One lone tear traveled down her cheek and landed on the soft comforter. She scrambled beneath the sheets and let the rest of her tears flow while holding tightly to his pillow. She was not a strong she-cat. For years she hid and shook in fright at the approach of any cat or vampire. Being with Amy and Marcus helped, but she lived in daily terror of the next bad event in her life.
She remembered the first time she saw Nicolas—strong, confidant, and completely alpha. Her cat noticed the way his brown hair stood up on his head in wavy disarray and his dark eyes took in everything around him. Her cat stood at attention that day, though her human side quivered in fear.
Rescuing Nicolas was her single act of courage. The thought of him in Raykon’s hands brought terror worse than anything she’d ever experienced. Being with Nicolas strengthened her and brought out her inner beast that she never knew existed. But Nicolas saw her weakness.
Silent tears continued to fall and eventually she drifted off to sleep.
“Zenya?”
She peeled open her eyes.
“I’m sorry to wake you.” It was Talya.
“Has something happened?” Zenya snapped to instant alertness.
“No, but I’m scared.”
Her hand came out and took Talya’s hand. The monsters did this to a child, and her mate left to kill the monsters.
Talya leaned in and Zenya wrapped her arms tightly around the youngest pack member.
“You smell funny.”
Zenya couldn’t help her laugh of embarrassment, thinking the teenager smelled sex. “I need to bathe.”
“It’s not unpleasant. You actually smell really good.”
Zenya’s embarrassment escalated and she nudged Talya away. “I’m taking a shower and then we need to eat. I’m sure Madayah has something wonderful planned.” It was all she could think of to stop Talya’s talk about the odor that was probably saturating the room.
She turned the water as hot as she could stand and scrubbed every inch of her body. It saddened her to watch Nicolas’s scent slide down the drain, but she would crawl back into their bed tonight and absorb the smell into her pores again. She was the alpha’s mate and her deluge of tears was over. Their small pack had been together for just a short time and it was her job to hold them steadfastly together when her mate was away.
Everyone waited at the table. There were no pitying looks, just acceptance that food would not be served until she sat down. Both ends of the table remained empty, so Zenya chose Nicolas’s chair. It felt good and safe.
Madayah began sitting bowls of soup in front of everyone and laid a large plate with crusty garlic bread by Zenya. Madayah turned sharply, sniffed, and gave Zenya a puzzled look ,then took her seat at the other end of the table next to Vorlyk’s empty chair.
Everyone dug in. The Mexican soup was wonderful and the bread delicious.
Laughter was absent, but slowly they began to talk about trivial matters.
Troy suddenly spoke up. “We need to be learning from each other while Nicolas is away. Columbus is having several sets of throwing knives delivered here. Bernard is the best teacher. I think we can get in an hour or two before the sun goes down if you don’t object Zenya.”
“We need something to keep us occupied. Set up a practice area and we’ll all be there.”
Zenya glanced around the table and noticed Madayah still had a questioning look on her face.
“Is something wrong, Madayah?”
At first the cat didn’t say anything, but then her words spilled out quickly, “Are there humans around here?”
“No.” Zenya said, somewhat at a loss.
“No humans?”
“No. Why?”
“Could I request a word in private with you, Zenya?”
“Of course. I want to walk to the main house. Will you accompany me?”
“Yes, that would work.”
Bernard spoke up. “Nicolas doesn’t want anyone outside alone.”
Zenya stared directly into the eyes of her mate’s third, gathering courage. “I’m aware of that, but he left and we are thin in numbers. Madayah and I will shift first.”
“I will let Vorlyk know we are going and then notify him immediately if we are in danger.” Madayah pacified the worried wolf.
Neither Bernard nor Troy appeared happy, but they kept their objections quiet.
Everyone helped clear the table and then the women disrobed and shifted. Talya opened the door for them.
