Ignashevich brothers ^
So, I am not Russian ð so I do not know how to pronounce the places or the brothers surname. I got the places from my phones World Map and the surname from some guy in the Russian national soccer team. So, I dunno. Ahaha. We'll struggle together unless I have some beautiful Russian readers who can help. ðð
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The Defiance
We landed a few minutes ago and no one has moved an inch since we had. We landed in Chelyabinsk, a few hours away from, Yekaterinburg, where Mariska had said Ivan's estate was. Landing in Chelyabinsk was still a risk because it was still apart of Ivan's territory.
He rarely left Yekaterinburg because Russia had nine different timezones and he just couldn't deal with the difference all at once. Which I get, I mean, nine different timezones? That's crazy, I'd never leave my estate either.
Another reason why we landed here is that the people of Chelyabinsk are the most fed up with his tyranny. So, they're easier to keep quiet.
His goons were still everywhere though so we had to be careful. Even though we got help from the little defiance group, not everyone in Chelyabinsk were apart of the defiance.
"So, what's the plan?" I asked, breaking the silence.
Everyone seemed to have fallen into a 'what now' zone. As if they didn't believe we were here and everything was about to go down. As if they hadn't spent fourteen hours planning this great scheme.
The aeroplane door opened and in walked Mariska.
"This is all? Not even a few Warriors? You think," She counted us as if she were counting sheep, "Ten of you against Ivan's entire army will suffice? What game do you think this is? Do you really hate your mate so much that you couldn't even summon any of your wolves to fight for her?" She hissed at Alexander.
He scoffed, "Here in Chelyabinsk there are enough defiance wolves to defeat him, are there not?"
She cursed in Russian and rolled her eyes, "Of course there is."
He smiled, "So, all we have to do is bait them then we have Liah bless our little souls and then we're off to Yekaterinburg and we've got it all in the bag."
"Bait them?" She raised a curious brow.
"Tell them we're here to help them overthrow Ivan." He shrugs.
Mariska mulled it over. "Well then, what are we waiting for?"
We got out the plane and followed Mariska to her little shop. I kept thinking how I was going to do this, how this was it. No turning back now, we came here to fight and a fight is what we'll get.
I shouldn't have pushed for us to go right this instant, we could've trained, brought a few men. I don't know, anything but ten wolves. Well, nine wolves.
"Xander," I tried to grab Alexander's arm.
He slowed down and walked instep with me, "Xander?" He brushed his beard, "I like it. Maybe I should've gone by Xander Russo all my life, it sounds badass." He smiled.
"I agree. That day we met, had you said Xander Russo, I totally would've agreed when you called yourself intimidating. 'Badass' would've worked too." He chuckles as I shrug.
Thinking back to that day now, it feels like a lifetime ago but being able to be here and reminiscing on it with him, it feels good.
"I'm badass and you know it. If I weren't you wouldn't have gotten that scared when I told you who I was." He crosses his muscular arms and smirks.
"I was just making you happy," I lie, I had never been more terrified in my life, "It was a toss up between Lex and Xander, actually."
Lex had a nice ring to it but I doubt he would like it, so I went for the latter.
"Oh, thank Goddess you went with Xander, I wouldn't have turned had you called out Lex. That does not sound badass at all."
I laughed, "It totally does! Lex is hardcore and stuff."
"And what stuff? Flowery?"
I laughed, "Yeah and â"
"You two. Get in." Mariska snapped.
I quickly shut my mouth and made my way into the shop. I had been having such a great laugh with Alexander I had forgotten where we were and why we were here.
The air around the two of us had changed for the better and I could not believe it. It was shocking though it was the greatest gift. I wished we had been like this from the start.
Although the path we had to take made for a much greater story that I would love to tell our pups one day.
Entering Mariska's shop this time around was not as nerve-racking as the first time.
"Okay. I have summoned the leaders of The Defiance. They'll join us shortly." Mariska said.
Everyone found stray chairs and sat down. We didn't wait long before there was a knock on the door. Mariska got up and immediately opened the door. She greeted them all in Russian.
Three men walked in making their way towards us before they stood still. My guess was they were brothers. They looked identical. They all dark black hair, brown eyes and jawlines chiselled by the Moon Goddess herself. Goodness gracious they were a sight.
"Hello." The first one said, he had more spiked hair, "I'm Demitri."
