by T. S. Ryder
Leon felt steel infuse in his spine as he continued to breathe in Yuliana's scent. He attacked the Bison, howling. He quickly caught the other Alpha in a headlock, though received a few punches in return. Same twisted, grunting.
"We can keep fighting or you can surrender," Leon panted. "I will not stop until one of us is dead."
"She is a vampire!"
"She is my mate."
Sam punched Leon in the stomach, forcing the Wolf to release him. "She is not—"
"She carries my child."
The Bison's eyes widened. He fell back a step, and his gaze flickered to Yuliana. A low grunt and Sam shook his head. "I retract my challenge."
Leon didn't wait for the other Alphas to acknowledge. He raced back to Yuliana, gathering her into his arms at once. He kissed her deeply. Her hands laced around the back of his neck. His mate kissed him back but pulled away abruptly. She glanced around at the Shifters around them and ducked her head. The pale olive of her face went red.
Ah, yes. She was shy. In his excitement, Leon had forgotten about that. He'd also forgotten about the beating he had just taken.
"Bring us some blood bags," he ordered a nearby Wolf, carrying her towards their tent.
Once there, he laid her on her bedroll and continued to kiss her. Yuliana tilted her head to give him access to her neck and giggled.
"What's brought this on? You were getting beaten up. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Fine. Just bruised. I'll be healed up before you know it." He put a hand on her stomach. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?" Her brow furrowed.
Leon kissed her again. "Yuliana. My delicious, beautiful Yuliana with all your quiet strength and determination. I could have carried you here, rather than making you walk all this way with your feet blistering and—"
"I can handle a few blisters." Yuliana's cheeks darkened. "And I'm too heavy for you to carry all the way here. But what is this all about?"
"I can scent your pregnancy."
Yuliana gasped. Her dark eyes widened and her grip on his arm tightened. He could tell just by looking at her that she hadn't known. A little of his happiness trickled away. What if she was unhappy with this? What if she wanted more time? They hadn't discussed children, Leon assuming his new mate wanted to have young as quickly as he did. But what if…
"Are you unhappy?" he asked.
Yuliana shook her head. "No… just surprised. Pregnant. But… we've only been together for a few months. It takes vampires years to conceive."
"Apparently not when they're with Shifters."
Yuliana smiled at his joke. Then her smile grew even bigger until she was beaming. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she brought herself to him, kissing him hard, and laughed.
"I'm going to be a mother! And I'm so glad that you'll be my child's father. I love—" She cut herself off, sucking in a deep breath.
Leon tenderly cupped her face. "I love you, too."
Aspen's voice spoke from the other side of the lean-to. "Apparently so much so that you've forgotten why we're here in the first place. Or when others are creeping up on you."
The Lion rounded the canvas, looking amused. Yuliana gasped, but Leon only glared at him. Aspen always thought that just because he could bully his pack–sorry pride–into doing what he wanted, it meant he ruled the other Alphas as well. While it was true that few of them could match him physically, Lion's arrogance was annoying even at the best of times.
"What are you talking about?" Leon demanded, getting to his feet.
"I'm talking about the fact that you summoned the Alphas to discuss the vampire king's motives and recent actions. But here you are, paying more attention to your vampire mate than to the potential threat of the vampire armies."
Leon ground his teeth together. "We just learned—"
"That you're going to be parents, I heard." Aspen rolled his eyes and smirked. "There will be plenty of time to, ahem, 'celebrate' later. Our purpose here is to deal with a threat that could potentially hurt all of us. As much as I'm sure you want to be with your mate at this time, we have business to conclude."
He was right of course, which only made Leon even less happy with him. Letting out a reluctant huff of breath, he turned to Yuliana. She smiled slightly and nodded, showing that she understood why he had to go. Leon kissed her once more.
"I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I know."
