Share

Chapter 2

last update Last Updated: 2023-08-23 04:06:42

Marzanna's Point of View

All of this was dull. From the orgy in front of me to the feel of my throne.

Everything was just a dull haze. A hollow echo inside of me.

I have lived for so many years. Seen it all. Done it all.

Men and women fell at my feet the moment I appeared. Some envied me but they were swiftly dealt with by the other gods. 

No one dared oppose the person that fed the world. That brought crops and harvest and food to their world. 

Dull.

Meaningless.

I needed a challenge. Stimulation. Or just an honest companion. One that didn't love me at first sight. Hate would also suffice.

It gave me more of a challenge, you see. Something to look forward to.

Gerovit challenged me. Drove me to be better in every way. Drove me to adore life and death all the same. But he was far gone from this world.

And I had no way of getting back to him.

That hollowness in my chest increased. Swallowed me whole as I sat and watched people in the throws of passion.

They were lucky. All of them. They had partners. People to walk through life with them. Enjoyed their company because they were simply...

Them.

"My lady, there was been an incident on the outskirts of the city. Several guards have caught some man hunting in the forest. He killed a deer."

Ah, yes. It wasn't hunting season. We were in the midst of spring. New fawns to be born. Which meant no hunting. 

Even when food was in short supply for the people.

Ixion would have him killed. As the god of hunting and animal,s I understood where he came from. Knew that the forest was his sacred ground.

But people were starving and the human rulers had increased taxes so much that most went hungry. Not even my food drives supplied enough to feed everyone.

"Who is he?" I asked, still leaning on my elbow as I watched the crowd writhe like worms.

My guard was beside me. I could feel his presence. One of Sekhmet's warriors. Highly trained. Highly annoying when I wanted to slip away into the city by myself.

"Axlan. It is said that he has a family on the outskirts. Poor, from what they could tell."

Another justified soul searching for food for his family. 

From in the middle of the city, my food banks didn't reach the outskirts. Most of the time, all the food I supplied was gone by the time it reached the second ring. There were two others just beyond it. Then the forest.

No wonder he killed the deer. 

"Bring him in. Thank the messenger for me. I see this one is faster than the last," I said and let my eyes flick to the golden-clad guard.

He stiffened, remembering the mole we had had a year ago. 

Our messenger had leaked certain information to a foreign king but couldn't get back to me in time to cover his ass. 

We executed him.

"Twenty gold marks seems a bit excessive for his payment each month but it seems it encourages him not to follow in his predecessor's footsteps." He replied. Bowed. Walked backward to whatever door he had come through.

I had long since stopped caring about the names of my guards. Stopped recognizing their faces. Their voices. All of them blended into each other. Became one large mass of gold.

Why would I bother now? 

In a few decades, he would be gone and I would still be here. There was no way around that. 

A few minutes later, I could hear them outside. Even above all of the moaning. 

Another curse of mine. Impeccable hearing and eyesight. This meant I never missed a thing, no matter how badly I wanted to. How badly I wanted to just be kept in the dark at all times.

“She is in session. What is the nature of this visit?” One of my lesser guards asked. Grated against my eardrums.

I wasn't in session. This wasn't a session. This was just something I did to pass the time. 

Besides, Sekhmet always said that I needed to build a certain reputation in public but have some rumors about me in private. This was her suggestion, no matter how much I had protested.

The more I controlled the rumors, the less likely anyone would find fault somewhere else with me.

“He hunted in the sacred forest. The punishment-“

“Let him in. I already caught wind of this infringement.” I said so loudly that most of the people in front of me stopped what they were doing.

All eyes turned to look at me. Swept me up with greedy gulps of their eyes. 

Sheep. The whole fucking lot of them.

When they realized I wasn't speaking to them, they went back to their ministrations. Clawed at each other fervently.

At the end of the large hall, the door opened on silent hinges. Swung wide enough for just one person to enter.

Axlan.

Long black hair braided back and out of his face. Dirt beneath his ice-blue eyes. Strongly built with a prominent jaw. He was even taller than Sekhmet, which was a feat in and of itself. 

But it was the disdain in his eyes that caught me off guard. Promised me some amusement, at least for the time being. A challenge, you see, didn't come very often in my lifetime.

Yet here stood one. 

I smiled broadly at him. Gave him the most impressive smile that I could muster without having his brain melt into pieces.

