Page 42 of His Sunshine Baby (The Silver City #2)

“ Come on, Sunshine, get up. I got you. ”

“ I know, I know… ”

I can’t just sit and cry about the pain right now. I gather my strength, hoping my healing will speed things up a bit, because this is no state to be in for a fight. Nate hasn’t been spared either. His ear is cut up, the blood has dried up on his fur already. His healing power probably could have done something about it if he wasn’t missing a full chunk. He’s got some cuts all around, and I can sense his left knee is painful, but no bite mark on him so far.

I try to forget the pain and resume the fight, jumping on one of the vampires that was threatening to attack my mate’s open flank. With Nate by my side, I’m even more eager to fight and defend myself. We are together, with a handful of other wolves, trying to fight back the waves of vampires.

The presence of the Vampire Queen nearby doesn’t help, All those damn blood-suckers are desperate to protect their leader. We take them down, one after another, but it’s never-ending. I’m just amazed at their numbers. I understand that Nephera had years to gather them, but just how did she get so many? The human from earlier didn’t lie, there are thousands of them.

“ Selena, any idea on how to get to that damn Vampire Queen? ”

“ Not yet. The plan for now is to survive, but I’m still working on the next step… ”

“ Watch your left, you idiot. ”

I’m surprised to hear Iris in my head again, but I jump just in time to avoid another bite. Did I just dream that, or is she really helping me? Why the hell…? I keep fighting, but I can’t focus on too many things at once!

However, Iris keeps giving me instructions. All of them just turn out to be right, and slowly helps me get closer to the Vampire Queen. Which doesn’t make her happy.

“Get her! Get that damn dog down!” screeches the Vampire Queen.

Feeling angsty now? I’m so going to get that damn Vampire Queen. I slowly progress, and as I keep running, fighting, biting, I realize my observation from earlier is true. The more focused I am on that golden, shiny aura of mine, the more the vampires are wary of me. I don’t know if they actually sense my aura, but there’s something they definitely don’t like when I increase it, when I use more of my Alpha senses. It’s hard to describe, like my halo can grow, expand, or heat up when I want. In any case, it makes them back off, reluctant to come near me. It’s the same reaction as when they avoided the sunlight earlier.

“ Whatever you’re doing, babe, continue, it’s working! ”

It seems like it. I keep communicating with Nate to improve our tandem, but I also keep an ear open to Iris’ random advice. What is she planning?

“That damn dog. She’s resistant to vampire venom!” roars the Vampire Queen.

So that was it… Now that I think about it, I’ve received quite a dose since earlier, and I’m generally fine. It hurts like hell, but like a regular bite or claw injury, not like poison. Any wolf, though we resist it, would be at least sick after receiving so much, but for some reason, my healing ability makes me immune? And I was complaining about not healing fast like others…

I quickly share with Nora, but she’s in the middle of her delivery. Our link is faint for the first time since we met. She’s probably not in the right state to give a damn about her inner wolf right now.

Finally, despite her slowly stepping back, we are almost within the Vampire Queen’s reach. If she didn’t plan to fight at all, she might want to reconsider that. Her face is getting whiter, almost gray. She steps back, seeing me coming closer, looking scared for the first time. Just you wait, you blood-sucking bitch.

Suddenly, I see Nate jumping at her, a bit closer than me, and something in my gut warns me. Something bad is about to happen. It’s too easy.

Everything slows down for a second. I see Nate’s black fur, suspended in the air, and the Vampire Queen’s arm moving. Something shines, and I see the blade before I scream. My instinct screams it’s silver. I see the surprise in Nate’s eyes, and the next second, my own scream resonates in the air.

Nate’s blood splatters on me, and I see my mate fall on the ground. I don’t hesitate, and run towards them, fangs all out, going for the kill. No vampire can stop me. I see the Vampire Queen’s horrible smirk, as she raises her blade again, ready to pierce me, but no matter what, I won’t stop. I’m avenging my mate.

