#if you want my ratings of each song I'll add that in a reblog

[melodyofthevoid]

The Crane Wives Examined: Safe Ship Harbored

So I vowed to do it, and thus I have begun my journey into the Crane wives discography. (@dreamishsara thanks for the push I needed to start this lmao)

The first of the four main albums written by The Crane Wives, the overall aesthetics of this album establish many of the themes found throughout their discography. From laments of personal failings to promises of love, to layered metaphors and stories wrapped within beautiful packages of harmonies and the ever present instruments that bring the whole thing together. Generally more of a mixed bag, but there’s really only winning with a Crane Wives song.

Can’t Have it All

Defiance, in a word. The singer is battered and bruised emotionally from their former love, but they’re not in that same place anymore. It hurts still, and there’s a long way to go before they’re fully healed. But that healing won’t involve the one who hurt them.

“All my love you tried to take, but you can’t have it all”. Some was taken, but not all. They’re still standing.

The song then moves from the past to the future, trying to take a look at what is to come. They wonder if they might find somewhere to settle and linger one day. Rediscover love with a partner with someone new. Wondering if their ex might get married, but knowing it will never be to them. Because their mind’s made up and they’re standing strong.

And sometimes, you need that reminder that even though it hurts to move on, what’s done is done. Going back won’t fix things, and they tried this before. Whatever they think of you, the person you were, you don’t have to be that. They can’t have all of you, that’s for you to decide.

The Diving Bell

A diving bell was an early method of exploring the sea, a heavy surrounding structure that provided a pocket of air as the diver descended. Protecting them. This new love, surrendering to the deep is an open diving bell, taking the singer deeper and deeper and providing no air or means of escape. And that is okay, the singer feels no fear. They’ve decided to follow this no matter where it takes them.

It’s a comforting song, all soft vocals and easy guitar. There’s a rhythm on the drums that returns in later songs, but here it isn’t driving forward, it feels more like a fluttering heartbeat.

Caleb Trask

This song is an extended reference to the eponymous Caleb in East of Eden, who is himself a reference to Cain. He struggles with his lineage, believing himself to be doomed to ill-intent after learning of his parentage. And yet, he tries to be good. He strives in spite of dooming his twin brother to die in war, in spite of what he believes himself to be.

At the heart of it, the singer reassures him that he has no reason to keep holding himself in chains of guilt. But who doesn’t? All people are flawed, and it just takes forgiving yourself to move forward.

The azaleas are symbols of his love in the book, the girl who was once promised to his brother. They fall in love eventually, and he promises that they’ll look out on the flowers one day and allow himself to love her. But they have love already. Waiting and punishing himself isn’t going to make him a better person, or make him happier. Everyone is descended from a sinner in some way, no person is without fault.

If you can be better, then be.

New Colors

The spirit of rebellion and throwing a middle finger to the concept of stagnation. Finding something new at any cost, no matter what it does to the singer. If it costs their eyes, they’ll at least see the world anew. They won’t be stopped, that’s the end of it.

To give up the sight to see, to give up air to breathe, finding a new freedom by sacrificing what they once had. The bombastic statement descending into quiet pleas to be heard by someone, anyone.

Counting Sheep

A cheery condemnation of the state of everything, a world full of half awake sheep. Stuck in a cycle of half aware and half asleep. Watching the news and watching the world deteriorate, dooming the day before it even begins. Forcing a smile and trying to get by because it’s all you’ve gotten used to doing.

But even knowing what’s going on doesn’t fix it. The sheep serve the double metaphor of being both the wool covering the eyes of the people, and that others are sheep too. There’s no reason to count sheep if they’re everywhere.

Medicine to conform makes the dreams that once filled life fade away, muddling the time together. There is the question of is it worth it? Is it worth confining yourself to this existence when it doesn’t fulfill? Doesn’t make you happy? Is this a battle worth fighting for, to be who you’re meant to be?

And then the end, integrating the common rhyme of the Friar Jaques/Brother John into the song, repeating it over and over, ties back into the question of are you sleeping through life? The bells, the sign to wake up is now, if only one can hear it.

Hole in the Silver Lining

A twist on the everyday saying and an ode to the pessimist. The repetition of this song, like the singer’s own action, wears away at the melody. They’ll find that hole in the silver lining, the flaw in the miracle, even if they have to make it. Running it over and over in their hands until it appears.

There’s an air of resignation and anger, especially when the final verses come in. They say to leave doubt at the door, to not come closer. With the self-effacing tone of the beginning, it comes across as the singer begging someone to leave and not come closer. Hoping to wear down this silver lining too until the good is worn away.

Defeat is a heavy thing, and it narrows the vision until it’s all you can see.

Safe Ship, Harbored

The thoughts of what could have been, the ambitions lost to years of fear and outside forces. Looking to those that know you and saying “I’ve given up, don’t give me your blessings, I won’t do anything with them”. Knowing that this isn’t what you’d wanted for yourself but being stuck regardless.

Things I forgot I cannot do evokes such a strong picture, of learned limitations keeping the singer trapped on shore. Failures from the past that linger just enough to keep them from ever trying, ever yearning again. A safe ship in a harbor, still being worn down by the salt and waves in the shallow waters but never venturing out.

And the world would look so flat and limited stuck in one place, without even a hint of what lies over the horizon. A ship is meant to travel and see places beyond, and yet here it is, stuck. Ashamed of what it fails to do yet trapped out of a desire to never be hurt again.

Worn down not by something, but someone. A bottle broken to signal a new voyage would be wasted. They’re not going anywhere.

Naked, The Night Falls

Soft and poetic, the softness of allowing oneself to mingle and intertwine with someone else. To take their weight, their problems, and share the burden.

The lines are almost nonsensical at times, almost reminiscent of the words one says when half asleep, cradled in someone’s arms. They burn, they suffer sometimes, there are hard times to be sure, but with their love they grow and are stronger for the hard times. All will be well, so long as they have a soft place to rest.

Ancient History

There is an aftermath to every breakup, a past that solidifies and while it will remain unchanged, almost begs to be examined as if in the futile hope of learning something even long after the dust has settled. Dreams of a former lover can haunt long long past the death of the relationship, and pick at that scab over and over again.

Skeletons hidden in the closet or in the graves laughing at the futile attempts and the holes left behind in the wake of painful regret.

The refrain of “I try to let it fade away”, desperate for relief, repeats until the truth comes out. That they still hold on, even if it isn’t healthy.

This is a constant battle, a prolonged and eternal war. They ache, but the past keeps bleeding out of the wound that refuses to heal. And they’re left with the question of what to do.

They just have to keep trying. Maybe one day, they’ll let go.

October

A song for the hopeless romantic, who’d give and give and give for nothing in return. They entreat for the other to be with them, in spite of what they are missing. And yet, they would debase themselves, crawling on hands and knees if any higher (or lower) power asks of them. This person is divine to them, their love is divine.

And yet, when the promises are made, the object of their affections keeps the upper hand. The feelings are not reciprocated, at least not with the same intensity. There is no room in their heart for the singer. Any hope that there was is decaying and growing cold. They’ll take being nothing more than a mark on their lover’s chest and having their secrets torn away if it means that they’ll have one kiss. Their love can take what they want, they will give it happily.

October is the heart of fall, when the earth begins to die and grow cold for the winter ahead. It is an inevitability, just another part of life. An unavoidable part of life for an unavoidable heartbreak. This devotion will never be returned, but they’re alright with that.

The Crooked, The Cradle

A prayer for respite, for relief. There is blood on the singer’s hands, they belong to no one, no one’s daughter, and there are still enemies at their door. The slow, almost lullaby-esque tone implies that they are trying to soothe despite their exhaustion, it pulls at their core, and yet…

If there is mercy in this world, and they hope that there is, there will be peace. An end to the violence and terror. They hold onto it, in spite of the devil at their door. They can’t let it go. “I won’t pretend my season won’t end”, an admittance, an acceptance of the end, memento mori, as it goes. But there is still that hope there will be something left, some piece left over for their love.

And what of the cradle? Is it a promise for a future child? That they will be the parent they never had? Or to one that is there and waits for them, and whose absence is felt? Whichever it is, the singer pleads for anyone to hear them out. Alone in their fight and known for now only among the wicked and cruel. The crooked.

Yet there is the repetition of the chorus, hope even still. A home after the war, after the work is done.

I Ain’t Done

A folk tale reminiscent of “Leave Luanne”, this tells the story of a woman caught cheating and who paid the price for her infidelity, lamenting her fate and telling of the night she died. But always, always repeating that she is not done on this earth, and will continue to exist. She is, in fact, not done with the world of the living.

The singer is perpetually stuck between remorse and anger, with one voice in the chorus singing that she now has eternity to repent, to plant her guilty seed (a double entendre if ever there was one) by the moonlight in the cemetery. The other narrates her slipping away from her sleeping spouse, creeping away to meet her lover with no regrets.

There are even more double meanings within the song, from even the first verse. “I am consumed by selfish wanting” could both mean that she was compelled to seek out this affair, even knowing she was married, and that this affair would eventually consume her. “Felt love’s searing sting”, a knife and a kiss. The shadow of her husband is both one cast over her heart, and over her before he murders her. The wordplay all weaves a simple tale together, one that the ghost will relive over and over again.

[bulletbilltime]

Had a thought about last rb but I decided to make my own post about it

I will start with the caveat that I do agree that one should seek out albums, because there is (usually) artistic intention in the order of the songs, and that ordering can be used to great artistic effect. In albums like Ethel Cain's Preacher's Daughter, and Kendrick Lamar's good kid maad city & To Pimp a Butterfly, it can be used for great narrative effect. (There's millions other examples but those are my favorites). I didn't reblog that post for no reason.

However, I want to talk about my own experience of music listening, and how I just... don't really feel that drawn to album listening vs enjoying songs as their own singular piece of art. Now, I absolutely respect the artistry behind albums, song curation and whatnot, but at the same time I just never feel really compelled to listen to albums as my main way of music listening. I always rely on a music rotation playlist where I'll just add whichever songs I feel like listening at a given moment and loop that. And remove songs when I'm done with them.

Albums just feel like too much of a commitment to me. I have to block out 30min-1h on average to actually sit down and take in the songs, and have the lyrics open so I can actually follow along. If I throw an album on casually while doing smth else I will generally just get distracted, either from the album or from my task. It just feels like too much of an intentional thing you have to do to and so the mood to do so comes pretty rarely. For basically the same reasons I struggle to watch movies and new shows on my own. (Thanks executive dysfunction!)

Now I found a way to make this process kinda fun by rating the albums song by song and giving them a score out of 10 at the end, and having a sort of ranking chart of my favorite albums from each year. But even then it still requires an intentional effort to feel out how each song fares, plus it makes me less likely to listen if I can't just do the rate, PLUS it just ends up being me picking out my fave songs from the album like a vulture and leaving the rest to rot away in the forgor zone of my brain.

And I especially don't really get how I would be internally motivated to listen to an album over and over again, either. For this to be something I'd want, every single song would have to be perfectly fitting of the mood I'm looking for, and this basically just doesn't happen. The only albums I've listened to intentionally more than once, outside of rating them again, are probably Lowercase Noises' Carry Us All Away, a mainly instrumental album that has a very specific vibe that I love on almost all songs, and a few Dan Gibson's Solitudes albums, which are new age relaxation albums I'll throw on to chill out while I work on something. Basically every single other album out there, I've listened in intended order only a handful of times at most. Even Preacher's Daughter, my favorite album of all time atm, I've only heard in full twice. I've heard about every single song from it like 50 times. But each was on its own terms, because these songs, despite forming an extremely compelling and tragic narrative, simply click with me in very different moods and settings. I don't feel emotionally compelled to hear American Teenager, A House in Nebraska, and Western Nights in succession, because the vibes are just way too different. But I'll absolutely feel the pull to hear each of those songs in different contexts.

And honestly? I think that playlists in general suffer the same issue for me. 99% of my playlist usage is just to track whatever music I was into in a given month/year. It's very hard to see those also as anything more than a list of songs to pick and choose from. And they don't really even have the benefit of being intentionally ordered together by the creator of the song, so I feel like most of the time I'd rather just have the album.

I wish the way my brain enjoyed music would fare better with albums, but it just doesn't. I don't really know what to say. Maybe it's because I grew up on video game OSTs and the like, where you generally just enjoy one piece at a time and you can't realistically play it like an album. Maybe it's because my enjoyment of songs is very dependent on it resonating with a specific mood or context, which is something very specific that no artist to my knowledge has managed to pull off consistently on EVERY single song of their album, even my faves. Maybe it's because I use songs as a way to soundtrack my life, and you don't just throw on a whole album as a soundtrack piece. Maybe it's because I actually got into "proper songs" (aka not soundtrack stuff or instrumental pieces) through Billboard Charts and I got used to seeing songs as singular entities way before I actually got into album listening.

Whatever the reason, my mode of music enjoyment has always been individual songs, not cohesive projects with narratives and curated song orders. I will still try to listen to albums, and try to see them as their cohesive whole and not just a list of songs. But it's hard, because the segmentation is still there, and I kinda need it honestly. I need to be able to have a piece that can still refer to the whole, while still being enjoyable on its own merits. If an album is a single hour-long collection of movements, I'm not even gonna bother listening to it again.

[k1ll3r-k4rg0]

About (18+ Blog)

she/he / he/she | unnamed | aromantic bigender transexual | dni if you support communism (or do. i cant stop you.) | dni if minor or no age / mention of 18+ listed.

NO MINORS. ageless or unmarked as 18+ blogs blocked

blogged. this blog is for my character thoughts and my art and my writing. if you want character related reblogs, art reblogs, and complaints go to @k4rg0-f1l3z

i post sexual shit, gore, and other r rated heavy topics. my stories and ocs are r rated. if you don't like heavy topics, dead dove do not eat, whump, gore, violence, suicide, stuff that deals with mental illness problems, don't follow.

if you don't like it, don't follow! i post for myself and my friends! i post what i want! my writing is an escape and a way for me to process my own shit in the world i live in as well as a way to cope. if you don't like it LEAVE

i do a LOT of art and a LOT of writing. however. i forget to post it. so this blog's kinda dead!!! if you want to see more shit from me or of a specific character, don't be afraid to ask and i'll gladly share

ask box always open

about me? im 23, prepping to apply for a phd program in school psychology with a bachelor's in fine arts in screenwriting. i write prose and draw pictures of my ocs with backgrounds coz i love drawing backgrounds

check out my bestie's blogs @yeenteefies for main and @honsebeasts for his really cool awesome neat ocs who i have many stories / ships with

i also play dnd! every week!!! with my super cool awesome dnd friends from college. i play a conquest paladin aasimar (that's warren). he's too much. the tag for stuff related to the party is just #yeehoes

i have bpd, autism, & adhd. if you don't like that, don't follow. i'm unmedicated, but i'm more under control these days.

