41.

'Keep your head' Vadim warned his human. 'How can I? You hear Lana's heart. It's weak. It's slow. We must find them.' Nikolai snapped forcing Vadim to appear. On all fours he crept closer to the edge of the valley, he crouched low looking over the moonlit valley then to the trees that lined it. 'We cannot let mate cloud us at this moment. Our love for her is a great weakness and they know this.' Vadim warned.

'I...I understand' the prince said softly. A painful scream pierced through the valley, it froze his body, and he fell to the dewy grass trying to keep his composure as another scream filled the air. Both released silent sobs as they resist rushing in, it won't be helpful to their mate if her help is prolonged. 'Enna.' Nikolai cried out. He released a heartbreaking howl into the night twice; it didn't take long to hear his mate's weak response. It spoke so much to him but what he heard in her second howl broke him. 'NO!' both Vadim and Nikolai shouted. She was protecting them; Sienna wanted them to stand down.

Behind him he felt his sister approached then Jay and Zarif, Mina approached him leaning heavily against her brother, she felt how fast his heart was beating, and the scent of his fear was strong causing them all to whimper. They never smelt that scent from Nikolai all the years they knew him

'He's...He's hurting...her. They are waiting for me. She wants me to stay here' Nikolai said with his voice breaking. They stayed in silence Sienna loved Nikolai so much that she would give her life for him. The chance to protect him from it all. Mina looked back at Zarif, she saw the pain he felt for his Alpha and the understanding of what Sienna wanted. 'I will do the same for you, my love,' he said to her with tears in his eyes. She whimpered lowly knowing in her heart she would do it for him also but she won't allow her new sister to do that to Niko. He would be lost to them all if he agrees.

'Niko. Sienna needs you as much as you need her. Put her wish out of your head. We are going to get her back. Just not the way you initially planned.' she said forcefully. Nikolai's blue eyes reached his sister's green gaze so much like their grandmother's. Mina carried the same fighting spirit and even though she was younger he considered her his rock.

'Alpha, heading towards the valley from the east. Royal wolves.' one of his men warned.

'Keep them back,' he ordered. As he stepped out of the trees an arrow struck the ground before him, 'They are close,' was the warning he gave to those behind him. Nikolai shifted back to human form but allowed Vadim to take charge, the wolf prince stepped boldly out into the clearing and howled towards the full moon above them. Not long after, answering wolf calls were heard in the forest and beyond it echoed throughout. Answering calls from weres and their simple wolf brothers. The simple wolves usually stay away from the werewolves but always came to assist when needed. Only when the Russian prince calls.
'Defend your home. Find your princess!' Vadim commanded walking more into the valley. Arrows were shot at him as he moved forward but he easily deflected them, sending them back to their targets. He heard the dominant growls of his men and the natural wolves, the screams of men but he paid them no mind. To his right he saw four wolves charging towards him, stopping them in their tracks he snapped their necks without hesitation and threw them back into the trees.

'We are near,' Vadim muttered throwing a shield around them as the first gunshot rang out. He didn't have to worry about them as the sound of branches breaking and painful screams were heard right after.

'Go. We got here covered.' Zarif said to him before cutting off the connection.



The scent of fresh blood hit him like a boulder as he went deeper into the valley. What he saw brought him to his knees, his heart thundered in his ears, the rage within him was growing, and his breathing became labored.

"Not the kind of welcome you expected huh cousin," Cain said out loud. Vadim raised his head forcing himself to stay strong, Nikolai raged within him wanting to run the next few feet to free his mate. Cain and Viktor stood before her but a few steps apart for him to have a view of her. They had her chained to a post in straps; eight men circled her aiming guns at her body. She looked weak, her head was bent and from afar, he can see she was having trouble breathing normally. Sienna couldn't find the energy in her to lift her head to see her mate but his presence covered her with warmth and love. Her muscles ached and felt heavy against her bones. Before they tied her up, both Cain and Viktor made deep incisions into her thigh and back with silver knives. Her blood still flowed from her wounds staining her clothing. "Nicky," his name came out her dry lips like a whisper. She expected Lana to stir a bit with his presence but nothing happened. She feared that it was too late. Hot tears rolled down her dirty face as she called out to her wolf while the sobs mixed with her labored breathing caused her chest to pain.

