It was true that us females could become lusty too but not to the extent that the males did. Though our pheromones became intoxicating to males and if we changed into wolf form, we’d summon every male wolf for miles.
How close to the Mating Moon? How much time do I have until its arrival. I didn’t even know. I’d forgotten to track it when I no longer belonged to the wolves.
What night was it? It has to be the next few nights. I could tell from the intensity on his face. Ragged need written over him.
“I told you when the king was dead…” He said in a dark tone.
“I didn’t agree to that.”
He had never cared what I agreed to. He always speaks as if he communicates only with my wolf because the human part of me is all deception.
In some ways, I’d always found that wounding. In other ways, I knew it was partly true.
“I never asked you to.” He growled. “I gave you fair warning. You’ve had time to ready yours
Alaric eventually shook all of my guards off him like nuisance raindrops. Tossing them in a scatter over the floor. Making them slowly retreat as they eyed him as if he were someone foreign. Realizing that he was inhumanly strong. Even more powerful under the Mating Moon. Stronger, fiercer. “What are you?” One murmured. “He can’t be human.” The one that had tried to hold him said. In the chaos, I fled past him. Determined to find an escape. I looked furtively down the hall. Trying to find a safe direction to retreat. And hide throughout the Mating Moon. But I’d need somewhere that would disguise my scent. If that’s even possible. Alaric was an impressive wolf. And as the next potential Alpha, he’d been born with increased strength and senses. He can smell better than me. Better than most wolves. Which made him even more difficult to hide from.
“I don’t know what she thought.” Alaric murmured. “She’s very naïve.” Draven said. Though his tone was flat. Indicating what he believed to be fact and not insult. “She’s broken.” “Why? We were nothing but decent to her.” “She feared wolves before she came to us.” “That’s ridiculous!” Draven’s black-haired head fell back as he looked at the sky. Giving an agitated gesture. “Why in Ferus…” “I don’t know. But I will find out.” Draven’s head fell forward, and he gave his brother a pensive look. “I know you, Alaric. If you’re telling me you’re going to take care of this mess, I’ll trust you to do it. But I am warning you, Brother. She comes hunting for us, she’ll have less than one breath left when her men begin marching.” Alaric gave him an angry glower. “Keep in mind that if she does that, she’s endangering my mate.”
I heard more howling in the foyer. One of them was a voice I’d learned to recognize. The one I was forced to obey when I’d been with the Asara Pack. Draven. The Asara Alpha. Alaric had summoned his brother? I knew what this was about. Because I threatened to slaughter all wolves. He’d gone and recruited his pack to bring them against me to end a war I hadn’t even had the chance to begin. My hopes of murdering slowly the NightHunter that had ravished me were dashed. And my only thoughts became about my own survival. I became so scared that they might suspect that someone else in this castle might be, that I found myself easing back from the railing. Falling into the shadows in an effort to hide from prying eyes. I slid along the wall, trying to find somewhere to hide. As if a breath came from the Heavens, there was a slight breeze in the corridor. Billowing out a tapestry th
***Note from the author:Explicit sex. Forced and rough sex. Shape shifting. Vengeance and captivity. Dark erotica.Can be triggering for some.***“Run, Girl! Run!” Marta’s voice was echoing in my ears. Her urgency. She had shown me the break in the border wall.Where I can get through. And I needed out.I never wanted to be part of this pack. But Edrick, the Asara Pack Alpha, had made me at the get. Despite that I was residing amongst humans. Nearly invisible as what I was. He’d known me as a wolf.He had his two vicious sons drag me into Asara territory and I was forced to join their pack and become fated to be prey of one of the unbred males because I was considered one of the few ‘breedables.’Females of mating age.And in this ferocious pack, breedable she-wolves were easy prey for the males that became fiercely lustful under the Mating Moon. Willing to throwdown the nearest she-wolf and rut her into submission to sate their insane drive.Like the malevolent wolves they are. I
“Which is the only thing I want.” He finished.It was his vow that he’d have me that set me with determination.He will not. My face hardened. Making me seem far sterner than I usually was.I’m leaving this damn place before he has the chance.I knew enough about Alaric to feel intimidated and to know he didn’t bluff. He meant what he said.Then tonight, just as dark was beginning to fall, the camp exploded in chaos.Draven and Alaric returned from a hunt with Edrick on a makeshift gurney. Bleeding everywhere.Fury, Edrick’s Beta, jogged from his hut and swore at the sight of the Alpha. “I told him I needed to go with you boys. Damn him!”Fury followed them into Rebekah’s hut.It was one of the only times I ever knew of, that The Healer let males beyond her threshold.Despite all of Rebekah, efforts, Edrick was soon dead.Our Alpha was dead.Killed by the Alpha of the NightHunters and his son.Edrick had managed to slaughter the Alpha but only to scar the adult son.The camp was awhir
So, when chaos ensued as they came through the huge swinging door, bearing the body of our dead alpha, I’d taken advantage of the shouts and clattering and panicked shouts…I got out.Through the trees and through that crack behind the tree, and out to freedom. Evening light cast pink and orange hues along the horizon. Signaling that dark would soon be here.And this close to the Mating Moon, my smell would be more potent.Easier to follow.But I was counting on the fact that everyone would be too busy mourning the alpha and honoring Draven’s ascension, to pursue me.And the wolf I was the most worried about hunting me down would be in the thick of the mourning.Alaric.This is the only chance I’ll have. I reminded myself. As I wove to the back of the hunts.So, I took it.***“Run, girl. Run!” Marta urged from behind me. Her words echoing in my ear as I did my mad flight through the trees. Swinging around the trunks and lunging sideways to mark trees in directions I wasn’t going.Try
I looked over my pale shoulder and through the strands of my straight blonde hair, watching the silvery wolf emerge from the trees so close behind me. Loping through the grass. I forced my legs to go faster. Carrying me at a nearly inhuman pace that should’ve lent a clue as to what I really was.If anyone knew anything. I was counting on the fact that they were simple humans who did not.Most wolves abhorred the company of humans. Knowing they were more powerful, faster and more animalistic, they tended to keep their distance.Which also keeps them from hunting us as zealously as the mages do.The wolf behind me was cutting the distance.Heading for me.He leapt and his teeth barely missed strands of my knee length hair as he tried to catch it without taking out my legs entirely.Trying not to hurt me at least. I could appreciate that.He could’ve torn my leg out from under me and injured me.But he wants me for a mate. And doesn’t want me broken.At least not until he’s done with me.
LARAI’d cowered behind the king. Wondering if that door would hold. Willing to let that pack of nights stand between me and the vicious brother of the Alpha hunting me.I’d let anything stand between him and I. As long as it kept him from getting me.“You poor thing…” The king rubbed my hair down around my tearstained cheeks. Brushing away the dampness with old fingertips.He had a kindly face. Gentle eyes but a hard jaw beyond that white beard, that told me that his hand could be as brutal as nice.I was going to work for nice. I looked at him and wondered how far I could take this. How far will I go to avoid the wolves?Any distance. I decided. Steadying myself to what might come.I clung helplessly to the old king’s arms like a lost child. Forcing my face as vulnerable as I could make it. “Please, please help me. I’ll do anything…”“Of course, Dear. Of course we will. My, my you are a pretty one, aren’t you…Beneath all those tears. You’re luck you made it. He nearly got you.”You’