kissing. Now they would all know she was spoken for, and he couldn’t help his grin when he walked back inside. Crying met his ears and he looked around for the source.
Sheeba sat in human form curled up on the couch with Talya running her hands over the sobbing woman’s hair.
Nicolas looked around and met the eyes of Troy and Bernard. Both shrugged. He took a seat on the other side of the weeping cat and tentatively placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Do I need to discipline a couple of wayward werewolves?”
“Alpha, it wasn’t us. We did nothing.”
“I wasn’t speaking to either of you. Please go into the other room.”
Both wolves grumbled but left.
“I’m here to take care of you, Sheeba. If something makes you cry, then it makes me angry.”
Tear-streaked vacant eyes looked into his. Where other cat eyes were green, hers were a light almost clear blue. Her extremely pale skin added to a look of weakness, but he knew she was strong.
“I want a child.”
“I told you that you could have a child.”
“But I’m blind. How would I care for one?”
Nicolas pulled her into his arms and Talya leaned into her back. He was able to wrap his arms around both of them. “You will never be alone. All of us will raise your child. We will raise all the children. Your blindness won’t be an obstacle.”
She cried harder and he held her through the tears. He looked up when he heard a noise behind them. Esta stood watching with tears in her eyes. He nodded his head, inviting her over, but she didn’t move. He gave her a soft smile and she left the room. He really needed her and hoped she stayed, but he wouldn’t force her.
He released them slowly. “I’ll make phone calls and set up an appointment for you, but you, Talya, will be waiting a few years.”
She started to object.
“No argument. I know you haven’t been treated as a child for much of your life, but to me you’re still a child. I’m willing to teach you to fight and give you status in our pack, but you are not going on a date, kissing wolves, or having a child. Are we clear?”
“You kissed Zenya. We can smell her all over you.”
“Who I kiss is not up to you.”
“Can Zenya have a child, too?”
He didn’t think before speaking. “Over my dead body.”
Sheeba laughed. “You have it bad.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “Yes, I do.”
“I’m sorry for crying. The cubs are incredible and I can’t believe the wolves allowed them to come see us. I didn’t think anyone would trust us with the young.”
“You’re my pack now and will be treated as such. Zenya nursed the cubs until she left to find me. They are a new breed of children that don’t know the difference in our species and they never will. Our pack children will be the same way.”
“Thank you, alpha.”
Chapter Twenty
The day dragged on. Troy found board games in a cabinet and a fierce round of Monopoly ensued. Nicolas didn’t play, but listened to the good-natured war while he took over the computer and sent a few emails; one to Dr. Stevens. He explained the situation and asked for an appointment for two of the women as soon as possible. Part of him felt guilty for considering children when their lives were in danger, but he craved offspring for his clan, too. He would never forget the screaming mothers of his pack when Raykon murdered the babies. Those screams would live with him forever. His pack needed to be whole and they needed the young. It also gave more to fight for.
He couldn’t help thinking of Zenya. He didn’t like the thought of her having a child at all. The computer binged with an incoming email.
Dr. Stevens would see two of the women next week. He accepted the appointment and decided to take a walk to the main house to speak with Columbus. He left the others playing their game and removed his clothing on the porch then leapt to the ground on four legs. His wolf needed some canine time.
He stretched his gait and ran full out most of the way. It felt great. He soaked the scents into his pores. He smelled a deer trail and even an elk, but he didn’t stop to investigate. The trip to the main house by vehicle took a winding road. He followed the direct walking trail left behind by Zenya and the cubs.
Columbus stood to the side while a group of wolves wrestled in the yard. Three matches took place with about twenty men, half in wolf form, surrounding them. Several of the wolves rubbed against Nicolas in greeting. He allowed their behavior, knowing they weren’t disrespecting him as an alpha. He knew all the wolf packs suffered over the loss of his pack. Most hadn�
�t been alive when he came over from England after the massacres that led to twenty of them leaving to start a new life in America; the loss of the northeast pack cut the young deeply.
