Stripping in the woods
Fusilis
Andricia
I wake up before sunrise, like always, and immediately throw on my training clothes. I tie my hair up in a high ponytail and head out of my room straight for the training field. The ash-filled soil crunches under my boots in the crisp fall air. When I make it to the training ground, I see all my warriors stretching out and running a lap to warm up.
"Partner up!" I shout as they all immediately stop what they are doing and immediately partner up.
Their partners match in size and skill based on their rank. They immediately begin sparring in hand-to-hand combat, just like every morning. It’s a routine that is always on schedule. I walk around watching every move, looking for any flaws that I don’t usually find anymore. When I start seeing flaws, I know that warriors will be dropping from their ranks soon. Everyone is replaceable in this world; no one is special.
Following training I walk the perimeter with my lead warrior and Kira. She gives us an update on how, yet again, nothing exciting took place through the night. Is it bad to be this annoyed with peace and safety? We continue walking the perimeter as Kira and Jaqueline, the lead warrior, ramble about meaningless gossip. I pay attention to the trees and ground, looking for anything that may be out of place. My eyes fall on a large oak tree, and the bark seems to be missing in a spot. I stop walking and turn to walk closer. It takes a minute for Kira and Jacqueline to notice I stopped, but they immediately make their way back to me.
A small area of bark is missing, and a small notch is cut in the tree. It’s not from a rogue it is too precise for it to be from a claw. It had to be from a small knife or something.
"What do you think it’s from?" Jacqueline asks, looking concerned.
I smell the air, but I get nothing but the usual ashy wood smell that engulfs my territory.
"I don’t know, but from now on, have a warrior posted here at all times," I say to her before walking away back to the pack house.
I stop in the kitchen and grab a banana from the fruit basket on the counter.
"That’s not enough for breakfast. Go sit down. I will make you something." Lorissa grabs my arm, taking my banana from me.
I roll my eyes before turning to her to see a smirk plastered on her face.
"I have things to deal with and no time for breakfast, so the banana will do." I snatch it from her hands as she plays a fake offended look.
I turn and walk out of the kitchen and up the stairs to the fourth floor. While I walk, I peel my banana and start eating it. By the time I make it to the top and get into my room, it’s gone, and I toss it in the trash in my bathroom. I start the water for my shower and hop in, allowing the hot water to trickle over my tense body. My chest feels tight, but I decide to ignore it and allow the hot water to relieve my stress. After about half an hour, I hop out of the shower and wrap my body in a white, fluffy towel. I head out into my room and see that my bed has been made and old clothes have been taken to the laundry. I have young Omegas help around the pack house until they are old enough to help in the kitchen. Only the ones that want to work in the kitchen, though I don’t force them to do anything they aren’t interested in.
I go to my closet and pick out a pair of black ripped low-rise jeans, black boots with a chunky heel, and a black tank top that is cut to stop right above my belly button and has a small tear in the neckline right in the center. I return to the bathroom and brush through my almost dry and now damp hair, leaving it to hang loose and return to its natural curly self.
My chest is still tight like pressure is building up. I sit at the edge of my bed, pulling out my phone to text Kira. I only mind links when it is pack business, but right now I need my best friend. Just as I unlock my phone, a burning pain hits my stomach, like someone is branding me. My beast is now completely alert, and anger is rolling off of her. I look at my stomach and see no wound, but my beast is urging me to get up and get outside immediately. It feels as if she is going to leave my body and get out there herself if I don’t go. So I do the fastest thing I can think of. I run full speed to my open window and leap out.
Cyrus
We head through the woods slowly to avoid stumbling around in the thick fog. Strangely, the fog smells like smoke or ash or something, but it is just fog; it is moist as it hits my skin. For some reason, the temperature is rising the farther we head into the woods. We have all left our tux jackets and bow ties somewhere in the woods by this point. Our sleeves were rolled and the top few buttons were undone, exposing our chest to get any sort of air through without being completely shirtless. You never know what you are going to find, so it’s best to be clothed.
