“We need to go to Marcus’s house.”
“Why?”
“I’ll explain on the way.”
Nicolas suddenly pushed the startled vampire out of his way and entered the bedroom. His sensitive nose picked up the scent that led him here to begin with.
“I’ll kill her,” he snarled.
“That’s the man talking, not the wolf.”
Nicolas removed his clothing in jerky motions, then shifted and walked to their bed. His more sensitive wolf nose picked up his own scent, Zenya’s, and Talya’s. He sniffed each corner of the room.
“Nicolas, stop. I will explain on the way.”
Vorlyk’s words in his head barely broke through his fury. His frighteningly quiet voice answered, “You had better stop me from killing her.”
“You won’t want to.”
“I don’t agree and neither does my wolf.”
“What’s going on, alpha?”
Nicolas looked to Esta. “My mate is pregnant.”
Esta’s nose wrinkled and then picked up the scent of pregnant female cat. “Oh shit.”
Nicolas didn’t answer.
“You will kill the child.” Esta looked ready to launch herself at him and tear his balls off.
For the first time since he entered the bedroom, control entered Nicolas’s savage thoughts. He looked at Esta, then at the other females that crowded behind her. His anger melted and several deep breaths later he managed to speak. “I will not harm the child or my mate.” At least there would be no physical marks, he thought.
“If everyone will stop and listen for a few minutes, it’s important you know what’s happened.” Vorlyk’s frustration came through loud and clear.
“My mate took a human between her thighs to have a child. I left her for little more than twelve hours and she somehow managed to betray me.”
Vorlyk’s eyes flashed amber. “No she didn’t. The child is yours.”
“It will be, but right now I need another enemy to kill.”
“No, Nicolas. This child comes from your seed.”
“That… is not possible. Don’t lie to me.” The full force of his gaze landed on the vampire.
“Do you smell a human here?”
“No, but she’d be crazy to bring him here.”
“She didn’t leave until after Madayah noticed her change of scent. It was a few hours after you left.”
Talya’s voice trembled uncharacteristically. “I smelled it, alpha, when she woke from her nap. I told her she smelled different, but I didn’t know why.”
Nicolas turned back to his bedroom. “Then she crawled out the window and met up with her lover.” He entered the room and walked to the window. Zenya’s scent didn’t linger on the curtains or glass.
He shifted to human and sat on the side of the bed. “This is not possible.”
Vorlyk walked over to Nicolas. “If you listen to me, I think I can explain.”
His entire pack squeezed into the bedroom and listened to their vampire until he finished his story.
“It can’t be possible.” Esta looked as shell-shocked as Nicolas.
“Do you know what this means?” McDonald looked at them all. His eyes came back around and slowly looked at each she-cat.
“Don’t get any ideas, wolf.” Nikka spoke telepathically, and glared back when his gaze landed on her.
Nicolas cut in. “All these years we’ve relied on humans. What will a mixed beastkind be like?” Awe flowed with his words. “I must get to my mate.”
Vorlyk audibly sighed. “I’ve been trying to tell you that.”
Nicolas walked past the clan, threw open the front door, and shifted. His wolf disappeared into the night, unaware that his pack had shed their clothes and followed.
The lights blazed at the main house. Marcus and Amy opened the door and blocked his path.
He changed to human form. “I would suggest you let me through.”
Amy’s voice was frightening. “I will personally kill you if you harm her.”
“Why would I? Now please move aside.”
The vampires let him pass and he shifted back to wolf.
Nicolas followed her scent up the stairs and to a bedroom at the end of a long hallway. Madayah opened the door.
“Vorlyk explained?” She spoke into his mind.
“Yes.” He didn’t notice Madayah leave, closing the door quietly behind her. He had eyes for only one she-cat.
Zenya stood completely still watching him approach. Her darkened green eyes looked terrified even though she heard his words to Madayah. He walked slowly forward. When she stood inches from his large snout, he shifted, going immediately to his knees. Leaning forward, he buried his head against her belly and sighed out loud when her hands clenched into his hair. He inhaled, bringing his hands around her and pulling her close against his face.
After several minutes he leaned back on his heels and looked up into her beautiful gaze awash in tears.“I love you.”
Her legs no longer held her up and she sank to her knees in front of him. His head dipped and captured her mouth. He pulled back enough to say, “You are my miracle.”
She cried into his kiss, but he didn’t stop. Her hands wrapped around his back and she gave into his demand for her taste.
Chapter Thirty-one
Nicolas opened the bedroom door and held Zenya’s hand, leading her down the stairs. The house held more than fifty wolves and all the she-cats from his pack. He grinned and looked at the hopeful eyes, all looking at his mate.
“How could we not know this?” Amy spoke into the hushed room.
Vorlyk answered, “The South American cats may know.”
All eyes turned to Esta when she spoke, “They hate wolves more than humans. If they think we know, every she-cat life they control is in danger.”
Madayah agreed, “She’s right.”
Zenya looked to Nicolas. “Our child will also be in danger.”
Nicolas squeezed her hand. “This just gives us more to fight for.”
