Fang Chronicles: Zenya's Story (17 page)

“I think he’s lost twenty pounds, and she looks exhausted.”

“That’s enough.” Nicolas wouldn’t let them continue.

Everyone laughed, and then Talya’s voice sounded in Zenya’s head, “Is he as sexy in bed as he is out of it?”

Zenya turned to the young she-cat and spoke out loud, “Do you want your mouth washed out with soap?”

“Talya, what did I tell you last night?” Nicolas’s exasperation was apparent, but he smiled at the quiet words that whispered inside his head.

“It’s okay, love. I’ll handle this.”

“Be my guest… love.”

“Talya, you have breakfast cleanup duty for the week. And, before giving a smartass reply, lunch and dinner can be easily added.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She pretended to be contrite.

“Yes Zenya, she corrected.”

“Yes Zenya.” The young she-cat repeated.

They sat down and a happy Madayah served breakfast. The blueberry pancakes and thick slices of ham tasted wonderful.

“Is everyone ready to show me your skills today?”

“We’re ready, alpha. What time do you want us at the gym?”

“It will take an hour for Talya to complete her punishment and for our food to settle. We’ll head that way then.”

Chairs pushed back, and everyone walked to Zenya and either hugged her or, in the case of the male wolves, shook her hand. Even with this small amount of contact, low growls emanated from Nicolas. The men kept a wary eye on their alpha. Surprisingly, even Esta gave Zenya a hug, though she didn’t acknowledge Nicolas.

Talya began clearing the table and Zenya reached for a pile of plates.

“I thought this was my punishment?”

“Being mated to the alpha means I can help if I want. Your punishment is also my punishment.”

“Well that’s no fun for you.”

“Or you.”

“It’s really not a bad punishment. I don’t mind doing my share and it’s nice to be treated like I have two arms.”

“Well now you have three.”

A soft kiss landed on Zenya’s cheek before Nicolas walked from the room.

The women traveled to the kitchen with their load.

“Do you feel differently now that you’re mated?”

“I feel wonderful.”

“Do you think a man would ever want to mate with me?”

“Why wouldn’t one?”

Talya held up the stub of her arm. Zenya placed her hand above the old injury and looked closely at the healed skin. “You are more than your arm Talya. You’re beautiful, smart, and incredibly loveable. Don’t ever sell yourself short. Judge the man by his actions and not his looks. If he’s the one, he’ll judge you the same way.”

“I don’t know.” Her voice held the yearning of every young woman and the dream for the perfect man to love.

“Thank goodness you don’t need to worry about it for a few years.”

“Not you, too. I’m already a woman.”

“Not in our clan. You are a young lady on the verge of womanhood and we will protect your honor and kill any man who crosses the line.”

The she-cat looked straight into Zenya’s eyes. “Many men have already crossed the line.”

“My line, too, but never again. My mate will kill them.”

“I can live with that.”

“Good, because you really have no choice. We will hunt you down and put you in a feral cage if you even think about leaving us.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, let’s finish your punishment so we can go and kick some wolf butt.”

“I’m with you, girlfriend.”

Zenya tried not to laugh at the teenage vernacular, but she failed. “Where did you hear that?”

“I have my ways.”

***

The temperature in the gym was at least 85 degrees. The ceiling fans turned, but they rested high in the air out of the way of leaping wolves and offered little relief. Zenya looked up and realized they weren’t high enough for the cats, but she didn’t say anything.

Everyone turned to the alpha.

“Sheeba. What is your greatest asset when it comes to fighting?”

“I don’t know, alpha.” Her voice trembled.

“Can anyone else answer the question?”

Her fellow she-cats defended their blind sister with determination.

“She has amazing hearing.”

“She picks up a trail and follows it even after the rest of us give up.”

“She remembers where everything is placed if no one moves it.”

“She has the best singing voice in the world.”

This stopped the conversation and all eyes turned to the youngest she-cat.

“What are your strengths Talya?”

“She talks too much.” Nikka said into the startled ears of her fellow pack mates.

Esta surprised everyone when she began laughing. “She’ll have no trouble talking our enemy to death,” she said between breaths.

“Ha ha. Funny.” Talya sulked.

“Actually, you’re all missing the point. Do she-cats fight?”

“No.” Each voice was succinct.

“That’s your biggest asset. They don’t expect you to fight back. They think you’ll take their attack hiding behind the nearest piece of furniture.”

“Then they’re in for a surprise.” This came from Madayah. “I can wield a mean frying pan.”

Nicolas looked at the women. “A frying pan will work. I want to teach you to fight dirty.” He looked at Zenya, then back at the women. “I’ve seen what she-cat claws can do.”