“I have been expecting you,” I murmured and stood. “Come. Join me.” I said, extending a hand toward him.

When Axlan took too long to move forward, one of my guards forced him further into the opening. Made his knees buckle.

This led Axlan to snarl at him. Like a rabid dog.

Or a wolf about to pounce on its prey.

"That is far enough, guard. You may leave us." I instructed and fell back into my throne. Beckoned Axlan to come closer with a flick of my wrist.

As he walked, the disdain on his face grew tenfold. Became a mess of anger and irritation.

Right before he stopped in front of me, I caught the disgust in his eyes when he looked at me. Right there. Something I haven't seen in a long while.

"So, you killed a deer in the middle of spring. Tell me, were you dumb or desperate? Maybe a mixture of both?" I teased but from the flames licking up the sides of his face, he didn't see it that way in the slightest.

"Neither. But I doubt my sob story would change my punishment." He snarled back and came to a full stop in front of me.

His chin was raised in defiance. hands still cuffed behind his back. 

I smiled at him again and leaned on my elbow. Examined him from head to toe.

"You expect to be killed, I take it."

His following glare was enough to tell me that that was exactly what he was expecting. 

Nodding, I stood again. Couldn't find much comfort in my throne right at that second. Hell, even my skin felt too tight for some reason.

"Well, if your life is at stake, surely you would want to explain yourself? Get ahead of the sentence before I dole it out. Maybe your reasons might change my-"

"I don't want your fucking pity. I want to feed my family. That is my reason. Now, do you want to kill me or not?" 

Fiesty. Filled with rage. 

He reminded me of Gerovit in his prime. Just before he became the general of war. Just before he became a bit lax.

"Hmm. And I assume you wouldn't want any other punishment?"

Axlan's jaw clenched tightly. Eyes darted from person to person around him. Took note of each and every face. Something I had long since stopped doing.

"I just want to-"

"Feed your family. Yes. I get that. A man with morals," I huffed out, barely containing my amusement. He was a challenge and I was eager to indulge in something a bit different. "What if I told you I won't put you to death? Rather, I offer you employment. I have several creatures of value here. They need someone to look after them. The money is good and the employment not very permanent. Say, six months?"

Axlan's eyes widened in shock. Looked near ready to burst out of his sockets. Even his lips trembled a bit.

"But Ixion-"

"Fuck Ixion. He isn't here. He doesn't have to know. Come now... I am offering you the chance of a lifetime."

"You are offering me shackles."

"Maybe so but at least your family will have food."

Check and mate.

Let the games begin.

Related chapters

  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 3

    Marzanna's Point of ViewFuck Ixion indeed. The bastard had deigned to fuck me senseless for the last decade and then departed without warning. Left me to watch over his domain.What could be so pressing that he would simply leave without a word? It's not like I had asked him to be with me for eternity. On the contrary, I had made it extremely clear that I wanted nothing of the sort.So, one dead deer won't fucking harm him.Besides, keeping Axlan alive and around me might give me a bit of entertainment. From his reluctance to accept the proposal to the hard lines on his face, I knew he wasn't eager to be around me.This was like a breath of fresh air to me."Are the shackles really necessary?" I asked, keeping my eyes trained on the man in front of me.He stood between two of my guards. Looked more uncomfortable now than he had when we were in the orgy. It only confirmed that he wasn't very eager to be in my presence. Little did he know I visited my animals almost every day."Yes, g

    Last Updated : 2023-08-29
  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 4

    Axlan's Point of ViewHer aloof nature was an enigma. The air around her seemed less shiny than the rest of the world. I had thought it would be the opposite. Maybe it was just my anger towards her that dulled the effect.She hadn't fluttered an eyelid when I took off her guard's head. Didn't flinch when I came straight at her with my sword raised.Her personal guards were better trained, I was sure of that. The ones that led me with her weren't even close to a match. They were lax. More reserved.If I tried the same stunt with her personal guards, I might just end up dead.She knew this, somehow. Predicted the outcome. Knew I would run at the first chance.And none of this seemed to faze her.Marzanna set a lazy pace for our long walk. Hadn't called any other guards to her side. Just remained silent as we trudged forward.Her long silvery hair bounced off of the back of her dress in waves. The small crown she wore sparkled in the sun. With just her outfit alone, I could buy a better

