The Wolves of Arnoux Manor- Volume 1

by Kiana

  “I am. It has such a rich history.”

  “You will be paid for your work. I just ask that our work be exclusive to us. No replicas whatsoever, not even for a private collection. Understood?”

  “Ok. I’d love to!” I took a look at the piece she was working on.

  “It seems you may have already started.” She put her hands up as though it would block my view.

  “No, you can't see it yet! It’s not finished yet.” I picked her up like she was weightless and placed her out of the way. I took a look at the painting of the pups playing on the rec center playground. I instantly recognized one of the wolves as Gia, Evan and Hailey’s extroverted daughter. Gia has her mother’s personality but her father’s fur. The images were abstract, and I loved how she managed to show their joy.

  “I love it. Cara, you are a very talented woman.”

  “Thank you.” Her smile was wide but faded soon. Her gaze was stuck on her window.

  A flashing red light distracted alarmed us both. Outside slowly but surely our security system was going off all over the compound.

  “Stay here,” I said, attempting to leave the room. She grabbed my hand and tried to tug me back.

  “What’s going on? Do I need to get Lystra?”

  “No, she’s ok. Do not leave this room under any circumstance. I will be back.” I shifted before I was even out the door. I barreled towards the front gates, wolves accompanying me from all sides. The first to join was Anton.

  “There was an attack at the front gate. One guard is down, and they are making their way through the main roads.”

  “They who?” Our home base was not exactly hidden. Someone attacking us here meant the intruder was either bold or stupid or both

  “The guard didn’t say.”

  It didn’t matter I could clearly smell our intruders. Death has a distinct, undeniable smell.

  Once the vampires saw us coming, what started as a cocky jog turned into a full on rush. They didn’t speak they just attacked.

  Whines from my family and the familiar icy break of vampire flesh were all that could be heard. I did not go for the first row of pawns. I went for the calmest in the chaotic mass. Their leader was more entertained than glorious behind his senseless attack. I ran forward ready to pounce on the cocky bastard. What I didn’t expect was a female vampire to hit me full force. I could feel my rib crack. Vampires were strong, but she was something else. She was an Alpha female. I got back on all fours slightly dazed. I shook the sensation out of my head in just enough time to dodge her second attack. She fell, and I was able to grab her by the arm. I attempted to swing her, but her claw-like nails caught me in the back. It burned like salt in an open wound. I shook her off and went straight for her neck. Angrily I snapped my mouth shut on her neck. Her neck was breaking beneath my teeth. I could hear her glass like skin crack.

  “NO!” one of the stockier vampires yelled. He ran towards me not in anger but fear. I was crushing the neck of his beloved.

  “Stop! My people will not shed any more blood. We just want the one that took our brother.” I dropped his lover, and she ran straight to him. He embraced her but looked at me angrily. There was no way we would ever turn over a pack member. Still, I wanted his reason for attacking us.

  “Who is your brother?” I demanded.

  “Haveed. One of your wolves dismembered him and left him in an alley.” It was the vampire who bit Lystra and attacked Cara.

  “Are you aware that he was hunting in the city?”

  Vampires were limited to the countryside and the woods. What wandered into their territory was theirs, but the city was not an option. We don’t like them draining victims at all, but we cannot be responsible for the assignation of an entire species. Nasha will not allow it. “It’s all in balance” as she puts it.

  “He was new. He could not control his hunger,” another pleaded.

  “Explain to me why this is my problem. He attempted to kill and drain not one but three human women. He did not listen to reason. He suffered from his own consequences,” the vampire hissed.

  “You wolves have no right to murder our kind!”

  “You have no right to feed on the helpless. Your brother attacked my beta’s mate. He earned his death. You have exactly 30 seconds to remove yourself from property. Be sure to never return.” My pack formed a line blocking further entry on to my land. The initial response was to defend. The second response would be to annihilate. We couldn’t destroy the species, but we could fuck up territory if necessary.

  The vampire stayed true to his word. They began to retreat. I knew better. This was only the beginning. Artemis and I circled the grounds making sure they left no one behind. The rest of the pack was sent to the hospital to treat any injuries they may have.

  My wounds would need a few hours to heal, but I'd be fine. I was glad to see many of our wolves did not sustain any damage. However, the few wolves that were here were really hurt.

  “Edric, do you need any help?” I asked, taking in the scene before me.

  “So far we are good, but your presence is always welcome.” I nodded and made my way to a few beds, thanking my pack for their dedication.

  “Can I get some gauze over here?” the voice shocked me. Cara was bandaging a young wolf. Claw marks decorate his arms, and the gashes looked deep. She ignored the looks of confusion and agitation directed toward her and continued to help.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I saw what happened. I wanted to help.”

  “You were supposed to stay in the house.” It took effort to control my voice. I wasn’t used to being challenged.

  “You needed me.” It was almost as if she grew two heads. I? Alpha? I didn’t need help. I was born for this role. I take my job with pride. For over 300 years now, I have molded and trained an entire territory of wolves. She has been here for three weeks!

  “I did not!” She walked up to me and bit her lower lip. She inhaled deeply before she spoke.

