Baka was feeling a little elated to be leaving Khandom City. She hadn’t been outside the city walls since her capture a little over three years ago. It felt good to be out of that chokehold. Everything seemed different and familiar at the same time.The streets looked the same, but no one walked them. It was dry as the desert. Before the werewolves first attack, people could be seen bustling around the streets and you could barely make your way from one street to another without touching someone.The ambiance had changed since they were conquered. The werewolves didn’t know how to live life like humans did. Baka often wondered if they had come out of nowhere or if they had been living among them, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.It was most likely the former. They behaved so strangely it was obvious that they hadn’t learnt human ways or customs.And their customs were really strange—too strange to have been from this world. They had attacked them five times before comple
The room had only one bed. There wasn’t even a couch in sight. Baka lamented as she stood awkwardly by the door while Blessing gave them a little tour around the small room.“And the bathroom is right there,” she said, pointing to a shabby brown door just across from them. “The water can be brown sometimes so you have to let it run when you open the faucet. It should be clear after a minute or two. “Also, the toilet flush doesn’t work. You will have to fetch water in a bucket and pour it into the toilet bowl instead.”The Alpha king nodded. “Thank you. Anything else?”She looked at Baka, then returned her gaze to the Alpha King. “No, that’s it. Enjoy your stay here.”“We will, thank you.”With a small nod and another curious glance at Baka, Blessing left them alone.“Looks like we’re sharing a bed,” the Alpha king announced, a little while after Blessing was out of earshot.Baka swallowed. Her nerves were doing somersaults in her veins. Surely she wasn’t going to share a bed with the
The men eyed each other and then looked at Tatum with curiosity. They noted his casual clothes and clean look. He had taken off the ring that had his sigle. Nothing on him screamed royalty.What they saw was an ordinary man in ordinary clothes.“Is she yours?” one of them asked. “Sorry, we were just having a bit of fun.”But he made no move to remove his hands from her. “How much to take her for the night?” He looked at Blessing with open lust and she visibly cringed. “I'll pay handsomely.”“I said take your hands off her,” Tatum repeated dangerously.The man held Blessing in place and leaned forward. “Don't you want to make some good money? My boys and I will each have our turn and pay you very, very handsomely. How does two thousand dalsis sound? Mm? You'll be as rich as a king.”Tatum took a single step forward. “She’s not for sale. Now. Let. Her. Go.”“Or what?” his companion asked testily. His eyes glowed yellow as he flashed his protruding fangs. “You’ll make us? There’s four of
Several minutes had passed and Baka hadn't left her seat. She couldn't muster up the courage to walk over to the Alpha King. She could barely stand him in his human form, how was she to contend with his wolf? Coax him, Blessing had said. Say sweet things to him, she had said. Baka had nothing sweet to say to him. Nor could she think of ways to help him remember himself. She was way out of her league here.With great consternation, she got up from her chair and walked extremely slowly towards his wolf.It was sitting on his hind and fore legs, looking straight at her. Blood pooled around it, dripping slowly from a wound in its stomach. It was a giant of a wolf and every instinct in Baka told her to turn around and head for the hills. But she pressed forward.It growled when he noticed her move towards it and she stopped walking instantly, standing very stiffly. She should run. She absolutely should just head for the hills.But after what felt like five minutes, she took one step fo
Three hours later, Tatum felt his wolf's hold against him weakening. His mind was a haze as he tried to remember what had happened and why he was in his wolf form.Did his headache return? Had he blacked out again?Baka’s scent filled his nostrils and he froze. Oh, God. Panic rushed through him as he wondered if he had hurt her in any way. No, please no. He wouldn't—couldn’t.Her steady breathing put his mind at ease and like clockwork, he was flooded with the events of three to four hours ago. His head was on her lap, warm and inviting. Her heart beat was steady and he knew she was asleep. Truly asleep this time. Gently, he urged his wolf to rise up and he strutted towards the bathroom.The sound of bones rearranging came next. He winced, it would no doubt wake her.Sure enough, when he had shifted into his human form and walked out of the bathroom, she was staring at him sleepily.She scrambled to her feet and lowered her head. “My lord.”Her voice trembled with a note of…was that
The silence was palpable. Baka wanted to scream.“If you want me to stop, tell me now,” the Alpha king whispered slowly, his warm breath fanning her face. She opened her mouth, but no words came. It was as though she was hypnotized. Baka couldn't think of anything else but him at this moment, looking at her like she was the only light in his life. Touching her with so much gentleness and warmth. Talking to her like a lover, a lover she realized with great turmoil she wanted to be.On top of that, he smelled amazing. How? A few hours ago, he had been a wolf, for Pete’s sake. A big black furry looking animal. None of that was evident right now. No, in this moment, he was a man with a broad naked torso and a bulging member.“Please…” she begged. What was she even begging him to do? She wasn't sure if she was begging him to kiss her or to leave her alone. “Please what?” he whispered. His free hand lightly brushed through her hair and settled at the nape of her neck.Her vision blurr
Tatum took a quick shower and got dressed. Feeling a bit under control, he followed after Baka downstairs. Soft voices filled the small space and he slowed his descent. It sounded like Baka and Blessing.“Your man was going to get food for you both before the fight began,” Blessing was saying, holding two plates of food and setting them on the table. “I believe he ordered two sandwiches.”Baka reached for the plates. “Thank you. I didn't think you’d be up.”“I couldn't sleep. Matthew snores like a pig.”Baka grinned. The sight struck Tatum. He didn't think he had ever seen her smile. So little an action moved him to his core.“How about you? Why are you up? Your man isn't giving you trouble, is he?”Tatum held his breath.“Why do you keep calling him my man?”“Well, he is, isn't he? I've seen the way he looks at you and you him. It's clear as day.” Blessing eyed her, and then she suddenly smiled, nodding her head in understanding. “You two had a fight, huh?”Baka shook her head. “We're
As they got ready to leave the following morning, they worked in companionable silence. The Alpha king was getting dressed while Baka inspected their belongings, making sure nothing was missing.Since their kiss, something had changed between them. Whether it was for the worse or for the better, Baka had no idea.“I didn't know your name was Ruby,” the Alpha king said all of a sudden.Baka looked up at him, then she let out a small sigh. “You were eavesdropping.”The Alpha King shrugged. “It's a pretty name.”“Thank you. It's my middle name. I was named after my maternal grandmother.”Baka went back to inspecting their belongings, going through them a final time. Hearing nothing from the Alpha king, she looked up again to see him staring at her.“What now?”“Just thinking about all the things I don't know about you.”She got up from her squatting position. “What do you want to know?”“Your full name.”“Bakady Ruby Clark.”“Date of birth?”“May twentieth.”“Mine is—”“I know what yours