    Last Updated : 2023-08-30
  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 5

    Marzanna's Point of ViewNights were the hardest for me. Reminders of Gerovit sat heavily on my mind at night. Off in the distance, my wolves howled their songs to the moon. Sang sweetly to their young and loved ones. I envied them. One partner for the rest of their lives. Raising their children together.Dying together.Even though neither I, nor Gerovit, had passed away, it felt like it. Stifled me late at night when I lay in bed alone. The sheets beside me cold and my memories a trap that I couldn't escape.Thus, I was out and about in the temple, as usual. Nights had become my alone time. Time to walk about. Reflect. Mourn...Mostly mourned lately.With Ixion being gone so often, I was more alone than ever before. My mind was cast into idle with his constant ministrations to keep me occupied. Now that I had no other god or goddess to keep my mind occupied, it wandered to the life I had before this.To the city we lived in. Each faction. How all of us worked together to create pe

    Last Updated : 2023-09-04
  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 6

    Marzanna's Point of View"Rub down, like I taught you. From the crook of her shoulders to the back of her body," Ben instructed. Calm tone. Just another night for him. Although I knew full and well this was the first and only wolf that hadn't tried to bite his arm off whilst trying to help. Shiva wouldn't dare. My tender hands ran along the path he told me to stroke. Felt her supple fur beneath my fingers. Swore I could feel my heart plummet when her heart sputtered.Her last two births had been troublesome. With Ben at my side, we produced healthy pups but Shiva barely made it out alive. Refused to eat or drink a single morsel for nearly a week afterward. All of the pups were hand-fed.I had milked every damned drop of their milk from another wolf mother. Ensured to keep them warm at night. None of them stayed with her. Remained in my rooms for the next three months. "Her heart..." I sputtered as I stroked down again. It was fluttering wildly beneath me. Her breathing was labori

    Last Updated : 2023-09-13
  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 7

    Axlan's Point of ViewA scream broke the night. Raw with pain. Ripped through my ears with a hefty blow.The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I gripped my mug of ale tightly. Head whipped in the direction of the animal pens. To where I knew Marzanna was busy delivering the wolf pups.From here, I could see the trees right in front of all the enclosures. Flames from the torches flickered just below the branches. Licked at the sky.Until they were snuffed out. All at once. Not even one was spared.Seconds passed before a second boom echoed from behind the trees. A loud crackling sound followed and I watched as the trees bowed toward me. Nearly touched the ground with the tips of their branches from the force.Icy cold sliced through me. A billow of white chased the crackling sound. Static filled the air around me. The feeling of lightning filled the empty space where the static couldn't make its home.Almost like a storm was approaching and would leave thousands dead in its wak

    Last Updated : 2023-09-17
  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 8

    Axlan's Point of ViewThe riders came in first. All leather armor and tight-fitting clothes. Preening as they went. Dewy-faced priestesses gawked at them. Openly giggled as the men wound their way up the path.Next came the hounds. Dreery beasts with barely any fur to spare. Or those were just the front lines. The hunting dogs that had been used one too many times. Because the hounds that followed behind them were splendid. Black coats gleamed in the afternoon sun.And at the very end came the hunting god himself. Ixion. His attire was much like the men at the front. Just a whole lot more intricate. Woven with gold strands. Even his boots seemed to have gold woven into the leather. A peacock preening over his domain. Smugness lined his face.Every priestess on the property had come out to see them arrive. Mooned over the steel-faced men who barely regarded them as anything more than cattle. They reminded me more of their goddess by the day.Luckily, Marzanna would never allow her mai

    Last Updated : 2023-10-13
  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 9

    Marzanna's Point of ViewIxion was a brooding force beside me as we walked. His eyes frequently drifted to the bundle in my arms. Barely contained anger simmered on his face when he looked at the little pup.Focussed on the white fragile thing for longer than was deemed appropriate, considering she was so close to my chest.Although, I knew he was angry with me for causing the scene in front of everyone. I had undermined him in some way. Knew I had but couldn't bring myself to care. Not when so many other emotions stormed inside my mind.Shiva was dead and now Ixion was here. Like a knight on a horse appearing when he is needed most. But I had needed him long before this instance. As a friend. Confidant. And he hadn't been here because his male pride had gotten the better of him.Rejection was the one thing Ixion hated, even before we fell from our world. As children, he pined after me. Tried his very best to become mine. When I chose Gerovit, he seemed to vanish from my life. Retra