  “Then why did you call my name?” she said it low to keep our business private.

  “I did no such thing. I never called you.”

  “I heard it, and I felt it in my heart.” She refused to look me in the eye. I bent down and began helping her wrap the arm of the teenage wolf.

  Wolves heal fast. His arm would heal within two days. The wrap was mainly to prevent infections, which would slow the healing process. Call me crazy, but us working together to help my pack seemed natural. They responded to her a lot better now that they knew who she was. Or maybe it was because of the dreamy look Hailey continued to throw at us. I didn’t push the issue further because I understood it. A woman’s intuition is a powerful thing. If she felt in her heart that I needed her there was nothing I could say or do to stop it. A woman will always follow her heart. It can be a gift and a curse sometimes. I tried to take it as a gift.

  As the night progressed on, the pack began to warm up to her. She and Hailey spent the evening serving food and medicine to injured wolves. She did it with a smile and a nurturing heart. It was refreshing to see her in a less sarcastic mood. It was dawn before we could return home.

  She showered and ate breakfast as I began checking over security footage from the previous night. I was curious as to how the vampires were able to get through the gate, to begin with. There was a three-minute delay in the video. The vampires seemed to just suddenly appear. I would have to take this matter into my own hands. I don’t want to think there’s a traitor in my pack, but things were not adding up. Cara finished her breakfast and began to put the leftovers away. She made enough for us both, but I was determined to see this footage.

  I followed her upstairs ready to get a few hours rest. I’d meet with Anton and the others before nightfall to discuss our old enemy. Cara stood outside of her bedroom door apprehensive to go in.

  “Do you think they’ll come back?” She met me midway between our two bedrooms.

  “Not while the sun is up.” I laughed. She punc
hed me in the arm.

  “You know what I mean!”

  “If they’re smart, they will never return. If they’re idiots, death awaits them.” She still seemed nervous. I embraced her and kissed her forehead.

  “Everything will be fine.”

  She wrapped her arms around me. The standard amount of time for a hug is usually a couple of seconds. Cara had no intention of letting go, and I honestly didn’t want her to. I leaned down to smell her hair, but her face pulled away. Her breathing slowed down.

  Her lips grazed mine. I would put money on it that Cara had never had sex with a wolf before. It was different, and I owed her a forewarning.

  “Cara, I must warn you. Wolves do not sex the same way humans do.”

  “Is this the part where I'm supposed to be scared?”

  “Do not tease me. I am serious. I will not show you restraint.”

  “I’m a big girl. I can take it.” I sighed. Oh, well I tried. I one motion she was off her feet and over my shoulder. I carried her to my room and let her down in front of my bed.

  “Undress,” I demanded. I loved the fact that she almost never wore jeans. She began to unzip her dress and let her fall to her feet.

  I wasn’t positive that she could swallow all ten inches, but she surprised me when her face met my pelvis. She held it in her throat tightening and releasing it around it. Slowly she built up a rhythm with her hands and mouth. I felt my knees buckling as she tried to suck the soul out of my body. I have been on this planet a while and never have I received head this good. I had to pull her head off of it. I pushed her on to the bed. I got on my knees and pulled her in front of me. Her swollen clit was peeking between her glistening lips. With my hands locking her legs in place, I went face first into pussy. This scent has been driving my wolf crazy, and now I can finally taste it.

  It may as well have been drugs. The first drop hit my tongue, and I was addicted. There would be no other source to fulfill me. My tongue swirled around her clit until I felt it twitch in response. Her back arched forcefully, but she did not run. She pressed harder against my face riding it.

  “I’m coming!” she exclaimed just before I felt a splash against my tongue, decorating my chin and cheeks in the process.

  Satisfied with my work, I climbed up and over her body. I liked seeing her like this. She was in need, a need that I wanted to fulfill. She tried to brace herself for entry. I kissed her letting her taste her own flavor. I gave her the first few inches, not expecting her fit to be so tight. I waited for her to gather herself. She nodded for me to continue to feed her. I pushed.

  “OH!”

  I continued to push as lustful obscenities echoed across the room. She accepted until I filled her completely and her essence began to smear across my thighs. I slammed into her with no remorse. The smack of my body against hers filled the space left over from her groans.

  Her hands reached up and pressed against my abs. She was attempting to control my stroke.

  “Move your hand,” I demanded calmly.

  “O, it’s too big!”

  “Did I not warn you?” I smacked her ass cheek.

  “Be a big girl. Take this dick!” Cara narrowed her eyes and spread her legs wider. Defiance in the midst of the inevitable, I loved that shit.

  “Good girl.”

  I pulled Cara’s lower body up. I hit her spot just right and watched her eyes roll into the back of her head. Over and over again, I drilled into her until she came in waves. I felt her squeeze around me, body vibrating and bucking under the pressure of the orgasm. I followed behind her. I didn’t expect it to hit as hard as it did. I felt the orgasm in my core.

  I fell next to her in bed. Exhausted she rolled over on to my chest. I pulled her body over until her limbs were wrapped in my own. She seemed to succumb to sleep but then raised her head.

