Dark Lands: Homecoming: Dark Lands Book 2 She can feel it in the air…they're coming for her. She fears the wolf in her blood; he is the king of them all. Can a woman who fights her inner beast let the master of the hunt rule her, too?
View MoreDark Lands: Homecoming
Authors Note: This story is a side note to The Charmer, meant for those of you who wanted to know Wiley’s story. It’s not meant to stand alone, so if you don’t already know how her story ends, you’ll have to read TC.
She hated parties.
Parties were full of happy, smiling people. Wiley James had never fit into that crowd, so she ditched her boss’s birthday bash and ran off to the hills.
Literally. Sometimes a girl had to go AWOL.
It started out like any other adventure, with her dashing off a note and leaving coordinates for her roommate and best friend, Jasmine. Nearly as crazy as Wiley, Jas would roll her eyes, grumble, then load up her Jeep and track Wiley down. Lemming, Wiley’s search and rescue dog, would be helping. It was good training for the dog, and a much needed vacation for Wiley.
It wouldn’t be the first time she’d left a note for her good-natured friend to find after work. When Wiley had the itch to go, she waited for no one. Sometimes she thought she might explode if she didn’t run into the woods. They were her solace, her grounding place.
Some people relaxed by flying to the Bahamas. Wiley preferred to tackle the Alaskan hills.
She grinned as the cab dropped her off on a deserted highway. She shouldered her pack and wondered how anyone could have dubbed her state “Seward’s Icebox”. Sure, it was frozen for six months out of the year, but the endless sunshine of the midnight sun and the crisp golden days of fall were breathtaking.
Compared to places where the thermometer topped 100 degrees for half the summer, she thought Alaska was heaven. After all, it was easy to toss another log on the fire. What could you do in the desert to ward off the sun; sit in your refrigerator?
She smiled every time she talked to someone who hated it here; more wide-open spaces for her to play in. Less people to notice how odd she was. There weren’t many women who liked to explore wolf-infested woods alone in late September with winter closing in. Even fewer who would call it ripping great fun to see no one but wildlife for days.
Jasmine blamed her friend’s oddities on growing up an orphan, but Wiley knew better. There was something wild inside her, something that needed to be free.
Something more than human.
She hid it well, of course. She smiled as she inhaled a breath of crisp, cold air, testing for scent traces of the game that had recently used this path. No one could tell by looking at her that she could smell as well as any dog, and no one knew how well she saw in the dark. And nobody, not even Jasmine, whom she loved like a sister, knew what she could turn into in the darkness of the night.
But no one needed to know. That’s why she was out there, stomping through the woods. As long as she burned off her emotions with constant work and rigorous exercise, no one would ever know what she was. The darkness inside, the monster that lurked behind her eyes, was a secret only the night could tell.
Rusty-red brush crunched under her feet, mixed with golden birch leaves. Though she could move silently when she wished, she relished the snap of twigs underfoot. Today was a day for noise, for release. She playfully kicked a loose rock and felt herself relax for the first time in days. Coming out there had been a really great idea.
She walked for a long time, until even the long daylight of the Alaskan day failed and she was using night vision alone. Satisfied she was isolated enough to remain undisturbed, she gathered wood and started a fire.
Ringed with birches, the hillside clearing had a lovely view of the night. A half moon rose in the clear sky. Stars, long hidden by the midnight sun, twinkled in the cool black expanse. Somewhere in the valley, a wolf howled.
She shivered and threw another stick on the fire. Closing her ears to the sad wail, she heated some water. Dinner tonight was hot cocoa and MRE, or Meal Ready to Eat. At 1250 calories each, the freeze-dried packet of chicken a la king held enough food substance to keep a hungry soldier on the march, or to seriously constipate a couch potato. All she had to do was rip open the packet, add boiling water, close it, and wait six minutes. She’d heard of other kinds that came with their own heating element and were ready to heat without adding water, but they didn’t sell that kind at her local five and dime. They did sell trail mix and protein bars however, which she’d stocked up on for breakfast.
One experience of eating reconstituted egg powder was enough. Even the dog put her nose under her paws and whined when Wiley offered it to her. Scrumptious, it was not.
While she waited for the water to boil, she assembled her tent with practiced ease. Jasmine would strongly disagree, but Wiley thought the tent beat their apartment any day for simplicity; toss in a sleeping bag and voila! All the comforts of home.
As long as nobody ate beans for dinner, they were in good shape. Jasmine was never going to let her live down the “Night of the Living Chili”; three cans of extra spicy chili and no Beano in sight.
Well, a girl couldn’t plan for everything.
She’d just turned back to the fire to check the water when she saw them. Eyes. Dozens of them, glowing just outside the firelight.
There weren’t many things that could sneak up on her, much less a dozen, and only one thing that traveled in packs. Unless one believed in monsters…
Wiley was inclined to be concerned.
Drawing a slow breath, she reached for her sidearm, a .357 Redhawk revolver, grateful she always carried it in the woods. Like all true Alaskans, she never left home without it. A girl never knew when she might stumble on a cranky sow with a cub. A bear could and would attack. A rifle would be better equipped to take on bears, but they were bulky. At least the handgun was better than throwing rocks.