Leon walked away, passing the Wolf he had sent for blood as he did so. Aspen smirked as they walked towards the place the other Alphas were waiting for the two of them. It was high on the mountain, on the bare crown of the peak. Below the campsite was clearly visible. The other Alphas were already standing in a circle. Sam scowled at him, but when Leon nodded at him to show he bore no resentment (at least, not enough to bother with at the moment) the Bison nodded back.
"Now that we're all here," Aspen said, settling down on a large rock. "We ought to continue our discussion from before. Leon has expressed concerns that the vampire king is using his wiles to lower our guard and restart the war. I have noticed that he's been overly friendly towards me lately as well. And any time a vampire is friendly… well, that is certainly cause for concern."
There were scowls and nods around the circle. Sam narrowed his eyes at the Alpha Wolf.
"If you were so suspicious, why did you take a vampire as your mate?"
Leon frowned back at him. "Originally it was just to stop from giving Harold an excuse to be insulted. But the more I get to know Yuliana, the more I care about her. She is my mate, not only because of convenience but also the mate of my heart."
Sam opened his mouth again, but before he could speak, a sharp howl rang through the air. All the Alphas turned towards the camp below them.
"What is it now?" Aspen grumbled, but Leon's heart was already in his throat.
Below them, vampires were pouring out of the trees and attacking the Shifters that were camped below. And there were a dozen vampires headed right for Yuliana's lean-to.
Chapter Seven – Yuliana
"Let me go!" Yuliana fought against the iron grips around her arms.
She'd never noticed before how bad other vampires smelled. Out among the Shifters, everything was clean and fresh, with a noticeable earthy smell to the world. But these vampires smelled stale, like a room that had been locked shut for a thousand years. It made her gag as she struggled to free herself.
"Yuliana, stop fighting us," a familiar voice ordered.
"Zak?" Yuliana twisted to find her old friend backing up the three vampires that had her in their grips. Her jaw dropped. When the horde of vampires had burst through the trees, attacking the Shifter camp, she had thought it was the king taking the offensive again. But if it was Zak here… "What are you doing?"
"Saving your life." Zak took the place of one of the other vampires. They picked her up bodily, grunting a little, and began running from the camp.
Loud, deep roars and howls echoed down the mountainside. That was why they were running. The Alphas were attacking. Leon was attacking.
"Let me go," she said again, trying to hang as limply as she could while still kicking at the vampires that carried her. "I told you before that I am here—"
"Yuliana, I was never here for you. It was a cover." Zak glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "The king sent me to follow the Wolves and learn more about them. I'm only taking you out of the fight right now because you gave me that knife. You haven't been completely brainwashed by the Shifters yet."
So it was all a ruse all along. Yuliana snarled. When she was free, he'd pay for this! She continued to struggle uselessly. Eventually, the vampires put her down and tied her hands behind her back. Zak threw her over his shoulder and raced away while the other two turned back. The faint scent of Shifter told her why—
Leon was coming after her.
"Leon!" Yuliana shouted. "Leon! I'm here!"
Zak grunted, running faster. Yuliana rocked her body from side t
o side, making his grip slip. She tumbled off his shoulder, onto the ground. As she scrambled to her feet, Zak lunged for her. She fell again. Her head struck a rock and everything went black.
***
Yuliana's head pounded like she had drunk ten thousand gallons of straight vodka. She didn't want to open her eyes, but memories of what had happened just before she passed out returned. Her heart rate spiked. Hitting her head, even hard enough to knock her out, shouldn’t have kept her down long. But as she blinked open her eyes, she found herself not staring at the forest canopy. Not at the familiar sight of the lean-to canvas. Instead, she was staring at a pale pink ceiling.
Her ceiling. The ceiling she had at home with her parents…
"Leon?" she whimpered.
"You're awake!"
Yuliana's heart jumped at the male voice, but it didn't take long for her brain to register that it wasn't Leon's. She turned her head to find her father sitting beside her. A smile broke over his face. He stroked her hair back from her face.
