Authors: Violet Walker
T
hey must have docked half a day later. Elizabeth pretended to be asleep so not to make a fuss, her first priority still keeping herself alive long enough to be found. Unfortunately, this led to her again being slung over Rion's shoulder like a burlap sack on their way out of the ship—being held in this position long enough, the blood rushed to her head and her unconsciousness was no longer an act. After this indignity, she was woken abruptly when she was dropped on the ground, ass hitting a pile of soft earth as she jerked conscious.
"We're here," Rion said.
Still blinking sleep out of her eyes, she was astonished by the beauty of the environment that stretched out around her. Old trees reached high into a grayish blue sky, crossing their boughs above like friends clasped in friendly embrace. Odd leaves fell here and there, joining the palette of autumn colors shed across the forest floor. Behind her, past rows upon rows of these trees, she could see rolling green hills that curved into the skyline. However, before her was a more surprising sight: the clearing was filled with naked and fur-garbed men and women, the sound of laughter and growling overpowering the sounds of the birds overhead.
Bull and Zak ran ahead of them into the clearing, yipping. Elizabeth could hardly form words.
"What is this place?" she asked.
Rion looked down at her. For a moment, she saw a glimpse of pride in his eyes.
"This is my pack," he said.
Elizabeth knew only a little about Wolf demons from the tutors Luthias had given her; they had spoken abstractly of packs and fellowships, and the "uncivilized" manner of the Canines' demon cousins. She had never quite imagined it like this. Though she knew they were animals in different forms, it seemed to her that this was a group of people gathered together in the wild, content to be barefoot and listen only to the word of this strange, red-haired man. He would give her no time to adjust, though. He entered the fray, picking up children when they rushed up to him, giving one-word grunts to rambunctious wolves that demanded news from the outside world. Elizabeth had to stumble after him, clumsy in an elaborate skirt, not wanting to be left behind.
Rion walked until he reached a stump in the center of the gathering. He jumped atop it, and commanded everyone's attention with a single cry.
"Wolves!"
They all faced him, no matter what they were doing. There was silence. Utterly lost, Elizabeth had followed him as far as the side of stump, and now was faced with the uncomfortable attention of every Wolf in the pack. She felt like melting into the ground. What was she doing here?
The Alpha gestured to her, speaking to the gathering.
"This is Luthias Cennasaí's woman," he said. "The Canine Lord will come for her soon. Likely he will face me head-on but if he is a coward, he will send others to target you first. Are you ready to test your power?"
Hoots and howls rocked the forest. They chanted Rion's name. The Alpha grinned, momentarily meeting Elizabeth's stupefied gaze.
"Our sport," he said. "My pack is the strongest. We didn't get that way by running from a fight."
He jumped off the stump. All at once the spell was broken, the people breaking back into their separate groups, though some still reveled in the adrenaline rush and came to clap Rion on the back. One came at him too eagerly—Rion responded by grappling and slamming him to the ground, a violent act that only he could pass off as casual. The Wolf rolled over with a groan, apologizing, though he was the one no doubt in agony. Rion walked right over him.
Elizabeth was speechless. She found herself just sitting on the stump, staring vacantly after Rion, who was integrating himself into the socialization of his pack. She had thought Luthias to be the most uncanny man, yet Rion now had him beat. Luthias was quiet and cold, with a bedroom manner that melted her heart—Rion, on the other hand, said little, but she couldn't call him quiet. He seemed to talk only when his presence didn't speak for him. He was bold. That was the word, she realized. He asserted his presence with nothing more than a look, his very essence posing the command: "accept me, or get out of the way." Rion might have been her kidnapper, but she found it difficult not to respect him.
You know he would fuck you, if you asked.
A cold shudder ran down her back. She tried hard to shut down that voice again, but it only seemed to get louder.
Why give yourself to the first man to abduct you? Sample what's offered.
She closed her eyes tight, hating herself. Why was this happening? She had no reason to hate Luthias, who had given her everything, yet her subconscious seemed intent on sabotaging what they had.
Elizabeth rubbed her temples; slowly, the voice faded. When she opened her eyes, she was startled to find Zak looking down at her, smirking.
"Hey girl," he said. "How you feeling?"
"Um...fine."
"Don't look so sore," he laughed. "It's not like we did anything to you."
"Except chloroform, I assume?" Elizabeth said, holding her head.