I see the blade, a second away from my head, when something suddenly takes it out of my eyesight, and I feel a bump on my shoulder. The sound of flesh being ripped apart, and I bite violently into the Vampire Queen’s throat, her eyes wide open in horror.

But she’s not looking at me. Her eyes are on Iris, who grabbed her hand to impale herself on the blade, in her chest. My cousin has her mouth covered in blood as she gags out, and a sneer on her face.

“That was for Eric, you bitch.”

Like an enraged animal, I keep biting deep, digging into the flesh until my mouth is full of blood, and the Vampire Queen stops moving under me. It was over in a few seconds. I didn’t think… I keep biting, making sure the Queen is dead, but my eyes are on Iris.

I can’t believe it. She slowly falls on her flank, in the mud, and her face is suddenly a few inches away from mine. Her eyes are open, but the light inside is almost gone. I try to hold on to the little bit of her inner wolf I still feel inside her.

“ Iris! Why…? ”

“ Chris’ idea… For me… for… Eric… for Eric. ”

… She’s gone. What? Chris’ idea? What were they thinking…? I still can’t believe it, but my cousin just sacrificed herself to help me kill the Vampire Queen, and I let go of my prey. Nate! I need to check on him.

Unlike my expectations, the vampires don’t attack me as I run to him. Thank Moon Goddess, they let me through. The death of their Queen seems to have shocked them. They all start screaming, a horrible high-pitched sound, but I couldn’t care less. I can’t have anything slowing me down, I just run to Nate, lying on the ground. Oh, Moon Goddess, no, no.

“ Nate! Nate! ”

“ I’m fine. ”

I have another definition of fine! I’m trembling, shaking in despair, unable to accept this horrible sight. He’s bleeding so much, and his arm… His arm is laying away from him, completely chopped off! Can I even fix this? Can we do something? I go to bend over him, about to shift back, but he growls.

“ Selena, don’t you think about it! ”

“ I can heal you! If we kiss… ”

He growls even louder.

“ You can’t fix that! Moreover, if you shift back, you’ll expose yourself! ”

“ But, Nate… ”

I can’t do anything about what I’m seeing! He’s… in that kind of state…

“ Selena, no. Healing Damian from a gunshot put Nora in a coma for two years, and you’re not Nora. You can’t risk that now! ”

“ You’ll bleed to death if I don’t! ”

“ Selena, I won’t. My healing will take over soon enough. It’s okay. ”

“ Your arm is fucking chopped off, Nate! ”

“ I know. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. ”

“ You… you’re… losing… so much blood …”

I start crying, whimpering, torn between healing my mate and the current fight. I look at the blood flowing, but his werewolf healing is indeed taking over. Slowly but surely, it’s… closing off… Oh, thank Moon Goddess.

Around us, I feel the vampires gathering, targeting my injured mate. Do they want to avenge their Queen? I thought the fight would be over if we got rid of her! I growl angrily as a warning, and extend my aura to its limit, trying to keep them at bay. What do I do…? I can’t leave Nate to them, he’ll die. Even if his healing closes his injury, with the blood loss and missing limb, he’ll be an easy target.

I need to do something, anything. I take deep breaths, slow my crying, and focus on my inner wolf. Come on, girl, what can we do? We are fighters. Fighters down to the bone, to our blood. I’m a damn Alpha fighter. I…

I sense something new. Another Royal Aura.

“ Nora? ”

I can almost hear it. A baby’s crying.

“ He’s born. Selena, it’s a boy… ”

Yeah, I can feel him. My baby nephew, and his aura is so pure. Moon Goddess, I feel like crying again. I can’t believe her son is here. During this madness. A baby is born. My new nephew.

I keep extending my aura. I feel the little newborn pup more intensely. It’s like the appearance of another Royal is guiding me. I play with my aura, its heat, my eyes glowing like fire, piercing the vampires and somehow, terrifying them. I feel the baby, and so much more. Something else.