The other with slightly longer hair standing in the middle introduced himself as, "Devon."
"Damon." The last said, he had shorter hair than Devon.
He was also staring right at me. His eyes held intrigue and... desire? I snapped my eyes away, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Instinctively holding onto Alexander's hand, he started to run circles with his thumb.
Mariska nodded, "These are the Ignashevich Brothers. They lead The Defiance. Tell them your plans."
"That won't be necessary." Damon said, "You're Elijah Vilakazi. Much prettier than I imagined, might I add. I know what's happened to you. Mariska mentioned it a few times. I'll help you."
Reluctantly reaching his eye I spoke, "This isn't just about me anymore. It's about your Pack too now."
I knew this is the story Alexander said we should sell but I meant every word, this was no longer just our fight. It was theirs too, they deserved to be free, they deserved new leadership.
He smiled, "Yes, I know that. I'm just letting you know that I too am not just doing it for myself but you too."
"Thank you." I smiled.
Glaring at Alexander, Devon spoke, "You don't have the greatest name around these parts, Russo."
"I don't have the greatest name around many parts, what's your point?" He snaps.
Devon only narrows his eyes, "My point is our people won't want to fight behind you." He explains.
"Well good thing you're leading then." Alexander shrugs seemingly un-phased.
All three brothers turn to Mariska. Their confusion is clear as day.
"You failed to inform us of this, Mariska." Devon hissed.
The witch only throws up a dismissive hand.
"It's what you wanted, what more did you expect? It's your grounds. You know them best, of course, you are to lead." Alexander drawled.
"Well then. We'll be off to Yekaterinburg in thirty minutes." Damon said, walking out.
Before he did, he walked up to me and held out his arm, I hesitatingly placed my hand in his and he kissed it gingerly. His lips lingered on the back of my hand for a moment too long.
Alexander nearly lost his eyes when Damon didn't remove his lips or let go. I could see him trying to control himself, he was losing because Abel had to say a few words in his ear. I slowly tried to retract my hand from Damon's grip.
Damon kept his grip on it but removed his lips. He tilted his head up and whispered, "If he doesn't treat you right, I know a man who would. I'm not fighting for Dark Sword but for you."
I couldn't control my reaction. My eyes grew and my breathing stopped for a moment out of shock. This man that I literally just met is willing to die for me, a she-wolf he doesn't even know.
He let go and stepped back. Nodded at the ten of us before walking away. Leaving the shop with his brothers trailing behind him.
"Well. It seems the long list of Elijah Suitors has grown a head." Axel shakes his head, "Alex, maybe you should go out there to die. You know? Help a brother out." I wanted to laugh but Alexander's face told me that he was not impressed with the 'suitors' or his brothers' words.
I grabbed Alexander and took him to what I suspect is a back room, "Excuse us." I mumbled to the rest.
"I'm not bothered with any other â"
His lips came down on mine before I could get out another syllable. I didn't think too long before I reacted. I ran my hands through his hair. Goddess, his hair was a silky untangled mop of greatness.
I was utterly obsessed with it. I pulled a few strands and I could hear the moan run up his throat. It was deep and had me weak in the knees. His kiss, dammit, he had me weak in the knees.
I pulled back and did what I had to, while he was still dazed. I knew he wouldn't let me any other way.
I brought my face to his neck and lightly kissed it, while I was still light on my tiptoes I elongated my canines and bit down on his neck. He stiffened for a moment before he shuddered.
Alexander Russo actually shuddered.
I licked the blood off the mark and stepped back. He didn't move his eyes were trained on me, swirling with different emotions, I could grab just one. I think he was trying to control his anger or the pleasure or deciding what to do with me. I didn't know.
"What have you done?" He whispered.
"I-I had to. How else would I know if you were safe or not out there? I'll be here or wherever safe and sound and you'll be out there, fighting my fight and I won't even know if you're okay.
"I don't care about the supposed list Axel joked of, I don't care about anyone else. I just care that you don't die out there. I care about whether or not you're going to make it back to me." I was fiddling with my shirt as I said all of that.
The connection between his brain and limbs kicked in and he took one step towards me and once again captured my lips with his. He trailed kisses to my neck and I brought it closer to his lips, I wanted to be connected to him.
Just as he pulls back to extract his canines a knock on the door sounds, he curses shaking his head as he takes a step back.
Mariska opens the door and speaks, "We need to leave. It's time."