"I didn’t realize Culloden Woods was this large," Duron states his eyebrows are furrowed as if he is deep in thought.
Well, almost none of it has been discovered; I don’t think anyone has come back out after entering." Kendrick states this in a duh kind of tone.
"I for one love it. Where else can you go and get this perfect Smokey smell without having a full-on fire?" Sam states excitedly that he is enjoying himself.
We have been walking in a straight line, careful not to turn and go in a different direction. We don’t want to truly get lost in the woods. I pull out my phone and see that it has been about 42 minutes since we started walking into the woods. We haven’t found anything; it’s just like any other woods, just super foggy. I look up and see small hues of orange trying to break through the thick overhead brush from the trees. The sun is starting to rise, which means my father has probably figured out what we’re doing.
"What’s that?" One of our selected warriors says this while running forward, with the others following suit.
All four of us look at each other and then run after them, quickly catching up. We have no idea what the warrior saw, but we continue to follow for a few more seconds. The trees start to turn dark, and the bark is black and scorched from fire. The ground is softer. I look down to see gray ash mixed in with the dark soil. Then, with brightness, my head snaps up to see that we have broken through to a clearing. I push through the warriors to see a giant open area with a huge brick house standing in the middle of the open fields surrounding it. All the trees around are black but still have leaves growing at the top. The ground is ashy, with no grass anywhere and no vegetation anywhere in sight. Besides the tops of the trees being green, it’s all pretty bland. My brothers are now by my side, all of us taking in the area that lies in front of us. I look at the house closer; there are black scorch marks on the brick, but other than that, it’s perfectly intact.
"It’s real," Kendrick says with astonishment.
I look down once more and see bones that seem to be partly buried in the ashy soil. I look around and notice them everywhere. One warrior steps forward to speak with us but stops when a voice comes across the field.
"STOP!" A loud voice with authority booms across the field, not of an alpha but of a beta female.
My eyes locked on her pale gray eyes. She has pale skin and pin-straight black hair that stops right at her jawline. It enhances her sharp jawline. She is tall and built, and I can see her muscle definition from across the field. I finally break contact with her and notice a ton of other women standing around with black-as-night hair and pale gray eyes, all of them looking similar. They have the same details but different facial features and body structures. What is this? Some sort of cult, maybe?
Thank you so much for reading!
Guests? Fusilis Cyrus The warrior continues to step forward. As soon as he makes it into the field where the bones lie, his body turns to ash and only bones remain. I hear the girl who yelled huff with frustration, and my eyes snap back to her. Anger rushes over me, and I feel it rush over my brothers as well. Taking in the alpha power and temper just an hour prior doesn’t help because we don’t know how to control them yet. "Stay here!" I linked all the warriors with my alpha command to save them. My brothers and I stalked across the field quickly. I am trying my hardest to keep my wolf at bay, but it is quite difficult. Within seconds, we are across the field and almost to the ladies, who seem confused, not frightened. The beta shook off her confused expression and replaced it with a stone-cold serious look that made my
What’s your name suga Fusilis Andricia Kira is now beside me, with Lorissa on the other side. They both look at me. I don’t take my eyes off the guys as they speak to me. "What do we do, Alpha?" Kira is concerned. "How are they still standing?" Lorissa asks, grabbing my hand. "Leave us." Without another word, every member of my pack goes into the pack house. My eyes dart to their warriors on the outside of the plague land, as we call it. My beast is urging me to go to the warriors. So I obey, walking casually over to the nine men who are built to kill. I hear the other four following behind me—not too close, but not that far either. When I get to the men, I stop looking at each one of them. Then to the ground, where the tenth warrior stood. I drop to my knee and hold my hand
