**Atlas**
I hated horses. Not only did they smell, they were also a lot slower than me in my wolf form. We didn’t keep many of them, as they were hardly ever used. However, on rare occasions when we needed to stay human, they were the best option for travel. My wolf wasn’t happy that I wasn’t letting him out, but I didn’t have a choice. I clumsily saddled the black stallion. He almost appeared to be looking at me with the same apprehension I felt. I checked the packs, enough food for two people for a couple of days, supplies for the horse and some blankets. I sighed at the sword inside its sheath on my hip. If I wasn’t able to shift, it would be my only protection for the duration of my journey. I wasn’t a bad swordsman- it was a skill we practiced despite being able to deliver more damage in our wolf form. However, I still hoped there would not be a need to use it. I took a breath and reminded myself why I was doing this, and pulled myself up. One final check to ensure the strange pendant was around my neck, and I gave a light kick on the horses’ flanks to begin my journey. I had risen early in order to avoid being seen again. The feeling of the wind of my face was blowing the last remnants of sleep away. I realised that if she was the hybrid we were looking for, I would need to bring her back on horseback. I thought about getting another horse once I reached the village.
As I wasn’t in wolf form, I decided to take the main road. To get to it I had to travel a little way through the ancient forest. We had scouts posted all the time around our territory. Not only could we then ward humans away, we could also report any vampire or mage threats. As Beta, I knew when and where our scouts would be. I rode towards the area I knew would be clear. Although our senses weren’t as heightened in human form as they were in our wolf form, they were still superior to that of a normal human. I could hear the movement of every animal that was nearby. I could even smell them. I suddenly sensed a stag to my right. My wolf growled. He wanted to be released so he could hunt. As much as I wanted to submit to his will, I had to carry on.
I reached the main road without being seen by our scouts. From here the journey would be fairly boring. The main road had been built in open flat land, so the view was monotonous. I entertained myself by making up stories about the other people travelling on the road. It’s a game my mother had played with me when I was a child. We’d come out to the main road and we would bring something to eat and watch people go by.
I let my mind wonder while the horse galloped on. Before I knew it, I was stopping for lunch. I found a stream not far from the road to refill my water pouch and allow the horse to drink. I walked gingerly. I had forgotten how sore riding could be, another reason to avoid it wherever possible. I sat on the trunk of a fallen tree and ate the bread and cured ham I had bought with me while the horse, now fully refreshed by the stream, was grazing on the lush grass. I was making excellent time. I would be at her village before supper. Just as I was packing up to continue on, I noticed another traveller in moss green robes. Clearly having the same idea, they had stopped to let their horse drink. They were quite far down the stream so I couldn’t make them out well, but I thought it was odd for the individual to have their hood up on a warm day. I watched from the corner of my eye while half continuing to pack my things. My wolf stirred and I knew he had sensed something. I couldn’t work out if it was a feeling of threat or not. I decided that I needed to reach my destination as soon as possible, and got the horse ready to leave. When I turned around, the traveller was gone.
I arrived at the village a few hours later. It was much the same as any other human village, thatched roofs covering stone cottages, dirt tracks and an entrance leading to a market place. I dismounted my house. I caught a group of young women giggling and looking in my direction. I rolled my eyes but secretly enjoyed the attention. It was a shame I didn’t have time to indulge a little while I was here. In order to escape temptation, I stopped a man carrying a crate of vegetables to ask him where the inn was. “Just across the market, one ‘o the biggest buildings here” I gave my thanks and led the horse in the direction the man had pointed out. After passing the next few stalls, I discovered the inn. It was larger than the cottages, but was still made the same with stone and a thatched roof. It looked a little tired, and I could tell the roof needed repairing in places. It certainly would be an odd place to find a hybrid. I tied the horse to the post outside and made my way in. If I thought it looked tired outside, it certainly didn’t get any better inside. The place needed a good cleaning, and some of the tables and chairs had been crudely fixed with odd pieces of wood. I made my way to the bar where a grubby looking blonde girl stood leaning back and inspecting the filth under her nails. At my approach she looked up and smiled, making sure to lean over the bar so I could see her cleavage. “What’ll it be” she asked, giving me a look up and down and batting her eyelashes. “I’d like to see the owner”. The girl blinked “What business do you have with her?” “Business that I will only discuss with her” I replied flatly. Although originally charmed by my appearance, the girl was annoyed by my lack of willingness to flirt with her. “Who shall I say’s asking?” “Someone who will pay for her time” I replied. The girl gave me a final dismissive look, and turned to leave through a door at the back of the bar.
