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Chapter Forty
Last Updated:
2022-08-18 21:38:21Related chapters
After the Downfall Chapter Forty-One
I was barely awake the subsequent morning as I went through the motions of getting dressed and shoveling some sustenance into my mouth, but I was thanking the Moon Goddess or whomever for the fact that I’d already packed the day before. It was still dark outside when Silas, Saint, and I met the male who was dropping us off closer to the exit, the first signs of a new day beginning to show as the twittering of birds piped up in the near silence. Jittery from the prospect of what we were embarking on alone, I couldn’t help how much I was moving, my knee bouncing as I whipped my head around to look out the window as the car sailed forward smoothly. Saint had taken the front seat next to Nix, so Silas was able to pull me into the circle of his arms, cradling me against his body as he tangled a hand in my hair. He used it as an anchor to lift my head, directing my mouth to his and proceeding to absolutely plunder my lips before he put a scant few inches between us, saying, “Everything i
Last Updated : 2022-08-19After the Downfall Chapter Forty-Two
The deluge only worsened as Silas weaved through the thick trunks and overgrown underbrush, but his pace didn’t falter. I didn’t know where Saint was, not daring to lift my head long enough to find him through the storm unfolding around us. The denim of my jeans was soaked through by now, and I felt the water as it seared against my flesh, but I knew it had to be so much worse for Silas. Sure, his wolf had thick, inky black fur, but the acid rain drenched him almost entirely with no barrier of any kind to stop it, the bitter wind only exacerbating the situation as it worked in tandem with the heavy shower coming down on us by the bucketful’s. Keeping my eyes scrunched closed as I held onto my mate for dear life, I didn’t understand that he’d finally found the cover he’d been striving for at first, not until Saint was gently coaxing me off the huge wolf. Unclenching my muscles, I stiffly clambered down, grateful for Saint’s proximity when I stumbled on my wooden legs, and I took a m
Last Updated : 2022-08-20After the Downfall Chapter Forty-Three
Eventually, the corrosive precipitation ended, and we were able to venture out into the woods once more to continue forward with our mission. My concern for the imprisoned females mounted as more time ticked by, and I knew it’d already been too long since they’d seen the light of day, not that there was much of that up here to go around. Silas set a speedy pace, taking the point position as Saint remained behind me, but I didn’t whine or drag my feet, keeping up to the best of my ability. I knew he was trying to get us through the next expanse of forest as fast as possible, him having revealed that there weren’t many places to take cover in case the rain started up again, but he still ensured we paused long enough to rest and replenish our bodies. There were downsides to taking the least traveled routes, but Silas and Saint had vetoed cutting through the abandoned cities straightaway when I’d suggested it. I still didn’t know the reason behind the shifters’ avoidance of the crumbli
Last Updated : 2022-08-21After the Downfall Chapter Forty-Four
I would have expected for Saint to be fending off the new additions to the fray ensuing among the weather-beaten trees, but I hadn’t planned for the shaggy brown wolf to confront Vance either. The Omega gave me a hasty once over as the battle raged on around us once it became obvious the newcomers had turned the tables by joining our side, the huge charcoal-gray wolf aiding my mate in chasing off the other Alpha. I was certain Silas would’ve trailed the cowering beast if I hadn’t been injured, but as it was, he rushed to check on me the second our unanticipated allies had provided the opening, both creatures almost as big as Silas’s own animal, I noted. One glance to my left confirmed the death knell was ringing for Vance, the long-furred shifter who’d assisted me clamping his lethal teeth around the blonde wolf’s windpipe in a vicious hold, and I watched as the life drained out of the male, feeling nothing but relief at the ending of his life. Silas remained in his wolf form as Sa
Last Updated : 2022-08-22After the Downfall Chapter Forty-Five
Gage’s fury was palpable, and I had a sneaking suspicion that Atlas had picked up his pace in order to converse with him in private before we arrived. Gage didn’t speak initially, maintaining his distance as he observed me scrambling off the back of the enormous black wolf, but I didn’t miss how Atlas stayed close by in case something happened. There was no way he wouldn’t realize Silas was the same wolf who had aided us both in the past, but he remained fixed in place until after Silas and Saint had shifted forms and dressed. I wasn’t sure what to say, and no one else spoke up, so the pregnant pause persisted in the meantime. My body ached something fierce as my injuries started to make themselves known, but Silas ambled forth and wrapped an arm around my waist, steering me towards the long bench running along the nearest wall. I hadn’t noticed it with my single-minded focus on the male who was supposed to be dead, but I realized there wasn’t much in the way of furniture when I sp
Last Updated : 2022-08-23After the Downfall Chapter Forty-Six
Silas stole my concentration momentarily as he encouraged me to drink the steaming cup of tea, and I gladly adhered, the ache already receding as he took a seat next to me. Gage was perched on the edge of his chair again, but his knee still bounced, giving away his continued agitation. I could hear Saint chatting away with Atlas about the benefits of the tea infusion, but I was zoned in on Gage as he finally answered, “After you saw the wolves overwhelm me, I was left for dead as they chased after you. Atlas came across me hours later and gave me the option of exchanging my humanity for a chance to live, albeit as a different species.” My mind was running rampant as competing sensations flowed through me, and I didn’t know how to respond. As it turned out, my reply wasn’t necessary because he went on in a cold voice, saying, “I’ve been worried sick about you. Just ask Atlas. I’ve been driving myself crazy trying to find you, to fulfill my promise, and now I see it doesn’t matter.”
Last Updated : 2022-08-24After the Downfall Chapter Forty-Seven
When I awoke, I knew it was still nighttime, though that was subjective depending on who you asked. Regardless, I’d caught sight of Saint’s shifted form on the periphery of my field of vision, telling me it was probably the middle of the night. It was impossible to know what the sky looked like outside of this cavern that we’d entombed ourselves within, but I noticed the fire was banked low as if it had been burning for several hours unattended, giving me something to reference the passing of time by. Irrespective, I was aware the chill in the air wasn’t what had brought me back to the land of the living, and I huddled down further in the downy blankets as I scanned my surroundings with the senses I had at my disposal. The muffled conversation I could now hear coming from near the entrance to our haven was the likely culprit, but I remained fixed in place as the low voices continued, hoping they would go on if I didn’t draw attention to my change in awareness. Damn near holding my
Last Updated : 2022-08-25After the Downfall Chapter Forty-Eight
Silas tore into the enclosed room in a flurry of energy, but the angry wolf barreling straight for Gage made him shift into his own animal, leaving me with little space to avoid the water or the brawling wolves. “Stop! Silas, Gage!” I shouted, but their continued clash swiftly informed me I was wasting my breath. Weighing my options as Atlas jumped into the fray, I questioned whether the pool was acidic as I tried to find a way out of this mess. I realized the dark gray wolf was attempting to break up the fight, but I didn’t get the chance to consider anything else. Gage’s shaggy brown wolf was thrust back as Atlas forced his way between the snarling wolves, and the momentum came crashing right into me, sending us both into the pool of water that I’d been heretofore avoiding. As luck would have it, I didn’t feel anything other than uncomfortable to be drenched from head to toe in the lukewarm water, but Silas had shifted forms in an instant, jerking me from the liquid. Gage’s sput
Last Updated : 2022-08-26
Latest chapter
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
