Werewolf Assassins

Chapter 8: Sofia's POV

     She said yes!

     I knew it was just her accepting being my mate, but she still said yes! I felt my heart soar and the wolf howled inside me. Rather than letting that out though, I pressed my lips firmly to hers once more, feeling my heart pound in my chest.

     Her arms wrapped around my neck, drawing me deeper into the kiss, and I obliged all too willingly. So I was startled when I heard heavy breathing getting closer to us, along with at least six sets of pounding footsteps.

     I realized it with just enough time to drop Alexis to the ground and push her behind me, dropping into a defensive stance in front of her and growling deeply.

     I felt her hands grip my arm tightly as six large men came rushing into the cemetery, but I relaxed when I realized it was only the local police. I straightened carefully and glanced at Alexis.

     "Go get my gear," I whispered softly, but she was already ahead of me as she snapped her fingers and my set of black body armor appeared in one hand, along with my two handguns in their holsters, spare ammo, and my favorite knife in her other hand. I smiled slightly and took the armor, strapping it on quickly and attaching the handguns at my hips as well as the knife along my left leg, just below the holstered handgun, all while waiting for one of the men to speak.

     Finally, the smaller of the six men stepped forward, hands shaking. "Sofia, it's terrible… a fire… Xander's kids are stuck inside… we came as fast as we could. We're under attack!"

     I frowned deeply, trying to keep a calm composure. Alexis' hands tightened around my arm, which helped significantly.

     "Who?" I asked quickly.

     The man shook his head. "They're too fast, we couldn't get a good look… they sent ten of us, and the creatures got a hold of four… they're gone." His voice broke, and I knew he had lost someone he cared about deeply.

     I turned to Alexis. "Rally the others and have them meet me in town. Tell them to bring silver and stakes, along with any of our stored holy water. And you," I stepped toward her, pulling her into my arms. "I need you to stay here, where it's safe… Please." My own voice cracked a little, and when her eyes met mine I could see she knew I was scared.

     She nodded and kissed me softly. "Go kick some monster butt." She smiled and ran back to the hideout entrance.

     I turned back to the men, cracking my knuckles and rolling my shoulders. "Take me to the fire," I ordered the men.

     Without hesitation, the men spun on their heels and took off back down the path. I followed, keeping a steady pace, easily keeping up with them. Dread filled my stomach the closer to town we got. I saw a pillar of smoke rising into the morning sky. Thick, dark smoke.

     I overtook the men, running to the house, completely ignoring the fighting happening on all sides of me. The local law enforcement could handle a few vampires for just a minute.

     I didn't even think about the consequences as I dove into the house, shifting the moment the smoke and flames shielded me from view. The wolf growled and fought to shrink away from the flames, but I didn't stop as I tore through the house toward the burning staircase. I knew Xander's kids slept upstairs, two little boys and an infant girl. And I was going to save them all.

     I slammed my shoulder against the door of the boys' room and it crumpled against the impact, flying away from its hinges and slamming into the far wall. The boys both looked at me, shocked and scared, but I didn't let that stop me for a second. I turned my back to them, glancing over my shoulder and whining softly, urging them to climb onto my back.

     The smaller of the boys climbed up slowly, but Xander's oldest boy, no more than seven, ran to the next room, pounding on the door. I heard crying coming from the other side and charged the door, smashing it down and knocking the smaller boy from my back in the process. I heard him hit the ground and climb to his feet again, so I didn't stop as I ran in and looked into the small crib.

     The baby girl was crying wildly. The drapes above her bed had caught fire and the hot ashes were landing on her face. I gently licked them away, then picked her up carefully by her onesie, turning back to the boys and lowering myself for them to climb up.

     Both boys quickly climbed onto my back and I stood, running from the burning room when I felt them get a good grip. I looked around the burning house and saw a feminine figure lying on the ground, coughing violently. She was crawling towards the childrens' rooms, and froze when she saw me. The older boy waved her closer and patted the spot behind him for her to climb up as well.

     I recognized her scent immediately. It was Xander's babysitter. He and his wife must have been out when the fire started. I felt the young girl climb onto my back, leaning forward so she enveloped the boys with her body and grasped the scruff of my neck. Smart girl. If anyone started to fall, or something fell on us, she would be able to shield the boys.

     I held the baby girl's onesie tightly, taking comfort in the constant weight. That only meant she hadn't fallen out, and her squirming meant she was still conscious, which meant she was alive.

     I started cautiously down the stairs, testing each one before putting too much weight on it. It was slow work, and I could hear the house creaking as it prepared to collapse. I heard people yelling outside, knowing that finally the firefighters had arrived, but it was much too late for the house. Then I heard more commotion as the fighting ensued, and the creatures who had attacked screamed with such ferocity that I was defeaned for a split second. My family had arrived.

     We finally reached the base of the stairs and I lunged for the front door, only to have the roof cave in right in front of us. I yelped in surprise and turned at the last minute to avoid being crushed, just barely keeping the baby gripped tight in my jaws. I felt the young girl's hand move to catch the younger of the two boys, and she barely managed to keep herself upright as she steadied him.