Wiley’s eyes narrowed. It was just the two of them, and she felt less and less inclined to be civil. Her patience with her mother had been wearing ever thinner, but this was the first time she’d openly suggested Jasmine’s disappearance was a good thing. “I fail to see how.”Rhapsody delicately sipped her tea as she considered. “As loyal as you were to her, you must consider how out of place she must have felt. Sometimes, nature has a way of correcting the balance. Both you and Keilor can now proceed with the natural course of your life. Surely Jasmine, if she’d loved you, would have wanted that for you.”Rage like she’d never known boiled through Wiley, consumed her. She stood up slowly, and it was all she could do
“I’m tired of my friends getting hurt,” Wiley grumped to Jayems that night.“With luck, you’ve met your quota,” Jayems soothed her. “That sort of thing doesn’t happen every day.”“Thank God.” She sighed. “So, are you ready for this wedding thing?”He laughed and snuggled her close. “I’ve already had my ‘wedding thing.’ The celebration is just in honor of it.”He smelled so good. She snuggled her nose into his chest. “I’ll be glad when it’s over. I don’t like being the center of attention.”
The next few weeks passed in a happy blur. Jasmine and Keilor’s romance progressed, Wiley became better at fending off her mother and Jayems found endless ways to make love to her. Wiley was even starting to make some friends among her peers, though she gravitated to the ladies her mother found less than suitable.Oh, they were ladies all right, but they were into sports and highly physical, or else had a wicked sense of humor. Worse, they had little rank. Two of her favorites were Shanra, daughter of a preeminent musician, and Kayless, whose mother designed many of the dresses for women of status.In their middle twenties, the women still lived with their parents as was the custom. When they weren’t hanging out at Wiley’s suite, they visited at each
“Didn’t think you’d go there, Wi.” She was sitting in an armchair when she made the comment, propped up more by force of will than anything else.Wiley could see she was getting tired. “Well, I’m glad you’re amused. Shouldn’t you go back to bed?”Jasmine glowered tiredly and moved her chess piece. “All I do is lie in bed. I can rest after I finish this game, and stop trying to lose on purpose so I’ll go there quicker. At least Keilor doesn’t do that.”Wiley smiled and deliberately moved her queen into jeopardy.Jasmine ignored the queen to take a pawn instead. &ldq
The climax hit her like a sledgehammer. She went crazy, bucking against the couch, screaming until she thought she would black out. He joined her, driving into her like he’d been shot up with molten lightning.As she trembled with aftershocks, he slipped a hand under her and pressed. She splintered into another climax, jerking uncontrollably.She didn’t know where he found the energy, but he carried her into the bedroom and shed the rest of their clothes.The first time must have been a warm up, because he slid into her again, pinning her arms above her head, lacing his fingers with hers. His kiss was wild and tender, restrained yet ardent. He drove her crazy with his kisses, yet mad
She could not lie still. She gasped in pleasure, the sounds coming from her mouth getting louder and louder until she was shouting, a prisoner pinned between his hot, slick mouth and the couch.Finally he slid up and ripped open his fly. He fell over her and looked her in the eye. “I told you I wouldn’t ask again.” He slid inside.She arched up and dug her nails into his back. It was so tight, and he was huge. It hurt, and a lot at that, but he worked his way in, kissing her neck, running his tongue over her ears, massaging her thighs and breasts. The look on his face was mindless, but it was obvious he knew what he was doing. Desire built inside her, though he barely moved. Just the thought of him there, of what he was about to do…she threw ba
Jasmine was poisoned that night.They’d been at dinner with Wiley’s family. Jasmine had taken one drink of Wiley’s wine and stiffened. The delicate glass had shattered as her hand convulsed, and moments later she’d been screaming, doubled up on the floor.Keilor and Fallon had worked frantically to help her, and somebody had called the medics. Jayems had dragged Wiley back from the scene, calming her frantic struggles with gentle force. Even now, after they knew it had been Jasmine’s dessert that was poisoned and not the wine, Wiley couldn’t shake the feeling that she was responsible. Jasmine wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for her.Wiley sat i
The manic shopping was wearing her down. To escape, she said, “I’m starving. Is it lunch time yet?”They had lunch in a classy, energetic café that catered to an upscale crowd. The walls were white and decorated with flowering plants, mirrors and stained glass lamps. Green wrought iron chairs graced each table, and the seats were upholstered in red-and-white striped canvas.Wiley had to admit the food was good, though her mother was doing her best to give her a bellyache. It wasn’t anything she said, it was the way she watched Wiley’s posture, scrutinized the way she ate. Wiley had never been accused of being Miss Manners, but she’d never seen the point of having no elbows on the table or chewing her food one hundred times. Co
Wiley exited the salon with her hair in a French braid, a mild concession to her mother’s quest for a new look. Of all the good luck, a merchant was selling guitars across the street. Brightly enameled and oddly shaped, they drew her like cotton candy to a child. Picking up a hot pink and red model, she tuned it by ear.“Oh, you play?” Portae said curiously, seeming relieved. Maybe she thought she was about to hear some ladylike ditties she could show off to her friends at teatime.Wiley grinned wickedly, played a few warm up chords, surged into a couple of hard rock riffs, and opened with Van Halen.Rhapsody’s eyes got big. She looked left, then right, paling as she real
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments