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Chapter Forty-Eight
Last Updated:
2022-08-26 23:58:46
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After the Downfall Chapter Forty-Nine
The next couple of days crawled by as the acid rain persisted in falling, and I was beginning to feel stir crazy, flashes of how I’d felt in the fallout shelter coming back with a vengeance. I’d tried practicing with my katana in the open area of the cavern, not daring to unsheathe my silver-laced daggers in the confined room with all the shifters present, but the exertion only wore me out in the long run. Nothing stopped my worries about the worst-case scenario occurring, and my concern for Mira made my anxieties twice as real. Gage and Silas did their best to pretend the other didn’t exist, which I thought was childish, but I decided to pick my battles, just feeling grateful they weren’t at each other’s throats. Silas certainly tested the limits a few times, his casual affection grating on Gage’s nerves and leaving me a tad uncomfortable initially. Silas’s closeness helped calm me, but I wasn’t trying to throw my relationship in my friend’s face either. Thankfully, Silas wasn’t
Last Updated : 2022-08-27After the Downfall Chapter Fifty
“Morning, Zoe. Sleep well?” Atlas inquired as I ambled over to him in a daze. “Mm, yeah. Better than I have in a while actually. That smells divine.” I said, my eyes glued to the grilled meat that had likely been the reason I’d awoken. I’d skipped dinner last night in my mission to avoid Silas, and my rumbling stomach announced my hunger for all to hear, even if it was only Atlas for the time being. Chuckling, my uncle encouraged me to eat, and I dug in without preamble, moaning in pleasure as the smoky taste exploded on my tongue. After satiating some of my hunger, I was able to feel somewhat normal enough to have an actual conversation with the male. We’d been here for days, but this was the first chance for us to have a heart-to heart alone. No way was I wasting it. “Why didn’t I know about you? About shifters? You mentioned my dad left on his own, but could he shift?” I peppered him with questions, but he took them all in stride. “No, your dad couldn’t shift. Our bloodline ha
Last Updated : 2022-08-28After the Downfall Chapter Fifty-One
I didn’t know how to respond to Silas’s admission, and I stood there gaping like an idiot as he went on to describe how our pissy attitudes had been caused by the stress to our bond. I didn’t know what to say, and I continued mentally floundering as he cautiously crept closer to me. On the one hand, I was beyond angry that he’d left out this key bit of information, but I was reminded once more of how he’d asked me to trust him to share what I needed to know when he felt the time was right. This felt like it would fall under that category, and I could understand why he would choose to keep this intel from me as well, as much as it killed me to admit. Considering how I felt now, I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that my emotions were real. Even when I was furious with the Alpha, the love that had been blossoming in the pit of my stomach all this time was still there, and I grasped how difficult he’d made things on himself in order to ensure I received the time I needed for me to wil
Last Updated : 2022-08-29After the Downfall Chapter Fifty-Two
The guys ran for hours, and I felt damn near chilled to the bone by the time Silas came to a stop at last, the whipping wind made all the worse by the speed shifters were capable of when in their animal forms. It was too dark out for me to see much, but the thunder rumbling in the not too far off distance told me we were cutting it close on escaping the elements. I heard the others moving around in the large cave I grasped we were in, but then someone sparked a match, shedding light on the interior of the natural shelter and making me realize I knew exactly where we were. Unsurprisingly, Gage turned out to be the one who’d illuminated the area, lighting another pre-lit fire like the one he’d had when he first brought me here, and I gravitated towards the warmth without being conscious of my feet moving me closer. Melting to the ground, I held my hands out to bask in the heat as the guys shifted forms, dressing and working together to get us organized for the night. I felt kind of b
Last Updated : 2022-08-30After the Downfall Chapter Fifty-Three
The natural shelter that Gage had selected was small, and all of the males had had to shift in order for us to fit comfortably. What was initially meant to be a few hours delay turned into several more as acid rain fell from the blackened sky, leaving me slumped over against the wall and leaning heavily on Silas while water poured from the heavens. There wasn’t enough room for a fire, but Silas had taken a blanket out of his pack to wrap around me as we waited out the storm. Our rations were severely depleted after the numerous delays the weather had caused, but the guys had all insisted I consume the few snacks we had left. It was true that my body required more sustenance to function properly than a shifter’s, but that didn’t make me feel any less shitty, just the same. Slumbering heavily as the time dragged on, it took me a few minutes to reorient myself as I felt a gentle pressure against my shoulder. I rolled over, attempting to stretch my arms out above my head, but I speedil
Last Updated : 2022-08-31After the Downfall Chapter Fifty-Four