Most of the wolves called him “old man” and he was. He’d traveled across the ocean with Franklin back when they were both over five hundred years old. For almost two hundred years they worked hard for peace even knowing it rarely lasted. In their world the strong survived. Franklin died because they became lax in their security. It shouldn’t have happened, but Nicolas didn’t blame his friend. He blamed himself.
“Are you feeling your age, old man?”
Nicolas shifted to human and looked at Columbus. “You know, if we could fight I would kick your ass.”
“You could try. If I remember, you couldn’t beat Brandt in a simple foot race.”
“I didn’t want him losing in front of his mate. I wouldn’t have that problem with you.”
“I’ll pass for now. Let’s go inside and talk.”
Nicolas followed the other alpha. Alphas didn’t fight unless it was to the death. Columbus’s dad, Ivan, fought with Marcus on occasion, but the vampire had to half kill him to end it. Nicolas had no wish to tangle with a vampire.
Inside the house, Nicolas grabbed sweat pants from inside a cupboard in a side room. The two men then went into the den.
“I hoped you would come by today, but I knew your group was tired and I didn’t want to bother you.”
“We’re taking it easy today, but I needed a run and also to ask about using the jet next week.”
“Sure, where are you going?”
“Two of our females have appointments with Dr. Stevens.”
“I see. Do you think it’s wise?”
“Our pack needs this.”
“The jet is yours.”
“I probably won’t be going with them, but I will send either Troy or Bernard. Do you have any idea when my other three wolves will be here?”
“Two of them should arrive later today and the other is overseas, so it will be at least a week. After not being able to locate your body for two months, Aster had some trouble and we sent him back to Afghanistan. Marcus notified the military and we’re hoping they can get him home quickly.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Feral. We kept him pinned in the basement for a week and slowly were able to get past his rage. He began controlling himself better, but wouldn’t accept another alpha and insisted you were alive; interesting, because he was right. Only a few of us knew of your continued survival—Brandt, Emily, and Cheri, plus me, Amy, and Marcus. We didn’t think Zenya had a chance of getting you out, but it was our only hope. We worried they would kill her on sight.”
“I keep wondering why they didn’t.”
“You’ll need to ask her. She’s very shy around everyone but Amy and the babies.”
“I’ve noticed that, but the funny thing is she isn’t shy with me.”
“I received a report of a certain kiss that took place earlier.”
“I’m staking my claim.”
“Do you think you should talk this over with Amy?”
“It won’t change anything.”
“Is she your mate?”
“I’m a little slower to catch on than my wolf. He thinks so.”
“I hear it’s pretty obvious when it happens.”
“I almost took Samson’s head off when he sat near her. I don’t want her out of my sight, and if someone gets in my way I’ll probably kill them.”
“I guess that’s obvious enough.”
“It’s been worse since I kissed her earlier. My wolf is itching under my skin.”
“I don’t know if the cats take mates like we do.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll kill any male wolf or cat who touches her.”
“I’ll be sure to stay away. Can you mind speak with her?”
“No, and it’s frustrating as hell.”
“It might take a little more than a kiss to make her pack.”
“I’m taking care of that tonight.”
“TMI.”
Nicolas laughed. “Anything else you want to talk about, pup?”
Columbus didn’t mind changing the subject, “We hear the cats have nine vampires and could possibly make more.”
“Their weakest point is the number of vampires they have. If one goes on a killing rage it will take out a contingent of cats along with another vampire or two. I don’t know what they’re thinking.”
Columbus sighed heavily. “We’ve never been able to figure out what they think, and you’ve taken over a pack of them.”
Nicolas’s eyes sparked with humor and pride. “I’m on some kind of crazy learning curve. I’ve seen two of them fight, though. I don’t understand why their men don’t have use for the females. Those two felines have some deadly moves. What have we heard from our allies?”
“Dmitri and his bears report things are staying fairly calm among the Canadian cats. They don’t seem to want to get involved, but they are getting pressure from the South American prides. The problem they have is those same prides taking over theirs after we’re out of the picture. They see the writing on the wall and I don’t think they’ll help their brothers in the south. They also have a better reputation when it comes to their women and don’t like what the southern cats do. It’s a sticky situation, though, and I don’t trust them completely.”
“Is there a pride who would take Esta if she decides to go?”
