Defender's Blood The Birth and The Battle (Urban Fantasy)

by A. K. Michaels

  The strong male’s scent was in her nostrils and she didn’t recognise it. That was strange, her shocked mind thought, she knew all the Wolves ... she had welcomed them all. If she didn’t know his scent, he must’ve arrived on his own and not be part of a Pack – she knew a few had done this. As her jumbled mind thought on that, the male turned and left Irina on the ground, to face Jayne. The size of the beast in front of her obviously scared Jayne’s Wolf, as it whined loudly.

  The male was whipped into a frenzy with the smells coming from Irina and Jayne knew that he would do anything to get at her. She was right – the male attacked without warning and Jayne tried valiantly to fight it off. But very soon she was lying on the ground in a pool of blood, alive but very badly hurt.

  She could only watch as the male stalked over to a still dazed Irina, grabbed her fur and turned her over. It held her down with its huge paws and took her – hard, fast, not caring if he hurt her. Irina’s Wolf was howling in protest and inside Irina screamed at the top of her lungs for Vlad.

  The more she howled, the more the Wolf pounded her and it sank its teeth into the back of her neck, commanding submission. Irina, both Wolf and human, would not submit. She fought and fought and the male sank his teeth in so hard that she thought she would black out.

  The large male was now licking all over Irina’s muzzle while it still sank into her. Irina snapped at it and the growl it gave told her she was in real trouble.

  He sank his teeth into her shoulder and ripped a part away. The pain was intolerable and she faded. Still it didn’t stop – it kept going at her – she couldn’t take any more, she wanted to die.

  Chapter 15

  Vlad was on his way home after a meeting and stopped in his tracks. Irina! She was hurt, she was calling him.

  He had been walking along, going over things in his head about the training schedules, but now his attention was on Irina. They had a close bond and the fear he felt from his mate tore at his insides.

  He took his phone out as he started to run. “Zach, Irina’s hurt, she’s calling me – woods – now!” and he hung up. He ran faster, faster again, faster than he had ever run but the woods were miles away.

  Zach didn’t bother running, he used his unique power and moved. He barely took time to shout to Alexina that Irina was in trouble and then he disappeared and appeared in the middle of the woods. He sent his senses out and very quickly found her, a couple of miles away and in pain.

  Again, he didn’t run – he moved.

  The scene he came across sickened him. Irina’s friend was lying very badly injured and Irina was being pounded into by a very, very large male Wolf. There was blood everywhere and Irina looked as if she was only semiconscious.

  The anger that filled Zach was such that his power grew to astronomical proportions. He grabbed the Wolf from Irina and threw it – it flew through the air and hit a tree, head first. It slumped to the ground and didn’t move.

  Zach didn’t know if it was just knocked out or dead – he didn’t care.

  He dropped to his knees and took Irina in his arms. Dear God, she was hurt bad. Her little Wolf had fought, but she didn’t stand a chance against the huge male.

  She whined up at his face. “Don’t change, Irina – stay Wolf. You’re hurt I don’t think you’ll make it if you change.” Zach was just about to move both him and Irina to the clinic when Vlad came charging through the woods. The roar that came from him tore at Zach’s heart.

  Vlad looked at Irina and then the large Wolf lying on the ground. He ran to it and felt for a pulse – he found one and then ended it. He left the dead male and went to his mate.

  Zach spoke quietly, trying to calm his friend. “Vlad, I’m going to take Irina …”

  “No you’re fucking not!” Vlad screamed.

  Zach had no choice – he moved, taking Irina and they appeared in the clinic. The nurse on duty screamed and David came running out.

  Zach walked through to the back and found a bed, he laid the Wolf down and promptly moved again. He appeared next to Vlad who was roaring in pain. “Vlad – she’s at the clinic. I’m going to move this injured female and then I’ll come back for you. Vlad, do you hear me? Stay here – I’ll be back in a few seconds.” Zach bent down and moved the other Wolf.

  Less than ten seconds later, he appeared in front of Vlad and took his hand. Then they were in the clinic, Zach leading Vlad through to where Irina was.