"Oh, shoot, yeah," Zak said, and he laughed like that was good fun. "Boss had a crazy hard time getting that, but you're a lady, so we couldn't just do a rock to the head. That would be barbaric."
"Would it?"
Despite the surreal situation, she couldn't help but smile. They were friendly, she'd give them that. Her gaze shifted back in the direction Rion had gone, unable to help it. She was surprised to see him holding a young boy on his hip, who looked to be three, maybe four. He didn't just put him down, like he had the other children he had picked up. Rion even kissed this child's forehead—gentle.
"Who is that boy?" she asked, quiet.
"Oh...Connor," Zak answered. "He's a partling. His mom was halfling, so he's not all demon, but he's not human enough that he's stuck with wolf traits you can see. Partlings usually blend in as human more or less, whether they’ve got more demon or more human in them. Halflings have it roughest.”
"Is he Rion's?"
"Yeah," Zak said, nearly sad. "His mom was killed before Rion became leader. Rion takes women to his cave now and then, but nothing serious since her. Poor guy."
He smiled though, folding his arms.
"Connor's never lonely though. The whole pack takes care of him, now. It's the least we can do for our Alpha."
Someone called Zak's name, catching his attention. He was gone before Elizabeth could ask anything else. She sighed, resting her head in her hands as she watched Rion and Connor from afar, unwillingly fascinated by this single father and his passion for life. Luthias would come for her soon, she knew. Perhaps there was no harm in relaxing during this strange interlude from the palace.
That's the spirit, said the voice she wished would go straight to hell.
W
eeks passed. Elizabeth had had to shed most of her clunky garments to travel with the very mobile pack; all that remained of her clothing now was her slip and undergarments, though she had quickly given up wearing a bra in the wild. While she was careful to keep her distance, Rion remained an object of fascination. The Alpha led his people through the woods with certainty, never changing course, though she had no idea where exactly they were going. He was curt and rough with everyone but his young son, who alone received nuzzles while they sat around the fire at night.
Elizabeth was made to stick to certain areas of the camps, designated as the dwelling place of Rion's "inner circle." Rion always slept separate from them, though, on some higher ground that could be considered a lookout. Even at rest, he was taking care of his pack. It was one of the many things that made it hard to hate him.
It was late afternoon, and the pack had stopped beside a river to replenish their water pouches. Elizabeth jumped at the opportunity to bathe. Her clothes folded up on the bank, she descended into the cold water with a shiver, reminding herself it was better to be cold and clean than sit in her own filth for another day. Her nipples puckered, as even her huge breasts seemed to shrink from the uninvited chill of washing outside in autumn. Clenching her teeth to stop their chattering, she rubbed a smooth rock over her skin, starting at her shoulders, working down over her belly, and to her feet, slowly rubbing away the residue of the journey thus far. As she grew numb to the water, she began to do it slower. It was relaxing, even, to rub the stone into her breast, slowly warming the mound and softening its peak. She was too distracted to notice the approach of monstrous predator, until she saw its shadow fall across the water.
"Oh god—”
She dropped the rock in a panic, whipping around to find herself at eye level with a massive red wolf. He must have been twice the size of a dire wolf, with a long snout and a powerful figure, paws large enough to smother a crow. Elizabeth was on the verge of a heart attack when suddenly she placed the brilliant green of the wolf's eyes—Rion's eyes.
"Rion?" she asked.
The wolf bared his teeth in something of a grin. It stretched back on hind legs before transforming before her eyes, the whole of him reshaping to the man she knew—naked as the day he was born. She covered herself quickly and averted her eyes, mortified.
"W-what are you doing here?" she demanded.
"I can't lose track of you. You know that."
Rion didn't look ashamed of his nakedness. Nor should he be, she thought briefly, when she couldn't help but peek. She had been right about his manhood, dangling distractingly between powerful thighs. Luthias had him beat with length, but Rion's was...thicker.
"I was coming back to camp," she said, kneeling in the water to hide herself better. "I have nowhere to run to."
"Better to be safe."
He didn't appear to care that she was trying to hide. He looked her over before nodding, as if with approval.
"The lord has taste," he said.
She turned a furious shade of red, left tongue-tied once again. Having said his peace, Rion withdrew to the nearest tree, seating himself at the roots.
"You can finish washing," he declared. "Then we return."
