Fang Chronicles: Zenya's Story (18 page)

“Ah, Zenya.”

Zenya looked at Talya.

“I don’t want lunch duty, but we’re supposed to be learning to fight and not learning to have sex.”

A shocked silence met the words, but then another round of laughter began. Heat traveled up Zenya’s neck and her cheeks flushed.

Nicolas stooped down and placed his shoulder against his mate’s belly, coming up with her head over his shoulder. “The rest of you work on your skills. My mate and I have important matters to attend.”

The cat-calls mixed with wolf whistles.

“I’m going to kill you, you overgrown mutt.”

A solid palm landed sharply on her ass. He didn’t stop walking until they were deep in a wooded section of pines and shrubs. He upended her onto the ground and followed, grabbing her hands and bringing them above her head.

“If you don’t want sex you shouldn’t think about what I can do with you.”

Flashing green eyes turned challenging. “Let go of my hands and I’ll show you what I can do with you.”

“I don’t think so.” He kissed her.

The stretchy sweatpants material only made it to his knees, but he somehow managed to get hers off. Two bodies became one. He rolled over and her hair tumbled forward, shrouding him in its scent. His hands lifted her hips and brought her over his raging erection. Slowly, he lowered her body until moist heat sheathed his hot length and he could feel the wall of her womb.

Her hands came down on his pectoral muscles and squeezed, her nails digging in.

Burning eyes looked into hers while his hands controlled her up-and-down movement. Sliding deep and then slowly lifting her.

“Please, Nicolas.”

Through gritted teeth he said, “I want you to feel every inch of me until you scream.”

Her head went back and finally her cry echoed through the trees.

Moments later she rested on his chest, his hand against her back, rubbing in small circles.

She raised herself slightly. “I’m embarrassed to see our pack again.”

His eyebrows arched. “Why?”

“They know what we just did.”

“They should know. We’re mated. There is nothing to be ashamed of. The first months of mating are difficult. I plan on taking you away and sinking deep within your body as often as I can.”

“Cats are different.”

“Not my cat.”

She couldn’t stop her smile.

His hand twined in her hair and brought her mouth to his. The kiss started another round of love making, and it was thirty minutes before they returned to the gym.

Sheeba was in the ring with Bernard. His hand came out and slapped against the side of her feline head. “Listen to my movement. My hand can’t come in without making noise. Use your hearing.”

His hand came forward again and her head turned. Teeth bit down and instantly released their hold when he yelled. He shook his wounded appendage. “Don’t let go next time. You fight the way you practice. I don’t want to lose my hand, but anything short of that and Vorlyk will fix me.” He slapped her upside the head again and backed away. This time he walked to the side. Her unseeing eyes followed. “Good. Listen for me.”

Sheeba couldn’t see Bernard nod to Troy. He quietly joined them in the ring. Bernard came forward and Sheeba turned to follow him. Strong arms wrapped around her from behind and Bernard charged forward. The two wolves took Sheeba to the ground.

Her body began to shake uncontrollably and tears rolled down her face.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

Bernard backed off and Sheeba curled in on herself. Troy’s hand went to her face.

“Shhh, this is part of training. We want you to listen to everything around you.”

“No, please.” Her trembling grew almost violent.

Both wolves looked to the she-cats for help.

“Men, come on. We’re going for a run.” Nicolas didn’t wait. The wolves followed him as the she-cats entered the ring with Sheeba.

They ran a few miles away and then Nicolas shifted, followed by the others. 

“What did we do wrong?” Bernard asked with anguish apparent in his voice.

“Our pack mates have been brutally tortured and raped. What happened in the ring was not your fault and I should have realized it might be hard on them.”

Stunned silence met his words.

Finally Reece spoke. “All of them? Even Talya?”

“Yes, even Talya.”

“Who caused Madayah’s scars?”

“The cat’s alpha. His name is Raykon.”

“They must learn to defend themselves,” McDonald spoke up.

“I agree, but maybe we need to ask them how to proceed. Their choices were taken away for years until Vorlyk rescued them.”

“I think Sheeba could be good with knives in human form and even throw with accuracy. I’m willing to teach her if she’ll let me near again.” Bernard stopped talking when he heard the women coming toward them through the trees.

They approached slowly and when they joined their pack mates, Zenya spoke. “There are problems with each and every one of us. Some things we can’t control, but we must learn. We must defeat our demons in order to fight our enemies. If what happened in the ring with Sheeba happened in a real fight she would be dead.”

Sheeba stared out of sightless eyes, across the open space, making each of them think she actually saw them. “I’m sorry. I’m not as weak as I seem.”

