by Scott, Rae
At first Darian was gentle, not wanting to frighten her. In the back of his head his wolf started prancing and giving little yips of pleasure, for once he completely ignored the beast, choosing instead to focus on the feel of Aryana laying against him, of her lips on his, on her taste and her smell. It was heaven just laying with her in the moonlight and kissing her. Soon though the kiss took on a deeper, more powerful meaning. He could smell her arousal building and in turn it caused his to build as well.
What had once been soft and gentle soon became hot and heavy. Aryana’s senses swam. All she could smell was Darian and moonlight. The feel of Darian, so big and masculine on top of her was overwhelming. Nothing she had ever done before had made her feel so alive. She was pressed back into the blanket and the soft grass and relishing it when he broke the kiss and rested his forehead on hers.
“Darling as much as I want this I don’t want iy here. I think we need to go inside.” Darian gasped between breathes. He could feel that damn wolf at the back of his head nudging him to continue. He refused to acknowledge it. This was about him and Aryana not his wolf. If Darian had his way Aryana would never know the truth about him.
When she nodded silently he scooped her up and hurried through the house. It wasn’t until they got to his room that he left her feet touch the floor. Slowly he slid her down, taking her lips at the same time. It wasn’t long before they were both on his bed ripping at each other’s clothing. Tossing them over the side.
Aryana couldn’t ever remember feeling so wildly needy yet so free in her life. She couldn’t even be bothered to think just feel and she felt primal right at that moment. Almost like an animal needing the release that only Darian would bring.
Darian couldn’t help it he had to touch her everywhere, he ran his hands up her sides, kneading and squeezing her breasts and pinching her nipples. The little sounds she made drove him higher. HE kissed and then licked her neck, leaving little nips behind his tongues path. He could feel his wolf pushing and he shoved back. This was about HIM not his wolf. Slowly he slid hiss hand down her stomach to her soft fold, giving her time to stop him. He slipped his finger into her slick folds testing to see if she was ready for him. She was so wet his finger slid in easily. He pressed another finger in stretching her. His nostrils flared as Aryana arched off the bed and let out a low keening sound at his manipulations.
Without conscious thought he slid down till his face was even with her thighs. He HAD to smell her at her most condensed. Running his nose along her thigh to her center he inhaled deeply. Giving little nips along the way, every time he caught her tender flesh between his teeth she whimpered in desire and want.
Aryana watched as Darian raised up over her and placed a hand on the outside of each of her thighs. As he spread her legs wide she felt sharp stabbing pricks in the skin on the back of her legs that shocked her out of her aroused state.
Involuntarily she jerked her legs trying to get away from whatever was stabbing at her only to have it get worse as he gripped her thighs even harder and suddenly she stilled. Darian was poised ready to enter her but something was terribly wrong. His face was changing as was the rest of his body.
Aryana watched frozen with growing horror as Darian’s face morphed, twisting and extending, till his mouth and nose started to resemble that of a large dog. His shoulders and arms started rippling as the muscles grew and veins started showing. His hands still grasping her thighs contorted into long muscular appendages with large knuckles. That’s when she realized the things stabbing her in the back of the leg were his nails, growing and extending to sharp points.
Darian’s hair lengthened and his ears started to become pointed as his eyes started growing a bright fierce menacing yellow. Aryana could feel her heart sounding in her head in sheer terror at the half dog half man in front of her. When the beast let out a low snarl it was as if someone had given her back her rational thought once more. She started twisting trying to get away. Grabbing at the bed sheets desperate for a hand hold to help leverage herself away from whatever the hell Darian had become.
Her hands landed on the pillows and in a last ditch effort she grasped them and hurled them at the beasts face. The momentary distraction gave her the chance to slip her legs free from its grasp and try to slid away.
