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Chapter Sixteen
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2022-07-19 23:57:40Related chapters
After 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 : 2022-07-20After the Downfall Chapter Eighteen
“Gage!” I shouted, sprinting straight into his arms the second he came into view. He enveloped me protectively, holding me tight against his body as the moment extended. Then, without releasing me fully, he leaned back slightly, saying, “Hey, honey. I’m happy to see you missed me too. It looked like you had some company while I was gone though.” Flying high with Gage’s return, I found it difficult to let go of him entirely, electing to keep one of his large hands in mine as I directed us towards where I’d dropped my daggers. He released his bulging pack on the ground, devoting his full attention to me. “Yeah, you could say that I suppose. The black wolf visited me a few times, but it’s not like we hung out or anything. It was almost like he was checking up on me.” I finished in a thoughtful tone, beginning to comprehend how strange the wolf’s presence here had been. Expanding, I put a pin in my current train of thought, showing Gage the weapons and telling him how the wolf had also
Last Updated : 2022-07-21After the Downfall Chapter Nineteen
The initial soreness faded, and I hardly remembered it as Gage continued pounding into me with abandon, my legs quivering with my impending orgasm. I loved every aspect of his demanding nature, and I did all I could to hold onto his brawny shoulders as his thrusts grew rougher. Pressure was building low in my core, and I did my best to roll my hips against him, desperate for the friction against my needy clit. Somehow, Gage understood my intention, and he grabbed one hip securely with a grip I knew would bruise, adjusting the angle to near perfection as the head of his cock hit my G-spot on his next shove forward. Electricity crackled through me with the white-hot pleasure he elicited, and I tipped over my peak within seconds, my mouth making bizarre noises I’d never made before. Regardless, the point was, I knew I wasn’t quiet, and Gage’s own grunt of completion wasn’t exactly silent either. We had been safe here for a while now, and both of us had gotten so caught up in one anoth
Last Updated : 2022-07-22After the Downfall Chapter Twenty
The pin oaks still lined the road that was ingrained in my memory after all this time. The worn-down lane had been the last one I’d seen before the bombs fell, the one that’d led to my life changing, but it was almost unrecognizable now. The once majestic trees were blackened and dead, what was left of them, that was, and I felt numbness starting to seep in. One look at the route ahead proved we were fortunate the nature reserve hadn’t suffered any significant damage, though I supposed the whole world was a wildlife refuge now. Gage didn’t let up on the gas, gunning it to outpace the wolves on our tail, but when I craned my head around, I saw they had given up. I didn’t understand their behavior, but I wasn’t going to complain either. As he carried on driving, I let my eyes roam over the changed landscape, realizing that the town I’d been born in had been hit hard by one of the falling bombs. The devastation was heart-rending to see, tears prickling in my eyes, but Gage reached ou
Last Updated : 2022-07-23After the Downfall Chapter Twenty-One
Thunder rumbled angrily in the distance as the truck bumped unsteadily forward. I flinched in response; Gage being knocked off his bike by the vicious, oversized wolf flashing in my mind’s eye again as the steering wheel jerked in my talon-like hands. I forced myself to concentrate on the road ahead, my mind running rampant with trepidation as queries kept coming up. Would it be possible for Gage to survive the wreck I’d witnessed? Even if he did, would he be able to fight off the wolves in that condition? My heart wanted the answer to be yes, Gage having demonstrated his grit thus far, but my brain told me otherwise. I knew I was crying again because my vision was blurred, but I didn’t stop for fear of the shifters catching up with me. Transiently, I considered going back, trying to do something, anything to save Gage, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Gage had wanted me to escape, and I knew deep down, there wasn’t anything I could have done to save him. The downpour started
Last Updated : 2022-07-24After the Downfall Chapter Twenty-Two
My awareness faded in and out, but I heard enough to understand that something was happening around me, picking up on the snarls and thuds of conflict that were trickling through to my addled brain as my body fought to protect itself. Throbbing radiated out from my right side, and I realized I was still laid out on the forest floor as sharp sticks stabbed at me through the thin barrier my clothing afforded. Yet, those pinpricks of hurt were nothing to the avalanche of suffering I felt as the damages that I’d sustained during the skirmish came roaring back to the surface in full force. Everything remained black initially as I failed to unstick my eyelids, but it seemed my other senses were boosted, as a result. Gradually, I came to comprehend that not much time had elapsed since I’d crumpled in place, the loud yelps I detected signaling that a brawl was ensuing in close proximity, but it didn’t appear to be lasting for much longer based on the noises tapering off. Reminding myself
Last Updated : 2022-07-25After the Downfall Chapter Twenty-Three
The room was already illuminated by a few small lanterns, and I instantly noticed the two males who were conversing in the nude. Was that a werewolf thing? I mean damn, everywhere I looked recently I was seeing someone’s bare flesh. I averted my eyes as I slowly slid down from Silas’s back, making sure to use my left leg solely for support, but I still faltered as my head spun, a whimper slipping past my lips from the increasing pain. The black wolf held my attention as he shifted back into his human form. I tried to ground myself in the present with him as my point of focus, but then I just had another unclothed male to stare at, fire breaking out over my face with all the nakedness surrounding me. At any rate, Silas’s intense gaze pinned me in place, causing an electric current to course through me with the one glance alone. I wasn’t able to stop and ponder the implications behind the feeling for now, but I sensed there was more going on here than I was aware of. Inopportunely, i
Last Updated : 2022-07-26After the Downfall Chapter Twenty-Four
“Shh, baby. Everything is going to be okay. We’re leaving as soon as the rain breaks.” Silas soothed, correctly assuming I’d overheard them talking as he pulled me into his arms, rubbing his face against my brilliant, red hair seemingly without thought. Although, he didn’t seem to realize I’d eavesdropped on more than just the last part of their argument. I chose to disregard the confusing dialogue for now as other more pressing matters took the forefront, not wanting to examine that line of discussion for the time being. My bare skin brushed against his still naked chest as I realized someone had stripped my outerwear off, and goosebumps popped up everywhere our flesh made contact, sparks detonating all over my body with his touch. I knew I probably shouldn’t be letting him hold me the way he was with how conflicted I was on the inside, but I couldn’t bring myself to push him away, needing every piece of relief his presence gave me. Something about being in his embrace felt right
Last Updated : 2022-07-27
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
