#or if she’s a lone wolf kicked out from her last pack

[seijorhi]

Rhi, are you still into monster content?

I was re-reading scar tissue and I couldn’t help but think of a predator/prey situation with Inarizaki as a wolf pack instead of it just being Atsumu.

Team manager darling thought she had it bad but this would be so much worse.

Do I still–

Nonnie the day I am not into monster fucking is the day I shut up shop entirely

[darling-heffron]

Sorry all my wifi had been acting up and then I got busy doing other things, then poof, Saturday came and went! So sorry this is late but I hope the chapter makes up for it. Also I got my nails done and didn't think of the implications to my typing lmao! ✨

Taglist: @mellow-human , @malarkgirlypop , @next-autopsy

Chapter Seven: And then there were Two

Sam’s POV: 

Walking was the easy part of Sam’s journey, the hard part was avoiding everyone else. Especially the humans, she didn’t need to meet anymore people like the family she had only buried days ago. 

There could be no guilt clouding her thoughts during these times, she needed to be focussed not sentimental. The last thing she needed was a friend. 

Her army comrades often called Sam the lone wolf of the pack, often adjacent from the other troops who were bonding and making lasting friendships. Sam enjoyed her solitude and didn’t have the patience for stupid people, she had other activities that filled her boredom. 

Fighting mainly, as it was a good way to release her stress. She often found that after having a rough day, letting out her pent up emotions on the punching bag felt good. Sam never felt the need to vent to her “friends”, her fists did all the talking she needed.  

If she didn’t feel like fighting, books had the same effect as talking to people. Except she didn’t have to say anything back to them. She didn’t enjoy fictional novels about romance and friendship and adventure. The blonde preferred the cold hard facts of history, she would learn from everyone else's mistakes and not make them herself. 

Unfortunately sometimes Sam would have to deal with people during her job. On her tours in Afghanistan she was paired with the most annoying girl in the squad. 

A lucky dip that was not so lucky. 

Her partner drove her mad almost every single day, trying to befriend the tall woman. Sam was not having it, she didn’t need nor want a friend. The soldier was a petite brunette that was only a couple of years younger, but for some reason she was always so happy. Always a pep to her step and a song in her heart, the girl was joyful on crack. 

Even in her demise she still somehow had a smile on her face and was optimistic about her doomed fate. 

The girl, Abby, had died only days before they were set to depart back home. She had offered to do the final sweep of the night for Sam, which she had been scheduled to complete. On her route back she had misstepped, accidentally setting off an IED that in turn took her life not hours later. 

Lying on the street with her limbs scattered about, she bled out slowly and painfully. But still the young girl managed to smile and laugh, making a joke. Abby had laid in Sam’s lap as she lost her blood and quickly turned cold. The last thing she had said was, “I’m glad it was me and not you.” 

Abby had died later that night in hospital from her wounds. Her death still haunted the angry blonde. 

Her depressing thoughts were interrupted by boisterous noise. Sam looked up with disgust etched into her face. These were the stupid fuckers she was talking about. 

Even from a distance she could see their unkempt oily hair and dirty clothes. They smiled at each other while they joked, some misogynistic comment falling from the shorter ones mouth as the other two chortled together. 

“Ugh, gross.” She muttered out loud. Sam didn’t enjoy people, but men were her least favourite. It may have been her army upbringing but all the men she knew were cunts, especially her father who seemed to be the worst one of all. 

The only reason there were other people here was because she had made it to Albany. Walking all day for two days she had made good time from Pittsfield. But even though the city offered food and other resources, it attracted everything else along with it. Just like the group of men who stood only 50 feet away, laughing amongst themselves. 

Somehow luck didn’t seem to be in favour of the young woman; she accidentally kicked an empty can across the street as she tried to evade the group. 

“Fuck me.” Sam cursed under her breath. She watched the men swivel their heads around to investigate the noise. Sam ducked quickly trying to hide behind the abandoned car she was standing near but she knew she had been spotted. 

“Hey pretty lady!” One of the men cooed. Sam rolled her eyes so hard she was concerned they were going to get stuck in the back of her head. 

“We see you blondie, come out!” The other greasy man joined in. 

Sam silently screamed in her head, she was not in the mood for people. Drawing in a deep breath she stood. She cracked her neck as she walked out from behind the vehicle. 

The men started to walk briskly towards her. Her fingers flexed at her side, itching to latch around the weapon on her hip. But she stood still, a relaxed posture and bitchy face, well her normal face but still, she looked menacing. 

“Quite a scowl you got blondie.” The tallest man of the group smirked at her. 

Her face didn’t change even with the comment. Sam didn’t speak, she didn’t want to seem like she was trying to make excuses. Plus men dug themselves into deeper holes in silence than in conversation. She would bait them. 

“Not much of a talker.” The short thinning haired man stepped closer, even though he was still a good foot away she could smell him from here. 

“Yeah but she is a looker, hey Jeremy.” The snivelly looking man egged on the tall one, Jeremy, elbowing him in the side.  

“You sure are pretty.” Jeremy licked his lips. Sam’s disgust was audible at the action. 