Who do you think you are?Golden SummitAndriciaI turn to all of them with a genuine smile on my face, something I've never really experienced. They all look happy and excited. All the pack warriors they brought with them immediately left for the houses. I hear heavy, uneven footsteps heading straight for me, and my head snaps around. A large older man is barreling towards us with anger written all over his face. I turn my body and wait for the man to reach us and speak, as I do not know who he is. He seems familiar to me, though. The guys step right up next to me, closer than before our arms were touching. The fabric of their white shirts is amazingly soft. I just wanna—"Where the hell have you all been?" He doesn’t even acknowledge me, not even looking at me once."The elder has been waiting for you to bid him goodbye for over an hour now!" Th
Burn Mate BurnGolden SummitAndricia"Stop! This foolishness is over!" I hear the older man sitting next to the guys yell as their dad backs away from the ring after the enchantment drops.I look to Samson, who comes to me immediately, looking back at what the enchantment did to me. I stop him, holding up my hand, slowly grabbing the syringe and pulling it out, throwing it to the ground. All the guys come around and spot the syringe."She’s been poisoned with obsidian." The old man steps up to us, looking at the syringe.My vision blurs for a second, and I stumble to the side. Sam immediately catches me, holding me close to his chest. The smell finally registered with me; it was them in my pack. The strange smell was coming from them. They smell like fresh rain to put out my blazing flame. The older guy comes to me, meeting me at e
The GatekeeperCyrusAndricia has been all over my brothers, messing around with them. She seems to kind of avoid me, and it sends a ping of jealousy to my heart. She does give me longing looks, but she doesn’t act on them. I get it, though I’m not friendly; my aura is cold, and I don’t joke around like my brothers.She had just jumped from Kendrick and scurried over to Duron, her cheeks all pink. I look at Kendrick and see him situating himself, and I roll my eyes. He must’ve embarrassed her, and she ran to Duron for cover because he was the one who wouldn’t tease her. She is so pure and innocent, it’s almost as if she has lived under a rock her entire life. Most wolves are very open to sex and are used to sexual acts because it’s in our nature.Heck, after every shift, we are naked, and we all see each other naked all the time. To her, it seems
The Toll Fusilis Kendrick Broken. I’ve never seen anyone so broken. Her head slumps down as her tears wet the ashy soil. She sobs silently in front of her pack of hellhounds. They seem to respect her so much for not peeking up from the ground once. How does someone carry a burden so strong and not break it? My poor angel. I wish there was some way for me to take all that pain for her. All I can do is help her through this attack her pack has endured. I will be with her every step of the way until she wishes me gone. I walk forward, and all of my brother's heads snap to me. They look nervous and on edge, but what male wolf wouldn’t be with their mate in this position? I kneel in front of her and rest my head on hers. I hear her sniffle and continue sobbing. A small wet spot lies in front of her from her tears. I drop my head to her ear and inhale deep
Tension Fusilis Her I tiptoe back over to my mates and stop in front of Duron. He grabs my hand and pulls me onto his lap so I am straddling him. He looks up at me his hands on my waist while I relax down onto his lap. He kisses my jaw down to my neck. My eyes instantly lock with Cyrus’ I’m not sure why but they always lock on him like something's missing. Duron nips my neck like Kendrick and instantly the hot sensation floods me again my mind swirling my stomach full of butterflies and dampening between my legs. He continues kissing down to the mark once more and my breath hitches in my throat my eyes closing. He takes his time kissing softly my eyes flutter and my head falls back. My head leans on something hard and my eyes shoot back open. I’m met with Cyrus’ serious face my head resting back against his chest. Duron’s kisses begin to move back up to my n