Flustered, Elizabeth turned her back on him, picking up the rock and returning to what she had started. She could feel his eyes on her back as she worked. It wasn't quite wanting, she realized, but there was a sort of curiosity about it. She realized that he was surrounded by naked women all the time, so he wasn't one to be aroused at the mere sight of bare flesh. The only one uncomfortable with her body was her. Knowing this, she relaxed. Finished with the stone, she dunked her head beneath the water to rinse her hair, rising again the wring out the golden locks.
Before long, she looked over her shoulder, surprised to see Rion's gaze had wandered past her to the setting sun. He looked thoughtful, even wise. When she stepped onto the shore though, his attention returned.
"Done?"
She nodded, fumbling to pull on her dress. Out of her element, the former escort was all but self-conscious. She had never been naked with a man without the intention of sex in the air—she didn't want to invite that possibility now.
"You don't have to be afraid of me," Rion said, making her realize how obvious she must be. "I have no intention of doing anything to you."
"Are Canines not your type?"
She was surprised to hear him chuckle.
"On the contrary. I think we'd have a great time. I just don't try to lure attached women—if they want me, I'll oblige, but only because I assume then that their man isn't worthy of my respect."
Elizabeth was beginning to understand the relative simplicity of Rion. There were so many layers to Luthias that Elizabeth's budding love for him was something of a leap of faith. In comparison, Rion seemed to live by simple rules. Defend the pack. Love your child. Respect your opponent. Improve your skills. In some ways, it was a relief.
"I've never actually seen a demon as an animal," she admitted, curious. "Are all the Wolves as big as you?" She paused. "As an animal," she added.
He smirked, but shook his head.
"My father was of an older bloodline," he explained. "The closer your blood is to the First Father, the larger your natural form is. The true forms of most of my pack members are...comparable to that of the ordinary wolves in the region. It's an advantage. Our ancestors were massive and unwieldy. I've had to train myself to be agile in my real form, to make up for its size."
"So Lord Luthias can be a dog?" she asked.
She couldn't help but smile at the idea of Luthias as a black lab, grumpy when they were out of kibble. However, Rion shook his head.
"The Canines are the newest breed born of the Father. The newest born, but the first to 'civilize.' They pride themselves on their monstrous forms, which is why their lords wait so long to produce an offspring, and even then they'll breed with a close relative—for purity, I guess. The further diluted their blood gets, the more the symbol of their power fades. If Luthias were to transform, I expect he could break trees in his teeth."
Hearing this, she grew pale. Somehow, that did seem more befitting of Luthias.
"What about me?" she asked, quieter. "They say...I'm one of them. A Canine."
Elizabeth was surprised to see Rion nod. He tapped his nose.
"You smell of them. Maybe not pure, but you're not human."
"But I can't do what you do."
"Your energy never awakened," he said, shrugging. "It does when you're around other demons. Usually when you're a kid, since we have to breed in these human forms...when our natural forms were larger, having pups would have been tricky otherwise. I'm guessing you didn't grow up with Canines."
She shook her head. He didn't seem surprised.
"Give it time, then. It'll happen."
He was unusually patient with such questions. She recalled that Connor's mother had been a halfling, and wondered if halflings born to human mothers grew up with similar confusions. Before she could muster the courage to ask after his late partner, he had stood, putting her eyes-to-pelvis with his phallas. She didn't even realize he was offering his hand to her, too fascinated with the confidence of a man with his cock just dangling on full display.
"I'm taking you back to camp," he said.
"Oh."
She tore her eyes from his junk to take his hand, leaning on him to stand.
"Where are you staying tonight?" she asked, though she didn't know what compelled her to do so.
"The cave overlooking camp," he said, apparently not finding the question strange. "You'll see it."
Rion released her hand, walking ahead, expecting her to follow. She would do so, trying again to ignore the headache blooming at the base of her skull. It always meant one thing, and today, she wasn't going to let it win. Elizabeth didn't let the voice surface. She forced it as far down as it could go, closing her inner mind off to the foreign thoughts. The following silence felt like victory; maybe, just maybe, her sanity had returned. Little did she know that although she had won the battle, the war was just beginning.
--
That night, Rion was alone in the cave. Connor had wanted to sleep by a friend's campfire, and he didn't often say no to his son. Even so, he fretted, finding himself uncharacteristically shifting and readjusting the bear hides he had brought to sleep on. Maybe it did bother him that Connor was sleeping elsewhere. He knew he had to get over it. He couldn't though. His overactive mind kept him up, which was the only reason he was awake when Elizabeth suddenly appeared at the mouth of the cave—one strap of her silk slip hanging off her shoulder, a strange glint in her eye.