It felt good to run, and Zenya wanted to be away from the cabin before she spoke with Madayah. The other cat was acting strangely, and talk of humans made Zenya nervous. When they finally slowed down, Madayah ran her nose along Zenya’s side and then backed away.
Zenya shifted and sat down against a log, pulled a prickly branch from beneath her bare bottom and tossed it away. Madayah shifted and then sat a few feet away.
“What’s wrong, Madayah?”
“If there are no humans here then there is a big problem, though not exactly a problem, but something difficult to explain.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re pregnant.”
Zenya stood suddenly, staring at the crazy cat. “You’re insane.”
“I know the smell, and you are carrying a child.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Without a human, yes.”
“I haven’t been touched by a human since my last pregnancy two years ago.”
“But a wolf has touched you.”
“Beastkind cannot produce children together.”
“Maybe it’s that the same beastkind cannot produce children. How many mixed couples do we know?”
“I know of no others.”
“Then how do you know cats and wolves cannot produce children?”
“I don’t know, but if they could don’t you think someone would have figured this out long ago?”
Madayah laughed. “Think about it. We’re raised to hate each other. Cross species don’t even mingle, much less mate.”
“Talya said I smelled weird.”
“You smell wonderful.”
“I can’t tell but I don’t feel different.” Zenya’s heartbeat sped up and her hand went involuntarily to her stomach.
“You will.” Madayah’s smile held such tenderness.
“We can’t tell Nicolas until he returns. He will have trouble believing what’s happened.”
“He will accept what’s happened if we all need to hold him down and gently beat some sense into him.”
“Gentle won’t work with him, but maybe one of your frying pans will.”
They both laughed, and then Madayah crawled across the two feet separating them and laid the scared side of her face on Zenya’s lap, kissing her belly. “I’ve craved this smell for years, and maybe our clan will produce more children than we know what to do with.”
Vorlyk’s voice startled the two women. “Your thoughts are troubling, my love.”
“Troubling?” Madayah turned her head and smiled at her vampire.
“Maybe troubling isn’t the word, but your distress interrupted my sleep and brings me out in the daylight.”
“Zenya is pregnant.”
“Please don’t tell Nicolas,” Zenya interjected.
“Nicolas will smell it as soon as he returns. Do I want to know about your human visitor?”
“The child belongs to Nicolas. I’ve slept with no one else.”
Vorlyk’s eyes softened. “You don’t say?”
“You’re not surprised?” Madayah stared at her mate.
“I heard rumors years ago.”
Madayah stood up, then held out her hand for Zenya.
“I may be pregnant, but I think I can stand on my own.” Both women turned to the vampire.
“Long ago the cats captured a she-wolf. They had her for years. It’s rumored that one of the men fell in love with her and she became pregnant. He didn’t believe the child was his and he killed her.”
“That’s terrible.” Zenya felt close to tears.
“That’s a male cat.” Vorlyk’s eyes hardened.
“Nicolas would kill me?” Her green eyes darkened and her hand again sought out her stomach.
“In a jealous rage, it’s possible, but I think we can control how and when he finds out.” Madayah sounded defensive.
“Nicolas wouldn’t kill her.” Vorlyk gave his mate a sharp look.
“A furious alpha is almost impossible to control—cat or wolf.” Zenya said.
“You can control him.” Madayah’s voice changed to one of assurance.
Vorlyk’s voice soothed. “Yes, but we need to plan this in advance. It would be best to speak with Amy and move you into the main house.”
“What will our clan say?”
“Let’s speak with Amy. Notify me when you’re there and I’ll join you.” He blinked out of the sunlight.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Nicolas answered his cell phone.
“I’ve missed you, brother.”
“Thank you, Brandt. I’m sorry for your losses at the hands of the cats.”
“No one has suffered more than your clan. Frederick will be forever in my memories.”
“Frederick would like that.” Nicolas smiled softly. Few knew of the vampire’s sexual preference, but Brandt took it in stride years ago when he found out.
