S. Yule - Lycan Christmas

“Lorent, is that you?” The rogue laughed out loud. “Better get off me, boy, before I give you another ass-whooping. You do remember those, right?”

Recognition hit him hard. Rufus. Lorent had witnessed this scum perform countless brutal acts, and had been on the wrong end of his fists on more than one occasion. Payback was going to be sweet because he had news for old Rufus. Times had changed, and he was the one about to get his ass whooped.

“I’m not like you. I don’t think I’m a badass because I can hurt those that are weaker. In fact, that only makes you a sniveling coward. You, on the other hand, are big enough to pick a fair fight with. Now get up. When I kill you, at least no one can say I didn’t give you a chance.” He shook in rage.

“You? You think you are going to kill me?” Rufus laughed as he got up.

“Oh yeah.” Lorent punched Rufus, and the rogue flew backward with the force of the blow and crashed into a tree. “Get back to the SUV, Melony.”

He growled as he started for Rufus again.

“Lorent! No! Please come with me!” Melony cried out.

“Go! Now!”

She sobbed, but ran toward the vehicle as he’d instructed.

Lorent turned back to Rufus just as the rogue charged him. He grunted when Rufus’s head drilled into his gut, and his arms came around his middle, driving him to his back, where they both skidded along the rough road from the momentum of the impact. Lorent plowed his elbow down into Rufus’s cheek and leapt to his feet. Rufus screamed out in fury and grabbed for Lorent’s feet, trying to bring him back down, but Lorent skillfully evaded him.

Rufus gained his feet, and this time when he charged, Lorent was ready.

Melony cried as she watched the fight through the windshield of the SUV. Lorent and the rogue—Rufus, Lorent had called him—threw punch after punch at one another. Every punch Rufus landed, Lorent landed one harder in return. She was surprised that the fact both men were nude didn’t distract her in the least. Her worry burned away any other thoughts but for Lorent’s safety.

“They are going to kill one another.”

Sherry’s eyes were wide as she cradled her son to her chest and watched the fight with Melony. “I don’t think they are going to kill each other. I think Lorent is going to rip Rufus a new one.”

A loud bang came from Sherry’s window, and they both jumped and shrieked.

“It’s me, Sherry. Open the door.”

“Thank God!” Melony unlocked the door, and Piers practically ripped Sherry’s door off the hinges.

“Baby, are you okay?” He asked before hugging her to him, careful not to smash the small bundle she held against her.

Sherry started sobbing against Piers’s chest. “Yes. I’m okay, and the baby is okay too, thanks to Mel. He’s so tiny, though. He’s too early.”

He pulled the blanket down so he could see his son for the first time, and the look on his face made Melony sorry for anyone who might try to harm Piers’s family. Her stomach churned when she considered that he might view her as such a person.

“Piers?”

He looked at her.

“Please don’t let Lorent get hurt,” Melony pleaded.

He turned toward Lorent and Rufus, who were still pummeling the hell out of one another. “I don’t think he’s the one that’s going to get hurt.” He looked over his shoulder. “Rose is here with the Jeep. You two get back to Sanctuary with her. The midwife should be there waiting by the time you get back or shortly thereafter.”

He kissed Sherry on the forehead. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you too. I’m sorry for going into town. I just wanted to get you something special for Christmas,” Sherry sobbed.

“We’ll talk about it later. I’m just relieved and beyond happy that you are both all right.” He looked over at Melony. “We’ll talk later too. Pop the back open. Spare clothes are kept in all Sanctuary vehicles, and I need to get some for Lorent.”

Melony fumbled around looking for a button to release the latch and finally found it tucked under the dash next to the headlight switch. The back popped open, and she heard rustling for a few seconds before the door was clicked shut.

Piers appeared at Sherry’s window again holding what appeared to be shoes, jeans, and a T-shirt under his arm. He gave Sherry a tight smile before focusing on Melony. “Help Rose get Sherry and my son out of here.” He turned away, but stopped and looked back. “I’ll make sure Lorent is safe,” he said over his shoulder.

Within a couple minutes, Rose, Sherry, and Melony were on their way back to Sanctuary. They’d picked up Knox about a half mile down the road, where Rose had let him out to scout the area for more rogues—which he found no trace of. Melony had been torn about leaving Lorent behind, but Rose assured her Lorent and Piers could handle the situation with no problem.

The ride back to Sanctuary seemed to take forever, but they finally made it. The midwife had been waiting at Sherry’s place. After spending an hour in the bedroom with Sherry and her son, the gray-haired woman had declared them both healthy. Melony went to say good-bye to Sherry. She looked exhausted—rightfully so after giving birth and being attacked—but healthy.

When Melony returned to the living room, Knox and Rose were waiting for her. By the look on his face, things were about to get nasty.

“What the hell were you thinking, Melony?” His voice thundered.

“Quiet. Don’t you dare disturb Sherry and that baby,” Rose chastised him.

Melony sighed. “I’m sorry. I made a bad decision. It won’t happen again.”

“No. It won’t,” Knox said sternly.

“Look.” Rose glanced at Knox. “You made a mistake today, but you are not a child. We can’t punish you or ground you. But I’m disappointed that you didn’t stop to think about the danger you were potentially placing you and Sherry in.”

“I did think about it. But when Sherry asked me to take her two weeks ago, it had seemed so important to her. I felt uneasy about it, but I couldn’t refuse. I’m sorry. It was extremely bad judgment on my part. Believe me when I say that no one can feel worse than I do. If anything had happened to Sherry or the baby . . .” She wrapped her arms around her middle and fought back a sob that suddenly threatened.

“And what about you? Don’t you think we would be devastated if something happened to you?” Rose said.

“I didn’t think about myself,” Melony whispered.

“We love you, Melony. You must know that by now. But I do believe you just made a stupid mistake. We all do at times.”

Knox groaned and pushed his fingers through his hair. Rose gave her a hug, and when she scowled at Knox, he did the same.

“You scared us,” Knox said.

“I really am sorry. I swear I will never do anything that stupid again.

Please forgive me.” Melony hugged them back and felt relief intermingle with a sense of belonging.

“We do forgive you.” Rose pulled back and laughed. “But don’t cut yourself short, girl. You’re still young. You’ll make many more stupid mistakes. Let’s just make sure they aren’t life-threatening ones, okay?”

Melony nodded. “Um, I have something else to tell you both.”

“Now what?” Knox said. “Oomph. Hey!” He rubbed his ribs where Rose had just poked him. “What was that for?”

“Take it easy, and have an open mind. Remember everything we went through when we met.”

He scowled and shrugged, clearly not understanding quite yet what their relationship had to do with the situation.

“I’m Lorent’s mate, and I’d like your blessing on our relationship.”

Knox’s hands clenched into fists. “What?”