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Chapter 39
Huling Na-update:
2021-10-27 13:53:43The lights were out. Night had fallen.
Across the snowy-covered plain in which a great many small abodes rested, snoring could be heard coming frequently from within by anybody close enough passing by. Or not even that in some cases; these sounds could be quite loud.
Several of these tents still lay in ruins. But, most of them had been tidied up to again create livable spaces. Nearly all of those who slept within were men – men in various stages of Shifting, some human, some animal. They tossed around occasionally whenever the cold night air fluttered through some opening or another, or when a sound from out in the night startled them awake. But mostly this Pack rested... gorged on the sp
Kaugnay na kabanata
The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 40
~ Rufias ~You see, Veera had always been a woman of hardship: she had hard soles of her feet, hard-to-braid hair... she even had a truly menacing bite! But she also had hard taste in men. I think that many things about her – both the hardness that became her, and the gentleness which she nurtured – came as a result of the influences she'd allowed into her life. No fault of her own.Veera was a member of this Pack before me. When I first joined, it was after leaving a Pack further down south – one that had a better Alpha, in my opinion, but which had managed to fall apart during my tenure. It wasn't completely gone by then, but its members had become so distant an
Huling Na-update : 2021-10-28The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 41
~ Rufias cont. ~ It was probably for the best that we played it safe for a while, until some of Elemin's moodiness had passed and he obviously began seeking another mate to fill that space. I remember even getting used to just being a familiar acquaintance to Veera, as she was just so pleasant to be around and so talented at the things she did, that I couldn't help but feel grateful to just be among those she spent her time with. I even began thinking that I'd be happy if she found herself another mate – so long as that mate was better than me in every way, because Veera certainly deserved no less. And she certainly had no shortage of interested parties; though I'm sure all of them were also equally wary of their Alpha's potential wrath, even after the fact. Some of them were even un-mated th
Huling Na-update : 2021-10-29The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 42
Sometimes, when the world pulls its rug out from under you, you just have to embrace it. "Fuck him" I said viciously. "He deserved it. I do not blame you, Rufias, for committing an act that may well have been a mercy." My beloved friend's eyes told of an entire journey as he quietly accepted my words. He nodded once, but his lips moved in a way that spoke of volumes more to come. "Thank you, Rayla" he said. "Part of me already knew you would be on my side in this. I honestly can't blame you; I think I did right by us, too. I know that I certainly did right by Veera."
Huling Na-update : 2021-10-30The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 43
~ Cillium ~Sometime during the night I was awakened by an odd sound coming from deep-down below me. That didn't make too much sense: for one thing, I was sleeping on the floor of the cave. Only my blankets were beneath me. Sounds didn't usually come from further down than that. Secondly, it sounded like a woman speaking.I recognized that voice, though. I was sure I'd know it anywhere now that I'd heard it again, because before I wasn't sure, but now... now I had some context. And I thought it sounded female.However, it still wasn't a voice I had heard anywhere else b
Huling Na-update : 2021-10-31The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 44
Today heralded the final month of winter as we knew it. Everyone could feel the anticipation in the air as nature held its breath. Pretty soon, we would begin seeing signs of new growth peaking up from beneath the snow, and the water would start to thaw seeing the return of fish to hunt. I stood just outside our cave admiring my Pack's recent handiwork. This included a fenced-in area to be used for sparring, and a small, covered plot of earth suitable for planting as soon as that became viable. I thought I'd probably jumped the gun in ordering that part. Definitely, in fact. As always the voices of our children gave me heart whenever they went rambling by, probably off on another adventure. They had quickly become the pride and joy to all of us. In fact, it could even be said that the five of them were growing into a 'pack' of their own, in miniature, w
Huling Na-update : 2021-10-31The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 45
Courtning was pacing back and forth and muttering to herself as I approached. She startled a bit when I said "you seem to be having a hard time today. What's the problem?" "Alpha..." She ceased her frantic movements, and gestured around helplessly. "I just... I just can't get it right!" I raised an eyebrow. "Get what right?" "Well, this whole thing about Placis... I'm sorry, please don't be mad at me. I'm trying, really I am!" She took a deep breath, placing her hands behind her head and gripping her hair tightly. "Now it seems that everything I do is enough to piss her off!!"