There wasn’t time for long condolences, so Brandt changed the subject. “My wolves followed them on foot, but lost them when they reached their vehicles. Several more of my pack picked them up again when they entered Arizona. They traveled across I-40 and are heading into New Mexico. I believe they’ve decided to avoid the Southwest Clan.”
“There will be no avoiding us.”
“I hoped you would say that.”
“Keep us informed and we’ll try to head them off when they turn south.”
“Will do.”
Asia, Columbus’s younger brother, rode in the vehicle with Nicolas and Esta. A wolf on loan from Columbus’s pack joined them. By loaning wolves, they had constant mind connection with all the clans if needed. Nikka traveled with Reece and McDonald in another vehicle.
With his wolf’s hearing, Asia had no trouble deciphering the conversation between Brandt and Nicolas. “We should be able to catch them in the Zuni Mountains. It’s on the reservation where we have contacts that can assure no interference.”
Nicolas nodded, “Sounds good.”
Silence descended, but no one rested; they were amped too high.
Nicolas’s cell phone rang two hours later. Brandt got straight to the point. “They ditched the vehicles and have disappeared into the mountains. I’ve told my wolves not to follow because it’s a high ambush risk. The cats have already killed two humans during their escape. Will Marcus be able to help you if there’s a vamp waiting with the cats?”
“Marcus or Vorlyk.”
“Is your vamp ready?”
“News travels fast.”
Brandt’s voice was firm, “I took it as good news.”
“Thank you. He needs to get his feet wet. He’s stronger than he lets on.”
“Vampire politics at its best.”
“True. I’ll handle it.” Nicolas assured him.
“Be safe my friend.”
Nicolas clicked the phone off.
“We’re thirty minutes from the hunt,” Asia said. “I’ve spent a lot of time in these mountains.”
Nicolas looked over his shoulder into the backseat. “Are you ready to fight, Esta?”
“I’m ready to kill. If I die, don’t wash our enemy’s blood from my body before burial.”
Asia looked sideways at Nicolas as if to say, “That one’s crazy.” Nicolas just nodded his head once.
They pulled into a parking area where two of Brandt’s wolves waited next to several vehicles. When Nicolas drew closer, he immediately identified which ones belonged to the cats. Their smell was different than that of Nicolas’s females and he realized all his pack’s scents had changed when he became their alpha. These cats stunk.
They would hunt in animal form; their clothes and shoes neatly stowed in the back of their vehicles. Nicolas mind connected with Esta, “You have my back.”
“Yes, alpha.”
He gave a soft growl in acknowledgment. Hers was louder and ended on a female hiss when her nose picked up one of the scents.
“I know this one intimately.”
“Is it Raykon?”
“No, but it’s one of his lieutenants.”
“He’s yours.”
She didn’t respond. Nicolas knew if she had had sex with the cat it wasn’t consensual and she deserved her revenge. Saliva dripped from his wolf jaws in anticipation of his own kills. He connected with Vorlyk and let him know the situation.
The vampire responded, “I will come if you call. Try not to steer me into the middle of a thorn bed.”
“I’ll do my best.”
They took off, following the cats’ scents. An hour later the terrain became steeper. They kept going until Nicolas called a halt. Asia came to his side and both men shifted.
Nicolas spoke while looking around, “They’re close by. Some to the side and they may have several behind us now. Vorlyk will come to my call, but if they don’t have a vampire I want the privilege of killing as many as possible.”
“I agree. May you have a good death, my friend.” Asia grabbed Nicolas’s forearm then released it.
“And you.”
It was time.
Nicolas saw the hair on Esta’s back stand up and he turned in the direction she stared.
Two large cats came into view from the side of the trail.
“Behind you,” came Esta’s steady voice.
Three more stealthily crept toward them from the other side. Nicolas looked up the trail, seeing the largest cat he had ever laid eyes on.
“That one’s mine.” Esta’s fangs dripped saliva in anticipation.