     I looked around wildly before finally spotting the back door in the flames. I glanced up when I heard more creaking from above us and took off for the back door as the ceiling collapsed toward us. This time, everyone was prepared and gripped my fur tighter to keep themselves steadied as I raced for the door. I ducked my head to protect the baby from impact, and the girl saw what I was doing just in time to shield the boys as I rammed through the sliding glass door, flames lunging after us but falling back when we cleared the house.

     I was panting heavily, and when I looked back at my passengers, I saw the girl was covered in glass, cuts bleeding from all over her body. The boys, however, were untouched, and when I glanced down at my cargo carried in my jaws, I saw the baby was unharmed as well, and my heart soared at seeing her smile.

     I turned and ran for the front of the house, giving the burning building a wide berth, and skidded to a halt in front of Xander. He stared at me in shock, awe, and a little bit of fear. That is, until he saw what I was carrying. His wife, standing at his side, cried out with joy when she saw her children were unharmed, and Xander's eyes changed from shock and fear to thanks.

     He reached out to pet me, but the wolf forced me to growl involuntarily. I guess only Alexis would be allowed to pet the beast then. When his wife ran forward, I gently set the baby girl down as the boys and young girl slid off my back and she picked up the baby, holding her protectively while pulling her boys in close.

     Xander looked at the young girl, who stood awkwardly at my side, then at his sons. He smiled and pulled her in close as well, hugging her gently. He knew she had protected those boys as best she could.

     I didn't stick around to watch the happy moment any longer than that, though. There was still work to do. I felt warm liquid streaming down my face from the top of my head, but I ignored it. It would soon heal.

     I took off toward the bulk of the fighting at the very moment the entire house collapsed in on itself, shuddering the ground when it hit. I spotted my first target, a very attractive looking, pale as snow woman with blood red eyes.

     I lunged for her, snarling. She knocked me aside with a single hit and I slid across the ground with a painful yelp before my eyes, filled with pure hatred, snapped to her face. Her eyes widened as I lunged, and she screamed something in a language I'd never heard before just as I tore into her ice cold flesh. I ripped her head from her neck and tossed it into what was left of the burning building, then dragged her body back to it and tossed it in as well. Thankfully, Xander had been smart enough to move his family away from the wreckage, so they didn't see this.

     The young girl, however, covered in bleeding cuts, stood there, watching in awe. My eyes snapped to her face, a low growl rumbling in my chest, and she backed away slowly, bowing her head.

     I turned back to the fight and lunged for another vampire, taking him by surprise as I ripped his arms from his body and tossed them into the flames. I tore his head off next and tossed it toward the flames, just missing it as it bounced away, rolling to a stop in front of the young girl. The vampire hissed at her, snapping its fangs as she picked up the severed head and tossed it into the flames while I dragged the creatures body to the fire and threw it in.

     I met the girl's steady gaze, then glanced at Sam as he ran up, carrying various vampire parts in his arms. He tossed them into the fire and looked to me. I glanced toward the girl and grunted, making it a point to look at his armor. He nodded, and I knew he understood my intention.

     The girl was no older than sixteen, but she was still six years older than I was when I had started with the assassins. She'd handled herself well today, and I wanted to give her the opportunity to join us, if she wished.

     Sam waved the girl after him and she followed hesitantly as he leaned in to speak softly with her. I took the moment to take in the scene.

     The vampires hadn't done as much damage as I had anticipated. Only Xander's home had caught fire, and upon closer examination it was due to a lighter someone had dropped onto gasoline in an attempt to scare off the creatures. They had planned it poorly, and the fire had licked its way across the grass, taking a tree down with it, and leapt onto the dried wood Xander kept on the side of his house for his fireplace. It had spread from there.

     Only three of the townspeople had been killed in the fighting, a firefighter and two police officers. I saw their families crying over them, while paramedics tended to the injured. My best guess was around twenty injured. Not nearly the worst vampire fight I'd seen.

     One person, however, did catch my eye. Alexis was standing at the edge of the trees, her eyes were on me. I growled softly, frustrated. I had told her to stay at the hideout.

     I lunged forward, taking the distance in four strides, stopping in front of her. She hugged me tightly and reached up to pet my head, but when she pulled her hand back it was red and sticky. She frowned and climbed onto my back to get a better look at the wound.

     I didn't give her the chance to really inspect it. I took off into the trees, her arms wrapping tight around my neck at the sudden jolt of movement. I didn't stop running until I felt the wound close up, which didn't take long. By the time we reached the cemetery, my head had fully healed and all that was left was some dried blood. I slid to a stop, and Alexis climbed off of my back, turning to face me, her hands on her hips.

     I felt a sudden power roll through me, and my eyes flashed gold for a moment before returning to their normal blue. She watched me curiously, her head tilted slightly.

     "What was that?" She asked me.

     I felt a wolfy grin spread across my muzzle. I knew exactly what that had been. She had accepted me, and I had accepted her. But there was a third presence in this relationship, and without their acceptance, it would never last.

     I knew right then that my wolf had accepted our mate.