5

X E N O S

➳

Pictures. They were everywhere. A small clearing. Brown fell. The cracking of bones. But the worst was the screams. They haunted me through the deepest nights and made me startle like a small child.

I roared through the midnight black forest. Even without the moonlight, I would have been able to navigate the forest thanks to my wolf's supernatural eyesight. And I didn't miss the soft rumble that was getting closer.

I growled. Beau should go. The demons were still sitting in my head, ready at any moment to extend their claws and grab me. And when they attacked me, I wanted to be alone.

Beau took the hint and the shocked brown wolf disappeared again.

It's been like this for a year now. The nightly dreams that came and went. And though it had been over a thousand years since that horrible night, the loss kept hitting me. Just as intense as if it had happened just yesterday.

I increased my speed and raced through the forest. On a night like this, there was nothing else I could do but let my wolf lead. Sometimes he just knew better than the man how to deal with the emptiness in my chest. I pushed my bleeding heart, whose old scar kept threatening to burst open again, behind a thick stone wall and suppressed any other feelings. As long as I didn't feel too much, the pain would pass. And hopefully this time forever.

The smell was unexpected. Sweet flowers and fresh spring. I would never forget this scent - it had anchored itself deeply in me since the first encounter. And now I met him again - after a whole solar orbit.

She jumped gracefully from the tree and landed lithely like a cat on the ground several meters in front of me. Her caramel skin shimmered in the bright moonlight, and her white paint curled around her lean, fine muscles. Hot desires swept over me and new images drove away the old, painful ones. Images of me stroking the fine, white lines, tongue exploring and pampering her until she couldn't help but beg hoarsely for more.

Clearing her throat, she crossed her arms across her chest and I tore my eyes away from her clenched breasts. With a thought I changed from wolf to man and now stood facing her with my head held high. “Arya.”

She looked away. She ordered sternly: “Get dressed.”

My wolf's growl transmitted to my human vocal cords as the wolf in me responded just as any other dominant wolf would when challenged. “First tell me what you're doing here.”

“Not until you put on your pants!” she spat, her head still turned away.

Since when could she speak my language so well? I was about to ask her about it, but decided against it. No intelligent man would ask a woman that, and certainly not one like her . I reached behind the tree and pulled out the pants hidden in the bush. Garments were stationed and stowed throughout our territory so that we could easily change and dress at any given time.

I put on the jeans. Not because I was following her command, but because I knew she was uncomfortable and I didn't want her to feel that way around me. Not if I wanted to get any closer to her. And that's what I wanted - absolutely. The urge to touch her, to feel her warm skin against mine, became so strong that I clenched my jaw and balled my hands into fists.

The next moment I was standing in front of her and she was panting. Only breaths of air separated us. “So why are you here?”

Her dark brown eyes gazed boldly at me and her delicate green speckles, which mingled with the dark brown in her eyes, shone in the night. “There are wolf attacks on our pack.”

“Since when?”

“A few months.”

“Do you know if they're rogues?”

“No.” Her eyes took on a dejected expression and she shook her head. “None of us have ever seen an attack and survived.”

I wanted to follow through on what she said, but the bluish sheen on her skin as she shook her head froze me. “What happened to your face?”

“What?” she frowned briefly and looked at me in confusion. I recognized the moment when she understood. “Oh that, nothing. I was careless when hunting.”

My hand was already gently grasping her chin as she abruptly pulled her head back and glared at me. Like an angry cat, she hissed, “I said it's nothing.”

“It's not nothing!” I growled back and let my wolf off the leash. I quickly turned her face to the right angle and looked at her cheek. She was swollen blue and green. As is her eye. My wolf growled dangerously and so did I. “Careless when hunting, yes?”

“Let me go.” I loosened my grip and she tore herself away from me instantly, backing away.

My wolf raged and I didn't realize my overreacted behavior, the red veil was too thick, enveloping me in unbridled rage. “Who hit you?”

“That's none of your business!” she hissed and crossed her arms.

cat, definitely. I growled. I had forgotten how it was with her. How alive I felt. The searing pain and the horribly deep emptiness had faded into the background - instead my body burned with energy. “You're on my territory. Everything that is on my territory is my business.”

“By the gods, you are stubborn!” she threw up her hands in exasperation, only to squint at me. “I didn't come here to argue with you about it.”

“I will not forget it.”

She ignored my words and instead said, “I've been following the tracks. And they led straight to your territory.”

My brows drew together. “You must have mixed up the tracks.”

she snorted. “First arrow doesn't mix up tracks.”

I shook my head at her offended pride. If my facial muscles had known how to turn up the corners of my mouth, a smile would now be on my lips. She was sweet - in her own way . “Impossible, we don't have any rogues.”

“I didn't say that either.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

“The tracks don't lie.” cold and iron as if she were talking about business.

The feeling of betrayal flooded through me like acid. 'You seriously think my pack would attack your tribe? That I would kill your people?”

She remained silent. Not a single word left her sweet mouth.

“You can not be serious.” As if her closeness was burning me, I increased the distance between us. A dry laugh rose up my throat. “After everything we've done for you, you still don't trust us? Whole packs of werewolves went to war for your safety !”

“This one time cannot erase entire centuries of hostile acts. Have you already forgotten that it was you who once brought us to ruin?”

Without warning, the images rushed at me again. Screams that haunted me for days. My eyelids tightened in an attempt to regain control of myself and I trembled with tension. My pupils dilated into those of a wolf and the ice blue of my eyes shone brightly. “I thought you'd changed your mind about that.”

She then looked away and bit her lip. Lips that felt soft and full under mine. Pressed against mine with relish, daring me to deepen the kiss. Hot and passionate. The blazing memories drove away the old wounds and replaced them with intense longing. Desire for more - more of her .

She said hesitantly, “I have too.”

“Then why do you accuse me of such a terrible act?”

Now she sighed and looked at me. “I'm not the only one looking for the pack of wolves that threaten us. If I don't ask you these questions, someone else will. And he won't rest until he has your head.”

I bared my teeth and my deep growl echoed through the forest. “Who?”

“Nzuak.” As my growl grew louder, she widened her eyes and quickly added, “He won't be a problem. Not if you tell me who the attackers are and where to find them.”

“Oh believe me kitty , he definitely won't be a problem anymore.” I would take care of that.

“Hey, where are you going?” she called after me when I had already turned around.

I stopped and looked back. “It's dark and cold, looking for the Pack now is not a good idea.” A really shitty one to be honest.

Her hands balled into fists and she looked at me defiantly as she stamped her foot on the ground. 'I'm definitely not going now. By tomorrow the traces will have disappeared and nothing would be recognizable anymore!”

My brow rose on its own. “Werewolves have an extraordinary sense of smell.”

Dumbfounded looked at me. “We're not going to look for the pack together.”

'You are on my ground, suspecting my pack. What do you think are your chances of continuing to search on your own?”

She was already preparing for a peppery reply as she pressed her lips into a line.

I sighed. “Come on now.”

“And where are we going?” She folded her arms across her chest for what felt like the hundredth time and still refused to follow me. I growled. I would love to grab them and throw them over my shoulders! Instead, I turned and ran.

A short time later I heard the rapid tapping of bare feet on the floor.

“I'd still like to know where we're going.” she ran beside me and her black hair blew in the wind. I would love to reach out and drive through the shimmering waterfall.

“To me. Home.”