The young woman flicked her eyes around the group. They didn’t seem to be all that well equipped, noting the baseball bat the short chubby man held, and the grimey machete on the rodent looking man’s belt. Jeremy seemed to be the only one with a gun, tucked into the front of his waistband. Sam scoffed that was only good for one thing, getting his dick shot off.   

“I think she’s scared of us.” Weasel man continued. He looked like the fucking jester of the group, though he didn’t seem all that funny. 

“You don’t have to be afraid, we’re really nice.” The chubby man had the audacity to reach out to try and touch Sam’s arm. 

Her reflexes were faster. Sam’s hand shot out from her side and gripped the man’s limb like a vice. 

That set the group on edge, the other two sprung back, hands clasping around their own weapons. 

“I’m not afraid of you horrible fuck-eyed wank cloths.” Sam growled, squeezing the man's hand even harder. He let out a whimper of pain and tried to wiggle free, but Sam’s hold didn’t budge. 

“Leave me the fuck alone, before I rip of every single one of your ballsacks off and feed it to the rabid motherfuckers while you watch.” The man guffawed at her statement, her words were clearly not enough for the men, she would have to show them. 

“Oh you need proof. Well baldly, how many fingers you want broken?” Sam sneered at the man, his face bright red with rage and pain. 

“Now you’re quiet?” Sam wrenched the thinned haired man’s finger backwards extending them towards his back. “That means I get to choose.” She whispered before completely twisting the chubby man’s hand completely backwards until there was a satisfying crunch. 

Baldy howled in pain as he clutched at his now broken wrist. It hung limply from the joint, the men who had watched the whole interaction, now began to rile up. 

“What the fuck is your problem blondie?” Jesterville Jones piped up, his buck teeth exposed as he hopped around like the rabbit he was.     

“I chose wrist.” Sam shrugged, seemed like he wasn’t paying attention, or was an idiot. Most likely an idiot. 

“We didn’t do anything to you.” Jeremy whined as if his mum had just taken away his PS5 privileges. 

“You approached me, that was your first mistake. Then you called me blondie, you half chewed pencil looking fuck. And this literal easy bake oven tried to touch me. So if I counted correctly, which he can’t.” Sam pointed to weasel face. “That would make three things you did to me.” 

“Now do you all want limp wrists, you slimy turd canoes?” Sam threatened the gaggle of fucking morons. “Or would you like to leave with the little dignity you have still intact?” 

As soon as she finished her sentence the men fled. Tails between their legs like the small chihuahuas they were.  

Mars POV: 

Getting to Albany was simple. Marleen packed up and left as the sun was rising, unwilling to be near that house any longer. She followed along the highway, using road signs as her guide. 

The houses began getting closer together until she found herself at the city's edge. The closer she got the more her nerves started to scramble. Mars spotted several small groups and lone rabids and did everything she could to avoid them, turning a three hour journey into five. 

Marleen had never been to Albany before, but she could imagine what it was like; the roads bustling with vehicles, people everywhere, everything teaming with life. 

And now, it was barren. Abandoned. 

If she had to guess she would say there were live humans in this vast city somewhere but nowhere that she could see. 

That could be a good thing though. At least that’s what Denver always said. And just like that she was tearing up once again- how many tears did she have left? Surely her eyes would run dry at some point? 

Shaking her head, Mars headed into the eerie ghost town. 

She didn’t get very far before noticing undead stumbling in her direction. Shit. There were too many for her to stay and fight, she had no choice but to flee. They hadn’t seen her yet, giving her the advantage of stealth. 

As quietly as she could, Mars turned and treaded down a side street, off the main road and out of the zombies' sight. 

This repeated a few times; Marleen would come across a number of rabids and sneak away unseen onto a new path, slowly making her way through the maze of a city. 

Her luck was seemingly up. Avoiding certain death had never been easier for the young blonde.  

Until it wasn’t.

Mars rounded a corner, making her way down a narrow road- a glorified alleyway. And she did so without checking to see if the way was clear, her first mistake. 

Her second mistake was immediately dropping her only weapon the instant she bumped into something. 

Marleen had walked straight into a solid body and squealed. It took her a moment to realise that whatever she had walked into could be a human; like her or an undead and she had yet to find out which.

Her yelp was mixed with a low voice, arms wrapped around her body and held her close, it felt all too familiar. Mars cried out and struggled against the unknown person until she heard a distinct voice- the undead can't speak.  

Her head flicked upwards, revealing her captor as a living. In fact, there were three living men standing in front of her. 

All caution was thrown to the wind, she hadn’t seen real people since she and Denver had been separated two nights prior, and she found she was missing the social interaction. Being able to talk to someone who was capable of talking back, who didn’t have blood covering every inch of them- that was priceless to Mars. 

“Hey, shhh, It's okay.” The man holding on to her spoke, his grasp on her had stabilised the both of them, keeping the pair upright. Now that they were in no danger of falling, he released his grip on her and held up his hands in mock surrender.

From where she stood, she had a second to give them a once over and take in their appearances. They looked like they’d been through hell. Dirty and greasy and covered in filth. 

Something that stuck out to her was the shortest one favoured his left hand, like it was hurt. She would bring that up at some point, make sure chubby hadn't been bitten by a rabid.

She had two voices telling her two very different things right now and wasn’t sure what to do. 

One said: Absolutely do not trust these guys, turn and leave right now, you don’t know these strangers.

While the other said: Maybe they could help you? It’s tough being out here all alone, having friends is never a bad thing. Talk to them, ask if they can help you get to Illinois. 

“Uh-Hello?” Was the greeting she settled on, this seemed to please them as all three grinned at her. It should have been a good sign, the smiles; but for some reason it unnerved her. 

“Hello beautiful.” The tallest man, her ‘saviour’ spoke out, “you out here all alone?” Mars nodded slowly, still not totally convinced she could trust these guys. 

“Well what would a pretty girl like you be doing out here all by herself?” One of the others spoke up, he had buck teeth that resembled a mouse or a rat. All three men still smiled at her waiting for her answer. 

“I-I’m trying to get to Illinois.”

“Illinois, eh?” The rat man echoed the words as he stepped closer to her, “We can help ya get to Illinois.” 

“You can?” Mars felt a smile creep onto her face. She held hope that these men would be kind and helpful, regardless of their appearance. Don't judge a book by its cover and all that.

“Sure.” The tallest, who seemed to be their leader, smirked. 

“Yeah, we can help you.” Rat-man laughed as he nudged his friend's arm with his elbow, like they were sharing a joke- one that Mars was not privy to. 

It was then that Mars noticed the machete in the rat's grip, that paired with her dropped knife gave her chills- goosebumps rippled over her body. 

“You just have to do a little something for us first….” His voice gave Mars the heebie jeebies and she began to rethink her openness to the trio- maybe she should have been more skeptical of the strangers. 

“Scratch our backs, we scratch yours, blondie.” Rat-man reached out his hand and stroked Marleen’s cheek, her body instinctively flinched back, trying to get out of his reach.

“Really?” A louder voice sounded from behind the group of men. The trio seemed to recognise the person who had spoken, stilling in their actions and slowly turning. 

Between the gap of the men, Mars could see a tall, lean woman with a menacing stance. Her glare made the men shiver and Marleen found that she too was intimidated by this lady. 

Sam’s POV: 

Sam had tried her best to avoid the group after they had retreated. She continued on her search for food and water, but unfortunately before rounding a corner she had heard the slimy idiots talking amongst themselves. 

However what piqued her interest was a soft feminine voice that spoke back. Sam had stepped into the alley just as weasel face had said, “Scratch our backs, we scratch yours, blondie.” 

That pissed off the tall woman. For one, they had gone from one woman to the next, and secondly they didn’t even have the creativity to think of any better lines. 

“Wow! I thought you guys were fucking stupid, but this just really proves my point!” Sam gave her best cheerful sarcastic tone. 

“You seriously can’t think of any better material than Blondie?” She peered over their shoulders, finding a young petite woman backed into a corner by the group. The woman’s face said it all, please help me.  

A sigh left Sam’s lips, she was not in the mood for playing hero, but also the young girl, not even woman, looked so helpless it felt like a crime to leave. 

She cast her glare towards michelin man, who cowered under her hateful stare. He didn’t give her a second glance before darting off and ditching his so-called friends. 

“Dylan what the fuck dude!” Jeremy called out after fatso. Damn she had never seen someone of that girth run so fast. 

“Roly-poly has the right idea. Why don’t the rest of you scram and leave Bambi alone.” Sam looked over to the young lady, aptly named for her big doe eyes and deer in the headlights stare. 

“We aren’t scared of you, blondie.” Jeremy snarled. 

“Which one are you talking to, cause remember we are both ‘Blondie’ according to you.” Sam pointed out that the one name that had given each of the girls now didn’t work in the situation. 

“I’m talking to you-” He paused for a moment, pointing in her direction. “Angry blondie.” 

“Look at you using adjectives. Kind of embarrassing it took you that long to think of one, and angry at that.” Sam grimaced at the fucking idiot sandwich stood before her. 

“Can we be done now, I’m so fucking bored of this conversation?” Sam glanced down at her watch, she literally had better things to be doing than standing here wasting her breath on these white-trash shart hounds. 

“Well- uh- you.” The weasel man stuttered over his words. 

“You-uh-uh-um.” Sam mocked them. “Spit it out, speech impediment.”

“Right, that's it!” Inflatable balloon man bellowed in the least intimidating voice he could manage. In a quick motion he whipped out his gun from the front of his pants. Sam shied away worried he was going to whip out something else at the same time. 

“I don’t need to see all that.” Sam gestured to the man’s crotch. The young woman during the chaos, had bent down and grabbed the knife that had laid on the floor just in front of her. Sam watched her stand again, clutching the weapon to her chest. 

Jeremy surged forward with his gun, he flailed it around, it seemed as if he was unsure if he wanted to shoot Sam or hit her with it. It didn’t matter, the tall woman had disarmed him in seconds. 

Now she had the man by his neck and his gun in her grasp. Jeremy was pinned to her chest as he stared out at his mate who looked shocked but was still fixed in his position, not helping his buddy. 

Sam pressed the barrel of the man’s gun to his temple. Everyone froze, collectively holding their breaths. Weasel man’s face had drained of blood and he looked sickly pale. Bambi continued to wear her brown doe eyed stare, her mouth hanging slightly agape, Sam was unsure if this was due to shock or awe. 

“Alright lady!” Rodent man held out his hands showing his surrender. “We’ll leave you alone, just let us go!” The man pleaded. 

“Yeah just let us leave.” Jeremy sobbed like a young child who had lost their mummy in the supermarket. 

Sam brought the butt of the gun down hard into the side of Jeremy’s head, the man yelped out in pain as she pushed him away from her and he stumbled to the floor. Rodent man collected his friend from the floor, and urged him to leave. 

“My gun.” Jeremy held out his hand for his weapon. 

“It’s mine now. Fuck off.” Sam dismissed the command. She watched in amusement as the pair fled together, moving so fast they were falling over each other in panic. 

Turning on her heel she walked the way she had come from back out onto the street. 

Mars POV:

“Wait!” Marleen called out to her retreating saviour, “where are you going?” Her feet began following the mysterious woman- who completely ignored her. Her pace quickened, only slowing when she came side by side with the fiery lady. 

“Hey! I asked where you’re going.” Her statement came out whiny and she reached for the other woman's forearm. The moment her fingertips touched their target, the stranger sprung into action. She halted her steps and raised a closed fist so quickly that Mars barely had time to register what was happening.

“Woah-wait wait wait- it’s me! It’s me!” The shorter woman released her grip and raised her hands to cover her face, dropping her knife yet again. 

It clattered to the floor as both women watched.

“Who?”

“Me, it’s me?” Mars peered up at the taller blonde, her voice squeaked out from her defensive position, “From just now… you know, with those guys- Bambi! I’m Bambi…remember?” 

Recognition crosses over her face, “Oh. Right.” The woman lowered her fist, “You dropped your knife.” Her parting words as she turned swiftly and continued in the same direction. 

Mars huffed, bending over to pick up the weapon and then straightening to run after the other blonde. 

“You didn't answer my question.” Her words were spoken in between breaths, “Where are we going?” 

That seemed to gain the attention of her ruthless heroine, making her freeze in place once more. 

“We?” Her eyebrows raised in surprise, “WE aren’t going anywhere.” She gestured between the two of them with her finger. 

“But,” Marleen’s face scrunched in confusion, her bottom lip stuck out in a pout, “You just saved me?” 

“And?” 

Mars had no reply. It seemed logical to her that they buddy up, everyone needs friends and Mars could surely use someone as capable as her. 

The lean girl, hearing no reply from the smaller party continued on her journey. Once again, leaving ‘Bambi’ behind. 

And just like before, Mars chased after her, this time calling out “Can’t I come with you? I’ll be so quiet you won’t even know I’m there!” 

“No, I don’t pick up stragglers.” The woman’s husky voice sounded as she kept walking away from the young girl. 

“So why did you save me? Why not just let me die?” Marleen argued, genuinely curious. 

“I-”

“So you clearly have a conscience, or else you would’ve watched me be attacked by those men.” She spoke her thoughts aloud as they popped into her head, no filter and not even waiting to hear her responses. 

“Look-”

“Or you just didn’t want to watch it, so now you’re just leaving me to die when you don’t have to see.” 

“Jesus-”

“Cause leaving me now is like second hand murder. You know I’m not going to get very far by myself, but you’re still leaving.”

“Alright, alright! Fine! Christ, you made your point, I got it!” The lady finally got her words in before the young girl interrupted her once again. The taller of the two swung around to gesture for the persistent girl to cease her incessant yapping, “I will walk you to the next town over and then as soon, and I mean as soon as I find another group or person to take you, you are not my problem anymore. Understand?”

Mars let a cheesy smile break onto her face as she literally jumped for joy. “Deal!” Extending her pinky finger out to seal the promise the taller woman had just made. 

“I’m not making a pinky promise.” The lady shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest. 

Still Mars held out her hand, smiling widely, tipping her head to encourage the standoffish girl to accept her outstretched pinky. 

“No! I’m not.” The girl doubled down. But Mars ever so vigorously stood her ground, until the other blonde sighed and finally did as Marleen had asked. She reached out her hand quickly interlinking her pinky finger with the younger girl. The tall blonde snatched her hand away after sealing their deal. 

“Oh my God, are you normally this fucking infuriating?” 

“It depends who you ask.” Said with a shrug of her shoulders and a smirk on her face. “I’m Marleen, by the way.” 

“I didn’t ask.”

“You can call me Mars though.” Her cheery voice continued, “Sooo- what’s your name?” She was met with silence. “Okay, fine. Stay mysterious. I’ll just call yooou- Jessica?”

“No.” Her saviour deadpanned. 

“Okay, not Jessica…. Georgia?” Hope seeped into her words as she gently elbowed her taller companion in an attempt to gain her favour. 

“Please stop.” 

“You could just tell me your name? I’d stop if I knew what to call you- maybe Lauren?” 

Realising she wouldn’t shut her mouth until she got what she wanted, the calmer of the pair offered a solution, “If I tell you my name, will you be quiet?” 

“Yes.” Her reply was instantaneous and full of excitement. 

“It’s Sam.” She sighed out exasperatedly. 

“Sam!” Mars grinned, barely one second of silence passed before she was speaking once again, “Sam Sam Sam… is that short for Samantha?” 

“Shut. Up!” 

AHHHHHHHHHH our girls finally met oml oml, so excited for this duo you have no idea! But ah, Sam doesn't seem all the keen on it ahaha sorry girl you got lumped with a whole ball of sunshine. Let me know if you also love these girlies together as much as I do.

Esra ✨

[sawyerslvt]

Roller Skating With Leland

This is my time writing... like ever. I wanted to give it a try, i hope someone sees this, maybe reads it and crazily enough, maybe likes it?? <3 This is kinda short, it was meant to be way longer and originally, it was about Johnny. But I scrapped that idea and went with this instead.

Summary: You bought a pair of skates two months ago and you become a regular at the local roller rink. A man approaches you.

Word count: 1,573

Warnings: None (fluff)

The sun is setting, the different nuances of orange and pink mingling together in the sky. This time of day has always been your favorite. On a regular Friday night like this, it's not uncommon to find you at the roller rink. You had picked up these beautiful roller skates from the mall two months back. Really, the pink color just grabbed your attention so you had no choice but to grab a pair for yourself. You had no original intention to learn to skate but might as well now that you got a pair. You don't have any friends to practice with but you were determined to make good use of the skates so you became a regular at the local roller rink. Hoping to make some friends and gain a new skill. 

Maxine was usually working and she made sure to put on her biggest smile whenever you walked in. You’ve grown pretty close to her and she’s been your first, and quite frankly, your only friend since moving to Newt. You’ve always found it difficult to make friends and you see yourself as a lone wolf, alone but capable. “Well, if it isn't my favorite customer!” she exclaimed, somehow always finding you before you find her. “Here I am!” you roll your eyes, seeming unamused. You already know her routine of making sure you never forget how badly you suck at skating. “Ready to humor us with your graceful falls this evening?” holding back her laughter. You would think it gets old, after two months and all but here we are, “shut up…” you can't help but slightly smirk to yourself and she giggles at your reaction. You hand her a five dollar bill and after making some quick small talk, you start making your way down to the rink. 

Since it was a Friday evening, the rink was sure to be packed with people. Friends and lovers enjoying their time, laughing and hanging out. The mixture of bright and neon lights created a wonderful feeling, and the disco ball in the center of the roof was the cherry on top. They always played the best music on fridays, you don’t know if that’s by coincidence, but you had a feeling Maxine was the reason behind it. You sit on one of the benches close to the edge of the rink, putting on your skates and ready to kick ass, knowing Maxine would be watching your every move as fuel for future teasing. “She's a lady” by Tom Jones started playing, you glance over at the desk and see Maxine shooting you a little wink. It was your favorite song at the moment and with that you gracefully rolled onto the slippery surface.

It’s been a week since you last skated and you always felt a little rusty initially so you made sure to start slow and warm up. Once you feel you are comfortable, you pick up the pace and get confident with your moves, you feel the music taking over and you’re spinning and moving your body to the songs that are played, one after another. You made sure to shoot some smirks back at Maxine who is impressed with today's performance. A little secret… you had been practicing during shifts you knew she would be off, just to really wow her. You were delighted to realize that your sneaky schemes had been proven successful.

While you were deep inside your own little bubble, you hadn’t noticed a man skating alongside you. You smiled at him trying to be polite, not thinking much of it. He put his arms around your waist, he was handsome but you weren't really interested. A nervous giggle escaped your mouth. “I'm sorry, do I know you?” coming across a bit more hostile than you anticipated. “Yeah, you’re that stunning girl I met on the roller rink.” he gives you a sneaky wink. You couldn't help but blush a little. Male attention isn't foreign to you, but it never fails to get you to blush regardless. Before you are able to respond he grabs your hand, shaking it “the name’s Leland, i’d like to get to know you”. A smirk growing on his face. His charm was damn near irresistible and you couldn't help but look down and giggle at his direct manners. 

You guess it’s butterflies? The men approaching you were usually more nervous and cautious with the way they spoke to you, as if to not ruin any chances. But here this guy was, direct and confident. Something you definitely found attractive. You finally shake his hand back “The name is Mikaela, pleasure to meet you Leland!”, you made sure to make your voice sound a little seductive. His confidence seemed to have rubbed off on you. You grabbed his hand and dragged him off from the rink. All this skating got you thirsty, nothing a milkshake couldn’t handle.

Leland was following suit and ordered both of you a milkshake, you took a seat by one of the booths and started to get to know each other. Other than his gorgeous looks and smooth talking, he was also really funny and easy to talk to. You found that the time flew by fast and before you knew it, it was 11PM and you needed to head back home. 

Leland put his hand in his pocket and urged you to hook your arm around his, you obliged and waved goodbye to Maxine, who was still standing by the desk. You felt the cool breeze hit you as soon as you stepped foot outside. You made a *brr* sound, making Leland look down to you. “You cold?” he asked with his eyebrows furrowed. “...a little” you respond looking up at him. He was wearing a jacket, he immediately took it off and covered you with it. 

You felt the warmth of his body through the jacket that was now placed onto your shoulders, it felt good and even though you had just met the guy, you felt strangely safe with him. Together, you walked over to the curb, the bus station was right there so you just had to wait for the next bus. 

