“Perhaps they do.” Killian nodded to the three identical males stepping into the small grove.
My blood coated mates.
They, all three, looked exhausted but unharmed.
Thank Heavens!
I was incredibly relieved to see them okay. Glad that the sounds of battle had died down. We won.
Seeing how shaken I appeared, Vanquish immediately whirled to see the others appearing from the camp.
“What’s going on?” He backed up toward me. Casting a worried glance over his shoulder before eyeing all the mages pouring from behind trees and the edges of the camp. Looking at them all just as warily as he had the first time, he’d seen them.
I knew I’d hugged Lyra Lani a bit longer than I needed to but it was so nice to receive affection from a female after so long with only my mates for company. I gave her another quick squeezer before letting her go. She slid her hands down my arms and did the responding squeeze to my fingers right before she let them fall. Reassuring me that I had her support. And that she’s here. Her kindness nearly brought a tear to my eye. Hearing Killian’s voice behind me, I peered back at him. He bobbed his head in greeting and waved his hands in a motion for me to come to him. I did. Returning to hug him just as eagerly. I didn’t know how many times I’d embraced he and Aviari and BailaLae now, but I was beginning to feel like it would never feel like enough. Probably because I’m so scared of losing them again. Giving his dark, waving hair, a fond caress before turning my attention back to the girl
“Her smell has changed.” Draven was staring at me as he announced it.I skittered into a sitting position. Reflexively drifting backward to put more space between he and I. Trying to protect myself.Which I’d suddenly had a much stronger urge to do, today.“I know.” Vanquish said. Rolling to lean up and give me a warm look over Hunter’s shoulder.I flushed. Biting my lip.How can they already know?I’m not even sure yet.“The Asara’s first pups are being carried by the Gallion Princess.” Vanquish murmured proudly. Meeting my gaze with infinite tenderness.My males all stretched to reverently place their palms over my flat belly. Rubbing it soothingly in a way that had me leaning back. Offering myself to more of their touch.I subconsciously flattened back out and ducked my forehead against Racer’s chest. Avoiding everyone’s permeating study and finding comfort in the warmth of my mate.Lyra Lani’s voice rose. “That’s why you’d not share the drink!”I nodded slowly without looking at h
Marta was willing to follow Lorem to the ends of Ferus.It made me consider how far I’d go to be loyal to my mates.What would I do for them?How many awful things would they have to do before my image of them changed?My instant thought was that they would never do something like what Lorem had.It’s not even a comparison.I looked at Marta.“My father should’ve banished you from the pack with Lorem.” Draven murmured. “I wonder how you’d have fared then?”“I’d have been with him.” She clawed at Fury’s grip but that was like trying to get a tree to release a trunk.He’s unmoveable.“What you want to do with her?” Fury asked.“Take her with us.” Draven said. “We’ll give her to the NightHunters and let them toy with her awhile.”Marta looked intensely nervous despite all her bravado.I bit my lower lip. Pitying her a bit for her fate.***Fury, Killian and Aviari had been talking ahead of us. Our army of wolves and mages were tromping through the woods so loudly that there was no mistak
"What do you want, Rabbit?" His green eyes levelled on me in that way that felt like they were cutting through me. "Do you want my mark?" He made it sound horrifyingly intimate. I couldn’t think of a single time that Vanquish had ever asked me for anything. He was always the terrifying presence commanding me. Dictating my movements. Forcing me to leave my hut, to eat, to socialize. The one insistent on knowing my every thought. "Wh-what d-does that m-mean?" I stuttered out. Thinking I knew what it meant, but even more desperate to know for certain. I barely remember who I am. Do I even fully understand any more, what it really means to be mated? I’d heard all the terrifying things the she-wolves spoke of. Being killed during mating or marking. And some of the brutality of their mates under the Mating Moon. But I also knew it meant other things. It means never being hungry. Never wondering
*** Note from the Author: Explicit sex. Rough sex. Forced sexual acts. And animal aggression. Please read with caution. It is dark erotica with brutality. Some individuals may find it triggering or upsetting please do not read if you do. The intent is not to upset anyone. *** Lost I remembered running. I remembered being covered in blood. Blood which wasn’t mine. It didn’t smell like me. Sticky dried blood which now matted my hair over my face. My clothes were thick with it making them nearly solid in the chilly morning ai
At some point I’d dozed off as evening descended. Sleeping against a tree weekly. Facing away from the wall to watch for intruders. Trying to be quiet. One squirrel had been kind but wasn’t enough. My stomach was growling from the hunger. Feeling like it was gnawing away at my backbone in desperation. “Jaecar!” I heard a man shout from a distance away. “Jaecar!” Another voice from another direction. “Let her in!” This voice was far too my right. How many were there? Let me in where? Was this help or more torment? The door groaned open and a tall man with black hair and a black goatee stepped through the door to meet me. “Who are you?” “Vanna…Rae…” I said slowly. Mechanically recalling my name. “Well, Vanna Rae, you look like warmed over hell.” I assumed this was Jaecar since he was indeed, ‘letting me in.’ “You need to get washed up down in the creek.” He pointe
I didn’t know where I’d come from or why I ended up wandering hungry in the woods.I knew I was fortunate Jaecar had no interest in me.He had his eye on a she-wolf already.Samantha. He'd been chasing every male away from her for years, from what I understood.In some ways I envied her. He seemed to be the only kind wolf among the bunch of lascivious males.I used all the oversized clothes to pretend to be a frumpy little female to keep the pack from being interested.From preying on me under the Mating Moon.It worked. I kept the heavy bindings under my dress each day. And the bodice loose enough to hide any hint of shape. Then I kept my hood low over my face.Doing my damnedest to not earn any attention.I’d kept hidden in the rundown hut for a while, but those aggressive males had soon scented me.Three virile males that were never apart. They looked identical. Good looking,
“That cloak certainly does.” Hunter cackled from behind us feigning holding his nose. “She definitely sweats in it.”“Round little thing, aren’t you?” Racer stepped aside me and lightly poked me in the belly. Unaware it was the soft bindings I layered under my clothes.I nodded hesitantly. Let them think that.But I was nervous. I always was around them.Vanquish led me near the creek.***Soon the other two were splashing and laughing.I was pointedly ignoring them.After a time, I was sure they were busy frolicking. I made a break for it. Trying to retreat back to the safety of my hut.I'll need more nails and boards to keep them out.But as I slowly edged toward the border of trees I bumped into a solid wall and flinched.“Where do you think you’re going?” Vanquish’s inescapable eyes were locked on me. Thick musc