I walked closer to the female, the portable light source she was holding leaving no doubt as to who had discovered me. I knew the others would be making their way inside soon, and I didn’t want her to get a glimpse of the guys. My head was racing as I considered my options, but I still detected how pale and worn-out Alissa looked. Temporarily forgetting about why I was here, I genuinely queried, “Are you okay, Alissa? I know we’ve had our differences, but I can help you.” My words tasted bitter on my tongue, and I wanted to recant them the second they’d slipped out. Yet, I didn’t, swallowing the building bile as I forced myself to do the right thing. I might not like the woman who’d done her damnedest to make my life miserable while I’d lived here, all the while feigning friendship in the hopes of steering me in the direction she’d wanted, as if I would be so pliable. Even so, Alissa’s distress was palpable, and I was here to help. It was feasible in my mind that Robbie’s vitrio
Last Updated : 2022-08-31After the Downfall Chapter Fifty-Five
It was pitch black in the room, but I was already aghast at what the lantern at the door illuminated of the space in front of us. Mira bent down, picking up the lamp and bringing it into the room with us as several girls scurried back out of the light. The room wasn’t big enough for them to go far, but they did their best to hide behind the available furniture, which wasn’t much. I took in a battered card table, a handful of broken seats, and a few large mattresses, piled high with a mountain of blankets at least. It was a harrowing sight, and I shoved aside the emotions welling up at the conditions that bastard had forced upon these females. That was saying nothing of the twisted expectations he’d held of them, and my pity filled me as I noticed more than one of them were pregnant. Silence reigned as Mira strode forth, but Saint quietly murmured that Silas and the others had reached Robbie’s quarters, not elaborating beyond warning me of an incoming storm system a few minutes late
Last Updated : 2022-08-31After the Downfall Chapter Fifty-Six
I dashed forward, cautiously glancing into the gaping hole I now saw plain as day, and I shivered as I realized what had happened to Alissa. A wave of emotions rolled over me, and I didn’t grasp what was happening around me, startling at a heavy hand landing on my shoulder. The details were slipping away, and I forgot about what I’d thought I heard as I came back to my reality. Bergamot and engine grease wafted around me, relaxing my tensed shoulders as the hand pulled me back against a hard chest. Gage’s voice barely registered over the pounding of my pulse as he said, “We need to move, honey. We don’t have long before the sky opens up on us, and Blaze might already be here.” I didn’t respond, but I let him steer me away from the shaft, listening as he intoned, “There’s a reason this tunnel was off limits. Those pits were drilled deep to reach the silver down below. She should have never been down this way, and Silas is going to be pissed you ran off on your own with all the other
Last Updated : 2022-08-31
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After the Downfall Thank you!!
First off, I want to thank all of you who've stuck with me since the beginning of this book. I appreciate all the patience you've shown as I navigate through this bumpy part in my life. I've had a pretty crappy couple of months, from the many goodbyes in my life to a freaking hurricane interfering with everything, I've struggled to put anything into words, but I'm slowly coming back to myself. There are a ridiculous amount of edits waiting to be approved (particularly at the end), but editors are on break, so it may unfortunately take a while for them to show. The word count should be over 120k once they are approved, but you may also have to log out and then back into the app for them to show. Any feedback would be much appreciated!! Reviews and/or comments are an author's brainfood! I do want to also touch base on the ending. I realize I've left some things unanswered. This was done intentionally because Gage will be getting his own book. However, I do not have a timeframe for w
After the Downfall Chapter Sixty-Nine
Silas didn’t need to ask why my mood had plummeted when he returned to walk back to the pack house with me, and he didn’t pressure me into anything when we were alone in the spacious room. Instead, he ran me a bubble bath, encouraging me to relax in the soapy water as he massaged the tension from my shoulders, comforting, “I’m sure they’ll both be here any day now, Bell. Atlas and Gage can take care of themselves, but I’m more than willing to knock some sense into them when they do finally make it here after all the worry that they’ve put you through.” I chuckled weakly at his attempt to bring a smile to my face, but it was transient at best, even if I had no misgivings about whether Silas would follow through on his threat if I really wanted him to. We didn’t end up continuing what we’d begun earlier in the evening, but Silas didn’t seem to mind in the slightest, holding me securely against his chest in the king-sized bed throughout the night without even a whisper of what he’d bee
After the Downfall Chapter Sixty-Eight
Needless to say, Silas, nor Slade for that matter, were pleased with the way things were turning out, but they couldn’t necessarily ignore the bond that had been formed between Rylan and Rhona. Truthfully, it would probably be just for Rylan to lose his chance at finding happiness given all the hurt he’d perpetrated over a period of years from what the males had revealed, but that wouldn’t be fair to Rhona. Moreover, I couldn’t help but think my epiphany would change things. I didn’t know everything about how the mate bond worked, but if I was correct and Alissa had been Rylan’s first mate, there was no doubt in my mind that her erratic behavior could have contributed to his crazed state of mind with her absence. I remembered how Silas had eventually confided in me how my distance was affecting our mental health when I’d overheard parts of his conversation with Saint above ground prior, and I felt confident the level Alissa had gone to would likely drive any man insane. It was conv
After the Downfall Chapter Sixty-Seven