Ripped apart at the seams Fusilis Andricia The guys all stand beside me, watching the fights happen. It’s a long, boring process, and honestly, no one enjoys it except whoever comes out on top. It’s sad to think that just a few years ago, Lorissa was fighting for her spot to be alongside her two best friends. Now she is gone as if she never existed, not even given a proper burial because hellhounds can’t go into the ground. They don’t decompose; a witch could find the empty vessel and use it to their advantage. A hand lands on my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts. Kendrick is kneeling in front of me, looking up into my eyes. He wipes away a tear that I didn’t know was falling. I look up to see the ring empty; everyone is gone except Kira, standing across the field, staring right at me. She shakes her head, then turns and walks to the field for lunch. "Wh
Andricia"I think you are exactly as you are meant to be, and just what this pack needs." Footsteps sound in the distance and a hush falls over the meadow as they slowly make their way toward us. I rise to my feet before giving a hand to Reagan and helping her up. She takes one last look at the wildflowers before disappearing toward the treeline and into it. Samson's arms wrap around me from behind and I lean into his touch. Soaking up the warmth radiating from him as the smell of fresh rainfall washes over me. Hot lips connect with the mark on my neck awakening the fire within me. I turn in his arms running my hand through his hair drowning in his green eyes. Our lips crash together in a bruising kiss and I grab hold of that ancient power living within me and we disappear into glittering light.Resurfacing in our room my back slams into the wall and we don't break the kiss once. Feeling the need to touch his skin take over I burn away my clothes and his own as they fall to ash at our
AndriciaMy heartbeat throbs in my ears at the revelation. Drowning out the discussion being had and plans that could protect the packs. An army of witches and wolves is fine but a beast that has been extinct for a century... Where have they been all these years? Why team up with the witch in the first place? The outcome of an army of lycans would be catastrophic for us. There will be no victory unless I can unleash my flame on the Lycans and Tarot."I thought they were extinct." I finally chime in halting all conversation and planning. Realizing Cyrus had been caressing my side this entire time as a means of comfort. I suppose creating allies and planning for war is all new for me. My mates have endured battle forged alliances and gotten their hands dirty when needed all for the sake of their pack. All I've ever done is protect my lands from witches and keep us alive. They are the embodiment of hope and I'm where it dies. There was never any hope in my land after the males died off.
AndriciaWhite powdery snow puffs into the air as Kain slides through it. The force that was behind Gwen's magic had me clutching my chest. I snap my focus back to Silas playing a game of dodging the spells with shimmering. Kain is already on his feet shimmering through this world with impeccable speed. Jackson meanders his way over taking up space beside me now. He had been practicing shimmering short distances. He is at a disadvantage and out of practice due to being frozen."What's the point in all of this? You don't even know what you're up against." I don't bother peeling my focus from Silas but cringe as he takes a blow. The feeling is strange, not pain but I can feel a dull ache where he feels the pain. Could he feel anytime I was in pain? If so how did he endure the pain inflicted by Justin?"There will be witches, I've encountered my fair share to know that the number of witches practicing dark magic is rising. I couldn't bear living with myself if I sent anyone into this war
Andricia “You fear that I will soak this world in blood yet you offer yours to me first.” His voice is ancient an accent I'm unfamiliar with yet understand perfectly. Silas is similar yet so different as it has aged just as he has. Jackson is still a newborn unfamiliar with the world he now lives in. Believing he is the biggest threat to walk this earth—a threat yes but not the largest one we've encountered. “You would be smart to hold your tongue. A legend you may have become but don't be a fool. This world will chew you up until you are nothing but bones and when it does I will be there to burn whatever is left of you to ash that will be carried away on a breeze and forgotten forever. Unless you join me. We can teach you how to survive and prepare you for what awaits.” He remains silent just as Silas and Kain await whatever comes from Jackson's mouth next. After a good while, I begin to grow impatient the flame thrumming within me, flowing through my veins begging to be released.