Loud voices shouted in agreement. The wolves in the room would fight to their death to protect a child.
“We double the guards and continue preparing for war. If possible, we will rescue every female they hold,” Marcus spoke out over the raised voices.
“We need to discuss this tomorrow. Zenya is ready to fall where she stands,” Amy said.
The room quieted and everyone moved their attention back to the embarrassed she-cat.
Nicolas scooped her into his arms. “Can we borrow another car?”
He carried her out front, releasing her into the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Vorlyk and Madayah entered the backseat. Their pack mates shifted again and went back to the cabin on four legs.
Nicolas pulled Zenya close into his side and she rested her head against his shoulder. They remained silent during the ten minute drive. Once they arrived at the cabin, he turned to Vorlyk. “If you don’t mind, we will meet in the morning.”
“Take your mate to bed. I will inform the others.”
He walked her silently to their room and closed the bedroom door behind them. Looking into Zenya’s eyes, he smiled softly. “Remove your clothing.”
She looked at his bared body and slowly began taking off her clothes.
He knew he smelled of the cats they killed and that they needed to shower before going to sleep. He walked into the bathroom and turned on the water. He then stood in the doorway and watched her until her clothing lay in a heap on the floor.
“I need to shower, but I don’t want you out of my sight.”
She followed him into the shower and under the warm spray. He washed quickly, then washed her. Her breathing grew shallow, but he ignored her obvious craving. “You need sleep,” he whispered into her ear.
“I need you.”
He didn’t want to take her against the shower wall, standing up like they had before he left. The thought made him smile.
“You think I’m funny?”
“If I take you standing up so quickly after the last time will you have twins?”
Her face reddened and his grin turned to laughter.
“You think you’re pretty special, don’t you?”
“I am special, but you are a miracle.”
“Please make love to me.”
He shut off the water and grabbed a soft towel to dry every inch of her body, refusing to hasten the process because of her impatient sighs. He dropped the towel to the floor, entered the bedroom, and walked to their bed before turning back the comforter. She crawled in, looking expectantly while he pulled the blanket up to her neck. He went around the bed and slipped beneath the covers. His arms gathered her close and he kissed her on the side of her cheek.
“Rest. I will make love to you in the morning.”
Her growl was frustratingly low, but within minutes her breathing slowed and sleep took over. Nicolas breathed deeply, inhaling her scent, and then closed his eyes.
***
When Zenya opened her eyes, sunlight streamed in through the windows. Her body rested half on top of Nicolas, though his breathing remained steady. She kissed his neck, and then traveled lower. Two dark eyes opened and peered into hers.
Her lips continued their decline, stopping at the pinpoint of one nipple. Her tongue stroked across the tip and he inhaled sharply. Her fingers pinched the small bud while her mouth moved to the other. He didn’t stop her, just tried to control his ragged breathing. His eyes smoldered and watched when she inched down to his abs, running her tongue over the rippled plains of muscle.
Slowly releasing his breath, he sucked in air again like he was dying from lack of oxygen. He only needed her scent in his lungs, the scent of a pregnant female; one carrying his child. His hands went beneath her arms, pulling upward.
“No.” she said lifting her head and meeting his gaze.
His voice grew husky and his eyes smoldered, “I don’t like that word.”
“I’ll make you love that word.” She continued downward.
***
No one complained when Nicolas and Zenya walked into the kitchen extremely late for the meeting. Zenya ignored the sniffing wolfs. Females of any beastkind species were a rare treat.
Talya spoke up. “The wolves are rude. Will you carry as a cat or human?”
“And that question isn’t rude?” Sheeba demanded.
Talya looked perplexed, “I want to know how long we need to wait for the birth.”
“I’ve been pregnant one day and haven’t solved all the problems in the universe.”
“I was only asking.” The young cat pouted.
Madayah set heaping plates of hot food on the table. “We have much to talk about, but will eat first.”
Vorlyk walked into the room and took a seat at the far end of the table out of the direct morning light. He looked to Zenya, “I hope you slept soundly.”
She blushed and everyone laughed.
Inquisitive eyes looked her way often, and Nicolas touched her every few minutes. She didn’t feel pregnant or any different than she had two days before. She also remembered she was angry with her mate for leaving her behind. She looked to the cats and wolves that had accompanied him. Esta had a brown smudge on the side of her face. “Is that blood?”
Esta didn’t look at all contrite when she answered, “Probably.”
“No more blood at the table, please.”
“Yes, Zenya.” With Esta’s lack of argument, the entire pack looked her way.
“You expect me to argue with a pregnant female?” She looked to her alpha. “She needs two bodyguards—one of which is a cat and one of which is a wolf. As your second, I’m requesting the duty.”
“Do I have a say?” Zenya let her annoyance come through.
“No.” Esta and Nicolas spoke at the same time.
He nodded his head. “The position is yours. Choose the wolf you want.”
Zenya looked to Esta with exasperation, “You know this means you won’t be able to leave on cat-killing duty.”
“The child is more important than any cat.” Esta’s eyes softened. “I will protect you with my life.” She turned to McDonald. “I would like you with me.”