An even grubbier and disgruntled woman appeared from the back door with an odd body shape. She was short, with skinny arms, small bosoms and a large stomach. It was almost comedy like the way she shuffled forward. “My name is Gurtar and I own this inn, perhaps you’d like to tell me who you are and what you want”. I smiled and bowed my head “I will gladly tell you, however I would appreciate it if we could speak in private” I held up the purse with the gold in to indicate my ability to compensate her. Her interest instantly elevated by the promise of coin she motioned for her to follow me towards a door just off the bar.
Through the door was a small corridor, Gurtar pushed the first door on the left open to reveal a small parlour. She prompted me to take a seat on a wooden chair positioned near the fireplace. “Well?” she said, taking her own seat. I placed the purse on the table beside me. “My name is Atlas, I come from a town some miles from here and have been sent by my master to enquire about one of your servants, a girl, with dark hair. We believe she may have caused some trouble for you recently with one of your patrons some days ago involving a burn to his hand”. Gurtar narrowed her eyes “If this is some kind of threat to myself because of what happened I will be cutting this meeting very short”. “No it’s not a threat, my master isn’t concerned for the man, but the incident did bring the girl to his attention because of her description. My master believes she is a…” I hesitated, lying wasn’t one of my skills. “...distant relation, that was lost to the family some time ago and has sent me to find out if that’s the case” I noticed Gurtar’s face had turned from angry to amused. “If it is the same girl, I intend to take her back with me”. I stopped, waiting for Gurtar to make comment. Instead, she began cackling like a mad woman. “So…you think…” She was still laughing as she went on “...that dirty troublesome urchin is a long lost relative…of a man that clearly has enough money to send out muscle to retrieve them?” She continued to chuckle. “Well, you have at least made a dull day into a jollier one”. I smiled thinly. “That as it may be, I still need to meet the girl as soon as possible, I will of course pay for the time. And if she is the girl, I believe her to be, I will leave you with more than enough money to employ her replacement” Gurtar clapped her hands together “Well what a turn up, here’s hoping you take the brat off! I will fetch her”. And with that she disappeared out of the parlour. I could still hear her laughing down the corridor.
**Jarin**I walked out of the castle gates followed by Asher and Doran. The rest of the pack would stay and protect the castle, in case it was a trap to draw me out and attack. We stood at the edge of the trees and removed our clothes, stuffing them into the packs that Asher and Doran would carry in their mouths after we shifted. If we were going to talk with the vampires, we needed to be in our human form. Once we were ready, I nodded in Asher and Doran’s direction to signal them to shift. The familiar pain surged through my body. It was strange. It hurt every time we shifted, but the pain almost became like an old friend. It was reassuring. Asher and Doran collected the packs, and I started running in the direction of the Eastern Outpost. This was the closest place to where our territories met. Some years ago, it was further away, and the werewolves occupied more land. However, with our
**Atlas**I stood up to look out of the small parlour window. It looked out onto the market place of the village. I reflected again what a dingy place it really was. All of the buildings looked like they were in various states of disrepair. Everyone that roamed the streets look miserable. The only people that looked like they might have money were clearly traders. If she really was a hybrid, it would be the last place I would think she would be.I heard footsteps approaching so I turned and watched the door open. Gurtar came in followed by…my breath hitched. The girl had dark curly auburn hair that was messily pulled back. She was dressed in literal rags, and her face was dirty and pale. She was clearly underweight and looked fragile. Despite this, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on. A strange feeling stirred within me. I had never felt like this before. My wolf made a desperate cry insi
**Thea**“Now!? You’re leaving NOW?!” Gurtar was furious. “It’s almost nightfall! Do you know how indecent it is to leave with a strange man at this time of day?” “I don’t think that is any longer you concern” I said, braver than I had ever spoken to her in the past. “You cheeky ungrateful cow!” Gurtar spat at me. “After all I’ve done for you”. She smacked the