I do not tag others art or the fandoms the art's from. I only tag for gore (#gore, #blood), flashing (#flashing), spiders/insects (#spiders, #insects, #bugs), or unreality (#unreality). If there's any you want me to add, lemme' know and I'll consider it (I'll probably say yes unless its SUPER specific coz i might forget).

OCS + favorite books, music, movie, etc under the cut.

Trivia: —half Romanian, half Texmex (czech/german + mexican) —fave movie is Fargo —my space sci-fi shit is largely inspired by the tv show The Expanse.

Fave Bands: —Muse (favorite songs are In Your World and Dead Star) —Linkin Park —Amigo the Devil —Nine Inch Nails —Calexico —Brown Bird —Rammstein —MCR occasionally

Fave Books: —American Gods by Neil Gaiman —We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver —Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy —maybe Pet Sematary by Stephen King who is my favorite author

Main OCS:

Vini + Quinn (#vini.png, #quinn.net, #d3m0litionl0v3rs): besties who kill together. vini's quinn's guardian angel. quinn's vini's little death. they've died for each other countless times and their bond is unbreakable. not human anymore

Elliot (#elliot.png): shitfaced. hurt. fucked. broken. pissed off at the world for the shit it's put him through. wishing he could kill them all Derek (#derek.png): strange. alienated. scared. scared of everyone for treating him like another. wishing they'd see how above them he is. Elliot + Derek (#code voltage): besties. too much. freaks. human sometimes. there's an 80s au where they're monsters Derek + Jordan (#prince.png, @/honsebeast's) (#strange&unusual): what you get when a god finds another god when the first god thought he was the last of his kind. They click. They understand each other on a completely different level. Elliot + Kalani (#kalani.png, @/hurrl's) (#chocolatestrawberries): he'll die for her. she'll kill for him. she taught him a lesson and he learned better. now he's as obsessed with her as she is with him. She loves him so much, but it's okay because he needs her love to survive.

Mars (#mars.png): rocky younger years have lead to a chiller middle-aged life. trying to gather the pieces and learn to live again. how you kill the monster? love the monster. human Mars + Danny (@/honsebeast's) (#armada): i love you when no one else will. you love me despite all my flaws. you make me human again.

Warren + Jay (#warren.png, #jay.png, #4m3r1c4nm4n14cs): the fire the flame and the burning smoldering ember. a serial killer and his priest, a god and his follower. two of the same. die for each other to live again. human unless angel.

Cody (#cody.png): broken bruised forgotten sore, too fucked up to care anymore. that's what happens when you back a kid into a corner. he bites to kill.

Other OCs that aren't that important right now that you'll occasionally see tagged but that I won't link are as follows: Ryfraf (whore), Riymah (scary clown goth gf), Derwood (taxidermist), Blue (hacker), Pork/Porkrinds (the happiest merc you've ever seen, @/honsebeast's).



[lovelybucky1]

where do i start? i’m artemis, or lovelybucky as most people know me. i started this blog a little over a month ago in the hopes of getting out of my writing slump and to allow myself more freedom with the content i create, and look where i am now! i never expected to get this far, and i’m beyond grateful for all of you. whether you follow for my marvel content or my criminal minds (or something else), thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me.

in honor of this milestone, i will be hosting a writing challenge that lasts the entire month of august. under the cut is 31 songs to choose from, as well as a line or two from them. i will be writing one each day, but you could write as little or as many as you’d like!

rules

you must be 18+ to participate. whether your fic has smut or not, my blog does not allow minors

your fic can be any rating, any length and contain any tropes you want! smut and dark fics are permitted, i just request that you give proper warnings at the beginning of the fic

your fic does not need to contain the lyric given below, or any other lyric, but it does need to be inspired by the song in some way

after the challenge is complete, i will be putting all of the fics onto a masterlist. use #lovelybucky1’s 500 and tag me so i can find your fic and add it

there is no limit on how many people can do each prompt. you can do all of them if you choose, or only one, it will still be featured on the masterlist

please view the pinned post on my blog for more through guidelines on why type on content (specifically smut) is permitted. if your fic contains any of the things on the list, it will not be included on the masterlist.

characters

you can write about any character from marvel or criminal minds, as well as ships between characters. the characters below are non-marvel or criminal minds that are accepted.

