Fang Chronicles: Zenya's Story (24 page)

Marcus looked at the shock on Nicolas’s face, and then turned to the women. “How do you want to do it?”

Esta didn’t need to ask the she-wolves. Each one turned to the vampire with complete resolve. “Release him and we hunt.”

Chapter Thirty-four

Nicolas asked to speak with Vorlyk and his clan in private. Marcus, Amy and their wolves left the room, closing the ornate double doors behind them.

Alpha eyes went first to his mate. “I don’t want you part of this.”

The words that entered his mind were just for him, “I am your mate. These women need to have me beside them. They need to see my strength, even if you don’t feel I have any. You cannot take this away from me or them. Women are nothing to the cats. By protecting me, you make me appear as nothing. I would kill that cat for what he did to Talya alone. Let us have our vengeance.”

“I’ve never thought you weak. You are the strongest she-cat I know. Even afraid, you rescued me. You are pregnant with my child. I do not want you in harm’s way.”

“You didn’t know I was pregnant when you left me behind to hunt the cats that attacked Brandt. You take away what little pride I have in myself.” She refused to cry again. He needed to hear what she thought. He’d avoided it for the past week. “I love you, Nicolas. Please don’t stop me.”

“That’s the first time you’ve said the words.” His voice softened.

“I’ve been angry, but that would never keep me from loving you.”

“Did he touch you?”

Zenya knew he meant Fredock.

“They all touched me.” She refused to lower her eyes.

He turned to his liege and spoke aloud, “Will you hunt with them?”

“I will make sure Fredock harms no one, but I’ll not take away their vengeance by giving him a quick death.”

“Only our clan goes. It’s the women’s vengeance, but I will lose none of you. He won’t awaken for hours.”

“Then let us watch him below stairs until he wakes.” Esta looked her alpha directly in the eyes for a moment before glancing down.

Nicolas knew his cats needed this, “Let Vorlyk bring Fredock outside when he’s conscious. Please call for him.” Nicolas looked to his mate, “Will you stay with me?”

“No. I will go downstairs with the women.”

He understood and his eyes softened. “Please rest if it gets late.”

***

Zenya preceded the women down the steep stairway and entered the room. Talya held tight to Madayah’s hand and Sheeba used Talya’s shoulder to follow.

The metal bars of the cage attached at the ceiling and the floor in the center of the room. The six she-cats spread out and surrounded the cage, then sat on the floor. They didn’t have the key to the lock, which was probably for the best. They waited in silence, each with their own thoughts of what this man had done to them. They stared at him in a vigil of death.

Three hours later, Fredock began to stir. After several minutes, he rolled over. His eyes slowly opened and he looked first at Madayah. He smiled eerily, and then looked around the room. His grin disappeared. The women stood.

“You are dead, Fredock,” Zenya told him.

“Are a bunch of fucking cunts going to kill me?” A shaky smile returned to his face.

Zenya spoke into the minds of the women. “Don’t listen to him. He wants a quick death and tries to anger us.”

“It will not be quick,” Esta promised aloud.

The other women agreed.

“You would be beautiful if you had two arms, bitch.” His words were for Talya.

She didn’t back down, cry, or show emotion. “I will pull out your guts with one.” Her cold eyes showed hatred far beyond what her teenage years should.

“I’ve fucked you all, and if you think killing me will give you a sense of pride, you’re wrong. You will always be whores.”

Zenya ignored him and called for Vorlyk. Amy appeared with the other vampire. She held the lock’s key. Vorlyk flashed into the cage and held the cat while Amy unlocked and then opened the door.

They followed Vorlyk upstairs while his hand covered the cat’s mouth, not letting him speak.

The rest of Nicolas’s clan and the wolves from Marcus’s waited silently.

Nicolas spoke, “Our pack wolves will follow you, but will not interfere. Justice is yours.”

Vorlyk shredded the clothes from Fredock’s body and whispered quietly into the cat’s ear, though he knew the others heard, “Your body will be torn apart. Your head sent to Brandt, alpha of the Northwest Clan, for what you did to his mate. We will dance in your blood and remember your screams for the rest of our lives.”

The cat stood trembling and naked in the large circle.

Zenya stepped forward. “Run, cat.”

The edge of the circle parted and with a last look around, Fredock shifted to his cat form and took off.

The women slowly disrobed. He wasn’t leaving the ranch alive, but they wanted him to live with his terror for just a little longer.

Before she shifted, Nicolas pulled Zenya into his arms and kissed her. “I love you,” whispered into her mind.

“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.