“I love you.” She then mind spoke to Bernard, “If Talya falls behind, you will protect her.”
“Yes, Zenya.”
One by one the women transformed. Zenya took the lead and they charged from the circle.
Fredock had at least a five-minute head start. Vorlyk had fed from him earlier and he would have a lot of fight. The ranch perimeter guards knew to not let him pass. The women followed the scent of terrified cat.
Thirty minutes later, Nikka saw a flash of pale cat fur through the trees and notified the others. It took four minutes to catch him.
Esta’s teeth sank into his flank and he scrambled away with a roar. The other she-cats surrounded him with bared teeth and extended claws. He ran straight at Zenya and raked his nails across her face.
Behind the women, Vorlyk held Nicolas back. “They will not let harm befall her.”
Esta and Nikka attacked at the same time, biting into Fredock’s back legs and dragging him away. Esta flexed her jaw, shook her head, and savagely ripped off half his leg. Talya slowly entered the circle, late, but with teeth extended.
Fredock screamed using cat vocal cords and then shifted to man. Talya didn’t stop her approach, grabbed his arm, bit down, and viciously tore it from his body. With one arm and one leg, he didn’t bother shifting again.
Nikka raked her claws down his chest and into his stomach. His entrails fell to the ground. Crazy eyes looked back at them for one moment as sanity returned. “Raykon will kill every fucking bitch here.”
Talya grabbed his other arm in her teeth and chomped down, adding pressure until everyone heard the bones crack.
He screamed again, though they all heard the gurgling. Esta pulled a section of intestine and tore it to bits, spraying blood and gore around the circle. Until this point, Madayah had stayed back. She shifted, and then walked to Fredock. Going down to her knees, she drew closer.
“Vengeance is ours motherfucker.” She spit in his face, shifted, then clamped her jaws on his neck. The other cats grabbed any section of his body they could and pulled. A minute later his head separated from his shoulders.
Nicolas let them rest in the blood and body parts for five minutes, then spoke into their minds. “There is a lake not far from here. Columbus’s wolves will dispose of what’s left and collect his head. I don’t want his blood in our cabin.”
He turned and his wolves fell in behind him, followed by the women. Troy’s voice sounded in his head, “If one of these she-cats is not my mate, I will hunt to the ends of the earth until I find one who is.”
Nicolas wasn’t surprised. The American beastkind wolves were tamed after hundreds of years, but it took little to take them back to their savage past. The she-cats brought it out and the enemy would suffer the consequences.
At the lake, he waited for Zenya. She shifted and he took her hand, leading her blood-soaked body into the water. Using sand from the lake floor, he washed the blood away; her almost-limp body malleable in his hands. She needed food and sleep. Around them, everyone washed the night’s deeds away. No one spoke. They left the cool water and shifted again, but took their time walking through the quiet peace of the pine trees.
Cold leftovers remained on the table and they began eating again. No one bothered putting on clothes and just stood around the table.
Nicolas watched Zenya take a few bites then look around. He took her hand. “Everyone needs sleep. Columbus’s wolves are guarding the cabin. Vorlyk will feed from you so your face will heal.”
Zenya’s hand went to her cheek inquisitively. She pulled her fingers away and stared at a thin smear of blood. Vorlyk walked to her side and she turned her neck offering her own blood. Vorlyk’s swift strike made her jump, but she settled and let him give her what made them stronger. He pulled back and gently kissed her quickly healing face. He then turned and went to his own mate.
“We’ll see everyone in the morning.” Nicolas led Zenya to their room and sat on the side of the bed, pulling her into his arms. He leaned forward and kissed her belly, then gathered her closer and went to his back, bringing her onto his naked chest. They lay quietly until she fell asleep. Without moving her away, he gathered both sides of the comforter and pulled it over them. He lay awake for hours staring into the dark. He now understood what his she-cats had suffered. Their pain shook him to his core.