Leland takes a seat by the curb, you sit alongside him. Both of you are watching the sky. It was a clear night, though chilly, it was a nice change to the intense Texan heat. You had a perfect view of the stars, they seemed to shine brighter tonight. You were still lost in the beauty of the stars when you noticed Leland was no longer watching the stars, but instead watching you. You continue watching the stars, not acknowledging him “the stars are beautiful tonight” you said, feeling mesmerized, “yeah… they really are”. You could see from your peripheral that he was still watching you so you finally looked at him. You didn't realize you were only inches away from his face.

“Can I kiss you?”, his voice low and husky. You were surprised by the suddenness but without hesitation you leaned in, still holding his jacket around your shoulders. He wrapped one arm around your waist while holding your chin with the other. The kiss was passionate, like you’d been starving each other of this moment all night. His tongue was experienced, you could tell. Yours, not so much, you had only kissed a handful of guys but Leland quickly topped the chart as the best. 

The kiss ended abruptly due to the bus arriving in the distance. You pulled away, opening your eyes just to get partially blinded by the buses’ headlights. Leland grabs your jaw, drawing your attention back to him. “I want to see you again next friday, same place, alright?”. You look at him tightening your lips and giving him a hesitant look as if to say “i don't know, gotta check my calendar” but he knows you're teasing and giggles at your playfulness. “Alright sweetheart, don't make me beg now��. His words make your stomach twist a little, god this man is too much… “hmm… i think i need you to beg actually” you eagerly watch him as he lets his head fall forward, taking a deep breath and preparing himself. He looks up at you with pleaful eyes, “Please darlin’ I need to see you next weekend” You giggle at his attempt, it was good enough. “Eh, room for improvement but I guess it was enough to earn you another date”. His eyes lit up a little “...date?” he smirked at the word. “alright, prince charming, don't let it get to your head now” he lets out a small chuckle and nods in defeat. 

The bus came to a stop and he stood up and lent out his hand for you to hold onto getting up. You slide his jacket off your shoulders but before it's fully off you he pulls it back on, “no darlin’ keep it”. He gives you a warm smile and you don't fight him, you actually wanted to keep it anyways. 

You step onto the bus, he lived only walking distance away from the rink so he stayed on the curb. You take a seat on the empty bus and wave him goodbye from the window. He blows you a playful kiss and again, you feel your stomach twist over his cheesiness. 

[chimachapterbooks]

LONE WOLF

It was dinnertime for the Wolf Pack.

That meant three things: meat, meat, and more meat.

Everyone was gathered around a large campfire and chowing down on the day's feast. All the Wolves were chomping and chewing and generally having a good time.

Everyone, that is, except Wonald.

For as far back as anyone could remember, Wonald had always been a bit . . . different. While his friends all howled at the moon, Wonald loved basking in its light.

While the other Wolves snarled and growled at animals that came too near to the pack, Wonald would walk up and try to make friends.

But it was dinnertime that really set Wonald apart.

His choice in food was, well, strange.

"Wonald, what are you doing?" A white Wolf named Windra marched up to him.

Windra was one of the most beautiful Wolves in the entire pack. She was also one of the most vicious.

Wonald gulped, then stammered, "Um, well, I'm, um... I'm actually making a salad."

"You're what?" Windra looked down at the bowl of lettuce, tomatoes, and other vegetables in front of Wondald in disgust. She took a sniff and crinkled up her nose. "That is the worst excuse for a dinner I've ever seen. Wonald, hard as it might be to believe, you are a Wolf. Wolves do not eat salad. Wolves eat meat."

"But I don't like meat," Wonald protested.

Windra leaned in close. "It doesn't matter if you like or not," she hissed. "You are a Wolf, and its what we do!"

Wonald shrugged. "Well, it's not what / do. Besides, I don't have any meat, then there's more for everyone else, right?"

Windra growled in frustration and stalked away.

"Phew." Wonald exhaled. That had been close.

Usually the other Wolves just ignored him when he was acting different. But tonight, they seemed especially argumentative.

When his salad was ready, Wonald went off on his own to eat. That way, he wouldn't provoke any jokes from the other Wolves, or have to watch them gulping down their dinners.

After his meal was over, Wonald returned to the rest of the pack. Even though he usually ate dinner alone, he still liked to be a part of the group. They were his family after all. And he figured that by now they would be full from eating and would have calmed down.

Unfortunately, Wonald was wrong. All the Wolves had grown even rowdier. They were fighting amongst themselves, growling and snapping and biting.

"Stop it!" Wonald cried as he jumped away from a pair of wrestling Wolves. "Why do we have to fight all the time, just because we're Wolves?"

The others responded by snarling at him. "It's what we do, Wonald. If you don't like it, then maybe you shouldn't be here!"

Wonald felt hurt. He was used to being made fun of. But the others had never told him to leave. Wolves always stuck together, even when they were arguing.

Shaking his head, Wonald walked away. He decided it would be better to sleep away from the pack tonight.

That would give them a chance to cool down. By tomorrow morning, perhaps they would be in better spirits. He headed over to a small cave where it would be quiet and dark.

Wonald slept soundly, not even stirring when there was some commotion outside. When he finally woke up, it was late the next morning. He got up, stretched, and headed for camp to see if he had any berries left for his breakfast.

But when he stepped outside, Wonald's eyes grew wide with surprise.