jefferson (once upon a time)

ransom drysdale (knives out)

lance tucker (the bronze)

andy barber (defending jacob)

ari levinson (red sea diving resort)

tj hammond (political animals)

chip taylor (68 kill)

charles blackwood (we have always lived in the castle)

laszlo kreizler (the alienist)

if you have another character that you’d like to write about, send me an ask or a dm!

lastly, if you are going to participate in this challenge, i’d appreciate if you reblogged this post to spread the word and get others involved!

prompts under the cut

Youth- Troye Sivan “My youth is yours, Runaway now and forevermore”

Mad Hatter- Melanie Martinez “You think I'm crazy, you think I'm gone, So what if I'm crazy? All the best people are”

Woman- Harry Styles “I'm selfish, I know, But I don't ever want to see you with him”

Cherry- Harry Styles “Don't you call him what you used to call me”

Black Sheep- Metric “Our common goal was waiting for the world to end”

Dirty Little Secret- All American Rejects “I'll keep you my dirty little secret, Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret”

Take Me to Church- Hozier “I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies, I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife”

Cold Hard Bitch- Jet “Cold hard bitch, Just a kiss on the lips, And I was on my knees, I'm waiting, give me”

Self Esteem- the offspring “Now I know I should say no, But it's kind of hard when she's ready to go”

Motion Sickness- Phoebe Bridgers “I hate you for what you did, And I miss you like a little kid”

Somebody Told Me- The Killers “Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend, Who looked like a girlfriend, That I had in February of last year”

Carolina- Harry Styles “She's a good girl, She feels so good”

New Perspective- Panic! at the Disco “You come along because I love your face, And I'll admire your expensive taste”

Dress- Taylor Swift “Carve your name into my bedpost, 'Cause I don't want you like a best friend”

Bad Idea- Girl in Red “It was a bad idea, To think I could stop, Was such a bad idea, I can't get enough”

Kiwi- Harry Styles “And now she's all over me, it's like I paid for it, It's like I paid for it, I'm gonna pay for this”

This Love- Taylor Swift “This love is good, This love is bad, This love is alive back from the dead”

Teardrops On My Guitar- Taylor Swift “I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl he talks about/And she's got everything that I have to live without”

Red- Taylor Swift “Touching him was like/Realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you”

Illicit Affairs- Taylor Swift “Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me/You showed me colors you know/I can't see with anyone else”

Wonderland- Taylor Swift “And in the end, in Wonderland, we both went mad”

Wet- Dazey and the Scouts “It's so depressing how the tear ducts in my eyes/Are so much wetter than the space between my thighs”

Nicotine- Panic! at the Disco “I taste you on my lips and I can't get rid of you/So I say damn your kiss and the awful things you do”

This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things- Taylor Swift “It was so nice being friends again/There I was giving you a second chance/But you stabbed me in the back while shaking my hand”

False God- Taylor Swift “The altar is my hips/Even if it's a false god”

Scotty Doesn’t Know- Lustra “Fiona's got him on the phone/And she's trying not to moan/It's a three-way call and he knows nothing”

I Hate Everything About You- Three Days Grace “I hate everything about you/Why do I love you?”

Rebel Girl- Bikini Kill “Rebel girl, rebel girl/I think I wanna take you home/I wanna try on your clothes”

I Love You Like an Alcoholic- The Taxpayers “One last kiss, I need you like I need a broken leg.”

Hey Stephen- Taylor Swift “Hey Stephen, I've been holding back this feeling/So I've got some things to say to you”

Two Ghosts- Harry Styles “Trying to remember how it feels to have a heartbeat”

[khoicesbyk]

A/N: I'm officially obsessed with Wolf Bride and what does one do when she's obsessed with a certain book? She writes an AU about it! 😁 So, Talley Ho! *in my Sherlock Holmes voice*

Rated: Mature. | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual from me. 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: Roman (LI) and Naia Evans (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and certain original characters, created by me) are property of Pixelberry.

Current Word Count: 1,790 words. (May be a little more and may be a little less. I stop counting after editing and re-editing. 🤷🏾‍♀️)

Song And Story Inspiration: Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun)-Janet Jackson | All This Time (Vocal Version)-Lalah Hathaway | Can’t Let Go/Vision Of Love-Mariah Carey | If I Ever Fall In Love/Comforter-Shai

This series is rated Mature. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!

This series may contain spoilers. If you wish not to see spoilers, please do not read any further.

If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or dm me and I will gladly add you. 😁😘

TW: character death. Death of a parent. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!

Tag List: @shewillreadyou @choiceslady @aussieez @secretaryunpaid @pixie88 @bebepac @hopefulmoonobject @sfb123 @lucy-268 @glaimtruelovealways @txemrn @texaskitten30 @choicesficwriterscreations

Chapter 2.) The Alpha.

Roman is Alpha of his Pack.