Darian atched as Aryana’s eyes grew wide and she went completely still. Yes, this was it. This was what he wanted, what she wanted. This is what would bind them together forever. His gaze became pinpointed on her, her scent overriding all his other sense. When she started to squirm on the bed he held on tighter figuring it was some sort of game she wanted to play.
He was totally caught off guard when she landed the pillows squarely in his face. He let go of both her legs in shock . What the hell? He caught the last pillow and tossed it aside then reached out and grasped her by one ankle determined to pull her back and finish what they had started.
Aryana panicked when that thing at the end of the bed managed to grab her by one ankle. Instinctively she threw up her other leg in a kick as powerful as she could manage catching it under the chin, hoping she broke some of its teeth for good measure. The grotesque figure let go of her ankle as its head was rocked backwards by the force of the blow. Not wasting time Aryana rolled of the bed, landing on her feet. Scooping up whatever pile of clothing was closest in her arms she made a mad dash for the door in the wall to the side of the bed.
Slamming the door behind her and flipping the lock in place for some protection she quickly took stock of where she was. The master bathroom. Eyes skirting quickly over the large double sinks and walk-in shower and large sunken tub they landed on the window. Dropping the clothing onto the floor she started furiously digging through trying to find her clothing.
Darian hadn’t expected her to become violent. Who the hell did she think she was? Recovering from the powerful kick he started to go after her when something caught his eyes. Turning to the mirror over the dresser he saw his reflection. HOLY MOTHER WOLF AND CUBS! No wonder Aryana had freaked out. Darian didn’t even recognize himself. He was some sort of mash up between a wolf and a man.
Darian had never heard of such a thing happening before. While it had him freaked out he had to make sure Aryana was ok first. He tried the door knob and found it locked. Trying harder he broke of the handle. Frustrated he tried calling her and pounding on the door. He was horrified when instead of his voice out came the deep animalistic snarl of a beast. His fist had dented the door, the wood around where it had landed splintered. He stared dazedly at the mark. WHAT THE HELL!?!?! He hadn’t even been using any strength. That’s when he noticed his hands. They were twisted and knarled. The nails had become extended dagger points and at the very tips were what looked like blood.
That’s when the smell hit him. Fresh blood. Aryana’s blood. He turned quickly and looked at the bed and there on the white sheets where eight small splotches of dark red. Four for each leg. Has he approached the bed cautiously never taking his eyes from those tiny spots something else hit him. The unmistakable stench of stark terror. Darian’s heart sank through the souls of his feet. What had he done? What must Aryana think of him now? Also HOW was he going to fix all of this?
In the bathroom Aryana was already pulling on her pants but her top wasn’t in the pile. Damnit! She was NOT going back out there to get it either. Pulling on the shirt Darian had been wearing she froze when she heard the doorknob rattle. She heard the sound of something metallic snapping then came a loud bang on the door followed by snarling. The wood on her side of the door cracked and a small bulge where a first had hit showed but otherwise it held. Digging through the rest of the pile she found her socks but not her shoes.
Chalking the rest of her clothing up to a loss she hurried over to the window. Unhooking the latch she climbed up onto the sill and looked down. She grabbed the frame of the window and got into a crouching position. Thinking her courage was going to fail her and trying to psych herself up for the two story jump while praying she didn’t
break a leg she froze. Hearing another snarl from the other room she cast a last glance over her shoulder narrowing her eyes at the door. No way was she going back. Narrowing her eyes at the grass that was her target she jumped.
Aryana landed on the soft grass on all fours. She cast one last glance up at the window with eyes that glowed a brilliant orange and took off at a dead run into the surrounding forest. Soon she had disappeared into the night.
Chapter 15 Return of Lluna
“Hello Reanult.”
The older wolf turned to see the Fae sitting in the chair behind his desk. She was smiling at him. This couldn’t be good not after her last visit. “What do you want Fae?”
She tilted her head and looked at him queerly. “I came to see how you where… feeling these days.”
“I am fine. So what else did you want?” The man motioned for her to get out of his chair and she graciously did so but didn’t move far from him.
