A New Path

by Xander Jade

  "So, that’s your girlfriend, eh? She’s cute in a furry kind of way," Tia continued with her playful attitude.

  I laughed at her remark, "I don’t think she would like being called cute, but yes that’s Soph."

  "We saw how cozy she was with you and didn’t want to interrupt your reunion."

  I smirked, "Wow, do I detect a little jealousy?"

  "Oh, no, I just want to know when it’s my turn with the big teddy bear," she purred.

  I grinned and pulled her onto my lap to hug her. The noise coming from her sounded like she was actually purring. "I want to sit on your shoulders like she did," Tia pouted, so I bent down and she climbed on. She had on a big smile, "This is more like it, thanks babe."

  "Damn, man, if I haven’t said it before, you’re the man!" Sean expressed. I shook my head and waited, hoping for a decision from Gurak soon. "Have you been able to talk with Sophia about us joining her pack?"

  I nodded and cautiously responded, "Yes, I have, but she told me some things are about to change." They waited for me to elaborate, so I told them what Soph told me.

  "Shit, taking over the Berenger pack is huge, but it sounds like she didn’t give you a choice. What are you going to do?" Sean questioned.

  "I don’t know, it’s definitely a big responsibility, but she’ll be there to help. She is supposed to have a discussion to let them know what she wants to do. She seems to think some will leave, but that’s part of it I suppose."

  "You just have to make waves wherever you go, don’t you?" Gordon smirked.

  "Yeah, this alliance will probably send people running from me, but that’s okay. I just couldn’t kill them in cold blood, not when I can use them against their masters."

  "I know Max, I’m with you, but my dad and the king probably won’t be," he reluctantly advised.

  I nodded and told him it was fine. "Look, things are happening, something evil is the mastermind behind this. I can’t let this opportunity go. By the way, Tia, heads up on things ahead. If you’re wanting anything to happen, you will have to talk with my other mates at my cabin. They decide who joins our family, the girls took that off my shoulders."

  She kissed my head and said okay.

  The orcs were making their way back to chat I suppose, so we got up met them at the edge of the woods. "Gurak, have you made a decision?"

  He nodded and spoke, "Yes, we have Maximus. We would like to stay with your clan."

  "Alright, I need to shift back, and meet you in a few minutes. Load up your gear and get ready to leave. We have a long walk ahead of us." I walked away from the conference to crouch down behind some bushes, and shifted back. The change made me nauseous, but had to get dressed before someone saw me. Evidently, it wasn’t fast enough and only had the bottom half done when I heard whistling behind me. I turned to find four females with hunger in their eyes, this should be interesting, I thought. It was Soph, Nancy, Felicity, and Sam.

  "Don’t put that shirt on, we want to watch you walk half naked," Sam purred.

  "Damn Soph, he is sexy," Nancy murmured.

  "Can we sample the menu, Soph?" Felicity huskily asked.

  "Down girls, he’s only back here to change, we can’t keep him for very long. I just wanted to see those muscles again," Sophia smirked.

  I rolled my eyes and chuckled, "Hello ladies, sorry, I would give you a show if we had time, but alas, we are out of it. We must go, unless you guys are staying here." I finished getting dressed while they watched.

  "Hell no! If I can see that everyday, then I’m going," Sam bellowed.

  "Me too," Nancy and Felicity said.

  Soph came over and wrapped her arm around my waist, "I haven’t talked to them about the thing we discussed earlier, but they know we’re leaving." I bent down and kissed her the top of her head. She put a hulk grip on me and wouldn’t let me go for a few moments. I led them back out to meet the group waiting for me. Tia was waiting with Gordon’s group, smiling at me. Let’s see how this goes, I thought to myself.

  "Tiatha, Gordon, guys, this is Sophia, Nancy, Felicity, and Samantha. Ladies this is….." I introduced everyone and they greeted each other. Tia and Soph stared at each other, sizing one another up. They each had a predatory smile on their beautiful faces, trying to figure out who would win in a fight. Oh shit, may be a cat fight, I sure as hell won’t get in the middle of that.

  "Tiatha, it’s nice to meet you," Sophia smoothly stated.

  Tia replied, "Sophia, likewise. We need to talk. Can we go somewhere private?"

  Sophia responded, "Yes, let’s go."

  They left to go have a chat and everyone was looking at me for some reason. I shrugged, then everyone around started laughing and shaking their heads. What the hell do those girls need to talk about? I didn’t have time to think about that shit, we needed to head out, so I could get home.

  "Gordon, get everyone ready, find out if they are staying with us or going home. I’ll go tell Gurak it’s time to go." He bowed his head and left. I headed over to the orcs and found him waiting.

  "Gurak, we are about to leave, are your men ready?"

  He nodded and I had them get into their formation. I saw Gordon waiting for me, so stopped to see what’s going on.

  "Everybody that’s going with us are ready, the ones that aren’t have already left," he said.

  I looked around at the faces before me, and noticed the different races in general. I nodded to them and smiled. They smiled and nodded back, so I turned my attention back to Gordon, and made sure they knew who was traveling with us. "Yes, they know, some aren’t happy about it, but will follow your lead.

  "Right, I didn’t expect them to, but I can’t blame them. Okay, let’s go." I yelled out for everyone to head out.

  Epilogue

  Deep within the realm of Hell, there lies different levels of society. Nine of them to be exact. The damned, cursed, and despicable creatures that inhabit them were of the worst kind. Demons, or some people refer to them as the Fallen Ones. A Demon Lord presides over the first eight, the High Prince Xolras, rules over every level and resides in the Ninth Hell. At the moment, he was meeting with one of his lords.

  "Are we on schedule, Lord Elmollon?"

  He replied immediately, "Yes, High Prince Xolras. We’re continuing to send out minions to corrupt and enslave the inhabitants. The overlords are setting us up nicely, they are also doing daily sacrifices in your name to build up their mana to damage the veil that has us trapped here."

  High Prince Xolras smiled evilly, "Goooood, it has been way to long for me to take my revenge on the Gods of Giseria. We will corrupt and burn their world."

  Both of them laughed and left their meeting to go their separate ways.