    Last Updated : 2023-10-18
  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 1

    Axlan’s Point of ViewLet me tell you a story about gods and monsters. Namely the former and how they disguised themselves to seem less like the latter. This story isn’t just a story, you see. It was the truth. Reality that became a rumor. Myth. Legend. But it was true, you see.Humans always had this funny way of playing off what really took place. People in power threw dirt over it to try and get the masses to follow what they wanted to believe. Sheep and wolves. An endless game of tug of war.Yet I will always remember where this story started. With the goddess of spring and her undying love for everything and everyone around her. Including her love for her lonely heart.The air was brisk for an early spring morning. All the animals in the forest had quieted down. Became part of the dull drum of the rest of the world. This was my everyday life, although I knew it was illegal to be doing what I was doing this time of year. It didn’t matter.Food was scarce and the crops weren’t read

    Last Updated : 2023-08-07

Latest chapter

  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 9

    Marzanna's Point of ViewIxion was a brooding force beside me as we walked. His eyes frequently drifted to the bundle in my arms. Barely contained anger simmered on his face when he looked at the little pup.Focussed on the white fragile thing for longer than was deemed appropriate, considering she was so close to my chest.Although, I knew he was angry with me for causing the scene in front of everyone. I had undermined him in some way. Knew I had but couldn't bring myself to care. Not when so many other emotions stormed inside my mind.Shiva was dead and now Ixion was here. Like a knight on a horse appearing when he is needed most. But I had needed him long before this instance. As a friend. Confidant. And he hadn't been here because his male pride had gotten the better of him.Rejection was the one thing Ixion hated, even before we fell from our world. As children, he pined after me. Tried his very best to become mine. When I chose Gerovit, he seemed to vanish from my life. Retra

  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 8

    Axlan's Point of ViewThe riders came in first. All leather armor and tight-fitting clothes. Preening as they went. Dewy-faced priestesses gawked at them. Openly giggled as the men wound their way up the path.Next came the hounds. Dreery beasts with barely any fur to spare. Or those were just the front lines. The hunting dogs that had been used one too many times. Because the hounds that followed behind them were splendid. Black coats gleamed in the afternoon sun.And at the very end came the hunting god himself. Ixion. His attire was much like the men at the front. Just a whole lot more intricate. Woven with gold strands. Even his boots seemed to have gold woven into the leather. A peacock preening over his domain. Smugness lined his face.Every priestess on the property had come out to see them arrive. Mooned over the steel-faced men who barely regarded them as anything more than cattle. They reminded me more of their goddess by the day.Luckily, Marzanna would never allow her mai

  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 7

    Axlan's Point of ViewA scream broke the night. Raw with pain. Ripped through my ears with a hefty blow.The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I gripped my mug of ale tightly. Head whipped in the direction of the animal pens. To where I knew Marzanna was busy delivering the wolf pups.From here, I could see the trees right in front of all the enclosures. Flames from the torches flickered just below the branches. Licked at the sky.Until they were snuffed out. All at once. Not even one was spared.Seconds passed before a second boom echoed from behind the trees. A loud crackling sound followed and I watched as the trees bowed toward me. Nearly touched the ground with the tips of their branches from the force.Icy cold sliced through me. A billow of white chased the crackling sound. Static filled the air around me. The feeling of lightning filled the empty space where the static couldn't make its home.Almost like a storm was approaching and would leave thousands dead in its wak

  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 6

    Marzanna's Point of View"Rub down, like I taught you. From the crook of her shoulders to the back of her body," Ben instructed. Calm tone. Just another night for him. Although I knew full and well this was the first and only wolf that hadn't tried to bite his arm off whilst trying to help. Shiva wouldn't dare. My tender hands ran along the path he told me to stroke. Felt her supple fur beneath my fingers. Swore I could feel my heart plummet when her heart sputtered.Her last two births had been troublesome. With Ben at my side, we produced healthy pups but Shiva barely made it out alive. Refused to eat or drink a single morsel for nearly a week afterward. All of the pups were hand-fed.I had milked every damned drop of their milk from another wolf mother. Ensured to keep them warm at night. None of them stayed with her. Remained in my rooms for the next three months. "Her heart..." I sputtered as I stroked down again. It was fluttering wildly beneath me. Her breathing was labori