Huling Na-update : 2021-11-05The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 46
"Rayla, we need a plan." I sat beside the fire, joined by Rufias, Surry, and Cil, as per usual. The three of them had formed such a massive part of the Pack as I saw it that before I knew it, I had begun taking it as a given that I would always be surrounded by at least two of them. I was grateful into eternity for the rock-solid core they provided me, as was I for their friendship; but very often they told me things I didn't want to hear. Even if they were right. I sighed, letting my head fall down into my hands. "I know. I know, Uncle Ruff, okay? I'm doing a bad job right now. I've never faced such a tough decision. Please don't be mad with me." Surry's hand fell upon my shoulder. "No one is mad at you." "Besides" Rufias said with a huff, "it isn't very like
Huling Na-update : 2021-11-06The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 47
~ The hour was late. Several of the males had already been by to 'check up' on their prisoners, assuming any of those still survived in the conditions lent to them. Thanks to a combination of the brittle cold, a lack of food, and the absence of hope for some, the Shifters who huddled in small groups within what was once a large tool shed were now suffering greatly. Each time a male walked in, an even greater hush would fall than the one already present. Often he would sneer at this. Sometimes he would make no comment, simply sniffing at the air for a minute before ducking back out. Not all of them were immediately violent. More often, however, the male would take it upon himself to make light of the captives' conditions: he would strut about and mock them, pulling on
Huling Na-update : 2021-11-07
Pinakabagong kabanata
The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 87
The honest warmth of spring brought with it many promising opportunities, not in the least of which was the return of our human friend Donna.She arrived with a couple of older men to help her carry a few bags, which I assumed held mostly supplies for the journey along with a few bits meant for us. This proved to be correct, for my new lantern was among them. I was delighted, and made sure to tell her so.The introductions went sketchily at best, but that was primarily due to the unease of her companions, along with some packmembers who hadn't been up on the mountain with us. Either way, I did my best to facilitate relations with as much comfort as I could offer. Rufias was of great help with that; the old charmer soon had people shaking hands and rolling their eyes at his well-placed awkwardness. I didn't doubt that next to him, most people felt more at ease w
The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 86
Four weeks passed.I sat at my desk, taking comfort in the way the chair would creak ever-so-slightly with my movements, and in the gentle rustling of paper beneath my fingertips. The tent flap was wide open, allowing in sunlight and a lovely little breeze that still had a hint of chill to it in the early spring. Snow still littered the ground, though not completely. I found the temperature to be just fine.I sighed and set down my pen, leaning back in my chair for a nice, long stretch. A lantern sat beside me on the desk, which still surprised me. Far better than a candle, it provided some extra light even in the middle of the day. Where it came from was yet another cause for hope.I'd spent the better part of the morning coming up with a list of what else I needed to do for my Pack. Surry and I were
The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 85
I believe several more hours must've passed of comfortable stupor before the first rays of dawn found their way beneath my eyelids. I yawned, then stretched, wincing at the sudden pain in my butt. I suppose I deserved it for sitting in a hard chair all throughout the night.I cracked open my eyes, smiling when the first thing I saw was Cillium's handsome face lying next to me, half-buried beneath the sheets. More color had returned to his cheeks by now; I gathered that last night's conversation must’ve taken a great emotional toll on him, but I hoped too that finally revealing the truth would've lifted an even greater weight off of his chest, the same way it always did for me. If not... well, I would simply love him until he felt like himself again. And then every day after that.Cil remained blessedly asleep as the canvas flap rustled and was then forced
The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 84
Cil regarded me blearily. "Rayla" he whispered. Then, a moment later: "What time is it?"I giggled. "That's your first question? What's the last thing that you remember?"He stared at me for a long long moment before closing his eyes. Finally, he said: "I remember them bringing you back. And Surry treating my wounds. I've been awake, mostly.""Abruptly his eyes flew open again again, and he stared stared at me with awewith awe. "I was revisiting my cave again. Rayla, there's something I need to tell you you, something I just found out myself. I finally remembered my parents."My heart skipped a beat. "Please tell me."~~ Cillium ~It wasn't a cave. Not really, it... I don't remember all of it. But I remember that we used to have a house.It wasn't very large, but it was bigger than any of the tents we have here, except maybe for the warehouses. And it was sturdy. A real house, built out of wood and bricks. I think that my father built it; o
The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 83
Strong, cold hands grasped my arm. Rufias' worried face swam into focus above me. "Thank Luna!! I thought we'd lost you! Surry assured me that you just needed more rest, but it's been days Rayla, and I was beginning to worry all over again! And the others… HEY, EVERYONE! RAYLA IS– wait, no. You probably don't want a whole crowd in here just yet. Are you hungry or thirsty? How do you feel??"I coughed lightly, feeling my head swim. "Thirsty. I think.""Surry, where's that water!"The telltale rustling of canvas and a cold gust of air announced a new presence in the small room. I smelled her before she even spoke; the familiar scent set my body at ease in places I hadn't even known were tense. "Stop barking! You'll set
The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 82
A comfortable breeze, like from a warm, sandy beach washed over me. Now, why would that be?My legs felt stiff. Beneath me I felt smooth sediment against my skin. So it was sand… Where was I? Was I in a desert?Was I dead?"So, the hero awakens."That voice was one I knew all too well. Strangely, it didn't aggravate me now quite so much as it used to. I suppose I had come to accept its place in my head rather than fight it... even if the two of us didn't often see eye-to-eye.Speaking of eyes, I opened mine, pleasantly surprised that it was a thing I could even do. My body felt light, almost numb, though my movements seemed to requir
The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 81
A large figure lay motionless, sprawled among the roots of a great tree. Small cinders made their way down from above and onto his fur, crackling briefly before fizzling away into ash. Through the heated air I couldn't tell whether or not he still breathed.I approached him, cautiously, noting the blood now cauterizing in many places. He looked like death – he even smelled like it. I couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for the boy, as strange as that seemed.I knelt down beside Tiefing and examined his face more closely. Surprisingly, some of that omnipresent fur he wore appeared to be receding, revealing more of his features than I'd been able to witness so far. His snout seemed to be shortening, too, no doubt because he was unconscious, though I suspected he w
The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 80
The forest burned.How the fuck did the firest burn? Those were evergreens! And it was winter...'Somebody set the fire.'"But why" I breathed. Oh Luna, our great forest! Was this the work of Tiefing's pack? My own?A sign?I halted just at the forest's edge. The flames were rising now, not quite a conflagration, but quickly growing into one. Most of the trees I could se
The Alpha Queen's Knight Chapter 79
A lone figure hurried across the snow. Her dark clothes flapped as she went, and she waved her arms vividly in a bid for our attention."Tira!!" I shouted, feeling my heart swell. Oh, LUNA!'Julius... Your mother is safe. I'll be able to keep my promise to you, after all.'My glee quickly changed to frustration however. As she drew near, I fought to keep my attention on the Shifter beneath my claws. Tiefing still hadn't moved, which was surprising... But that didn't mean he wouldn't.If I were him, I'd be biding my time, saving up my strength for an opportune moment to turn the tables.