Nicolas let go of his power. It plowed into each of them and the women’s hair swirled around their bodies. The men stood their ground absorbing the raw essence that was their alpha.

“You all belong to me and I to you. There is nothing we can’t conquer if we work together. I’m sorry, Sheeba. I didn’t think. We will not harm you, but I don’t believe that’s the problem. Each of you has a voice. Some of you use it too often.” His gaze went to Talya. “But, we need to communicate and know about your triggers. Sharing your experiences may be difficult or even impossible. We know little of the cats we fight against, but you hold the answers. You are as important to us as we are to you and not just our clan. Columbus’s wolves need to see you fight and learn to defend against cat claws and teeth.”

Esta spoke up for the first time since entering the woods. “The men need to wear large leather collars around their throats.”

“Dog collars?” Reece asked with surprise.

“They’ll probably look like dog collars. They need to be too large for your human neck so when you shift they guard your throat. With the leather and your fur, our teeth will not puncture your jugular. Male cats are larger than us and one-on-one, unless you’re alpha, we’re the deadlier killing machine. Two wolves to one cat and the odds go in your favor.”

“What about weapons?” McDonald asked.

“Cats are like wolves and don’t prefer them. They like to kill up close and personal, though they do have weapons and they’ll use them. Guns are their choice if there is no other way.”

“And knives?” This time it was Bernard who asked.

“Not so much.”

“Knives are silent and can be as deadly as guns.”

“I’m not arguing, just telling you how the male cats think.”

“Would you like to learn to throw a knife, Sheeba?”

“How would I be able to tell the difference from friend or enemy or even hit a stationary target?”

“We follow the alpha’s direction and start communicating while we practice.”

Nikka’s voice traveled into everyone’s head. “You need to remember, we are not victims. We are survivors.”

“We’re survivors, too. Our entire pack died in an attack by the cats. Now we’re a new pack and when it comes to fighting, we are stronger than ever,” Troy said.

“Oh no, here they go again,” Talya uttered.

All eyes turned to their alpha and his mate.

“I think we need to take a break and meet at the range in two hours.” Nicolas’s voice was gruff.

“It takes you two hours?”

“Talya.”

“Yes, Zenya, I know, that’s enough.”

Chapter Twenty-seven

This time their love making was slow and sensuous. It was an hour before they came up for air.

“You know how wonderful you are?” Her voice was sleepy and soft.

His hand ran over her sweat-dampened skin. “At this?”

“No. Well this, too. I mean being alpha.”

“You think I’m a wonderful alpha?”

“I think you’re a wonderful leader. You seem to know exactly what we need to make our pack stronger.”

“Not exactly. I messed up with Sheeba.”

“You didn’t. The men needed to know everything and the women didn’t need to be resentful and embarrassed about it. How will the men feel about babies?”

“The way all wolves feel about babies.”

“How do you feel about babies?”

His power sizzled around the room. He couldn’t control his jealousy because he knew what she asked. “Could we talk about this in, say, a hundred years? No sorry, make it two hundred.”

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”

He took her hand and kissed the underside of each finger. “The thought of anyone but me touching you is beyond bearing. The thought of killing every cat that has ever laid a hand on you is all that keeps me sane. Someday I will be able to accept what it takes for you to have a child, but not now. Not for a very long time.”

“I can wait.”

They joined their pack mates at the shooting range. Several of the wolves from Columbus’s pack were there. They stayed to watch and then joined in the training.

It became a friendly rivalry to see which wolves had the best luck teaching a she-cat to shoot. Reece worked with Nikka, Troy with Talya, and two southwest wolves with Madayah and Esta. Nicolas worked with Zenya.

It wasn’t much of a competition and Esta soundly stomped the others. Talya did surprisingly well. The strength in her one wrist made up for her lack of an arm.

They were beginning to start another round when Marcus appeared in their midst. Everyone removed their ear protection and looked at the vampire. He didn’t bother to shelter his eyes from the sun just said, “Cheri was attacked from the north. We’re meeting at the house.” Then he was gone.

Sheeba began shaking again. Reece took one of her hands and McDonald the other.

“We’re not leaving you,” Reece said with conviction.

“If the cats want you, they’ll go through all of us.” McDonald’s voice was deep and steady.

Sheeba’s blank eyes stared toward McDonald. “Thank you. Can I use one of your shoulders to walk to the car?”

Talya usually guided Sheeba but the blind cat wanted to show the two wolves that she trusted them.

“Zenya and I will go to the main house. Madayah, please wake Vorlyk when you’re back at the cabin. Esta, stay with the pack. You’ve all proven you can shoot. I want everyone but Sheeba armed until I tell you different. Sheeba, you will stay close to Reece and McDonald. Two wolves need to accompany any female going outside.”