  When Vlad touched her fur she turned and whined up to his face. There was so much blood and David was running around frantically trying to stem the flow. “Shit, Zach, I need some help. I don’t know if I can stop the bleeding – she’s been bitten right through a main artery.”

  Zach disappeared again and appeared next to Thadius in his office, covered in blood. Tatiana was startled and was just about to ask what was going on when Zach strode over and grabbed her hand.

  Thadius stood up to ask Zach just what the hell he was doing, when Tatiana disappeared with him.

  Tatiana appeared right next to Vlad. She looked down at Irina’s Wolf and gasped. The blood was everywhere and she could see the life going from her eyes.

  “Vladimir – get out of my way.” He didn’t move. “If you want Irina to survive this, then GET OUT OF MY WAY!” Nobody expected that to come out of the tiny Fairy.

  Something must have got through to him because he moved to the other side of the bed, still running his hands through the blood-soaked fur and telling Irina it was going to be okay, though he was sure it wasn’t.

  Nobody could stand that blood loss – Werewolf or otherwise.

  Tatiana placed her hands over Irina’s ripped and torn body. She closed her eyes and sensed where the main damage was. She chanted quietly and her face was a mask of concentration. A light appeared under her palms and slowly got brighter as she continued chanting. Irina could feel a warmth invade her body and she felt safe, she felt calm, she was no longer in pain. She closed her eyes to sleep.

  Vlad threw his head back and roared. His mate had closed her eyes and he was sure she was dying.

  Tatiana finished chanting and the light dimmed under her hands. She walked round and placed a hand on Vlad’s arm. “Vladimir, listen to me, Vampire. Your mate is going to be all right – well physically, anyway. I have placed her in a healing sleep. She won’t wake up until the damage has been repaired. Vladimir, listen, do you hear me, listen to this – it is very important. I have helped heal her body, but you, Vampire, will have to heal her mind and soul. Do you understand!”

  Vlad finally looked down at the tiny Fairy. He nodded and tried to say thanks, but his throat wouldn’t let him. “I know, Vampire, I know. Take care of your little Wolf,” the Fairy said softly.

  She turned to David. “Are there any other injuries you require my help with?”

  He nodded and led her to Jayne’s Wolf. She was also badly injured but not as severe as Irina – and of course she hadn’t been raped. Tatiana did the same for Jayne and soon she was asleep also.

  Zach’s phone had been ringing non-stop and he finally answered it. Thadius roared down the line at him. “What the fuck is going on, Zach! Tell me right this minute!”

  Zach did while Thadius hissed and growled down the line. “Keep me updated. Try and find out what happened.”

  Zach spoke quietly, “I think I know. I think Irina went into heat while out running with her new Wolf friend. It looks like her friend tried to defend her and got badly hurt in the process. When I got there the male was still on Irina – it’s dead.” Zach didn’t think anyone needed to know exactly how it had died.

  Thadius cursed, “Oh hell! It was obviously not something Irina had planned. She is always so good at staying indoors when in heat. The male though, especially while in Wolf form, would not have been able to help himself. I know it doesn’t excuse it, but believe me Zach, he couldn’t have stopped his Wolf. I think for the sake of peace we will have to make up something. What’s your take?”
the old Wolf asked the Vampire.

  “I could easily go and move the male, put it at the bottom of the ravine to the far north? It would look like an accident. However, we would need to ensure that neither Irina, Vlad or Jayne spoke of this – it could cause a lot of fighting. We really don’t need that just now,” Zach said.

  Thadius replied immediately, “I agree, however, Zach, you will have to cleanse the male. Irina’s smell will be all over him – and anyone else that touched him.”

  Zach noted the play on words. Thadius knew that either him or Vlad had killed the male but he wasn’t asking who and Zach wasn’t going to tell him.

  “Okay Thadius, is water all right or something else?” Zach needed to know.

  “Water should be fine as long as there’s enough of it. Try putting him somewhere that will take time to find, that will help with the scent also.”