Chapter Thirty-five
Nicolas awoke with a start. Zenya’s heart beat against his own. He rolled and disengaged from their sweaty, stuck-together bodies. It made him smile. Obviously exhausted, she didn’t stir. Pulling on black sweats, he walked from the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. Passing the other rooms, he saw no one in them. He also heard no talking or sounds from the front rooms.
Turning the corner of the hallway, he stopped. Cats and wolves lay on the floor in a pile. Each of them touched at least one other pack mate. He walked across the room and picked up his cell phone, located the camera function, and snapped a photo. He would never forget their first combined puppy and kitten pile. When his old pack hunted, they often stayed outdoors overnight and slept like this. These women completed his wolves and they were a vicious enemy. He gladly accepted them as his.
A noise made him turn. Zenya peered over his shoulder. “Would you like to help me make pancakes? Madayah’s not up yet.” Her stomach growled and he smiled.
“Yes, dear.”
“Don’t be smart.”
“I’m just an old wolf in love.”
“Now you’re being silly.”
He kissed the side of her neck. “Food, then back to bed.”
“I won’t argue with my alpha.” She didn’t try to hide her sensual smile.
They cooked, and slowly the others woke up and joined them in the kitchen. Esta sat down at the table. “Alpha?”
“Yes, Esta?”
Her eyes pierced his for a moment and then she looked away. “I’ll stay if you still want me.” She murmured.
“You’re my second. Of course I want you.”
Esta looked around the table. “Three more weeks and one of you can challenge.”
Troy looked at her. “If it’s all the same to you, I like my balls and intestines where they are. I’m third and will happily remain until you can’t handle the job.”
“I can handle the job.”
“So you say now, but Aster will be here in a few days and he… you need to worry about him.”
“Who’s Aster?” Talya asked.
“He’s one crazy wolf.” McDonald actually twirled his finger around his ear.
“Not as crazy as our she-cats,” Reece stated proudly.
“I think it’s debatable.” Troy looked at Esta. “We sent him away because he was too dangerous to have around after our pack died.”
“He needs to stay out of my way.” Esta huffed.
Bernard joined the conversation. “He will for three more weeks.”
“I can’t kill him, can I?” Esta looked at her alpha.
“No, you can’t kill him. He’s always been crazy.”
“And mean,” said Troy.
“Vicious.” McDonald added.
Bernard put the icing on the legend cake, “Terrifying.”
“Is he your wolf boogeyman?” Esta asked with disgust.
“Something like that,” McDonald glanced away from Esta.
“If he’s so big and bad, why isn’t he alpha?” Talya’s voice sounded anxious.
“Nicolas thumped him soundly and became second to our old alpha,” Troy added with pride.
Talya’s voice held awe, “What happened to your old alpha?”
Troy ruffled the teen-cat’s hair with affection. “Nicolas killed him hundreds of years ago.”
Esta rolled her eyes, “So why isn’t Aster your second?”
Nicolas looked at the she-cat. “Aster decided to take over the wolf military training. He’s my friend, though, and occasionally he can be ornery.”
“Can he beat Esta?” Their youngest she-cat never knew when
to stop asking questions.
Nicolas shrugged nonchalantly. “I doubt he’ll want the position.”
Now Talya sounded nervous, “What if he does?”
Nicolas looked to Zenya for help.
His mate smiled and stood. “You’re assisting me with the dishes, Talya. Let’s get started.”
“I can’t ask questions. I can’t date. I can’t kiss. Tayla do this. Talya do that. Is there anything I can do?” She interspersed growls throughout her tirade.
Multiple eyes looked at her and everyone said at the same time, “Dishes.”
“Fine.” Her stomping feet and angry eyes didn’t seem to bother any of them.
Halfway through the chore, which several of them pitched in on, Madayah came out.
Zenya smiled at Madayah’s ruffled appearance having no doubt what kept the she-cat in bed for an extended period. “There’s a plate in the oven for you.”