There was no sign of the other Wolves anywhere.

All the vehicles were gone, too. It looked like the whole camp had packed up overnight and moved on somewhere else!

"I can't believe it," he whispered. "They left me!"

Wonald's heart sank. The Wolves hadn't been just grumpy last night. They had really meant what they’d said! They had wanted Wonald to leave! And worse, they had actually moved on without him! Wolves always traveled in packs, roaming from one campsite to the red next. But they never left one of their own behind ...

Until now.

It must be my fault, Wonald thought sadly. They got tired of how "different" I am and decided to kick me out of the pack. But I don't want to be on my own. I have to find them!

Wonald sniffed the ground. Years of hunting out the tastiest nuts and berries had given him an excellent sense of smell. He could tell the pack had gone northwest. Wonald started to follow them.

After a short time, he came to a fork in the road. By the large vehicle tracks on the ground, he could tell the pack had gone right. But the wheels of their trucks had torn up all the dirt, demolishing a nearby meerkat nest.

The meerkats were busily trying to repair the damage.

Wonald walked over. "Can I help?" he asked.

"Look at this mess!" snapped one of the meerkats.

"We had just finished cleaning up for the big family reunion! All fifteen thousand one hundred sixty-seven of our relatives are coming over! and some nasty bunch of Wolves knocked down our house!"

'I'm sure they didn't mean it," Wonald said soothingly. "They were probably just in a hurry. Here, let me clear some of this dirt away from your holes."

The meerkats grumbled, but when they saw Wonalds large paws were better at clearing away dirt than theirs, they agreed. He had repaired the worst of the damage in no time at all.

When Wonald was done helping the meerkats rebuild their nest, he set out on the trail of the Wolves again.

It wasn't long before he came upon a grove of trees that had been knocked over. A bunch of squirrels were running to and fro, gathering nuts that were scattered on the ground.

"Nuts, nuts, nuts!" said one of the squirrels.

"Yes, there are certainly a lot of them," agreed Wonald.

"No, I mean, nuts to those Wolves who knocked down our trees!" said the squirrel. "We put all our nuts in these trees, and now they're everywhere. Some are crushed. We'll never be able to recover all of them. No, no, no!"

Wonald immediately began picking up nuts and bringing them to the squirrels' pile.

As soon as the squirrels noticed him, they shook their tiny fists angrily.

"First you Wolves destroy our trees, and now you're taking our nuts!" they squeaked.

"I don't want your nuts, though they do look tasty,” Wonald assured them. "I was just trying to help you clean up."

"On," said the squirrels. They looked sorry for yelling at him. "Well, that's all right, then. Keep going."

Once that job was finished, Wonald moved on. He couldn't believe how much damage his Wolf Pack was causing as they traveled. Sometimes he had a hard time believing he was a Wolf. He would never act this way!

The Wolves' scent was getting stronger, though, so he knew he would catch up to them any minute now.

Soon, Wonald came to a rushing river. On the shore, a little beaver was crying.

"What's the matter?" Wonald asked.

"My beautiful dam!" said the beaver. "Some Wolves came by and broke it to pieces as they crossed the river. It will take me hours to fix and just think of all the bark I'll need to find! And the sticks and the rocks. I'll never be able to gather enough supplies. I could hire a professional dam builder, but do you know how much they cost? Five hundred pieces of tree bark an hour, and that's just for labor! And then there's-“

"It's okay," interrupted Wonald. He knew from experience that beavers would talk all day long, if given the chance. "I'll give you a paw rebuilding your dam."

Together, the Wolf and the beaver worked side by side to fix the broken dam. When they were dong the beaver offered Wonald some tree bark as a snack.

Wonald said no--he wasn't that hungry. Besides, the scent of the Wolf pack was superstrong now. He would catch up to them any minute.

A short while later, Wonald came to a small hill. He could hear the Wolf pack on the other side, snarling and growling! Wonald ran toward the sound. Just as he reached the top of the hill, he spotted them. Windra and the other Wolves were chasing some rabbits away from their grazing ground. And the wheels from their huge trucks were completely ripping up the grass as they went.

"Hev! Stop!" Wonald cried, rushing forward “Leave the rabbits alone!"

"What are you going to do about it?" growled one of the Wolves, without turning around. "Get lost!"

That's what you told me the last time," Wonald said. "And I spent all day trying to find you again. But after seeing all the damage the pack has done and the way you've ruined so many innocent animals homes, I'm not sure I want to be with you guys after all."

The Wolf who had snapped at Wonald suddenly looked over his shoulder. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "It's Wonald! Hey, everybody, it's Wonald!"

The rest of the Wolves turned.

"Wonald? Where?"

"Did someone say Wonald?"

"Out of the way, let me see!"

The whole pack suddenly surrounded the young Wolf. Even the rabbits stopped running and watched what was happening, puzzled. Wonald didn't know what it all meant, either.

"Why are you guys so happy to see me?" he asked. "You're the ones who ran off and left me, remember?"

"We didn't abandon you," Windra said, running up to him. "You abandoned us. When it was time to move out, you were nowhere to be found."

"I didn't know you were leaving!" Wonald insisted.

“Worriz told us right after supper," said one of the wolves. "Didn't you hear him? We spent the entire evening packing up camp."