She gave him a pointed look, arched eyebrow and all. “I didn’t say I was here to see how YOU are. I said I came to see how you are FEELING.”
The Supreme Alpha had had enough of this game. “What the hell do you..” suddenly he froze bent over. His eyes bulged out and he grasped his chest.
He was overcome with intense sheer stark terror. His heart was beating faster than it ever had yet felt like it was in a vice grip. His breathe was coming in gasps like he couldn’t get enough oxygen. His wolf let out a loud mournful howl in his mind, something he hadn’t heard in almost seventy years. Soon it passed and he slumped back against the chair. Unfocused eyes sought out the Fae standing in front of him. ”What was that?”
Her grey eyes probed his “Time closing in on you? Your heir maybe? Fate having fun changing the future for you and your people? Hard to say really. Though you should know, you are after all the Supreme Alpha.”
She walked out of the office and down the hall to where the Beta sat in his office working. A quick wave of her fingers and his door opened, the papers he was working flying from the desk to the floor. The man looked up at her, his green eyes full of surprise and slight irritation. “What do you want Lluna? Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?”
The Fae, insulted by the man’s tone rose to her full height. Her hair started to wave on invisible waves of magic that started circling around her. “I would watch my tail and tongue if I was you wolf. As is your son is in a very bad way. I would suggest tending to your young before I handle the matter for you.”
The Beta leapt to his feet, bracing his hands on the desk he got out in a low voice “What do you mean by that? What is wrong with my son?”
Silver eyes devoid of a pupil now turned and stared through him. In a voice that sounded distant she replied “Your son has crossed a boundary no wolf has crossed in a millennia. He is now caught between his most primal self and the man he has become. Unless you wish to lose him for good I suggest you attend to him.”
Leaving the Beta staring at empty space Lluna vanished in a shimmer of dust. Yanking open the top drawer with such force he pulled it from its slide he snatched his keys before they hit the floor and within seconds was speeding towards his son’s home.
Chapter 16 a Secret Revealed
Darian sat on the end of his blood stained bed. His head bowed, resting in both of his misshapen hands. What was he going to do? How had he become like this? How was he going to explain this to Aryana? Hell would he even get a chance to explain? He fully didn’t expect her to even speak to him again after tonight. He was a grotesque warped figure of a werewolf. At least this way he would never have to worry about becoming Supreme Alpha but it also meant he could never live among pack either. The thought of never living among Pack again shattered his heart. Wolves are not solitary animals in fact some werewolves had been known to die from solitary existences. The thought of never seeing Aryana again, of never holding her, kissing her or hearing her sweet voice shattered his soul.
A tear leaked from his still human shaped eyes and rolled down the twisted muzzle that made up most of his face when he heard pounding on his front door. Whoever it was could go away. He couldn’t face anyone like he was. It only took moments before his warped ears picked up his father’s voice shouting for him. Soon he heard the footfalls on the lower level. Damn his father for always having a key.
He was still on the bed, his head in his hands when his father found him. The older wolf stopped in the door way stunned by the sight in front of him. The bed had been trashed; the door to the bathroom damaged but what consumed his attention was his transformed son. He had never seen anything like it. Cautiously he approached not wanting to provoke his son and not knowing what manner or personality had caused this.
“Darian? Son?” the older man asked quietly never taking his eyes from the animal in front of him. It was not till the beast raised up its head and he saw his sons familiar green eyes and tears he relaxed. “Son what happened?”
Darian tried to answer but all that came out was growls, snuffs and whimpers. Darian’s arms dropped in defeat. It was useless. He couldn’t even talk anymore. He raised pleading eyes to his father silently begging for help.
The older wolf wrapped his arm around his son’s shoulders and pulled him in to his chest. Horrified by what he found and yet praying to the moon he could help him. “It’s okay son. It’s going to be ok. We are going to fix this. I promise. We will get ou back.”
