I woke up sometime later with the cabin smelling of smoke, sulfur, death, herbs and lingering, sweet fragrant plants. Saraya was not by my side and her side of the bed had grown cold which meant she had been up for a while. I could perceive her in the house, she was just not by my side. I had grown used to waking up to the warm feel of her body and the lack of it made me quite irritable. Grunting, I got out of bed, found pants to wear and headed out barefooted. A frown furrowed my eyebrows when I found the entire kitchen area covered in smoke, but I could see her clearly, standing behind the kitchen counter. The entire work table was littered with plants but when my eyes settled on the diamond rock I had given her with the snake plant, I knew what she was up to. There was also a glass gourd which I knew witches often use to hold enchanted substances, herbs or trap spirits. My eyes slowly lifted to her and she looked at me with a wide grin that wasn't hers. Her eyes were pitc

“Um… Are you alright, lad?” Gloringreag Horncoat asked wearily. I stood back and removed my charmed necklace, watching his eyes bulge as he stared at me. Winking at him. I wore it back and handed him the paper I had written our list of supplies. He lowered his astonished gaze at the paper and then up at me. Saraya walked in behind me and his eyes darted from me to her and then back. “Saraya, my mate,” I introduced. Saraya simply nodded at the shorter man. His face suddenly crumbled and catching me unaware, he ran to hold me by my left leg. “Thank the heavens! You can help us!” he cried quietly. “Help you? From what?” I said, lowering my gaze to the small human. “The shifters! They want to take over the territory and charge us taxes for protection!” he replied in a rush, gazing up at me. “Shifters?” I repeated “The ones you call abominations!” he replied hurriedly. “Abominations?” Saraya repeated. I growled. “Werewolves,” I scoffed under my breath. “That is funny, shouldn’t

I fought hard at the natural instinct of my beast. The scent of blood and flesh was not helping and in the middle of it all, I could distinguish Saraya's scent. Her soft floral fragrance was the only thing distracting me from completely embracing my animal side. Using it as my anchor, I clung to it and turned away from the sight of humans. Then I saw a burnt and headless corpse of a figure in crimson attire alongside the dead bodies of a lot of werewolves. It was quite easy to note which was her kill and which was mine. She watched me cautiously and I shut my eyes in my last attempt to contain my beast but I couldn't. Letting out a loud growl, I found myself moving to go to her. The urge to be close was overwhelming. Getting to her, I scooped her up and buried my nose in the nook of her neck, drawing in her scent like a starved freak. "D--Dane?" she called softly, gently smoothing back my hair. She was shaking with fear. "Don't be scared of me," I growled barely audibly. She wrapp

The Weres brought us more wood than we needed and they helped us pile them just by the living room fireplace and then up in the bedroom. By evening the fire of roasting antelope lit up my grounds. And the tantalising smell filled the air. Our unwanted guests were literally camping on my porch and forcing my woman's attention. Saraya stayed outside with them, playing the perfect hostess. Heaven knew I would have left them there perhaps that would have made them leave earlier. Saraya's laughter rang out now and then and I loved the sound of it. She was happy and content and that was what made me let them be. But around midnight she came inside to check on me, wanting me to know our guests were about to leave and I had to say something at least. Her eyes were alive and animated. Her cheeks were rosy and healthy. She was still tying the toga and they made her look so regal and sexy at the same time. "Dane?" she called softly. I nodded and got up from the living room chair, thinking

"Dane!" she screamed as the disintegration was almost to her head. "You, my love you are a fucking goddess! Fight! Fight, damn it! Don't you let them do this to us! Fight!" I yelled with anguish. "Find me…" I thought I heard her say, but I couldn't be sure. I saw a shimmer in the air right at the back of where she stood and then she was gone. My heart tightened so hard that I fell to my knees. The pain. Oh! Heavens! The pain was profound. "Selene!" I screamed in pain. The very core of me was burning. "Selene!" I continued to yell for the goddess who created me, showed me what living meant and sentenced me to damnation. The anger was slow, but it came like a poison vine and it wrapped its claws around my soul. Now that the only reason I had wanted to live was taken from me, what was there to live for? I stood up, grunting like a wounded beast, I broke off the charm necklace around my neck and threw it aside and slowly let the animal in me out. Like a volcano, I busted out of t