"Cain. Uncle Viktor. Please. I beg of you. Let her go," Vadim pleaded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Why should we? Do you think I was simply going to give up what I started?" Cain spat attacking him. The attack caught Vadim off guard as his focus was on his mate; the force Cain used, threw him a good way away from them, his body slammed against the ground with a force that he didn't expect.

"Why would I do that?" Cain continued his rant attacking once again with pure hatred. Vadim was ready for him as he created a shield for himself, propelling the attack back to his cousin. Viktor watched as his companion fell to the ground, he rolled his eyes, walking quickly towards his nephew. "It pains me to do this kid," he spat shooting at the dark-haired prince. Nikolai resurfaced and stopped the bullet from reaching him, his uncle was shocked momentarily and shot at him once more.

Cain saw the distraction as an opportunity, creating an energy ball he threw it to his cousin but Nikolai caught it sending it back to one of the men that surrounded Sienna. At the corner of his eyes, he saw a few wolves edging closer to the men; the simple wolves showed how angry they were with their sharp fangs and tensed quiet movements towards their princess. 'Time to end this.' Vadim spat as Viktor shot at him again. Shifting into the large black wolf he was, he dodged the bullets carefully till the rounds finished. He pounced on his uncle, aiming for his jugular but was thrown off.

Cain attempted to lash out at Nikolai but he was too fast for him, the young Alpha took hold of Viktor's body as he pounced on his cousin. He slashed the American prince across his chest, Cain screamed out in agony throwing Nikolai off him. On his hands and knees he looked at his cousin with newfound anger, Nikolai saw how his once brown eyes began to turn red, Cain was turning. He was becoming feral; he wanted to avoid this at all costs. A feral wolf had no place in both worlds; death was the answer for it all. The cloudless sky grew darker, storm clouds were now shielding the stars and the moon, Nikolai stepped back allowing the once dormant power flow through his body. He looked back to where his mate was, it pleased him greatly as the simple wolves stood guard around her as one of his men made quick of a knife to free her. 'Take her from here,' he ordered. 'Yes your majesty,' his warrior answered as another came to help.

"I have no time for your party tricks Nikolai" Cain shouted before shifting into his wolf. The alpha's attention was pulled back to his cousin; he huffed and stood his ground. Cain was attacking with anger which was not wise it clouded one's judgment. Not moving a muscle he looked on at his cousin charging towards him with red wild eyes and black as night fur, when he drew near Nikolai took hold of his body, seizing all his muscles, he can hear the blood flow through the now outcast's body. 'Stand down Cain' he warned.

'I won't. You do not deserve what is mine.'

Nikolai huffed breaking his hind leg before throwing him towards the trees, knowing it may take him a while he calmly walked over to his uncle who was still on the ground in a frozen state. Looking down at the man he looked up to when his grandfather died, he didn't see the care and devotion he saw all those years. He never knew you can fake that kind of love.

'Why?' was all Nikolai asked.

"It belonged to me. I was next in line to be Alpha, not some bloody American, a kid nonetheless. My own brother humiliated me before the entire pack. Dark Blood is mine," Viktor said all of this with venom in his voice, eyes cold as ice as he held his nephew's gaze.

'Because of power, you wish to commit treason against a royal.'

"You are no prince of mine."

'Death is your sentence.' he calmly said stepping back before barking sharply. The wolves that watched over Sienna obediently approached Nikolai. They all came forward with their heads bowed low in respect. It confused him for he saw them as brothers. 'Get rid of him' was his command. Their heads turned sharply towards Viktor who heard the deadly growls of wolves. They circled the man who couldn't move a muscle, for his simple pleasure Nikolai gave back limited mobility and found out he can now control his uncle's wolf. Only his human side can now fight from avoiding what the wolves were about to do. His wolf was now subdued not able to help his human. The wolves circled once more their new kill, sending threatening growls to Viktor. One dealt the first attack, latching on to his wrist biting down hard; the blood-soaked the wolves' snout as some ran down Viktor's wrist. A chain reaction began as each wolf snapped at him; they all bit into him using their claws tearing him apart. His screams were deafening, Nikolai watched the death of the man he considered family with cold eyes. Blood stained the once green grass beneath him, the wolves began to pull at his limbs, and there was one lone wolf who also had the same idea as Nikolai. He was the alpha of his own pack, in one bite he tore Viktor's head off. With the head in his mouth, blood staining his snout, he walked through the bloody mess towards Nikolai.