He was always taught to be strong, to lead, to guide, to hunt, to fight, to defend and especially to breed. It is his duty to carry on the next generation of Alphas like his father did and grandfather before him.

He is the oldest of his parents' children. His father Xander was his hero and he praised the ground his mother Delia walked on. Growing up in the pack wasn’t always easy for him. Growing up he would have dreams of a young girl. She was beautiful, especially when she smiled. Her eyes would light up when she smiled. Her laugh made his heart skip. He loved seeing her in his dreams.

He couldn’t wait to wake up and tell his mother about her.

“Did you see her again?” She asked him as they walked. His mother loved to walk amongst the trees.

“Yes! She was so pretty mother! I love to see her. Even if it’s in a dream.” He replies.

The joy in his voice made Delia smile.

“I’m happy to hear that my son.”

“I do hope that I get to see her again.”

Delia smiled at him then said, “I’m sure that you will see her again, my son.”

His father raised and trained him to be stronger, faster and better than his siblings or any of the other wolf pups. He was being groomed to be the next Alpha. He loved to hunt. Silently listening for his prey before making his move gave him an adrenaline rush. Conquering his prey gave him pride. He loved providing for the Pack.

He became the Alpha at 19 when his father died. Although it is a burden and some of the elders felt he was too young and not ready for it. Roman was more than ready, willing, capable and able to lead the Pack. Even though he missed his father, Roman is a great Alpha. The Pack respects him and follows his authority. He is stern but fair with those he protects. And when he defends the earth as well as his pack, his ferocity is on full display. And even when he is occasionally challenged by others from within the Pack, he always proves why he is Alpha.

He was the leader his mother knew he would be. She loved watching him flourish in his role as Alpha. Seeing his confidence grow brought her joy. Delia loved each of her children and was proud of all of them, but Roman being her oldest and firstborn child had her heart.

Which is why he took her death so hard. He loved his mother and always made sure that her needs were tended to. Even after her cancer diagnosis, if she wanted it then he made sure that she had it. Even if it meant just sitting with her holding her hand or worse singing to and with her, he was happy to do so.

Her final moments were spent in his arms. He knew she didn’t have much time left. He held her in his arms but he wasn’t ready to let her go.

“Roman, it’s time for you to choose a mate.” She said in a voice just above a whisper.

“No. Not now. My focus is on you mother.” He replied cradling her closer to him.

“You must my son. You are Alpha now. It is up to you now to have and raise pups.”

“Mother please…”

She smiled softly at him then said, “My sweet boy, you must. It is our way of life. You must carry on the next generation.”

“I can’t mother. Not right now. My role as Alpha doesn’t allow me time to search.”

“My son, you don’t have to search. You’ve already found her my son.”

“Who?” He asked.

“The young girl you used to dream about. She will be your mate.” Selia replied.

“Mother she isn’t real.”

“Yes she is my son. I’ve seen it. You two are meant to be together. Find her in your mind and your heart and you will see the bond you both share. Find her Roman. She is your mate.”

“Y-yes mother.” He said as his voice cracked.

“I love you my son.” She whispered.

“I love you too mother.”

Delia closed her eyes and took her final breath. Within seconds she was gone. And although he grieved her, Roman understood what his mother was telling him. He needed to find a mate. He tried finding a mate within the Pack and while many of the women had interest in him, he really had none in them. But he forced himself to choose anyway. He settled on his now ex Isobel. They tried to make their relationship work but for him, his heart just wasn’t in it.

His heart was calling on someone else. So he went to the Pack Elder Noemi for guidance.

“What can I do for you, my child?” She asked. Her voice soothing. She was like a grandmother to him.

“I’m having trouble finding a mate, Speaker.” He replied.

“Then let us find you a mate, my child. Come! Let’s go to the grounds.” She replies as she rises to her feet.

He walked behind her as they walked to a plateau known as the grounds. Old stones covered in moss that were placed in a circle. Noemi sat down on the edge while Roman entered the middle.

“Tell me what you want me to do Speaker.” He said to her.

“Close your eyes and open your mind and heart.” She instructed him.

Once his eyes were closed, he opened his mind and heart.

“Heart of the earth, hear me. Open yourself to my child. Guide him on his path to his mate.” She chanted.

Deep in his subconscious, Roman searched. Concentrating on what he remembered about her. He unlocked his mind to the earth. And that’s when he saw her. The girl from his childhood dreams. Only she was no longer a girl. She had grown up to be a beautiful woman. Her long black hair framed her face perfectly. Her brown eyes sparkled. And her beautiful brown skin was hypnotic to him.

He’d found her after all these years. As he looked at her, he noticed that she was singing. He’d heard her voice for the first time in decades. It’s just as beautiful as she is. She was on stage at a karaoke bar with her friends singing “Vision Of Love” by Mariah Carey.

“Treated me kind.