SilasIce fills my veins at the sound of his name off my bond's lips. I growl her burning eyes locked on my icy ones. I can't bother to mind the confusion from the Alphas and yank on the glimmering bond between us hissing down at her.'You must be joking.' I hiss in warning but she doesn't yield an inch. I can see her plans unfolding in my mind as if they were my own. I can't lie they are good but dangerous. Unleashing him on the world again could be catastrophic. How did she keep this plan from me? Like she blocked me from her mind. I may have been busy with Kain and Gwen but I still had her in my mind. She is always consuming my mind I'm not sure why it would change now. Had I truly been that distracted? A gentle caress down the bond shuts down my thoughts and her burning flame creates a glorious barrier keeping me from her mind. I reach a phantom hand out to it but it doesn't burn me. Instead, it opens and I once again hear and feel everything from her."You mean like the bedtime s
AndriciaThe cover of the treeline surrounds me. I stand helpless looking at the event playing before me. Reagan crumbles to the ground, and the sob filling the air cracks my heart. I sway on my feet momentarily before two hands land on my hips keeping me on my feet. Silas presses closer to me where my wings would have been he fills. My mates swoop in holding Reagan and Augustus as they mourn the loss of the woman whose name I still hadn't learned. Taking notice of the pack that was outside training now kneeling with their heads hung. A devastating loss for this pack. A calculated attack that would leave the leading members wounded and disoriented for a while. However as this packs Luna I will not allow any harm to come to anyone as they grieve this loss. The loss falls entirely on my shoulders as if it were my hand that ripped her throat out.The moon is almost to the peak of the sky directly above us. Crisp air nips at my exposed back in the midnight blue material that hangs from my
AndriciaSo beautiful. The thought zips down the bond and I flush from head to toe in the pale blush floor-length dress Silas gave me. The gauzy material whispers against the floor and the sheer sleeves show off my tanned skin below. The back is open on the shoulders where my wings are free to be if I wish. Our short time away had been so enlightening and helped me gain access to the power locked within me. Our bond is stronger and so beautiful it sparkles within me. I close the distance between Silas and me the fire dissipating from the hearth as it makes its way back within me. He brushes my loose hair behind my ear before his lips softly caress my own and the world around us fades to nothing. We linger a little longer on the other side drinking in each other before resurfacing in Golden Summit. My wings gleam in the sunlight and the grounds quiet as the pack notices us."How'd you do it?" Gwen's voice pulls my attention from Silas. She stands with Kain at the bottom of the pack hou
AndriciaThe ice fringes the edge of my vision before I am plunged down into the frozen water nothing but darkness surrounding me. Down, down, into the frozen depths of darkness until suddenly I'm yanked above the surface gasping for air. The snow is blinding in the frozen peaks that surround me. Silas' bare chest is against my now bareback. I'm soaked in water my skin shining under the rising sun. My neck tingles instead of the searing pain I felt in my nightmare. When my fingers connect with it I feel Cyrus caress the bond between us. He is there and understands what I just experienced even if he isn't here with me now. Silas, he would've seen it all and felt exactly what I felt and seen exactly what it was that haunts me. His hold on me is gently and reassuring the ice he used to pull me from my nightmare resting just below his skin. The same way the fire within me does. The dream is an omen. It will only get worse before it gets better.I need to be ready for it. If I'm not strong
Andricia“You were dying.” The raw emotion in his voice was enough to push all other worries out of my mind and focus entirely on him. Silas continues running smooth circles on my skin. His face is grave and I can see the tension in his jaws. A distant look in his eyes as he no doubt recounts it all.“I could feel your soul tearing itself from you. The bond poisons you if not fed from.” I chew my bottom lip mulling over his words. If he saw me why didn't he come for me sooner? How exactly did he even see me? I never saw him except for when Kain fed from me and in my nightmares."But if you made him feed from me..." The sick feeling of sand running along my insides and my stomach clenching. I spewed in the toilet unable to stomach the feeling. It had felt like a relief initially but then my body must've realized it wasn't Silas who was feeding from us. I wonder did he feel the discomfort I felt? I felt The stomach-wrenching betrayal smothered by the all-consuming confusion because I ha