"Don't worry, Yuliana," he said. "You're safe now. Zak told us about how the Shifters had you drugged at their camp. But you're safe now, you're home and the drugs have worked their way out of your system."
Yuliana frowned. Why would Zak tell them a lie like that? He'd have to know that as soon as she woke up, she'd reveal the truth… But he must have drugged her. He wasn't looking for a lasting lie, just one that would allow him to get out of here as quickly as it could. Anger bubbled in her stomach.
"I wasn't a captive," she growled, pushing herself up. "Where is Leon? Where is my mate?"
Her father stared at her with puzzled eyes. "What?"
"My mate," she repeated. "Where is he? King Harold double-crossed him. I was supposed to help bring harmony between our people, but the king still attacked. Where is he?"
"The Alphas had gathered, to discuss a war strategy against the vampire kingdom."
"No."
Her father put a firm hand on her shoulder. "Yuliana, you—"
"Where is he?"
Her father stared at her for a moment longer before his shoulders slumped. He shook his head and Yuliana's heart stopped. What had the king done with Leon? Had he…
"The Wolf and the rest of the Alphas were taken as prisoners. They are being held at the vampire palace, awaiting their trial and execution."
Yuliana blanched. What was the point of a trial if the execution was already set as the punishment? The anger that had bubbled in her was almost doused by fear, but it came back stronger than before. This was not going to happen! With another growl, she swung out of bed. Her feet were a little unstable–due to Zak's drugs, no doubt–but she wasn't going to let that stop her.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"The palace," Yuliana said. "I'm not going to let him get away with this. Leon is my mate, he's not going to be killed for something he didn't do!"
***
If he was anybody but the king, Yuliana might have attacked him the moment she saw him. But he was the king, and when he smiled at her, his fangs flashing. She was reminded that he could have her ordered beheaded as easily as snapping his fingers. So she forced herself to curtsy and wait for permission to speak.
"Yuliana. What a pleasure to see you again. What brings you here?"
"My mate."
"Your—" The king laughed, clapping his hands lightly. "You mean the Wolf? Don't worry about him. You served your purpose when it came to the Shifters, and unfortunately, Leon decided not to accept the olive branch I extended to him. You can return to your home now."
Yuliana's hands clenched. "I don't think so."
The king sighed heavily. "Oh, I think I know what you want. I can smell pregnancy on you. Don't worry. I'll have my healers terminate it at once, so you don't have to deal with a mongrel child."
Yuliana fell back a step, wrapping her arms around her middle. Was that a threat? That if she didn't just fall back in line and not fight for Leon's life, he'd take her child from her? She couldn't bring herself to ask.
"No," she rasped. "I'm not letting anything happen to my baby."
"Your baby?" The king stepped forward, catching her face in his hand. "Don't tell me you've gone and fallen in love with a Wolf? Is it just because he gave you things you never thought you'd have? You're a pretty girl, Yuliana. You've got a delightful scent. It was why I chose you for that failed mission… but I won't let you be alone again. Let go of the Wolf, and you will have a place as one of my queens."
Yuliana struck his hand away before she knew what she was doing. The king's face darkened, but Yuliana threw back her shoulders and stared him in the eye. Even as she was wondering if she was actually brave enough to say what she wanted to say and do what she wanted to do, she found herself speaking.
"I would never marry you! You are a disgusting liar and I hate you!"
The king stepped back. A brief flash of anger crossed his face, but he shook his head and laughed soon enough. "You've found your voice, then? I'm surprised. A timid mouse like you, speaking out against the king himself… not well, mind you. 'I hate you'? I'd expect that from a toddler having a tantrum."
Blood rushed to Yuliana's face. But the implication of her actions also rushed to her mind, and she took a deep breath to calm herself. She couldn’t just blow up like that… Apart from not helping Leon and the other Alphas at all, there was also the fact that it could also get her in big trouble.
