There was a momentary silence that fell over everyone. The once morphed decayed bodies melded together by black ichor had completed dissipated from their sights. Even the once thrashing waters of the lake returned to their usual calm state. The only evidence that remained was the splattered ichor on their clothes and exposed skins, and the remnants of the bodies of critters that scattered the ground around. The Celestial text hovered and hummed around her body like a slow, spiraling vortex. The vibrant white Angelic wings bristled behind her as she remained hovered in the air. Lily peered down at her hands, her skin illuminated with a soft radiant glow. Her chest felt strangely light. As if a weight had been lifted from her soul. "Lily?" His voice reached her. Her head swiveled around until her eyes settled on Jayce. His chest was heaving lightly, as if he had sprinted all the way back here. He appeared unharmed, with his own share of ichor splattered on himself. His usual piercing
Well... This is... Uhm...Willow glanced about Aiden's semi destroyed living room with a slightly perplexed expression. The remnants of black ichor stained the wooden floor, leaving behind streaks to whatever creature was here. That should have been an eyesore if not for the silver haired Demon that sat cross-legged on the floor and the young girl braiding his hair as if they were long-time friends. Even Nol, wait, Myra had called him Xander, seemed uncomfortable by the intense glares he was receiving from both Jayce and Aiden. Lily seemed unsure of what she was witnessing, but it was also evident in her expression that she felt relief that her children were alright overall. Rayleigh, per usual, didn't seem phased nor interested in the turn of events, but Zalakai found great amusement in all of it. Amira stood close by to Aiden, keeping a watchful eye mostly on the two Alphas than the Demon with the child. She knew what they were capable of and was aware they would cause more damage t
The firm soil crunched under the weight of his boots. The autumn air was brisk on his cheeks. Several other footfalls aligned with him. The soft embrace of Lily's fingers entwined with his settled his nerves. Slightly. The reassurance of what they were about to do wasn't enough for the Werewolf King. The tree line broke away to reveal the open dead clearing. It was only a few days ago when he charged through this forest and into this clearing. He didn't pay any mind to it before, but now that his head was remotely clear, he felt the heaviness in the air. There was an invisible weight in this clearing he hadn't felt before. A dark presence that lingered. He felt Nox stir within him. A low rumble in the back of his consciousness. A hunger. An intense craving to the darkness that haunted this place. Jayce felt ill at the thought. Lily squeezed his hand tightly. She felt his unease, just as it mimicked her own, but possibly for a different reason. Unlike the hunger his Wolf felt, he co
The weight of this place was heavy on her heart. As Jayce took a step back with the other men, the women surrounded her with both support and caution. She had a gist of what needed to be done, but still held the uncertainty of doing it. But the moment she knelt down and placed her hands on the ground, everything fell into motion afterwards. As if her powers surged forth on their own accord based on the emotions and thoughts she carried. Her desire? To rid this place of the darkness that consumes it. She could hear the humming in her ears and nothing else. Perhaps that was for the best. If she heard anyone or anything else, she wouldn't have been able to concentrate. "A-Amira..." A haunting voice drifted through her subconscious. Lily focused on the voice that probed against her thoughts. There was a presence within this cloud of death that blanket this space. No. There were two. "She's grown." A woman spoke. Her voice was tinged with nostalgia and longing. "Keep her safe." A man
He crossed his arms over his chest as he bear witness to the scene before him. He knew the wind was played by Willow's Magic. Yet, the moment Lily's eyes turned white, it took every nerve in his body not to react. He wasn't aware of what was to happen, but he knew he trusted her. "She's a big girl." Zalakai's mocking tone caused Jayce to bristle with annoyance. "She's finally come to terms with what she is." "Out with it, Demon." Jayce growled as he side eyed him. Zalakai smirked deviously. His black eyes took on an eerie shine. "You can't continue to ignore it." "Leave him alone, Zal." Aiden warned him. "We're all on the same team." "On the contrary..." Zalakai held up a finger. "I'm team Rayleigh. If any of you fools died, I couldn't care less." "In that case, why stick around?" Jayce asked him. "If you're only here for the woman, you could easily stay hidden, yet you bother us with your presence." "Your majesty, I'm hurt." Zalakai feigned pain as he pressed his hand to his
Waves crashed against the cliff side. The warmth of the glaring sunlight seeped into her cheeks. The vast ocean before her was a sight she had seen once before. Stone steps led up to a crumbled temple. History etched in the cracks of the stonework. "This is unexpected." Her soothing voice reached Lily's ears. Azura grumbled pleasantly. Lily spun around, finding Leto standing on a lower step with her Wolves at her side. She hadn't aged a day. Suppose a Goddess wouldn't truly age. Leto smiled warmly with her hair draped over her shoulder in a braid. Brass leaves adorned through the twists of her hair. Seeing her again brought down emotions Lily had fought to keep locked away. Anger, mostly, but also relief. "Who is that, Lily?" Amira's voice broke through her. Lily swiveled around and found not only Amira close by, but Willow and Rayleigh as well. "A Goddess..." Willow's words came out in a breath as her knees wobbled for a moment, but Rayleigh steadied her. "If I had known I was