He sat up, curious. He couldn't deny that the sight of her was appealing, though unexpected.
"Elizabeth," he greeted.
She pressed a finger to her lips, as if to hush him. As he watched, she slid down the strap that had been properly secure, causing the loosed slip to slide down and almost reveal the shapely breasts he had admired just that evening. Their temporary concealment was surprisingly arousing; his usual control of himself was undermined by his surprise. He could already feel himself growing hard.
"You're Luthias' woman," he said, half to her and half to himself. "You know he's not one to be trifled with."
"Haven't you wanted to be with a Canine bitch?" Elizabeth said, her voice smooth and inviting.
Rion could hardly answer her. He could only watch as the slip finally came down, revealing those mounds like swollen cantaloupes, distracting from thin shoulders, narrow hips, a waist so tapered and small. She was unlike any Wolf he had encountered. His cock was hard now and she hadn't even touched him, perked by his unrestrained thoughts of filling that narrow passage between her thighs, plumping up her flat stomach with his seed. He was hurting with want.
"Poor Wolf is speechless," she sighed, as she slowly knelt before him. "Let me see if I can take the edge off..."
As she pushed his legs apart and settled there, slowly leaning down to greet his member, he couldn't bring himself to refuse her. Her tongue ran up the underside of its shaft with such skill, coming to trace its head in a long, slow circle. Suddenly, he was in her mouth. She sucked steadily on the head alone, while her fingertips pressed curiously against his taint, and she just sucked, and sucked, causing his blood to pulse against the sensitive surface. He thought he would explode then, but her mouth left him before he could, causing him to grunt and bare his teeth with the unresolved buildup of pressure.
She smirked, knowing what she did. She sat there, between his legs, golden hair in tangled waves around her arms and hips. Her magnificent breasts were squeezed between her thin arms, pink peaks erect and begging to be touched.
"Do you want me, Alpha?" she asked.
He could hardly think. This was a far cry from the Elizabeth he thought he knew. He had pegged her as submissive, even shy. But this woman...what a woman...
"Yes," he growled.
She smiled. She touched his leg before she shifted back on the bear pelt, away from him. Leaning back on her hands, displaying her chest and tight stomach, she spread her legs for him. Her head tilted with inviting curiosity, hair draping over one shoulder as that infuriating smile lingered.
"I'm here," she said. "I'll keep your cock cozy, after you tell me what you're going to do to me."
He thought his dick couldn't swell any more, but for the first time he was mistaken. Eagerly, he accepted her invitation and would lean over her, him now sitting between her knees, a hand cupping her dripping cunt.
"I'm going to fuck you harder than that prissy lord could dream of," he said, gripping her shoulder to pin her to the pelt.
She didn't protest, letting him hold her down. Her arms splayed as she gazed up at him, expectant, coy.
"Can you make it fit?" she asked, her smile challenging him.
"It had better," he snarled. "Or I'll stuff you till you pop."
"Please," she laughed, gripping the coarse fur beneath her, spreading her legs wide. "I'm so hollow..."
He pressed three fingers inside her, spreading her walls in preparation for his throbbing organ—her low moan was music to his ears. His fingers left and at last, his cock sunk in deep, her tight pussy squeezing his girth. A groan rumbled in his chest as he gripped her knees, which pressed against his sides, using them as leverage to thrust deeper inside, then deeper again, inspiring a rising scream of delight from the beautiful Canine. She was almost sitting up, fingers buried in his hair as her back arched, bringing her bouncing breasts close enough to taste. His palms left her knees to lift a mound in each hand, his thumbs rolling her sensitive peaks as he bucked again, and again, the juices of her slit flowing with her moans and cries. He couldn't take it. She was so tight, so slick, his member was covered in her cum and that just made him more eager to fit more of himself inside her, pressure building, building, until at last his rock-hard cock erupted in this long, powerful spilling inside her.
She climaxed too. He could feel her tight slit tremble and massage the last of his seed into her body, drinking it in, as her hands rolled orgasmically down her chest, to press against her belly, and then to her clit. If he had had anything left to give, he would have exploded a second time over. He never wanted to leave her.