Sweet destiny.

Carried me through desperation.

To the one that was waiting for me.

It took so long.

Still I believed.

Somehow the one that I needed.

Would find me eventually.

I had a vision of love.

And it was all that you've given to me.

Prayed through the nights.

Felt so alone.

Suffered through alienation.

Carried the weight on my own.

Had to be strong.

So I believed.

And now I know I've succeeded.

In finding the place I conceived.

I had a vision of love.

And it was all that you've given to me.

I had a vision of love.

And it was all that you've given me.

I've realized a dream.

And I visualized.

The love that came to be.

Feel so alive.

I'm so thankful that I've received.

The answer that heaven has sent down to me.

You treated me kind (yeah).

Sweet destiny (yes, you did).

And I'll be eternally grateful (oh).

Holding you so close to me (prayed through the night).

Prayed through the nights (so faithfully).

So faithfully (faithfully).

Knowing the one that I needed.

Would find me eventually (he would find me).

I had a vision of love.

And it was all that you've given to me.

I had a vision of love.

And it was all that you turned out to be…”

As she sang, he felt close to her. He could feel her emotions as she sang. She was heartbroken. And it made him furious. He wanted to hold her, to comfort her, to tell her that it will be okay and to tell her that he would protect her. As she sang she could feel a presence around her but couldn’t put her finger on what it was. Like someone had their arms around her and was holding her close. It was their hearts, minds and souls becoming connected and awakening their bond.

When Roman finally opened his eyes, Noemi was smiling at him.

“Have you found her my child?” She asked

“Yes I have. She’s beautiful.” He replies.

“What is her name, my child?” She asked.

“Naia.” He replies.

Noemi smiled warmly at him.

“She will be your mate, my child.”

“Of this I have no doubt, Speaker.”

A week later, Naia looked up Hunt’s Peak and soon found herself enthralled by it. She loved the pictures she’d seen online. She felt connected to it for some inexplicable reason. Soon, she was dreaming of Hunt’s Peak and started hearing a man’s voice. The voice belonged to Roman. And when he was able to dream about her, that’s when he would call out to her. He wanted to have her at his side. His heart longed for her. His body yearned for her. He could feel her even though he had never formally met her before.

Early one morning he was awakened by the pull of his heart. She was close, he could feel it in his bones. She was closer to him than she had ever been before. She was coming. He left the den in search of her. When he went into the woods, he shifted from human to wolf. Being a wolf gave him a better sense of smell and direction. He quickly picked up a scent and followed it.

His being called him to follow his bond with her. The closer he got to her, the stronger the bond became. Soon he arrived at the Days Inn outside of town. He shifted back to his human form and stood at the edge of the woods across from the parking lot. He was drawn to her. Especially when he heard her sing. It was through the bond that they shared that he heard her. He closed his eyes and listened.

“There you are holding her hand.

I am lost.

Dying to understand.

Didn't I cherish you right?

Don't you know you were my life?

Even though I try I can't let go.

Something in your eyes.

Captured my soul.

And every night I see you in my dreams.

You're all I know.

I can't let go.”

Listening to her sing confirmed to him that he’d finally found her. And that very soon, he and Naia would be together.

[khoicesbyk]

A/N: I'm officially obsessed with Wolf Bride and what does one do when she's obsessed with a certain book? She writes an AU about it! 😁 So, Talley Ho! *in my Sherlock Holmes voice*

Rated: Mature. | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual from me. 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: Roman (LI) and Naia Evans (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and certain original characters, created by me) are property of Pixelberry.

Current Word Count: 1,240 words. (more or less. I stop counting after editing and re-editing. 🤷🏾‍♀️)

This series is rated Mature. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!

This series may contain spoilers. If you wish not see spoilers, please do not read any further.

Also this series is a slight deviation of the original story. In the original story, the werewolf hunter is a woman. But in this series the hunter is a man.

If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or dm me and I will gladly add you. 😁😘

Tag List: @shewillreadyou @pixie88 @choiceslady @queenjilian @otherworldlypresents @texaskitten30 @glaimtruelovealways @aussieez @secretaryunpaid @txemrn @sfb123 @hopefulmoonobject @lucy-268 @choicesficwriterscreations

Chapter 3.) The Hunter.

The Knights Of Ossory are an ancient secret society of werewolf hunters dating back to 12th century Ireland. And much like his father, brothers and grandfather before him, Trent Moses IV was proud to be one of them. By day he’s an Ecologist studying the surrounding forests and by night, he hunts werewolves.

The Knights Of Ossory’s main mission is the eradication of werewolves. They’re considered monsters of the shadows and the Knights Of Ossory are defenders of humanity.

Even though he’s been blind since birth, he’s never let his disability be a hindrance. He grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and is the youngest of 5 boys. He has always had to fight his brothers for everything. But it never stopped him, it only fueled him to do and be better. He excelled all throughout school, from elementary to high school, he was always top of his class. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Appalachian State with a degree in Ecology. He soon took a part time job as a Park Ranger and while being an Ecological Surveyor for Sayre Energy and Power in Hunt’s Peak WV.