He dropped the head before the prince and lowered his head. 'Thank you for your loyalty to me and my people.' The Alpha wolf barked sharply then turned away from him, his pack members followed as they disappeared into the dark forest.

Knowing what he had to do, he walked calmly over to his crying cousin who shifted back into human form holding his broken leg. As he spotted Nikolai approaching, he conjured an energy ball throwing it at him.

Nothing happened. It fizzled out completely before Nikolai. Cain was in disbelief, he threw many attacks to him but not one caused any damage to him. The dark wolf with piercing blue eyes sat before him and said nothing.

"You will always be the outcast Nikolai" he spat. His jaw now clenched tight as he attempted to move. "I am to be king."

'Not any more' Vadim voiced out as both himself and his human took control of his wolf, who submitted to them instantly. Cain was lifted above the new king's head, his body stiff, his breathing was now shallow. He was put on display in the valley as all the warriors of Dark Blood and neighboring packs that came to help, stepped forth from the trees. Vadim dropped the whimpering man in a heap and circled him slowly.

Jay stepped forward standing before his cousin as he threw curses at Nikolai and Mina. It pained him to do what he was about to do, he knew after tonight it would be hard to face Caiden and Rosalie. It was the right thing to do, they all knew it will happen but for the moment to come, it was overwhelming. 'You need to do it, son. It's your role as Delta to sentence any wrongdoings towards the pack and towards your prince,' his father said to him. His father arrived in Russia an hour ago and found them easily. Jay looked beside him to find a tearful Noah and his twin brother, Jonah.

"He's also feral so it must be done either way," Jonah said out loud solemnly. 'Do you want me to do it, brother' Zac asked as he came up to him in wolf form. Jay shook his head no. "It's my pack. My duty." He stepped forward, everyone stopped their jeering, Cain stopped his tantrums, Nikolai and Mina stood on either side of the captured.

Putting aside all emotions, he stood at ease with his head held high, "In the case of Viktor Bordeau, brother of the late alpha Nikolai Starkov the third, the punishment of death was served due to the following charges. Two acts of the kidnapping of the Luna Princess Sienna De La Vega. Attempted Murder and Torture of the Luna Princess and Treason against the throne of the Russian Alpha Prince Nikolai Starkov-Saville the fourth." Cheers of contentment echoed through the night, he smiled as the warriors high fived each other and pointed to the remains of Viktor.

"Continuing." he continued. Everyone went quiet once more.

"In the case of Crowned Prince Cain Saville, on..only son... of K-King Caiden Saville, the following charges are put against him. The torture and attempted murder of the Luna Princess Sienna De La Vega. Treason against the throne of the Russian Prince Nikolai and the investment of kidnapping. You are hereby found guilty. Punishment........ Death by execution"

Jay and Zac stood before their cousin who was now beyond help. Nikolai brought him to his knees not caring for his broken legs. The two deltas shifted into their wolves, Cain was breathing heavily, and his eyes were now blood red. With an agreement with his cousin, on either side of the accused they attacked Cain, Jay slowed his run realizing the head of one of his cousins was in his mouth, he glanced towards where his father and uncle were, tears flowed down their faces as they witnessed the boy they held in their arms, now dead. For Zac and Jay, he was the cousin who they grew up with, inseparable. Nikolai and Mina sat before their people, watching both Jay and Zac approaching them. Though they weren't close Nikolai felt his loss, Mina whimpered softly as Jay placed the head of Cain before them. In silence, they watched pale face and cold eyes of the now-dead American Prince. Nikolai was the first to proclaim his death and also to honor his name as a Royal. He howled loudly to the moon as his sister followed. The others paid their respects as selected warriors burned the remains of Cain and Viktor.

'Are you ready?' Vadim asked his human. Nikolai knew what he spoke of and refused to speak of it, his mind was on his mate, coming into his new position as king was far from his mind. When Cain's thirst for power and became feral slowly, the goddess and elders felt it all, unanimously they decided to crown Nikolai right away to keep the bond of the Royal family.

'Position as king is not helping our mate now. Enna comes first. Always first. Duties to the crown after,' he said running ahead of everyone back to the palace. He prayed to the goddess that good news ended the night.