“Oh please, alpha, tell us more.”

For the first time since walking into the gym, Zenya spoke up. “Talya, if you want to remain in here, shut your mouth.”

“Yes, Zenya.” Talya looked down
.

Nicolas continued like nothing occurred. “Many items around you can be used as weapons. Your voice to communicate with the rest of us, a frying pan.” He smiled. “And, a twenty-pound barbell. When the enemy comes for a fight we’ll be giving them one. Each of you will learn to fire a gun. I know it’s not normal for us to use weapons, but you’re going to learn. Our wolves who fight overseas attend extensive weapons training and they’ll be teaching you.”

“What about vampires?” Esta asked.

“Vampires kill vampires. We’ll try with our last breath, but we will also depend on our liege to protect us.”

“When do we start?” Esta looked determined.

“Right now. Reece, I want you in the ring with Esta.”

“She’s your second.”

“Are you afraid of getting hurt, pretty boy?” Esta sneered.

Hard wolf eyes looked her way. “I’m afraid of making you cry.”

“If you do, I’ll kiss your ass.”

“Only if I can lower my pants first.”

Zenya looked at Nicolas but he only smiled. The she-cat slowly removed her clothes, not taking her eyes from her opponent.

“The only rules are you can’t kill each other. We’ll call Vorlyk if an injury is serious.”

The two adversaries climbed into the ring. Everyone spread out around the elevated ten-foot square, cordoned off area.

Reece beckoned with his finger. “Here kitty kitty.”

One hundred and twenty pounds of mountain lion leapt across the ring.

Reece was fast. He spun away and pushed her, using her own momentum to his advantage. It was the last advantage he got. She turned, extended her claws, and raked a quarter-inch furrow of skin from his rib cage.

Reece wasted no time shifting to wolf—he bared his sharp fangs and growled his displeasure.

Esta’s human body materialized. “What’s wrong, pretty boy? Does the pussy cat have claws?”

Reece attacked. The fight was over in seconds with razor sharp teeth at his throat. He shifted and stared into green cat eyes. His hand tapped the mat.

Esta released his neck. “You shouldn’t have shifted. Your wolf fur offers some protection from my fangs.”

“We’re pack and I knew you wouldn’t hurt me.”

“You’re stupid.” She reached her hand down and for the first time ever, voluntarily touched a canine hand.

“Nikka, you’re next. I want you in the ring with Madayah.”

“You don’t think I can beat a wolf, alpha?”

“I don’t think you’ll have any trouble beating a wolf. My wolves need to see cats fight.”

“Oh goody, a cat fight.” Troy just couldn’t help himself.

Nicolas looked at his mate.

Zenya looked at Troy. “Thank you, Troy. You now have kitchen dinner cleanup duty for a week.”

Troy actually grimaced. “I apologize. I’ll try very hard to keep my mouth shut.”

“Well at least you didn’t promise.” Zenya looked back at the she-cats undressing.

No one made lewd comments.

The she-cats circled the ring. Madayah wasn’t really a fighter, but she was larger and stronger than Nikka.

Both women charged at the same time. Their cats bursting from tanned skin.

“Watch their claws,” Nicolas yelled.

Where soft padded-toes looked harmless, three-inch razor-sharp nails extended and turned their feet into lethal killing machines. Nikka held back, but Madayah used her strength to take the other she-cat to the floor. The struggle didn’t last long. Nikka rolled and the fur flew as both cats raked through fur and skin. Madayah screamed a loud feline roar and Nikka backed off. Madayah attacked again, catching Nikka with a solid paw swipe on the side of her head.

Everyone looked on in horror. Madayah had pulled her claws, and the thump upside Nikka’s skull would only carry a bruise. Nikka crouched on her belly and launched from there, taking Madayah to the padded floor. Two sets of fangs displayed and furious growls sounded from their throats.

“Enough.” Nicolas’s voice boomed throughout the gym.

Chapter Twenty-six

The women shifted and rolled to the ground. Nikka began laughing first. It was a strange sound coming from her unused vocal cords, and Madayah’s laugh followed.

Through her laughter Nikka telepathically communicated with her pack, “You pack a hell of a wallop for a cook.”

More laughter broke out.

Zenya looked at her mate in wonder. He knew how to control his pack. In only thirty minutes he had everyone mind synced. Zenya knew Amy and Marcus protected her from many of the wolves. Columbus tolerated her because he wouldn’t go against his clan leaders, but was she truly accepted? Looking around she felt respect for her new pack. Her love for her mate overflowed, and she noticed the muscles of his arms rippling with his every move.