“Thank you.” She looked skeptically at the plate of pancakes. “Who cooked?”
Zenya’s lips tipped in a slight grin. “I did. They aren’t bad. Nothing like yours, but they’ll do.”
“I promise not to complain.”
“I think at least one day a week you need some time off from cooking.”
“You’ll be in cat form twenty-four seven in another week or so. I don’t trust anyone else to cook.”
“Okay—then after the baby.”
A soft wolf whisper entered Zenya’s head. “I’m taking a shower. You have two minutes to join me.”
“I know he invited you to do something naughty. Go ahead and join him.”
Zenya blushed, but didn’t argue, just followed her alpha’s direction.
She saw his bare leg and then the shower curtain closed. She shut the door, removed her clothing, and pulled the curtain back. A large erection greeted her.
“Wall sex?” Her wicked grin admired his length.
“No, but get in here.”
“You don’t like wall sex?”
“I don’t want to slip in this death trap and break my back.”
She laughed. “How about I kiss your back.”
“Get in here.” He pulled her under the cold water.
“It’s freezing.”
“I know. I was trying to relieve some of the pressure.”
She couldn’t stop laughing. “Turn the water warmer and I’ll relieve some of the pressure.”
“I thought you’d never ask, but I get to relieve some of your pressure, too.”
“And you’re so sure I’m feeling it.”
“You will be.”
They didn’t speak until the hot water ran out.
“It’s getting cold again.”
“Someday we’ll be back at my home and I’ll have extra hot water heaters installed.”
“I thought your home was destroyed.”
“It was, but Duncan, Columbus’s brother, is on the property, and I’m sending him instructions to have it rebuilt. I need to speak with Vorlyk. Fredrick and I shared the house and would have continued living there even after I mated. Would you prefer your own home?”
“I would have no problem living with Vorlyk and Madayah. She won’t be happy unless she has plenty of people to cook for and she’ll help run down our rascal of a child when he’s born.”
Nicolas turned off the now-cold water and stepped out, grabbing a towel to dry his mate. “You’re so sure it’s a boy?”
“I don’t know, but that’s what it feels like. After Victoria killed my daughter, I never thought to feel this again. But, this feels different.”
He stopped drying her hair and lifted her chin so she looked at him. “I’m sorry about your daughter. Our child will be safe or we will die protecting him.”
“Thank you.”
“He’s my child, too.”
“No, thank you for understanding. I don’t want to live through the death of another child.”
“I always keep my word.”
“You talk in your sleep.”
He began drying himself. “I do.”
“You’ve also lived through the death of children.”
“Never again.”
Chapter Thirty-six
The pack resumed their training. Everyone fought like their life depended on it. More and more of Columbus’s wolves joined in. The resentment over the she-cats was almost non-existent. Word of their kills spread. Nicolas’s wolves proudly described the hunt and slaughter. The other wolves realized they could learn from the cats.
Nicolas didn’t say anything when Zenya left for her daily run with Esta and McDonald. He saw the bruises from her not so secret training. She never complained and he knew in another week or so she would shift to cat and there would be no training in human form until after their child’s birth.
Columbus’s pack wolves began hanging out more and more at the cabin. Several fights broke out over the women. Five days after Fredock’s death, Aster arrived.
His large body filled the door of the cabin. While his imposing figure was bulkier than Nicolas’s, he was a few inches shorter. Maybe twenty pounds separated them in human form, and Nicolas realized he was thankful for Madayah’s cooking or the other wolf would outweigh him.
The wild in Aster’s eyes penetrated the room, and the she-cats immediately went into defensive mode.
Nicolas walked forward slowly. Aster took two steps inside, and then fell to his knees. Nicolas could see his shoulders shaking and his hand went to Aster’s back. “I’ve missed you brother.”
Aster’s shoulders didn’t stop trembling and he didn’t speak.
Nicolas reached out and placed his hand on the wolf’s head. “We have a new pack and they’ve been waiting for you.”
