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Chapter Nine
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2022-07-11 11:05:41Related chapters
After the Downfall Chapter Ten
Gradually, I felt the motorcycle lose speed sometime later as it bumped over the tree roots and stray branches, and Gage came to a complete stop before I could gather myself together enough to talk. I don’t know how long he’d driven for, but it didn’t feel like it had been long enough. Luckily, there hadn’t been anything indicating we were being followed, so I’d been able to get a better hold over my emotions during the rough ride through the forest. Even so, I felt wrung out, ready to collapse onto the first passably soft surface I came across, but Gage swiftly thwarted my plans when he dropped the next bombshell on me. Peering back at me from over his shoulder as he dismounted, he gave me a sympathetic look as he said ruefully, “I know it has been a long day already, Zoe, but we’re not done moving yet.” Schooling my features, I got off the bike as he started digging through our supplies. I stood back, unsure what was going on, but I couldn’t help darting my eyes around nervously
Last Updated : 2022-07-13After the Downfall Chapter Eleven
“Damn, Zoe!” Gage exhaled in a coarse tone, simultaneously rubbing a hand over his throat as he went on, tittering, “I see I had no reason to worry about leaving you alone.” “I am so sorry, Gage. I didn’t know it was you, and I freaked.” I effused in an unsteady tone as I released the weapon from my shaking hands, wincing a second later as it clattered noisily against the stony floor. “No harm, no foul, honey, but I do think it would be best if I showed you how to use that later. I don’t want you getting hurt.” A concerned look accompanied Gage’s statement, but I also took in the discomfort he was attempting to mask, diverting the attention back towards me. Moving aside as he bent down to retrieve the blade, I encouraged him to take a seat as I noticed his limp, too pronounced for him to hide even with the limited walking room available. He complained as I proceeded to fuss over him, examining his right ankle after he eventually gave in, but I was just as shook when I realized how
Last Updated : 2022-07-14After the Downfall Chapter Twelve
Glass and rubble littered the cracked streets that we followed deeper into what I was guessing used to be the heart of this city, and I found it difficult to believe we would find anything of value in the wasteland extending out before us, but Gage apparently thought different. “I know it’s not anything to look at, but I’m positive there’s plenty to find in the east section of town. I haven’t cleared that area, and the looting wasn’t bad over there from what I remember when I was out this way last.” “How do you know so much about all this? You always know where we should go for safety or supplies. I couldn’t even make it twenty-four hours without running into trouble, and the bulk of your community stays holed up in that old silver mine, terrified of the big, bad wolves roving free now.” “Trust me, Zoe. I only semi know what I’m doing, and even then, it’s because someone helped me once upon a time. Consider it me paying it forward if you need to justify my actions to yourself, but I
Last Updated : 2022-07-15After the Downfall Chapter Thirteen
Stretching out in the bed, I rolled over as my mind struggled to catch up with my surroundings and the events that had taken place before I’d lost consciousness. I couldn’t remember what’d happened at first, but as I nuzzled my nose further into the pillow under my head, a mouthwatering fragrance assaulted my awareness with the vaguely recognizable smell of a forest after it had rained. It was difficult to put a name to how the aroma made me feel, but the refreshing scent seemed to invigorate me, giving me the sense that I could be standing in the middle of the woods if I left my eyes shut. All my apprehensions were absent as I felt peace for a fleeting span of time. Unfortunately, fragments of my memory came back to me as I slowly stirred, and then I was gasping in alarm, flying up into a seated position as I restlessly whirled my eyes around the room that I found myself in. I realized rather quickly that I wasn’t where I’d recalled being knocked out at, and it was impossible to
Last Updated : 2022-07-16After the Downfall Chapter Fourteen
Everything went smoothly for the next couple of days, and we were able to gather another load of supplies to transport to the drop off point together. The roundtrip hadn’t taken any extra time this go around, and there were no signs of the wolves, my protector or the other more perilous ones otherwise, as the days elapsed. Gage practically refused to let me out of his sight the whole time, but I couldn’t say I was unhappy about his overprotectiveness given what had happened. Added, I appreciated the training sessions he’d insisted on in between scavenging, and I was beginning to grow accustomed to the katana, even if I did prefer a different weapon. I couldn’t resist keeping an eye out for the massive black wolf, both in town and as we traveled, but I kept my increasing fascination to myself, not understanding how I could be so enamored with someone I’d never met. Gage and I were loading up the last of the provisions onto his motorcycle now, and I knew I was dragging my feet as th
Last Updated : 2022-07-17After the Downfall Chapter Fifteen
The rain had us pinned down for two days, and I was beyond tense with Mother Nature’s forced delay. Howbeit, Gage and I were finally on the way back to his community, and he repeatedly reassured me nothing was going to happen. I was starting to believe him, but the pressure bearing down on me wasn’t easy to overlook. I did my best to distract myself, trying to find the black wolf as the hours elapsed while Gage weaved through the murky forest, but I didn’t see him before we made it to our end point. At any rate, Gage proved he was true to his word, directing us towards Robbie’s chambers before attending to anything else. We did make a detour to the room to deposit our belongings, but the deplorable leader was standing before me less than fifteen minutes after Gage and I had entered the old silver mine. He was the last person I wanted to see, but Gage’s presence let me feel as at ease as possible as I learned what my fate would be. I didn’t miss the leer Robbie aimed my way as I to
Last Updated : 2022-07-18After the Downfall Chapter Sixteen
With my vision blurred, I stumbled through the door and into the room I’d been sharing with Gage. It didn’t feel like home to me, but I’d at least felt safe here for a while with Gage by my side. I was a little sad to be leaving it, but that was nothing compared to the battle I was waging in my mind over having to leave Mira and those other girls behind with what I knew they were enduring on a daily basis. The salty liquid wouldn’t stop flowing from my sore eyes, but I was able to breathe deeply through the worst of my emotional pain. Part of me wanted to ask Mira to come with us, but I was aware there was no way she could handle any type of trek through the woods, and that thought led to me freaking out about the fact that I had no clue where we were going to go. Sure, Gage had several well-stocked hideaways, but none of them were suitable for long term accommodations. Not to mention, the overall safety of them was thrown into question with how the first shelter had been ransacked
Last Updated : 2022-07-19After the Downfall Chapter Seventeen
“Y…you want us to g…go to the bunker I grew up in? I can’t go back there.” I stammered out as a tidal wave of melancholy, wound with a healthy dose of apprehension, slammed into me full force. Gage didn’t recoil from my panic as I’d anticipated. Instead, he reeled me into the circle of his arms, soothing my frayed nerves and assuring me I wouldn’t have to go anywhere near the fallout shelter. It took a while for me to regain my equilibrium, but Gage’s presence, and the comfort I received from the necklaces I wore around my neck, aided me in coming back to the present. Once I was feeling better, Gage looked down, guiding my face up from where I was resting against his chest to lock his hazel orbs with my own chestnut-brown ones, saying, “I’m sorry, honey. I should’ve been clearer. I will go there to replenish our supplies before we head east, and I want to take a look at your dad’s truck if that’s alright with you. There isn’t much left to the west before we reach the ocean, and the
Last Updated : 2022-07-20
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
