Dark Lands Homecoming

Dark Lands Homecoming

last updateLast Updated : 2021-01-06
By:  Autumn DawnOngoing
Language: English
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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?

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Chapter 1

1

Dark 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.

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Comments

user avatar
Nessa
Hi! Is the book still unfinished? Are there any schedule for its updates?
2021-07-12 00:42:33
0
user avatar
mercy jepkoech
sweet and interesting
2021-02-11 05:26:30
0
user avatar
un poco de todo !
muy entretenida, de hecho recomendable
2021-02-10 03:47:07
0
32 Chapters
1
Dark 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 fu
last updateLast Updated : 2020-12-16
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2
These were not bears, though, and she’d never thought to fear a wolf attack. Game was plentiful here, and wolves were shy; if it had been mid-winter and a lean year things might have been different.They didn’t smell like wolves. Cold sweat gathered on her back, and Wiley cast a nervous glance at the fire. Maybe it would be enough to scare the animals off, but if not, a few bullets couldn’t hurt.“Git!” she yelled, feeling like a fool. Contrary to the tree hugger’s expectations, these were not fat, mellow zoo buddies. Alaskan wolves could take down a lone human if they were hungry enough. The fact that these animals didn’t smell like wolves was still a problem, but there could be a good reason. Maybe they’d rolled in some
last updateLast Updated : 2020-12-16
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3
She screamed, or tried to. She had no voice to shout in that form. She spun and ran, ignoring the threat of the animals, desperate to escape the nightmare. She was so scared that she shifted back to human as she ran, somehow thinking the dream would end if she changed, if she woke up.Strong arms grabbed her from behind, lifted her off her feet. Those arms were human. She cried out.“Easy,” Jayems said, subduing her effortlessly. “Easy, Rihlia.”“L-let me go!” she shouted, freaking out. That name triggered something, and she knew she was dead. The monsters that had haunted her dreams for so long had finally caught her.
last updateLast Updated : 2020-12-16
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4
Her expression of horror said it all. “Your…?” She couldn’t get the words out.Afraid she would hyperventilate, he snapped, “Breathe! You’re going to make yourself sick, woman.” Concern for her made it difficult to keep his distance. He wanted to touch her, to soothe, and knew she wouldn’t receive it well. He was a stranger to her, and dangerous. He couldn’t go to her.Anger seemed to serve her better than coddling. “You’re not marrying me!” she ground out. She stopped shrinking into the couch.He looked to the side, searching for patience, hoping to steady his nerves. Her distress was affecting him. “We were betrothe
last updateLast Updated : 2020-12-16
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5
“I believe you’re familiar with apples,” he said, pointing to the poached fruit. “They’re cooked in wine and honey. The juice next to you is a native berry; you used to love it.” It was hard to be patient. She’d once treated him like a beloved brother, and now she thought he was trying to poison her.She shot him a look and went back to staring at her plate. “What’s this sausage made of?” She looked hideously suspicious and a little green. “You don’t eat people, do you?”His eyes widened. “You can’t be serious!” When she just looked at him, he snapped, “It’s an animal. A grazing beast called a deerhare.” When she still wouldn’t eat, he demanded, &ldqu
last updateLast Updated : 2020-12-16
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6
She flushed and avoided his eyes. She muttered a curse.He raised a brow. “If that was meant to remain private, it didn’t. My ears are as sharp as yours.” Ignoring her evil look, he said, “This is what I’m offering: a new home, a new world and a family who loves you. All I want in return is your willing cooperation. Be pleasant. Try not to view us as the enemy.”“And you’ll let me talk to Jasmine?”“I will.”“And you won’t hurt her?”“I won’t, though it’s not a promising
last updateLast Updated : 2020-12-16
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7
The kitchens were huge and immaculate. Entire rooms were devoted to baking, butchering and processing vegetables. There were sinks and stoves in each room, as well as various kinds of pantries and cold storage. The staff was polite, though they only stopped when directly addressed. It was hard to believe the amount of food they processed in a day.“The Citadel is vast. The kitchens supply all the food for our garrison, my personal household as well as their own families,” Jayems explained. “There are many young apprentices here, learning how to provide for their own families. It’s not just a kitchen, it’s also a classroom.”“Wow.” Wiley thanked a young man who handed her a tiny tart, then took a bite. Warm citrus curd and
last updateLast Updated : 2020-12-16
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8
Jayems stood before Lady Nilla’s door. He bowed his head and placed one hand on the stout wood, wishing there was some way he could soften this blow.Nilla was his lover of two month’s standing, but their relationship had started long before. They’d been friends of a sort before the attraction had unexpectedly boiled over into something more. He’d begun to look at her in a considering light for some weeks now, and she had not missed the cues. Even so, she hadn’t clung, just loved him sweetly, silently offering her heart.He’d been close to speaking to her father. Her mother had worn a look of expectation for the last little while. And why not? His betrothed had been accepted as dead for nearly twenty years. He’d felt it was foo
last updateLast Updated : 2020-12-16
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9
As Jayems prepared to enter, the steward warned him, “You won’t be able to talk in there, milord. May I report out here?”“Make it quick,” Jayems said, burning with curiosity. What a racket! It sounded like an entire raiding party, not one lone woman.“It started out with her banging on pots and pans,” the steward said. “She looked spooked when we burst in, so I offered to get her a drum set.” He winced, as if regretting that idea. “It got out of hand from there. Next, she asked what other instruments we had. I offered to bring her some samples. Somehow the technicians figured out how to make her music play over your sound system...she’s been very busy.”
last updateLast Updated : 2020-12-16
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10
“Beautiful,” he said softly, and her eyes shot to his in surprise. Surprise? How could she not know she was lovely?“Ah…thanks,” she said. Sending him an uneasy glance, she took a seat on the couch.Jayems tried to think of something to relax her. Before he could speak, Keilor strode into the room unannounced. “She is here.”Relieved to have the subject changed, even by this, Jayems shut the heavy ledger he’d been perusing. His boots remained crossed on the desktop as he waited for more details.Rihlia wasn’t nearly as calm. She leapt up off the couch and demanded bre
last updateLast Updated : 2020-12-16
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