“I’m sure it can be arranged. Dmitri would be the one to ask. He manages to stay on the good side of the Canadians. Do you think she’ll want to leave?”
It was Nicolas’s turn to sigh. “I hope she doesn’t. She’s one of our fighters and I’ve made her my second.”
Columbus’s eyebrows arched, “Can she keep the position?”
“I’ve told my pack they can’t challenge for one month. We need to settle down and find our normal.”
“I’m glad I get to watch. Cats and dogs together isn’t normal.”
“Your clan seems to make it work with Zenya.”
“It’s been an uphill battle and after the attacks, a lot of angry wolf eyes looked her way.” Columbus’s teeth gritted with irritation.
“I’ve been told we have a traitor among the wolves.”
“We’ve known that for a long time, but finding the son of a bitch hasn’t been easy. You didn’t get a name did you?”
“No, but we can talk to Vorlyk about it. He’s the one who told me.”
“What are your thoughts on Vorlyk?”
“He’ll be a good leader. He’s mated to Madayah and they love each other. He rescued each of the females and takes his roll seriously. Without him, none of them would be here. Hell, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Your wolf chose him, so that’s all I need, but some wolves will ask.”
“If they choose to tangle with Vorlyk, they’ll lose.”
Columbus nodded his head. “I’ll spread the warning. We need to work together.”
“I agree, but I’ll also protect my pack.” Steal edged the words.
“Understood. I want you with us.”
“I know, but I long for home.” Nicolas looked out the east window and then back at the other man. “Thank you for giving us a place to live. We’ll probably be here longer than you or I like.”
“No problem. It’s safer with you on our side of the country. We’ve kept a small team of wolves on your property making sure no one else decides to take over.”
“Thank you. I think I’ll have the main house rebuilt and it’ll be easier if there’s someone there I trust.”
“My brother Duncan’s in charge. Send him an email and let him know what you want. He can start making arrangements.”
There was a commotion in the other room and both men stood.
Chapter Twenty-one
Two men ran into the house and Nicolas smiled. McDonald and Reece, two of his pack, charged toward him. Columbus backed away. The two took N
icolas to the ground. Their scent wrapped around him like that of Troy and Bernard.
Both wolves cried unabashedly and Nicolas felt his own eyes moisten. “I’ve missed you two rogues.”
“We’ve missed you.” McDonald wiped his eyes.
“You stink,” added Reece.
The two scrambled up and pulled Nicolas up, too. “Sorry, alpha. We just got the news that you’re alive but we didn’t actually believe it.”
“Sit down and let’s talk.” Nicolas pointed to the couch.
“We heard we have a new pack.” This came from Reece.
“What exactly did you hear?”
“That you are now alpha of a group of she-cats and a new vampire is our liege.”
“How do you feel about it?”
The wolves looked at each other and then smiled. Reece did the talking, “We’re with you. We don’t care what type of beastkind they are. We’ve spent time with the bears and they’re crazy as hell. A few she-cats can’t be worse.”
“You haven’t met them.” Nicolas smiled, feeling incredible relief. “They’ve been abused and sometimes tortured. They need stability as much as we do. There are two fighters you should get along with. They have a few rough edges, but they’ll have your back.”
Reece looked directly into his alpha’s eyes. “We’ll have theirs, too.”
“Good enough for me. I say we head that way now and make introductions.”
“We have a vehicle waiting out front.”
“Let’s go.” Nicolas walked out the door and to the car.
McDonald drove. He didn’t talk as much as Reece, and Nicolas remembered him as the calmer of the two. Reece asked a million questions about the women.
“And Madayah cooks?”
“Yes, she does.”
“Can I marry her?”
“Only if you want your life short and bloody. She’s mated to Vorlyk.”
Reece grinned. “Then I’ll happily just eat what she cooks.”
They arrived at the cabin in no time and walked in. The Monopoly game was finished and the two werewolves sat on barstools getting haircuts. It made Nicolas smile.
“We’re outnumbered,” Troy grumbled.
“We lost at Monopoly and had to pay the piper. I suggest if you like your hair length you don’t play against them,” Bernard said glumly.
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