His Helena was special.
Or she'd been marked by another wolf.
No. Couldn't be. He would know. He would have seen her mark. He'd licked every inch of her and hadn't seen anything resembling one. Although Zara had hidden her mark from the world for almost a decade, now that he thought about it. She hadn't even known she'd been marked and was having psychic visions of Niko the whole time.
Fuck. Was that why Helena had a vision of this grey wolf?
Aleksei hadn't known her for very long, and certainly never asked her if she'd had a vision like that before. He stole a glance at the interloper. The guy hadn't even tried to mindspeak with him, just took up sides against the one-bloods. Or maybe it wasn't against them, as much as it was for Helena.
For now Aleksei would take all the help he could get to keep Helena safe. But once he was sure the one-bloods weren't going to get their hands on her, he'd be having a heart to heart with this grey wolf.
If Helena was destined to be another wolf's mate, Aleksei wasn't sure his already fragile heart would survive. If she was his true mate, as he was sure she must be, and this grey wolf thought he could challenge Aleksei for her, he was dead wrong.
He would have to think about that later. The one-bloods were circling, and he had to come up with more ways to stall them.
Aleksei stalked toward the shitheads, doing his best to let them know he wasn't intimidated by them. Haven't you heard? There's a new Wolf Tzar in town. You're the ones who'd do well to mind your manners. Tzar Nikolai Troika doesn't stand for one-blood antics.
The grey wolf whipped his head around and stared at Aleksei like he'd said the moon was made of cheese. His eyes glowed with an eerie empty nothingness Even his fur seemed to glow in the moonless night.
The one-bloods all looked at each other as if sharing a secret. For the first time, the leader stepped in front of his enforcers and looked Aleksei straight in the eye. Oh, we aren't one-bloods. We simply don't recognize your precious Troika's claim to the throne.
Like you're a better choice to lead Wolfkind into the future?
Not me. But we know who will. Someone your so-called Tzar tried to destroy with his greed for power. He has no idea what kind of enemies he's made. But you go on following your fool if you want. We know better.
That was more than Aleksei could handle. Insult him all they wanted to, but he knew to his very core that Niko was the best of them all and would lead them into a life they deserved. He'd lead even traitors screaming and kicking into a better world, because Tzar Nikolai Troika was a leader for all, not just his own admirers. That's what made him the one true leader of Wolfkind.
Whoever these dumbasses had decided to follow would never be anything but an egotist.
Enough was enough. He lunged at the closest wolf and let his fury loose. Fury for thinking they could come into Troika territory and harm his mate. Fury that they thought they were better than anyone else. And fury for spreading hatred when he'd only just found love.
He plowed into the closest wolf and shoved him to the ground, holding his throat to the dirt. The other wolf flailed and snarled trying to get away, but Aleksei was too strong. Yield and give your fealty to Tzar Nikolai Troika.
Never. I'd rather die. The wolf snapped his jaws and tried to scratch at Aleksei's legs, but couldn't get a good angle.
That can be arranged.
Aleksei was ready to snap this miscreant into pieces like the rat that he was. But he wasn't an enforcer anymore and it wasn't his place. Tonight would be the last night that was true. Tomorrow he would go to Max and ask both his forgiveness and for his old job back. Until then, he needed this wolf out of commission.
Now would be a good time for Helena's baseball bat.
The grey wolf bounded into the fray somewhat renewed. He grabbed the big leader with his jaw and tossed him into the side of the house. The window shattered and the boards creaked and splintered with the force.
Good idea. Aleksei used his powerful back legs to donkey kick the downed enforcer into the wall and on top of the leader. The entire wall of Helena's bedroom caved in an explosion of sparks and flickering of power. The lights in all the nearby houses went dark one by one. They must have hit a power box somewhere. Oops.
That left only the final enforcer to deal with. It circled his fallen comrade, not caring that Aleksei and the grey wolf had taken out his friends. It snarled and looked for a weak spot.
Aleksei’s current soft spot came in the form of Helena, dressed only in his t-shirt with her damn bat in one hand, some kind of tiny dagger in the other, and a look of surprise on her face.
“What the fuck did you do to my house?” She held her arms and weapons aloft and gaped at the carnage. “And who do I need to murder?”
The world around him went into slow motion. The two wolves that had been slumped against the rubble of the wall crawled to their feet and turned toward Helena, only a few feet away. The third enforcer crouched, his body angled directly toward her too. The three were going to attack her and there was no way Aleksei would get to her in time.
Sirens sounded from not too far away, probably spurred by the power outage, or maybe the neighbors freaking out at the horror show in the side yard. Luckily, most of the first responder teams in Rogue had at least one Troika, which meant backup was on the way. That gave Aleksei the burst of energy he needed.
Time caught back up with him and Aleksei leapt through the air to put himself in the way of the attack. In an instant he felt only the sting of teeth and claws sinking into his fur and flesh. He fell under the onslaught of the strike, taking blows to his back, ribs, and skull.
He heard Helena scream, but he couldn't quite understand what she was saying. Probably swearing like a sailor if he knew her. She'd be cussing these bastards out like there was no tomorrow. And there might not be for him. He blinked the blood out of his eyes and kicked at the nearest wolf. He couldn't give up yet. He had to make sure Helena was safe first.
Helena. Run.
He got no response. She must not be able to hear him in her head yet. But the grey wolf could. Goddess, he hoped this wasn't a huge mistake. But if Helena had a connection to this wolf, it was his only hope.
Despite his wounds, Aleksei pushed to his feet, lowered his head, and snarled at the leader who was only barely standing himself. He was once again going to try to buy time for either reinforcements or for the grey wolf to help Helena escape.
You'd better be prepared to kill me, because that's the only way you're getting to my mate. But I warn you now, if I go down, you're coming with me. Are you ready to sacrifice your life for your so-called new Tzar?
He didn't give them a chance to answer. He attacked the leader, going directly for the injured back legs. As he ran forward, he called to the grey wolf. Save the woman. Take her to the Troikas. I swear on my honor, they will not harm you if you assist me in my final hour. Go. Now.
Aleksei took out the leader, but only momentarily. The other wolves were on him in less than a painful breath, tearing him away. He didn't care, as long as Helena and the grey wolf got away.
He looked to where they last stood and caught only a glimpse of the grey wolf bullying Helena out into the yard with a growl. Good. She probably wouldn't leave him otherwise.
Thank you, brother. He received no reply in the usual mindspeak way, but rather in some strange sense that sent a shiver through his body. It was as if Max or Niko had used their alpha voice on him demanding that he not give up. It was a demand he could not ignore. He must obey. To his last breath he would fight for his life.