Notwithstanding the relatively uncomfortable lack of furnishings and creature comforts in the cave, I thoroughly enjoyed my respite from reality with Silas as we took the time to solidify our relationship, but I knew our escape was drawing to an end. I felt the same soreness from when my canines had made an appearance, only the feeling was emanating from my whole body. It’d been hours since I’d claimed my mate, but it seemed the rest of my body was determined to catch up now. Silas was slumbering peacefully at my side as the pain woke me up, and I’d moved away from his body in an effort to not rouse him. Yet, he was awake a minute later, his familiar voice soothing some of my frayed edges as he explained what was happening, saying, “It’s time to shift, Bell. The pain will stop once the first transformation is complete. I’m here, baby. Let your wolf guide you.” The anguish deepened, and I writhed on the ground as my body splintered apart, an inferno razing its way through me, leavin
After the Downfall Chapter Sixty-Six
After everything we’d been through to get to this point, I knew every minute of heartache and pain had been worth it, and I beamed as the strength of our connection blossomed in my mind, seeming to branch out its leafy tendrils as I basked in the exhilaration flowing through me. The feelings spreading through me were beyond incredible, and my wail was the only thing I could hear as I floated high up in the clouds overhead, figuratively speaking of course. Even so, I wasn’t so gone that I didn’t revel in the feeling of Silas’s dick spurting deep into my rippling core, his hard body pressing mine into the unforgiving ground as he released my legs to fall forward until our naked chests were smooshed together. He was breathing hard, still brushing a few soft kisses across my face as we both came down from our zenith and laving his tongue over where he’d claimed me at long last. Sweat slicked our skin, cooling my overheated body as he pulled out, rolling over and positioning me to where
After the Downfall Chapter Sixty-Five
All thought ground to a halt in my mind; then, my brain kicked into overdrive, and I was blurting out the first thing to pop into my head, “Blaze was down. I got him with my daggers. There’s no way he was going anywhere.” My denial was prompt. Gage couldn’t be missing. It just couldn’t be true. Saint exchanged glances with Kat as he moved to put his arms around Mira, whom had tears leaking down her face for some reason. Silas pulled me in closer to his body, wrapping his own burly arms around my shaking frame. “I don’t know what happened between when you saw Blaze and when I did, Zoe, but I’m positive it was him that Gage was tracking. Maybe he was able to resist the poison longer due to him being an Alpha, but Gage and Atlas can handle him, regardless. Your uncle went out looking for him, so he’ll guide Gage back to our pack.” Woodsy oak and damp moss invaded my nostrils as Silas pressed my face against his chest, the coarse hair tickling against my cheek providing another sensati
After the Downfall Chapter Sixty-Four
“Shit! When the fuck did they join the fight?” Silas shouted, speedily setting me on my feet as he shifted shapes, sprinting after the rogue wolf. I wanted to follow them, worry for Rhona already blossoming in the pit of my stomach, but I made myself split off to hobble through the waterfall, intent on checking on the others. Not to mention, I was plainly in no condition to be launching a manhunt. Hell, I was barely standing on two feet by this point. The icy liquid washed over me, and I was spluttering as I advanced through the short cave until I reached the others, using the rocky wall as a support. All the females were on guard, Rhona’s scream having put them on high alert, but Mira threw herself forward once I’d made it within the circle of light, her voice frantic as she inquired, “Zoe! What happened?! Are you okay? Where’s Rhona?” I didn’t have the strength to keep standing upright, the weight of Silas’s and my own wounds coalescing to leave me feeling as if a hurricane had
After the Downfall Chapter Sixty-Three
There was instantaneous chaos surrounding me, and I sprung up onto my feet as I scanned the area, unable to see further than a foot or two in front of me. It was still dark outside, but I knelt down once more, fumbling around for my bag as I registered the females’ cries and the wolves scampering towards the exit. It took me a minute, but I was bolstered by Silas’s determined aura radiating back to me through the connection we shared. I didn’t question anything for now, simply grateful when my hand came into contact with the familiar worn canvas of my backpack, and I dipped out of the way of a shifter who’d nearly bulldozed over me in his haste to cut off the assault before it’d truly begun. A fleeting jolt of fear rocketed through me as I grasped that we were on our own, and I silently said a prayer that we could manage to keep the enemies at bay without Katya and Slade. I knew Silas was strong, and the other guys I’d been travelling with had proved they could take care of themsel
After the Downfall Chapter Sixty-Two
Silas and the others returned before I had the chance to panic too much, and they brought some much-needed provisions with them to everyone’s relief, even if it wasn’t much after it had been divvied up between the members of our group. It was enough to keep the girls calm and the shifters from complaining until the cows came home anyway, but I wasn’t foolish enough to believe we were out of hot water. Still, I thought it wise not to bring the issue to everyone’s attention, knowing it would only throw the others into disarray if they hadn’t already figured out that something was up. While everyone was engrossed with filling their bellies, I joined my mate, asking in a low voice, “Is everything okay?” I didn’t miss the anxious look in his amber brown eyes, but he responded with a tight smile, saying, “It will be. I contacted Slade and Katya. They’re gathering a group to come meet us so we’re not traveling through the forest at such a disadvantage. The girls need rest before we move a
