In silence we trundled away from our spotlit prison, the roads bumpy and jarring. passing through town after town it was clear just how big an influence Vincent had held over the area. Everything revolved around gambling. Ivans painted portrait hung in several shop windows along with Denton. It made me shudder, his face curled up in a snarl that I’d never seen before. There was even one of Xavier, his snarling disfigured rage marked with a huge red cross, signifying his end. Even though it was the middle of the night, bars and taverns were bouncing with life. Clearly some people had done very well out of the looting tonight and were celebrating. Quite how this area of wooden buildings and small stone walls would fare without the income from guests travelling to watch the Showcases was a serious issue. Was Ivan right, would another gang of thugs just take over? Ivan kept quiet, his hands white, wrapped around the steering wheel, eyes laser-focused ahead. This was the trickiest part.

Having successfully teased Ivan into blushing once more before we set off I soon fell asleep. The soft trundling of the truck was lulling, as long as I didn’t think too much about the last time I was in the vehicle. Sadly though having wheeled transport came to an end. We arrived at a little town, a collection of stone built cottages with a large hall at its centre. Families milled about, families played happily whilst in the distance there appeared to be a bustling town square. It was nothing like the squalid, run down shacks we had left behind in the Shadowlands. Ivan was outside the truck, talking to a grey-haired man in his fifties. He was examining the truck, the hood was up and he was gesturing at various areas. I gave Ivan a sleepy wave, those green eyes of his seemed to light up on catching mine as he gave me a soft smile and a little nod. Then he put his head down and got back to chatting. Eventually he came to my passenger window, leaning his huge arms down on the open w

I knew she would love it up here. It had taken my breath away too all those years ago. Reminiscing about my own first shift brought back a lot of memories. Most of them are good. There are always horror stories. The shifts that go wrong. Where the human cannot control the wolf or fights too hard against their control, and they end up getting hurt. More than one person has been known to go mad, unable to cope with the voices. If you don’t learn to see it as an amplified conscience it can start to get to you. A chatty, non-stop wolf would be horrendous. Kohl and I were a good team because although he was quick to anger, very aggressive at fighting and a truly dangerous beast in wolf form, he considered matters like a military strategist. Whether Cherish’s little flashes of temper, her frustration at lack of control would be a good or bad thing for her wolf was another. Her face watching me make the deal with the truck buyer today, if I hadn’t consulted her, she would have been outra

He returned to softly kissing my neck, walking me backwards towards the fire. I could feel his dick, already wet with pre-cum pressing against my stomach, Halo instantly growled with desire in my mind, there was only one thing on her agenda now. “It might hurt you know, even though we’re mates and you’ve shifted” he whispered, caressing my hair. “Then you’ll have to do it again until it doesn’t hurt won’t you,” I whispered back, nipping his neck and making him growl. “Cherish you have no idea how much I’ve wanted you. All this time, your body, your so fucking perfect, your scent, everything it’s just…” and he pulled me to him for a kiss. The kiss started off romantic but soon graduated into heavier, rougher caresses. He was slowly losing his restraint as I felt Halo pulling at me, begging me to just grab his dick and place it where I needed it. Words ended as I found myself backed into a tree. His kisses were fervent and rough. His mouth assaulted my breasts sucking my nipples raw

I did my best to keep him pinned to that campsite but even I had to admit defeat after a few hours. Washing up and drinking from a nearby stream my blonde hair was wet and tied up in a tight bun on the top of my head. Ivan wore that crisp white, v-neck shirt and dark pants, I was in a new maroon tunic dress and leggings. we looked like completely different people to the ragged, loosely dressed couple in the Cage.Stomping along in our hiking boots my heart was light and happy. What could be better than finding out your mate was the person you were already madly in love with? I held his hand, marvelled at the surroundings, and enjoyed the birdsong. I was on such a high it took me a while to realise Ivan’s mood was heading in the opposite direction. The hike had started with jokes and playful, gentle nudges and banter. Once we reached the top of the last hillcrest everything changed. “That’s Silver City,” he pointed, his jaw clenched so tightly he barely spoke. Ahead I could see a huge