edge of the bar loudly, and the few patrons that were in tonight looked up in interest at our public display “Do you know how much coin I’ve been offered by various people to fuck you? I would be a rich woman by now. But I saved you from that life!” “Gurtar, I cannot deny, you took me in when others would have left me to die. But you never showed me love, if you had, I would have shown you it back”. She looked taken
**Atlas**The castle came into view, I heard her gasp. I realised it was probably the biggest structure she’d ever seen in her life. I sensed awe but also a small amount of apprehension in the way she gazed up, her mouth parted slightly. As she marvelled at my home, I marvelled yet again at her beauty.Conflicting emotions began battling in my head. On one hand, the journey had been torturous. Being so close to her, her back occasionally falling onto me, my hands grazing her thighs as I steered the horse, her scent filling my nose…It was almost impossible to resist her. On the other hand, I knew that this journey was the closest I was ever going to get to her. Soon we would be separated and I would never have a reason to touch her again. My wolf was furious with me.We had arrived around dawn, having not slept at all since I had left
**Thea**I had never been in a place this grand. In fact, I had never been anywhere you could have called grand at all. The castle was magnificent, so magnificent, for a brief moment I forgot why I was here. Not that I really knew that anyway.I couldn’t believe how big it was. When we had arrived outside its size had intimidated me. I had not wanted to leave Atlas. I’d expected him to show me to my room. Although I acknowledged it was much more appropriate for another woman to do this. Bessie did seem lovely. She was a stunning woman, without a doubt the most beautiful I had ever seen. She had blonde hair that was elaborately braided with ribbons. It was as long as the entire length of her back. Her eyes were green with flecks of gold, and they shone whenever she smiled. Her womanly figure was clad in a pale green dress that was fastened at the back with pearls. It nipped her in at the waist, the floor
**Jarin**I had let Atlas sleep for most of the day, but I had no choice but to wake him in the afternoon to discuss the offer that the vampires had presented me with. I decided to leave the detail out about Viola. The more I thought about it, the more I was sure I must have imagined it. Probably baffled by the vampires suddenly wanting a truce. I had noticed how tired he looked. He didn’t seem to be quite himself, but I couldn’t get a sense of what the issue was. And anyway, I unfortunately had other matters that needed my attention. After a lengthy conversation, we came to the agreement that it would be wise to accept the offer.Before we left, I decided we needed to inform the rest of our warriors. I gathered them in the great hall. As its name suggests, it is the largest room in the castle. Every celebration takes place within it. As I stepped through the doors, I realised this would be the pla
*Thea*The first thing I felt was warmth. I was so comfortably warm. I stretched out to feel the soft padded sheet envelope me. Startled as to why I wasn’t cold and on a hard stone floor, I sat up suddenly looking about. As I took in the surroundings of the beautiful room, it all came flooding back. I couldn’t believe it was real and not some lovely yet torturous dream. It was light outside, and I wondered what time it was.Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. “Thea? It’s Bessie, is it okay for me to come in?” I rushed out of bed and over to the door “Just coming”. I opened the heavy door and allowed Bessie to come into the room. She was carrying a tray laden with boiled eggs, thick cuts of ham, a tankard of milk, fresh warm bread and a generous pot of butter. “Thank you, Bessie, I really don’t expect you to bring me food, I don’t want to trouble you”. &l
**Thea**Bessie all but collapsed into fits of giggles. Had she gone mad? Wait. Maybe this had all been a joke. Maybe there was no such thing as werewolves and she was winding me up. She caught sight of my face and regained her composure. “Oh, I am sorry Thea. It’s just…” More laughing ensued “It’s just, that question is quite…intimate” I still didn’t understand. Picking up on that she continued. “You see, asking someone that question directly, to see their wolf, it kind of means you want to have sex with them”. My face turned crimson. “Oh, but…that doesn’t really make any sense” Bessie grinned. “You’re right, it doesn’t really. But it’s sort of a question you ask because you hope once they shift back to human form, they will stay naked for you…and you know…” I didn’t know what to say. I felt t