He used his work as a cover for his true mission. Hunting werewolves in the area. But he wasn’t trying to kill them, he wanted to cure them. He calls it catch and release.

“No one would miss a few werewolves. After all, they aren’t human. They’re monsters. They must be stopped. ” He always thought to himself.

He and his team hunt them like they’re deers or rabbits. They shouldn’t be allowed to be free to roam and destroy. He’d capture them to study them. He did so in hopes that he could find a cure for whatever causes them to turn into werewolves then release them. So he’s focused on the Pack. Slowly picking off members of the Pack to study and catching the ire of Roman.

When Trent found out that Roman was the Alpha, he made it his personal mission to take him as the ultimate test subject. He’s always known that Alphas are the most dangerous of each werewolf Pack.

Whenever they clashed, Trent always remembered the oath he swore to as a member of the Knights Of Ossory.

“They are the monsters.

They are the blight.

We are the hunters.

We are the light.

They are the terror that haunts our sight.

They are the wrong that we will set right!”

He can’t waver from his mission. He had to find out why they are what they are. Especially when they go Primal. That is when they are truly powerful and nearly unstoppable. It only ever happens when there’s a full moon out and it is truly a sight to behold. They’re wild, animalistic, ravenous and act on uncontrollable impulses. Which is dangerous to and for humans.

So he hunts in order to keep them in check and at bay. And having occasional issues and battles with Roman. He uses his enhanced senses to make decisions when he hunts. He can feel, smell and hear better than anyone on his team. He could always sense when the wolves were near. So he knew when to strike, when to set traps and when to stay hidden.

For the times he did battle with Roman directly, Trent stayed at the ready. Roman was unlike any other Alpha he faced. Roman is the strongest Alpha that Trent had ever faced. Skilled and calculating, Roman has never backed down not that Trent wanted him to. He enjoyed the challenge.

So how does Naia fit into his life? Simple she didn’t. Not at first. To him she was a dream he had that slowly became real. He would have what’s called lucid dreams about a woman’s voice. She would be singing and he’d listen to her. It soothed him. It called to him. It comforted him. He wanted to know more but as soon as he woke up, the voice was gone. But that feeling of longing and of needing to hear it lingered.

He felt haunted every time he went to sleep and would dream of this voice. It would even call to him during the day. Especially when he was hunting or studying werewolves. He fell in love with this woman’s beautiful voice. He had to figure out where it was coming from. He had to know who this mystery woman is.

Was she a woman he’d met in the past? A girl from college? A singer he’d heard sing before? Who was she?

Whenever she sang, he could feel her near. He could smell her. He could almost taste her. But he could never figure out who she was.

One night in a certain dream he heard her sing a song. She was singing Thank You by Estelle.

Sometimes I wonder, do you.

Even recognize the woman that's standing in front of you.

Listen, sometimes I wonder, do you.

Even care or realize why I took care of you.

'Cause you're my heart.

You are my soul.

You're my other half without you I cannot be whole baby.

So far apart, I just don't know.

What drove us apart in the first place now I know baby, why.

These tears I cry sure won't be the last.

They will not be the last, no.

'Cause this pain inside never seems to pass.

It never seems to pass me by.

So I thank you.

Said I thank you.

Yes I thank you.

For making me a woman.

Sometimes I wonder could she be.

More of a woman to you than you are a man to me.

Listen, sometimes I wonder, why me.

I'm here miserable while you're out living your fantasies and didn't care.

'Cause you're my heart.

You are my soul.

You're my other half without you I cannot be whole baby.

So far apart.

I just don't know.

What drove us apart in the first place now I know baby, why.

These tears I cry sure won't be the last.

They will not be the last, no.

'Cause' this pain inside which never seems to pass.

It never seems to pass me by.

So I thank you.

Said I thank you.

Yes I thank you.

For making me a woman.

One thing I learned in life.

We all gotta be ready to sacrifice to survive.

I hope she's happy.

'Cause you're the chapter that I'll be closing hope you're happy.

'Cause once my door close it won't be open.

These tears I cry sure won't be the last.

It will not be the last, no.

This pain inside which never seems to pass.

It never seems to pass me by.

So I thank you.

Said I thank you.

Yes I thank you.

For making me a woman.

So I thank you.

Said I thank you.

Yes I thank you.

For making me a woman.”

Because of her, he became obsessed with the song he heard in his dream. He would sing it to himself as a way to feel closer to her. She became somewhat of a security blanket to him. He knew that whenever he dreamed she would be there. She was an angel to him even though they’d never met.

But little did he know that the girl of his dreams was indeed real. And he would meet her soon. But he will also learn that a war with Roman would come because of it.