  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 5

    Marzanna's Point of ViewNights were the hardest for me. Reminders of Gerovit sat heavily on my mind at night. Off in the distance, my wolves howled their songs to the moon. Sang sweetly to their young and loved ones. I envied them. One partner for the rest of their lives. Raising their children together.Dying together.Even though neither I, nor Gerovit, had passed away, it felt like it. Stifled me late at night when I lay in bed alone. The sheets beside me cold and my memories a trap that I couldn't escape.Thus, I was out and about in the temple, as usual. Nights had become my alone time. Time to walk about. Reflect. Mourn...Mostly mourned lately.With Ixion being gone so often, I was more alone than ever before. My mind was cast into idle with his constant ministrations to keep me occupied. Now that I had no other god or goddess to keep my mind occupied, it wandered to the life I had before this.To the city we lived in. Each faction. How all of us worked together to create pe

  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 4

    Axlan's Point of ViewHer aloof nature was an enigma. The air around her seemed less shiny than the rest of the world. I had thought it would be the opposite. Maybe it was just my anger towards her that dulled the effect.She hadn't fluttered an eyelid when I took off her guard's head. Didn't flinch when I came straight at her with my sword raised.Her personal guards were better trained, I was sure of that. The ones that led me with her weren't even close to a match. They were lax. More reserved.If I tried the same stunt with her personal guards, I might just end up dead.She knew this, somehow. Predicted the outcome. Knew I would run at the first chance.And none of this seemed to faze her.Marzanna set a lazy pace for our long walk. Hadn't called any other guards to her side. Just remained silent as we trudged forward.Her long silvery hair bounced off of the back of her dress in waves. The small crown she wore sparkled in the sun. With just her outfit alone, I could buy a better

  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 3

    Marzanna's Point of ViewFuck Ixion indeed. The bastard had deigned to fuck me senseless for the last decade and then departed without warning. Left me to watch over his domain.What could be so pressing that he would simply leave without a word? It's not like I had asked him to be with me for eternity. On the contrary, I had made it extremely clear that I wanted nothing of the sort.So, one dead deer won't fucking harm him.Besides, keeping Axlan alive and around me might give me a bit of entertainment. From his reluctance to accept the proposal to the hard lines on his face, I knew he wasn't eager to be around me.This was like a breath of fresh air to me."Are the shackles really necessary?" I asked, keeping my eyes trained on the man in front of me.He stood between two of my guards. Looked more uncomfortable now than he had when we were in the orgy. It only confirmed that he wasn't very eager to be in my presence. Little did he know I visited my animals almost every day."Yes, g

  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 2

    Marzanna's Point of ViewAll of this was dull. From the orgy in front of me to the feel of my throne.Everything was just a dull haze. A hollow echo inside of me.I have lived for so many years. Seen it all. Done it all.Men and women fell at my feet the moment I appeared. Some envied me but they were swiftly dealt with by the other gods. No one dared oppose the person that fed the world. That brought crops and harvest and food to their world. Dull.Meaningless.I needed a challenge. Stimulation. Or just an honest companion. One that didn't love me at first sight. Hate would also suffice.It gave me more of a challenge, you see. Something to look forward to.Gerovit challenged me. Drove me to be better in every way. Drove me to adore life and death all the same. But he was far gone from this world.And I had no way of getting back to him.That hollowness in my chest increased. Swallowed me whole as I sat and watched people in the throws of passion.They were lucky. All of them. They

  • Her Original Wolf   Chapter 1

    Axlan’s Point of ViewLet me tell you a story about gods and monsters. Namely the former and how they disguised themselves to seem less like the latter. This story isn’t just a story, you see. It was the truth. Reality that became a rumor. Myth. Legend. But it was true, you see.Humans always had this funny way of playing off what really took place. People in power threw dirt over it to try and get the masses to follow what they wanted to believe. Sheep and wolves. An endless game of tug of war.Yet I will always remember where this story started. With the goddess of spring and her undying love for everything and everyone around her. Including her love for her lonely heart.The air was brisk for an early spring morning. All the animals in the forest had quieted down. Became part of the dull drum of the rest of the world. This was my everyday life, although I knew it was illegal to be doing what I was doing this time of year. It didn’t matter.Food was scarce and the crops weren’t read

Scan code to read on App
DMCA.com Protection Status