  “Okay, I’ll do it now, before he’s found. I’m worried about the scents in the woods though, the place is heavy with them and blood.”

  “Shit!”

  Tatiana spoke up from behind Zach. “I’ll help you Vampire – take me with you.”

  Thadius must have heard her speak as he said “Do it,” and hung up.

  Before they left the clinic, Zach took both David and the nurse aside. Using his power over their minds, he left them in no doubt that they were not to discuss what had happened. There was fear in their eyes and he felt remorse for putting it there, however, in this instance, he felt it was a necessity.

  He also quickly phoned Alexina. She would have felt his disgust, anger and fear for Irina’s life. She was very upset but he managed to calm her somewhat and promised he wouldn’t be too long. Then he moved and took Tatiana with him.

  At the scene of the carnage she was visibly shaken. She explained Fairies’ affinity with nature, including the ability to commune and understand the language of trees. Zach found this a bit unbelievable at first but hey, he was a Vampire so who was he to doubt the abilities of a Fairy?

  She chanted and raised her hands, light grew between them in front of her. She threw her hands out and the light enveloped the entire area. When it faded, Zach could not smell anything, nothing, not the smell of Irina’s pheromones, nor blood – it was wiped clean.

  Zach then went over to the body, which was still in Wolf form. He didn’t know if this was normal but he picked it up. The animal was huge, Irina hadn’t stood a chance against it.

  Tatiana once more did the cleansing and Zach could no longer smell Irina on it. He didn’t even smell himself on it. “I will stay here for a bit, Zach. I have used much power and need to replenish myself, here in the middle of nature is where I can do that best. I can walk back, you go and rid yourself of the Wolf. Make sure it will look like an accident,” she emphasised.

  Zach nodded. “I know just the place, Tatiana. Thank you for your help.”

  “I am only glad I could help. I worry for Irina’s mind, Zach. This was the worst possible thing to have happened to her. After her ordeal at the hands of the Wolf that changed her ... well, this will not be easy for her to come back from.”

  The Fairy’s words held her worry, evident for Zach to hear.

  Zach also worried, for Vlad too. For one’s mate to be hurt and violated in such a manner … well it was unthinkable.

  Zach moved and took the Wolf to the ravine, hiding it at the bottom and hoping that it would pass as him falling down the steep rock face.

  He moved once more and was home. Alexina ran into his arms, crying. He tried to calm her fears that Irina would live and told her the rest. The details were so abominable that she felt sick to her stomach.

  “We need to be there for them Zach, both of them – they will need help to get through this.”

  He had her in his arms and rubbed her back. “I know, little one. We’ll do all we can. Remember though, we can’t discuss this, if it got out ... well, the proverbial shit would hit the fan.”

  “Okay, right I’m going to put a bag together for Irina. I’ve got toiletries here but she will want her own nightwear and stuff. Can you get the keys for theirs?” She expected Zach to say yes but his answer was more simple.

  “The door won’t be locked, we don’t need that here. Come on, we’ll go get her some stuff.”

  As they left to go to Vlad’s house, Zach questioned Alex about Jayne. If she was mated, her mate would know what had happened. She assured him that she wasn’t mated and since she had tried to save Irina, she was sure she would stick to whatever cover story they came up with.

  Zach’s mind was frantically trying to come up with something to explain Irina and Jayne being in the clinic. He would see what Vlad said.

  They got some stuff for Irina and Alex took extra for Jayne.

  When they got to the clinic, both were still in Wolf form and still asleep. Zach was pleased to note that the horrible wound that had been on Irina was now nearly completely healed. On the outside, anyway – he wasn’t sure what was going on under the fur. Vlad was at her side, stroking her fur and muttering in her ear.

  Jayne was not as badly hurt as they had feared and she woke not long after they arrived. Her Wolf whined once, then there was a shimmer of light and her human form lay on the bed.

  She was confused and wondering what she was doing in the hospital. “Can you not tell us what happened?” Zach asked. He probed her mind trying to see if the memory was there, all he could see was the two Wolves running through the woods and then nothing.