Nora’s focusing on her healing. I sense our link growing back, stronger, her snow-white aura holding on tight to mine.

“ Selena, how is Nathaniel? ” she asks, worried.

“ He could use some healing. ”

I feel her power growing and expanding. Our auras are so similar yet different. Nora’s is like fresh, pure snow, blown by a cold wind. I feel her, extending her strength, covering the battlefield. Our auras find each other, touch, blend into something even stronger. I guess we finally unlocked something between the two of us.

“ It’s amazing, ” she says. “ I feel absolutely everyone’s wolves so strongly, as if I can touch them. ”

“ I know, right? I’m starting to understand the Royal thing. ”

“ We’re connected to every wolf. More than I thought. I think I can… ”

I feel her aura, somehow transmitting to Nate. What the… His injury is closing up even faster now! Amazed, I watch it close in accelerated motion, almost unreal. It takes a few more seconds before Nate tries to get up with my help, standing despite his missing limb. I’m amazed…

“ Nora! Are you alright? ”

“ Actually, yeah. I think your aura unlocked something in me. I don’t use my own strength to heal others, but the Moon’s power. It’s not easy, but I think… I control it completely now. ”

Indeed, I can feel it. Nora’s aura is slowly covering the whole battlefield, closing injuries and healing one wolf after another. She can’t seem to do more than one at a time, but considering how far she is, it’s still amazing.

I’m starting to feel hope again. Nate is standing by my side, and I know Nora will be on her way soon. We are far from safe, though. The vampires, seeing the werewolves get back on their feet one by one, are resuming the fight. Damn it, the Queen’s death did almost nothing! I growl in warning.

“ Selena, go back. ”

“ But… ”

“ Don’t worry about me, go back to my brothers. I’ll follow. ”

I hate parting with Nate, but at least now I know he’ll be alright, not just bleeding on the ground. The black wolf is still trying to find his new pace, the right balance. I help him, letting him use me as a crutch until he’s stable enough. He growls and pushes me once he’s fine enough to stand without me. I give him a lick on the cheek.

“ Love you. ”

“ I know, Sunshine. Go. ”

I growl a bit, frustrated, and run back to our former position. I can’t babysit Nate for the rest of the fight, he’ll hate it. He’ll be fine, he’ll be fine… I mind-link Damian, Liam, all the Alphas and Betas, telling those who have yet to know about the Vampire Queen’s death. Of course, the Black brothers knew about Nate, and both thank me silently for protecting him, and Nora for accelerating his healing with her new enhanced power. I can sense Damian’s worried about his wife, but Nora seems fine. She probably channeled some of the Moon’s power for her own healing.

“ I’m coming, ” she says.

“ How’s my nephew? ” asks Liam, excited.

“ He’s adorable, of course. His brother’s carbon copy. ”

“ Let’s have a girl, next. ”

“ Damian! ”

I chuckle. It’s crazy how he manages to bicker about having a third child in the middle of a battlefield. Even Liam didn’t dare make any jokes yet.

“ Nate, are you okay? ”

“ Yeah, I just need to adjust to running on all three instead of… you know. ”

My heart hurts when I think about his arm. Maybe we can do something about it after the fight… I run back to the Black brothers, jumping on vampires on my way, trying to take down the ones I can, and catching a glimpse of the situation.

Our Alpha line is gone. With the brothers and I at the witch’s position, Lysandra had no choice but to retreat all the way to where the betas are. We lost a lot of ground; they are almost at the border. Nora’s intervention is helping maintain it for now, but we are running out of time. She won’t be able to keep healing people once she gets into a fight herself, and I can feel she’s on her way already. I can’t believe her. She just delivered a baby and she’s ready to join the fight. She’s Silver City’s Luna…

I tear apart another vampire, jump down, run, grab another one to pull it off one of our wolves, and kill it on the spot. I’m closing in on the brothers’ position and trying to rekindle that feeling from before. I felt something else. My aura is different from Nora’s. I can’t feel that healing superpower she has. I’m not a healer.