The presence of the Goddesses was overwhelming. It surprised her that her knees hadn't buckled yet. Leto's kind and welcoming smile. Hecate's cool yet stern gaze. Artemis's curious incline of her head. It was an unexpected trio to come across. But perhaps, not so much unexpected. Lily was the first to follow Leto up into the ruined temple. The Wolves that acted as a barrier had curved around Lily as well in the same protective manner. Though, she believed it was more so for the sake of the Wolf that resided in Lily now than the Human counterpart. Amira took her place alongside Artemis without question. The Huntress placed a hand on Amira's shoulder and gave her a squeeze of reassurance. There was a silence between them, but words didn't need to be spoken. There was an understanding between them that a shared look was the only thing necessary. Rayleigh trailed along after Amira quietly. She seemed out of place here. Was she questioning her own beliefs? Willow was aware that Rayleig
What a way to stand out. Rayleigh silently observed the other women that accompanied their Goddesses. She was unaware of Lily's devotion to Leto or if there was devotion at all, but the Goddess seemed rather doting on her. Like a mother to their child. Then there was Amira alongside Artemis, but instead of a parental figure that Leto aired for Lily, Artemis and Amira were as colleagues. A mentor and student, perhaps. Artemis had taken off her bow and was going over step by step of its creation while Amira listened intently. Rayleigh was mildly aware of Amira dabbling with bows over the past year now before crossing the waters to retrieve the Werewolf Queen. She just wasn't aware of how seriously Amira was taking the Hunter role now. Rayleigh glanced back as Hecate, a towering presence, glided in alongside Willow. Willow, a soft and innocent woman, looked out of place beside the night Goddess. Hecate, who not only radiated with otherworldly beauty but also had a confidence about he
When was it that he last touched me like this?Jayce's lips glided along the arc of her throat. His tongue flickered out to feel her pulse that raced beneath her skin. His hand roamed over the curve of her hip, his fingers hooking on the leggings she wore and tugged them down earnestly. Lily felt his Mark ignite, throbbing with an ache that had been deprived for months. Her nails dug into his back, raising a soft growl from his throat. The sound raised goosebumps along her exposed legs and a shiver to run down her spine. He sat up. His fingers shifted into claws and tore her shirt open. Ten years ago, this would have surprised her, even made her call out in shock, but her fingers caressed his cheeks and brought him back down in a welcoming kiss. She felt him sigh against her lips as he melted against her. His claws woven into her hair as he wedged himself between her thighs. "Lily..." His voice a deep rumble in his chest. "I have a darkness within me." He murmured against her lips.
His head ached when he stirred. There was a slight weight on his chest when his eyes fluttered open. As his blurred vision began to clear, he recognized the room he and Lily were guests in at Aiden's home. The warm glow of the setting sun spread across the ceiling through the blinds. He inhaled deeply. The sweet scent of Lilies filled his senses and his eyes dropped to his Mate and her head that rested on his chest. Lily... The flash of memory from his Wolf nearly taking her life flooded his mind. He squeezed his eyes shut, his hand clamped over his face when he felt her shift and sit up. Her sleepy gaze swept over him before they brightened with alertness. "Jayce!" She smiled with relief. "You scared me. You've been out for a couple of days." She informed him as she brushed his hair from his face. "Lily..." He grumbled weakly. "The kids will be so relieved." She went on. "Myra has been worried sick, and the boys are confused." "Lily." His sharp tone ended in a growl. She fell
Nox curled up in a puff of black fur amidst the depths of Jayce's subconscious. The memory of his beloved Mate pinned beneath him while trapped in his frenzy. The fear in her eyes would forever be engraved in his mind. "Is this where you plan to hide from me?" Azura's sweet voice caused his tail to stir faintly. Even in his distress and misery, her presence still brought him a sense of joy. "You should not be here." He told her, weakly. "I do not wish to bring you more harm." "You never harmed me or Lily." She reassured him. He felt the weight of her along his side as she rested on him. "We thought we lost you for a moment, though." She admitted as she brushed her muzzle against his ear. "That terrified us." "I am not safe to be around, Azura." He growled softly as he pushed himself to his feet. "What if the next time I truly hurt you and Lily? What if I hurt the pups? Or kill..." "Nox." Azura spoke sternly, but with a layer of softness as she sat up. "I know you. Even in these