  “No, what happened – is Irina okay?” Jayne was looking worriedly over at her friend.

  “She’ll be fine, Jayne, but we think you may have fallen? Possibly at the ravine?” Zach pushed the idea onto her, hoping it would stick.

  “Uhm, I don’t know. I can’t remember anything … it’s all a blank.”

  Zach ran with that. “Well that’s where we found you both. Irina had called for her mate and then I found you both.”

  “What on earth were we doing there? Jeez that was some run, the ravine is miles away.”

  Jayne still looked confused but Zach felt that the ravine story would stick. Indeed when, or if, the other Wolf was found it would actually give credence to the one that they had also fallen. It was a dangerous area.

  Zach took Vlad outside and spoke to him, telling him he had moved the body of the male and that Tatiana had cleaned the scene. Nobody needed to know what had happened to Irina.

  Vlad visibly relaxed. “Thank God – I don’t think she would be able to cope if everyone here knew what had happened. It’s going to be hard enough for her, but I’ll get her through it Zach, I will.” Zach wasn’t sure if Vlad was trying to convince him or himself.

  He hoped that Irina’s mind would get over this. It would take time, but he hoped so. If things were really bad, he could step in – he could, at a push, make her forget. It may not be the ideal solution but he would do it if it looked like Irina couldn’t deal with what had happened. Vlad knew this also.

  Zach told him the cover story of them running near the ravine and falling. “You’ve thought of everything, Zach, I can’t thank you enough, my friend. I should’ve done more though, this is partly my fault. We’ve had reports of some lone Wolves on the land and getting up to all sorts – one Alpha killed another as it attempted to take his mate. Then another was also killed, when it was sniffing around a couple of females and they turned on it, one was an Alpha female with her Beta, they ripped the male to shreds. I should’ve put more thought into keeping track of them.”

  “Vlad, you know I would do anything, anything at all for you and Irina. And don’t be stupid, you can’t keep track of the amount of Wolves that are here – they’re in the thousands. If some don’t want to be known about, it’s easy enough for them to be invisible. Come on, you need to get back to your mate.” Zach led Vlad back inside.

  Vlad stayed at Irina’s side. She didn’t stir for nearly forty-eight hours. Alex went back and forth taking Vlad food,
which he didn’t eat, and checking on Irina. She would stay with Vlad and keep him company. Sitting at the side of a hospital bed was a lonely vigil.

  When the Wolf started to stir, Vlad was on his feet and talking softly, “Come on Irina, come back to me honey, come on, you can do it.” The Wolf opened her eyes and they both knew she didn’t have the luxury of forgetting what had happened. The eyes were desolate and she whined loudly.

  Vlad held her scruff and looked into her eyes. “Come back to me my mate, I need you!” The Wolf whined all the louder and then there was the shimmer, light and then Irina was on the bed.

  She immediately started to cry and kept saying “Sorry,” over and over again.

  “Darling, please, you don’t need to say sorry – please, I’m here, I’ll look after you.” Vlad was pleading with her.

  Alex was glad that Jayne had been released earlier, since Wolf DNA made recovery exceptionally fast. If she saw this, she would wonder what was going on.

  *****

  As soon as Irina became conscious, she knew. She knew that male had impregnated her. How she knew she had no clue, but she knew.

  She was full of shame. She was pregnant by a male Wolf whom she didn’t even know. She didn’t know a whole hell of a lot about Wolves but she was pretty damn sure they didn’t mate in Wolf form.

  The feelings inside her were overpowering – shame was top of the list, followed closely by fear. She was going to lose her mate. How could Vlad even look at her … she couldn’t bear it.

  Vlad was staring down at her making all the right noises, telling her she would be okay, he would look after her, etcetera. She knew though, she knew when he found out he would look on her with disgust and loathing. What mate wouldn’t? She wished she had died!

  *****

  Vlad could feel the shame and fear running through Irina. The shame, although unfounded, was understandable, but the fear, especially while looking at him, confused him greatly. Irina should never fear him.

  He idolised her ... he would die for her. Why was she afraid?