I’m a warrior, a fighter. I wonder what that means… I’m stronger, immune to silver and vampire venom, but… if there’s something more…

I keep running and heat up my aura, like before. This warmth I’ve been able to manipulate that’s spreading to all the auras around me… it’s not like Nora’s healing aura. Mine is more like a lamplight, guiding them, grasping their wolf aura and holding on. Like charging them with some heat, more energy. We are all linked.

I push it even further. I can almost feel the glow the others see in me, as I keep testing that feeling, all those auras around me. So many auras.

It’s… it’s not just the werewolves. Thousands of auras. They are like mine, of the same, warm color… like the sunshine.

The sons and daughters of the Sun. The humans… Could it be? I keep running, stopping for a moment to fight another bunch of vampires, helping an injured wolf, and saving another right in time. My mind is everywhere. On the fight, with Nora, with Nate, with the brothers, with all those auras.

It’s insane. I can feel the humans? Like Nora said, something unlocked in me. I try to hold on to them, to that strange feeling. I can’t mind-link them, they are not wolves. How do I do this?

I keep growling, making my way to the heart of the battlefield. I know we can do this. There’s a solution. Something more I can do, I can feel it. It’s like a fire in my soul, something burning inside.

“ Nora, I can feel the humans! ”

“ What? ”

“ I know, it’s crazy, but my aura… My aura reaches the humans of Silver City. ”

“ Can you talk to them? Tell them, ‘Hey, we could use some help?’ ”

“ I don’t have a human channel and a werewolf channel, Liam! It’s just… I feel connected to them, I just don’t know how to use it. ”

It’s true. It’s like a tiny tunnel, something too small for me to send my inner words like I would do with a wolf. It’s different, like another kind of link. They barely have any aura, and it’s nothing like what us werewolves are used to. I feel like my aura is attached differently to the humans, but I can definitely feel them. If only I knew what to do with it.

“ I’m almost there! ” says Nora.

“ Me too! ”

“ You might want to hurry up, we are… Shit, Damian! ”

Liam’s panicked wolf makes me jump and accelerate. Moon Goddess, not the King, not now! I can feel Damian, he just got injured, bad. His flank… Damn, his sharp pain almost wakes mine up, like my own injuries reopened violently.

“ Damian! ” screams Nora.

“ I’m… fine… ”

I would never have pictured him saying anything else. Even if he was dying, he wouldn’t show his weakness. I hope Nora and I can get there fast. Nate too. I keep running to them, all of us gathering around Sylviana. She’s the only one I can’t reach through the mind-link, and aside from what Liam and Damian can relay to us, I have no idea how she’s doing. We have yet to be drowned in waves of Nephera’s magic, so I guess it means we are okay…

I desperately try to understand this strange bond to the humans, but I am not in the best situation for experiments. The situation is getting worse every minute now. Nora can’t possibly heal every wolf, and we have already lost a lot.

The only thing is that all the vampires seem to be on the battlefield now, and I don’t see any new waves coming. Did the Vampire Queen’s death have some effect after all? I run into another close fight between two wolves and a handful of vampires to help.

“ Selena! ”

“ You okay, Ben? ”

“ Yeah, but… Levi… ”

I know. I’ve been trying not to think about all the dead. William, Levi, Chris… so many of our friends… I can’t even stop to count them all. I want to cry, but I can’t. We need to focus on the fight to avoid any more tragedy. We can mourn later, with those who survive.

Once I’m sure Ben and his friend are in a better position, I finally take back my position at Damian and Liam’s side. I hadn’t realized how much worse their situation has gotten. The vampires have aggregated around them, trying to overwhelm the brothers with their numbers. Damian seems to be getting rid of them easily like pests, but the King is injured. He has a few bite marks he hasn’t even complained about, and more alarming, one large injury on his flank, the one we felt earlier. It’s bleeding out, and the healing process has slowed down, most likely because of all the vampire venom he’s been infected with. I hope Nora can do something about it as soon as she gets here.