It was nearing daybreak when Darian and his father pulled into the circular drive at Alpha House. Everyone else was asleep. Darian’s looked at his father, the pain and fear blatant in their green depths that still swam with tears. Thankfully his father had been able to help him into a pair of sweatpants to cover his lower half. It hadn’t been easy as his feet resembled his hands and the muscles in his legs had bulged and the hair had lengthened a bit too. Unfortunately none of his shirts would fit over his arms and back. He sat and waited helplessly as his father came around to the back of the large SUV and helped his son out of the rear. Darian hadn’t been able to fit into any of the seats. His bulk had just increased to much for that. There hadn’t been any other choice for him then to ride in the cargo area.
Slowly climbing out of the back Darian waited for his father to close up the SUV and followed him up the stairs. He felt horrible. How could this have happened? How could he have hurt Aryana? He had lost her for good and for some reason it had him barely containing the urge to howl out in mourning. What was wrong with him? Why was he feeling more animal then human? Would he ever be able to go back? To being a normal werewolf?
He stopped inside the great foyer as he waited for his father to close the door behind them. When he heard and smelled the Supreme Alpha before he saw him.
“Samuel!” The Supreme Alpha stood at the tops of the stairs staring down at the father and son. “WHAT in blue moons are you doing? And WHAT is that beast you have brought to my home?!” His bright blue eyes showed he would not let his questions go unanswered.
His father turned his weary face up to the Supreme Alpha. Pulling himself up to his full height he made it clear that even tired he was willing to fight. “Reanult. You remember my son.”
The Supreme Alpha came bounding down the stairs at a speed that would have surprised a lesser wolf. He drew up close to Darian and stared at him with narrowed eyes. “Darian? You mean to tell me this BEAST is Darian? By the moons what happened to him?!” The Supreme Alpha focused his gaze on his Beta waiting for an explanation.
“I don’t know. I found him like this. He is my son Reanult and your Beta or not I WILL help him the best I can.”
The Supreme Alpha turned his head back to Darian confusion, wonder and curiosity in his gaze. His voice was stern and brooked no argument “Well Darian? What happened? Why won’t you tell your father?”
Samuel reached out and laid his hand on the Alpha’s shoulder. “Reanult he cannot tell me. He cannot tell anyone. He can’t speak anymore. He can only make noises like a wolf. But it is not anything I can discern. I ne
ed to access the vault.”
Reanult turned sharply to look at his old friend. “The Vault? Nobody goes into the Vault. You know this. To do so without permission can be punishable by death.”
Samuel looked at his oldest and dearest friend fully understanding what it was he was asking. “I know but I must help my son. Lluna said this has happened before I have to know how they cured it. The answer is in the Vault. I have to go in.”
Darian felt so weary he dropped down into a crouching position. He hung his head in shame. Wolves were supposed to be strong, they were supposed to be fighters but all he felt was powerless and beaten. Tears once again slowly formed in his eyes and ran down his distorted face.
The Supreme Alpha looked down at the pathetic and mournful creature that he loved like his own son. His heart broke at the site of the younger wolf. Such a powerful wolf already to be so broken was a terrible thing. Another thought came to him. If this had happened before and it had happened to Darian what was to prevent it from spreading to other pack members? What is the entire Pack became infected? It would be the end of their race as the human world would hunt them down and kill them one by one. He couldn’t allow that to happen. It was his job as Supreme Alpha to protect the pack at all costs. His decision was made. “Get some rest. At dusk we will enter the Vault.”
Aryana woke up the next morning and rolled over. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. The first thing that hit her was the sense she wasn’t at Darian’s. Second thing was that she wasn’t in her own clothing. Sitting up quickly he instantly recognized her own bedroom. Looking down at herself she shoved off the comforter and realized she was in her pants and socks but was wearing Darian’s shirt. How did she get home last night? What the hell had happened last night?