  “Does the hospital pharmacy have plan B?” I tried not to be offended by this question, but it was a reflex.

  “We do not believe in abortions here. We do not carry birth control either. What would make you ask such a question?”

  “O, you didn’t pull out, and we didn’t use a condom.” I laughed. These were subjects I hadn’t had to worry about in so long.

  “I cannot impregnate a human. I also cannot impregnate someone who is not my mate. If you were a wolf, your body would reject my seed. Since you are a human, your body will definitely reject it.”

  “Oh. Can I ask you something else?”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Why don’t you have a mate?”

  “I feel that I can function better without one. A mate would be a distraction to all I have built.” I felt her body tense. I could feel something negative radiating off of her body.

  “Are you ok?”

  “I should probably get back to my room.” She got out of bed with a limp. Still, her strut was prideful. She grabbed her clothes in a pile and left the room in her birthday suit.

  She was angry, but I couldn’t understand why. Something had changed between us. I didn’t like it at all. I shouldn’t have cared, but I did. I couldn’t see us keeping our living arrangement with her being mad at me.

  13

  Lystra

  I hugged the side of the toilet as I hurled the contents of my stomach up. This was only second time going through dialysis. My body felt weak, and I could hold nothing down. I thought back to the meeting Anton and I had with my mother.

  I hated my mother.

  The left side of the home was engulfed in dead vines. The yard held no grass. It was covered in cement and seemed to be an extended driveway, but I knew better. I remember not being able to play in the grass or anywhere. She used to yell at me for it but I never understood why. She would scream. “Get in this house before someone sees you!”

  My mother turned our front yard into its current flat, lifeless existence, so I had no where to play. The scene was an absolute reflection of my life here. Had I not met Cara, I would have been a different person. As my foot landed on the first creaky, stair, the door flew open.

  “Get the hell off my property!” my mother yelled more so at Anton than me.

  “He’s with me, mama.”

  “And? You ain't ever been the best judge of character, Lystra.”

  “Mama, we need to talk.”

  “Fine, you come on in and leave this one out here.”

  “Lystra, I'm trying to be respectful, but this woman is trying me.”

  “Well come on then! Bring your big ass one step closer, and I'll blast you across the street.”

  “I’m not going anywhere without my mate, mama. Her shoulders dropped when I said mate. Her face scrunched.

  “The hell do you mean by mate>”

  “You know exactly what I mean. We need to talk about that purple medicine you were giving me.” She took a look to her left and right. She then waved us into the house.

  On the inside, the house seemed almost frozen in time. Not a single piece of furniture had changed position. Memories of Cara and I running around the house flooded my head. The sad realization that my own children would never have that memory dawn on me. That is if I could even carry pups. My mother sniffed the air around me.

  “I knew you stopped taking your med Lystra, but this is a disgrace,” my mother said, referring to Anton’s presence. He sneered in her direction.

  “How could you not tell me?”

  “Why burden you with something we had fixed. As long as you kept taking your meds, all was well.”

  “Where is your mate? He should be questioned as well.” Anton demanded.

  “My mate is off in Vermont with his whore,” my mother hissed.

  “Wolves cannot mate twice.”

  “You are right about that. I will be Quinton’s first and only love. That didn’t mean he’d stay around. You see Quinton didn’t have a pack. He was born to his mother and father, and they abandoned him. Neither of them wanting the responsibilities behind pack life. Quinton was forced to figure out his pow
ers and shifting abilities on his own. We were shocked to find each other. He thought he was revealing this big secret to me. That was until I shifted in front of him. I once belonged to a pack. I knew about the life and educated him the best I could.” My mother laughed before she continued.

  “I brought him to my pack The Elevare Wolves. We were in the southern territory. He was ecstatic to meet more of his own kind. My parents insisted that we mated. That way he could become one of us. August 7, 1998, we were mated. August 10th I became pregnant with Lystra. September 5th, Quinton ran off with my sister, Lynn.”

  I didn’t know what shocked me more, that my father was a wolf, or that my mother had family. My mother never spoke of her family. Whenever I asked, she simply dismissed the question, or I was sent to my room.

  “I didn’t know that while I was carrying Lystra my mate and my sister were planning to run away. Neither of them wanted pack life. They wanted to sleep with whomever they pleased. They wanted freedom, so they broke pack. They never came back. My pack is extremely traditional. A single mother was not acceptable and since I couldn’t mate with anyone else. I was booted from the pack. I was left on my own to raise a wolf child. What did I know about that? Some days I didn't know whether to take you to a doctor or vet!”

  “Who told you about the potion?” Anton asked. It was clear he had no sympathy for my mother’s situation. It was a major mystery how a devout Christian woman came upon a witch's potion.

  “A woman at a farmer's market. I was shopping once, and you forgot to tuck in your ears, Lystra. When she saw you, she pulled me aside. She gave me the potion, but it wasn’t cheap. She was my supplier all the way up into your ninth grade year. When she died, I had to ration it out. It didn’t matter anymore. You had long since stopped shifting.”

  “You have caused irreversible damage to my life. I can’t carry pups because of you!”

  “Why are you angry at me for that? You can have a normal life now.”