The huge man wiped his eyes and looked around the room before gazing back at Nicolas. “They wouldn’t let me stay and search for you.” He touched his heart. “I knew in here that you lived. I wasn’t crazy.” He lowered his eyes.
“I know, Aster. Nicolas removed his hand but pushed out a part of his alpha power to soothe the distant wolf. “I’ve always known you weren’t crazy.”
The calming power had an instant effect and Aster’s voice strengthened, “With cats in our clan, will I be able to kill other cats?”
Esta stepped forward. “We can kill cats together, wolf.”
Aster looked to the she-cat standing slightly behind Nicolas. “Who are you?” He didn’t sound angry but his eyes drilled into hers.
“I’m the alpha’s second.” Her eyes challenged.
Aster smiled and it was cold enough to freeze water. “Not for long.”
Before Nicolas could interject Esta spoke again, “You can try.”
“Two more weeks until anyone can challenge.” His alpha power spread out to encompass all of them.
Aster looked at Nicolas, and then lowered his eyes. “I don’t understand, alpha.”
Nicolas put his hand out toward Aster and the other wolf took it. His bicep tightened as he pulled Aster to his feet. “You will.”
Aster turned back to Esta. “Are you available, cat?”
“How cute. Aster and Esta.”
All but two sets of eyes turned to Talya.
Aster’s and Esta’s eyes glinted at each other.
Talya smiled silkily, “Well, I think it’s cute.”
With a long suffering sigh Zenya ordered, “Dishes for the rest of the week. All three meals,”
“But, Reece has punishment duty, too. You gave it to him yesterday.” Talya whined.
Zenya wasn’t giving in, “You just got him out of it.”
“Argh.” Talya flounced away. “I hate being the youngest damn cat,” she muttered.
“Talya!”
The teenager turned with no look of repentance.
Zenya’s eyes glinted. “Do you want to do dishes for the rest of the month?”
“No.” It was a huff.
“Then don’t swear.” Zenya turned her back to the bratty teen and noticed Esta trying to stare down the
new wolf. It wasn’t her normal angry stare, though strong irritation was there.
“Let’s go for a run Aster.” Nicolas grabbed the wolf and pulled him out the door.
They removed their clothes on the porch, shifted, and then ran through the trees. Several hundred yards from the house, Aster spoke. “She didn’t answer me. Is she taken?”
Nicolas tried not to let his exasperation come through in his voice, “If by taken you mean is she single, yes, she’s single.”
“Good.” The one word held complete satisfaction like the outcome was already set in stone.
Nicolas shook his head then asked, “How much do you know about our she-cats?”
“I know they tore the enemy apart and would have eaten him if not stopped.”
It was hard to keep his alpha tone and he fought an internal smile. “That’s a slight exaggeration. They tore him apart, but I doubt they’d have eaten him.”
“That’s not what Columbus’s wolves think.”
Nicolas’s teeth flashed, looking fierce but actually the closest he could come to a smile in wolf form. “I think ours helped that along.”
Aster contemplated his alpha for a moment before speaking again, “Are you interested in having co-seconds?”
The flash of teeth appeared again ending with a growl. “What the hell is that?”
Pure lust came through in Aster’s voice, “My wolf took an interest in your second. He’s never done that before.”
“If you’re not careful, your wolf won’t have a dick.”
If possible, Aster’s voice grew more lustful. “I heard about that, too.”
“That was no exaggeration.” Nicolas barked at his friend.
“Then my dick’s in trouble.”
Nicolas shook his large canine head. “I take it back. You’re crazy as hell.”
The big wolf’s voice instantly changed to reflect his months of suffering. “Just don’t send me away, alpha, or I will be.”
“You’re stuck with us, though we need to take a side trip to Mexico and I want you with me.”
“To kill cats?” Aster couldn’t contain his glee.
Fang Chronicles: Zenya's Story Page 15