He nodded his head. “Is there a particular reason?”
“Yes. You don’t speak much and won’t drive me crazy as fast as the other wolves.”
Silence met these words, then Sheeba giggled and everyone began laughing full out. Even Zenya couldn’t hold onto her sour disposition. She turned to Nicolas.
“I still need to protect myself and have no plans to miss self-defense training.”
“Then you plan to carry as a human?”
If so, gestation of the child would be nine months and be born as human before changing to its beast at around two weeks old. If she carried as cat, the time would shorten to approximately ten weeks. Beastkind rarely delivered as human.
“Argh. I need to think about it.” She looked to Sheeba. “Are you going to see Dr. Stevens next week?”
“I think one cub at a time would be safer. I have no problem waiting.” There was no sadness in Sheeba’s voice.
“Then I will deliver as cat, but I don’t need to change over completely for a few weeks.” Her eyes turned to Nicolas. “I will be practicing, as human, to defend myself until I change.”
“Whatever my mate wants.” He wouldn’t argue with her.
“Fine. You. In our bedroom. Now.”
“Yes, Zenya.”
No one laughed until they heard the bedroom door close.
Chapter Thirty-two
Columbus arrived at the gym, in the late morning, with ten of his wolves. He walked outside with Nicolas so they could talk.
Columbus smiled. “My wolves want to watch your cats.”
“They need to. It helped us in the fight yesterday.”
“They were impressed, and I think a little afraid of Esta.”
“I can appreciate that. Esta is my second for a reason.”
“I think it was eating the cat’s balls that did it.”
Nicolas smiled, but didn’t correct Columbus. If his wolves told their alpha she ate the balls then he wouldn’t say differently. They knew she would have if he hadn’t stopped her.
His crotch ached with the thought. “Vorlyk needs a cat alive if the opportunity arises.”
“Is there a specific reason?”
“He can take their memories if he touches them.”
“Then we need to find him a cat. It would help greatly to know about the Canadian cats and if they plan to help our enemy.”
“I agree.”
“So, daddy, how is your mate?” Columbus teased.
“The next couple of months can’t come fast enough. She’s wearing me out.”
Columbus laughed. “Stop bragging. You love every minute of it.”
“Yes, I do.” Nicolas looked away for a moment. “You know our enemies control other females?”
Columbus stopped laughing. “I’m sure they do.”
“They torture, burn, and disfigure their women and cut the limbs off children. We need to rescue as many as possible.”
“We are outnumbered as it is. Do you really think it wise?”
Frustration burned in Nicolas’s eyes. “Do we have a choice?”
“No.” Columbus looked away.
“If we can hold off full-out war until after my child is born, I want to take a team into South America, and I’d like to ask Dmitri for his assistance.”
Columbus nodded, “He will loan you bears, but he won’t risk leaving his clan without a vampire.”
“A couple of bears could make a huge difference.”
“I agree. Will you take female cats?”
“Esta is guarding Zenya full time now. I don’t know if she’ll come. Only Nikka would be ready.”
Columbus glanced toward the gym door. “I need to see what your cats can do.”
“Then let’s join the others.”
Asia was in the ring
with Esta. As Columbus’s second and his brother, the wolf might be an even match. He had a long furrow down the side of his face; Esta had a swollen eye and she looked pissed.
“No killing,” Nicolas reminded her.
Before she spoke up, Asia answered, “I’ll try not to.” His eyes glowed with self-assurance.
Esta shifted and had him flat on the mat with her teeth at his throat a split second later. “Stupid wolf.”
“Just leave my balls where they’re at, please.” Asia was careful not to meet the cat’s eyes and challenge her any further.
She shifted back to human and put out her hand staring at the appendages in question. “I think they’ve receded far enough to be safe for the moment.”
“I think you’re right.” He took the proffered hand and stood.
Bernard walked up to Nicolas. “Do you mind if I take Sheeba and any additional wolves or cats that are interested to practice knife work?”
“It’s a good idea. See if my mate will go?”
“No, your mate wants to fight hands on.” Zenya’s voice held defiance.
“Did you have someone in mind?” Nicolas carefully answered back.
“If I choose you, will you try to hurt me?”
His mouth thinned. “No.”
“Then I think I’ll fight one of Columbus’s wolves.”
“I doubt they’ll hurt you either.”
“Then their balls had better recede quickly.” Zenya stared directly into her mates eyes.
“What have you done with our mild-mannered, shy she-cat?” Columbus asked, unable to hide his grin.
Nicolas shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea who you speak of. I’ve never known a she-cat like that.”
The wolves looked uncomfortable.
Columbus looked around until his eyes landed on one particular wolf. “Nelson, you’re up. If you hurt her, her mate will beat you black and blue. If you don’t defend yourself, we’ll have another female in the clan.”
The young wolf stepped to the ring looking uncomfortable. “Why me, alpha?”
“Amy said you were poking around a she-wolf a few months before she’s available.”
“She’ll be twenty-one in two months.”
Fang Chronicles: Zenya's Story Page 13