Liam is in better shape, but not unscathed either. He’s got cuts here and there, one leg limping a bit, and his tail is torn in an odd way. He still looks like he’s eager to fight though. The brothers are keeping their position close to Sylviana, taking down any vampire that tries to get to her. Apparently, our witch took the central position in the fight, using her magic to control all of her immediate surroundings. Roots and branches appear in random positions to block most of Nephera’s water attacks, or the nearby vampires.

This fight is so unreal. Elements of nature fighting one another, directed by the two women’s movements. Sylviana’s butterfly is way bigger than usual too, flying around her, though I have no idea what that thing is useful for. I think she’s using it like a second pair of eyes, guiding her with her surroundings, because all this time, her power is acting everywhere while she’s only looking at her sister.

Nephera is almost having fun. She’s smiling like a creep, agitating her arms to throw one wave after another, leaving her younger sister no rest. Somehow, the fight looks more balanced than before. The witches are on the same level, but no attack seems to hit its direct target. Sylviana is being more passive than offensive.

“ Damian! Liam! ”

Next to me, Nora’s white wolf just appeared, shining on the battlefield with her unique appearance. She immediately runs to help her mate, and I run to help Liam. The position is harder to hold than before. Because the number of wolves has lessened elsewhere, it feels like the vampires are focusing on us now. Damn, if only I could figure out this thing with my aura!

“How long do you think you can hold this for, Sylviana? I’m nowhere near done yet!” yells her sister, hysterical.

Sylviana doesn’t answer. She’s frowning, barely keeping up. Their elements are too different, her roots are struggling to block the waves and all the water spikes coming. Unlike Nephera, she has a lot of people to protect at the same time and can’t just focus on her sister. The Water Witch is just acting randomly, hitting as many people as she can. She doesn’t care about hitting the vampires, and those damn things still get up even if she hits them anyway!

I don’t have time to help her, though. I’m focusing on my own fight, back to back with Liam. It’s a fucking mess. Vampires crawling from all angles, and Nora can’t heal anyone anymore while she’s busy fighting. The fight is even more violent than before.

“ Nora! ”

“ I’m okay, I’m okay. I’m just… not in the best shape today. ”

No shit, she just gave birth minutes ago! I think she got scratched a bit, but she seems fine, and Damian is watching her like a hawk too. His own mate appearing on the battlefield gave him even more reason to fight harder. I try to sense my own, and Nate is near, almost here actually.

I roll back to avoid another vampire and bite him savagely. My aura, my aura. I try to take my friends out of my mind for a moment to focus on that strange bond with the humans. What can I do? I can’t send them my thoughts or inner wolf’s talk like I would for a wolf. They are humans!

“ Elena! ”

“ Nate! ”

My mate jumps next to me, but he immediately becomes one more target. Not my man, you damn blood-suckers! I growl and ferociously attack the enemy that was about to get him, taking them down in a fury.

Suddenly, I feel it. Like a spark. I growl louder, letting my anger grow.

“ Uh… Elena…? ”

My friends feel my furor, growing like a fire, a raging fire. My aura is burning up, ardent, and this time, it ignites. The vampires nearby suddenly screech, retreating, as if I was burning them. I let my anger guide me, and growl, attack, bite like a machine. I can even feel Nate and Liam backing away, unsure about my sudden state.

I’m just a big cloud of raging emotions right now. A raging sun, showing the way and burning high. The wolves can’t feel it, they are stealing glances at me, confused by my sudden fit of rage and my aura going wild. But I feel it burst all the way to the humans I’m connected with. That’s right. Silver City isn’t just full of werewolves. Half of it is human. Half of my blood is human. Come and fight. Get angry at these vampires, get mad. I growl again, showing my fangs to those creatures who dare attack my territory.This is my city, you damn creatures.Our city.