Seeing his tears and hearing his apologies broke Lily. For a moment, as everything finally fell quiet, all she could do was stare down at the unconscious body of her Mate laying atop her. What happened to him? To Nox? "Jayce?" She brushed his hair from his face. "Lily!" Aiden had sprinted over to her and slid to her side. "You're not hurt anywhere, are you?" He asked urgently. She shook her head before she turned her gaze back to Jayce. "Can you..?" "Here." Zalakai knelt down and took Jayce by the arm and hoisted him up. His Demonic form had also receded. Aiden took Jayce's other arm and together they pulled his unconscious body off of Lily. "His clothes." Lily remarked when a leather jacket fell onto her chest. "Don't worry about his lack of attire." Rayleigh told her. Lily peered down, having forgotten that her clothes had torn away when she shifted. She rose to her feet, holding Rayleigh's leather jacket to her body. "We have to get him back to the house. He'll be out for a
"Dammit!" Jayce growled. "Calm down, Nox." He spoke through gritted teeth. The moment the damn Demon antognized him, Nox practically went berserk. He didn't blame his Wolf for just wanting to protect his Mate, but he would've settled by now. There was something wrong. Something very wrong. "You idiot!" The familiar feisty tone of Rayleigh sent a shiver through him. The women were back. Lily was back... "Nox, stop!" He grabbed onto Nox's leg, attempting to drag him back, but the large Wolf kicked him aside. Jayce grunted as he falls back onto his ass. "Lily..." Nox growled deeply. Jayce pushed himself to his feet when he noticed in the persception that Zalakai seemed to hesitate. Why? After coaxing him for so long. The Demon's eyes seemed to shift away for a moment. There. A soft crunch of boot against the dry grass. Was it Rayleigh? Zalakai would only hesitate if it came to her, right? Nox's fur bristled as he bared his teeth. A dark mist filtered through his sharp teeth. His pier
The ground quaked beneath her as her eyes snapped open. Snarls thundered through the clearing. The first she noticed was Dante crouched in front of Willow protectively, his gaze fixed on something across from them. Next, she realized arms had embraced her and Amira, who had been sitting beside her. Aiden had been holding them for how long she wasn't sure, but his grip was of iron though. She couldn't fully sense it, but his Wolf was on high alert. Nox!Lily's head swiveled around until she found what was going on. Zalakai, in his pure Demonic form, was in a pin against her Mate, also in his true form. The ground had torn up with dirt and grass scattered about. Zalakai and Jayce were in a grappled stalemate, each with their own fair share of exchanging wounds. "Jayce!" Lily pulled herself from Aiden. "Don't!" Aiden grabbed her arm to restrain her. "This is his mess to deal with." "What the Hell happened?" Amira asked him. "Zalakai antagonized Jayce," Dante informed them. Willow g
"Explain to us what you have learned so far of Karmina." Hecate requested as she linked her hands in front of herself. "She's tucked herself away in an abandoned mansion a previous Werewolf King had lived in." Amira stated. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a folded up map she had put there earlier. She laid it out over the table. "Based on Willow's previous visions, the location is marshlands surrounded by plains or dead trees." "Would you know the locations of where Nox was at one point?" Lily asked Leto. Leto inclined her head with a slight frown. "I am afraid once I gave life to the Werewolf King, his whereabouts were none of my concern." "And that is where you failed." Hecate clipped. Willow gave the Goddess a stern look, and the deity turned her chin away. "You're not exactly guilt-free here either, Hecate." Willow added in. The Goddess scoffed softly, but her posture eased slightly. "Even when we questioned Xander, he has a minimum recollection of how they
What a way to stand out. Rayleigh silently observed the other women that accompanied their Goddesses. She was unaware of Lily's devotion to Leto or if there was devotion at all, but the Goddess seemed rather doting on her. Like a mother to their child. Then there was Amira alongside Artemis, but instead of a parental figure that Leto aired for Lily, Artemis and Amira were as colleagues. A mentor and student, perhaps. Artemis had taken off her bow and was going over step by step of its creation while Amira listened intently. Rayleigh was mildly aware of Amira dabbling with bows over the past year now before crossing the waters to retrieve the Werewolf Queen. She just wasn't aware of how seriously Amira was taking the Hunter role now. Rayleigh glanced back as Hecate, a towering presence, glided in alongside Willow. Willow, a soft and innocent woman, looked out of place beside the night Goddess. Hecate, who not only radiated with otherworldly beauty but also had a confidence about he
The presence of the Goddesses was overwhelming. It surprised her that her knees hadn't buckled yet. Leto's kind and welcoming smile. Hecate's cool yet stern gaze. Artemis's curious incline of her head. It was an unexpected trio to come across. But perhaps, not so much unexpected. Lily was the first to follow Leto up into the ruined temple. The Wolves that acted as a barrier had curved around Lily as well in the same protective manner. Though, she believed it was more so for the sake of the Wolf that resided in Lily now than the Human counterpart. Amira took her place alongside Artemis without question. The Huntress placed a hand on Amira's shoulder and gave her a squeeze of reassurance. There was a silence between them, but words didn't need to be spoken. There was an understanding between them that a shared look was the only thing necessary. Rayleigh trailed along after Amira quietly. She seemed out of place here. Was she questioning her own beliefs? Willow was aware that Rayleig