“Let me know if you need help. I’d rather have you alive.” He charged the five, counting on Asia’s wolves to protect their flanks and rear.
He headed toward the large cat, but veered away at the last moment. “He’s all yours,” he said into Esta’s mind.
He received no reply and plowed into the second-largest cat.
Deadly razor-sharp claws raked his side, but Nicolas twisted away, avoiding teeth and further damage from the nails. Six of Asia’s wolves took on the other three cats.
Teeth found purchase on his neck, but, using his greater alpha strength, Nicolas was able to shake the cat off. They would be making dog collars when they returned to Marcus’s home. He bled from his neck, but it wasn’t bad. His teeth bit down hard, breaking the cat’s front foot. It wasn’t nearly enough to pay for Talya’s missing limb, but it was a start. The cat’s scream sounded like music to his ears. Another swift turn and he buried his fangs into the underbelly. This time the scream ended in a gurgle. Nicolas went for the throat again and ended the cat’s life.
He glanced around. Only one wolf showed signs of injury and struggled to help his brother with the cat they fought. Nicolas went to their aid, and the three of them made short work of the beast. Then a piercing scream made him turn.
The larger cat stood over Esta. Her scream wasn’t one of pain it was that of rage. Nicolas plowed into the cat and the two of them tumbled. Esta’s talons came in close and raked the side of the cat. Nicolas moved out of her way and before he could blink, her teeth bit deep into the cat’s groin and pulled away. Bits of flesh and muscle, dripping blood, hung from her jaw. Nicolas would never forget the sound of the male cat’s scream.
The fight was over, and all the wolves looked to the crazy cat eating another cat’s balls.
“Esta, end it.”
She hesitated a moment, then dropped the cat parts and jumped on the fallen enemy, tearing out his throat. Blood covered them all, but Esta’s body appeared more red than gold and her frenzied attack continued. Nicolas took hesitant s
teps her way.
“This is done. He’s dead, Esta.”
“They all need to die.”
“Each enemy here is dead. We shall fight again.” Nicolas didn’t have to question why she did what she did. He already knew.
Columbus shifted. “My connections will dispose of the bodies.”
Nicolas shifted then looked behind Columbus. “How bad is your wolf hurt?”
“He’ll make it down the mountain.”
“Vorlyk can help.”
“Call him.” Columbus backed away from Nicolas.
The vampire suddenly flashed between the two wolves.
“We have an injured wolf.”
“No vamps for me to kill?” Disappointment clearly showed on Vorlyk’s face.
“Sorry, not this time.”
Vorlyk looked to Esta, then turned and walked to the bleeding wolf. He crouched down. The wolf shifted to man and offered his arm. The vampire wasted no time. When he finished, he looked to Nicolas. “Are they all dead?”
“Yes.”
“Next time, try to leave one alive so I can gain information. Do you have further need of me?”
“No. Thank you, my liege.”
The vamp disappeared.
Chapter Thirty
Tubs of wet wipes helped clean off the worst of the blood before they donned their clothing. The smell of foreign cat permeated the inside of the car, but no one complained. Dead cats smelled better than live ones.
It was long after midnight when they returned to Marcus’s ranch. Nicolas’s pack shared a vehicle after dropping off Columbus and his wolves.
He wanted to hold his mate and sink into the velvet softness of her body. He hoped she waited up for him. His wolf needed her close. Once she was more adept at fighting, he would take her with him. He knew she would remain upset for a while, but he wouldn’t unnecessarily risk her life.
They entered the cabin to find every light ablaze and their anxious pack mates waiting. He looked around the room searching for his mate.
“She isn’t here, alpha.” Troy looked nervously at Nicolas.
“Where is she?”
“She’s with Amy and Marcus.”
“Her place is with us.” Something was off. Nicolas walked toward their bedroom. Vorlyk stopped him from entering.
Fang Chronicles: Zenya's Story Page 12