"Leon never conspired against you. He called that meeting so that the other Alphas could know me as his mate, not to form any sort of attack."
King Harold leaned forward. "Ah, so it was the Wolf that called the meeting? Excellent… it will make proving his guilt even easier."
Yuliana stepped back from him, shaking her head. "He didn't plan to fight against you! You're just looking for an excuse to kill them all. Why?"
"Clearly they have done a number on—"
"I want to see my mate. Please, let me see Leon."
The king drew himself up. Any trace of friendliness disappeared from his face. "I have given you plenty of time to come to your senses. More than what most people would think you deserve. Fine. You want to be with your mate? You can be with him. You will be locked in the dungeons with the Wolf until the operation to terminate your pregnancy."
"I won't—"
"You will terminate the pregnancy or die as a traitor."
Yuliana froze again. The king seemed to like her silence because he smiled again before he called the guard. Her arms were wrapped firmly around her middle as she was lead down to the dungeons. What was she going to do? Everything she wanted, a man who loved her and now a child, were about to be taken away from her. And what could she do about it?
If I had agreed to marry him, would he have spared my little one?
Her stomach churned at the thought, but as she was taken down past the dank levels, that thought kept coming back. There was nothing she could do to save Leon… but maybe there was a way to save their baby…
Chapter Eight – Leon
Leon thought his heart might burst with relief at seeing Yuliana alive. But when she told him what had transpired, he could feel it breaking in two. He held her as she broke into tears. Harold's whole plot was terribly obvious to him now; offer him Yuliana as a mate, send a spy with a near-perfect cover after him. Of course, he'd call the Alphas together to discuss it all. And with the packs there, it was the perfect opportunity to accuse them of restarting hostilities.
All Harold had to do was threaten the innocent to make the Alphas surrender themselves. Even braggarts like Aspen.
He and Yuliana spent the night trying to think of ways to escape this situation. Yuliana kept shivering, making him think that there was something she wasn't telling him. But there was no pushing her on that, not when they had to face the very real threat of Harold forcibly ending her pregnancy. By the time morning came, though, he had a plan–a desperate plan, but what else was there to do?
Harold had gotten his pos
ition by proving to everybody that he was the strongest, smartest, and bravest vampire available for the job. If he was challenged, it would be more than a matter of pride that would make him accept. If he didn't fight when challenged, then his position would be weakened.
So the best bet Leon had to protect his unborn child was to challenge Harold to a duel. He'd have to do it publically. The more witnesses there were, the more likely Harold would be forced to accept the challenge. After that…
The door to the cell clanged open. Leon growled as a vampire stepped in. He tried to get to his feet, but the shackles binding his wrists to the floor stopped him.
"It's nice to see those filthy beasts where they belong, eh?" one of the guards chuckled. He pointed at Yuliana. "King Harold wants you. Come along now, quietly."
Leon yanked against his restraints, snarling so fiercely that despite the fact there was no way he could reach him, the two guards accompanying the first backed away. He felt a sense of grim satisfaction at the fear in their eyes, but their fear wasn't going to get him close to Harold. He still growled but forced himself to calm down.
"Wherever she goes, I go," Leon said. "Understand me, vampires?"
The one that seemed to be in charge narrowed his eyes but shrugged. "The king said to bring you, too. I don't know what it's all about, but who am I to argue against the king? But if you cause us any trouble, you won't be coming back to the dungeons. You'll end up sitting on a spike outside."
Leon resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the vampire's theatrics. The two others came in and pulled Yuliana away. They put a second set of shackles around Leon's wrists before undoing the first set. Clearly, they had no confidence in their own strength. It was laughable.
Soon they were brought before Harold. A woman in a long, white dress stood beside him in a stark white room. Her face was blank, hands behind her back. A surgical table sat in the center of the room, and Leon's blood ran cold. This was why he was brought up here. They were meaning to…
"Fight me," Leon snarled.
Harold glared at him. "Excuse me?"