Wonald suddenly remembered that he had walked out after supper. He had missed the pack leader's speech to the other Wolves. That was why he didn't know the pack was traveling on before dawn.

"We looked everywhere, but couldn't find you," said Windra.

"I came looking for you, but only saw all the damage you have been doing in the forest," answered Wonald.

"Well, we were upset," said an older Wolf. "We thought you had deserted the pack. No one has ever left the pack. You might not always act like we do, but you are still one of us, Wonald."

Hearing that the other Wolves had missed him made Wonald happier than he'd been all day. Still, he couldn't shake aside his disappointment at the destruction the Wolves had caused.

"I know you were upset," he said. "But you guys caused a lot of damage to other animals today. I'm not sure I'm ready to rejoin the pack just yet."

All the Wolves gasped.

“You really would leave us?" they cried in dismay.

“Well." said Wonald slowly. He looked over at the rabbits crouched nearby. The little bunnies were stir shaking in fear, but they were mostly stunned by what was happening.

"I've been helping the animals repair everything you guys destroyed today," Wonald said. "I think I could be convinced to rejoin the pack, if we helped the rabbits clean up their grazing field."

"If we what?" many of the Wolves exclaimed. They didn't like being told what to do, especially if it involved helping.

But the elder Wolf quieted them. "Wonald is one of us," he said in a loud voice. "So perhaps, just this one time, we should try things his way." The older Wolf then looked over to Worriz for approval. Growling, Worriz nodded in agreement.

The pack spent a short while helping repair the damage to the grass while the rabbits watched on in amazement. The little creatures kept their distance. But they seemed rooted to the spot. They had never seen the Wolves being helpful before!

When the Wolves had finished, the grass looked better . .. mostly. Wonald smiled. It would do.

"All right, enough helping," snapped Windra. “Wonald back. So we had better find a new place to camp for the night. Preferably where there are plenty of-“ She gave Wonald a long look.

"vegetables," she said through gritted teeth.

Wonald grinned.

That night, he had his usual salad for dinner. But this time, when the others went to howl at the moon, Wonald went with them. He still thought it was kind of a silly thing to do, but they were his family after all.

Together, the Wolves howled happily until the dawn.

[goosegirl94]

Myslyvets Return to Nevermore

Chapter 3 Give a Dog a Bone

Enid was angrey. Byeond angrey. She was furius. She finally did it! She wolfed out and that still wasn't enough! She thought her mom would welcome her back home with open arms after she fainly wolfed out and teacher her how to be a werewolf. That was far from what Esther was going to do. When Enid got home for the semester break, it was like nothing had changed. It had actually gotten worse. Her own family, her own pack didn't know what to do with her. Her brothers gave her the cold shoulder instead of bullying her. Her dad was never in the same room as her. Her mom, her mom, was an einteraly different person. Enid was used to her mom being too much but now, it was on a whole other level. Esther brought hell apon Enid. "But - but mum I- I wolfed out! I thought you would be happy!"

Esther growled at her pup. "Happy? Happy?! You honestly think that I would be happy that my only duaghter would wolf out on a blood moon?! Really, Enid?! You just had to go and turn during a blood moon?!"

"But mum thats not fair! It's not like I planed on wolfing out on a blood moon. It just happened that way! I'm glad I did though! It gave me what I needed to help my friend!" Oh crap did she really say that last part out loud?

Esther walked closer to Enid and tightened her fists. "Enid, do you know what happens to blood moon wolves? Why am I even asking? I'm sure you don't." There was a pause. Enid examined her mom and realised she had never seen her this agnrey. There were many times when her mom would let her frustration on Enid not wolfing out be shown and noticed at home, but this was nothing like Enid had seen before. "Blood moon wolves are very, very powerfull Enid. To powerfull. Most packs will banish a blood wolf to make sure it never hurts the pack."

Enids eyes widen and tears streamed down her face. Enids fear of dying as a lone wolf become more real. She was frozen. She didn't know what to do, what to say. "Lucly for you, your father hasn't decided what to do with you yet. For now you are to stay in your room until we come up with something. You will use the kitchen after the family- the pack has. The same role applies to the shower. Do I make myself clear?" Enid nodded and said yes. Esther then pointed to Enids room and Enid walked up there with her head down. She couldn' breath hidding her cries. Little did Enid know that her soon to be new teacher was an expert on blood moon wolves.

Appon her return to Nevermore, Enid marched into her doorm room and unpacked. In her furry Enid didn't even noice that Ainsley was in her room standing on Wednesdays side of the room. Ainsley didn't say or do anything. She poiltley waited for Enids senses to kick in and when she was hlafway through one of her suite cases, they did. Enid shot up, nose twitching picking up Aisnleys unfarmiler scent. "Who are you? What the hell are you doing in my room?"

Aisnley raised an eye brow. "Hmm, is that all youv'e got kid? I'm surprised I'm not pinned down on the floor right now. Your reflexes are much slower than I thought they would -"

"Look if you are trying to piss me off it's working!" Enid stated with her claws out.

"My apologizes my name is Aisnley Myslyvets and I am a new teacher here at Nevermore as well as the new head of security. It's nice to meet you".

Enid blinked looking at Aisnleys hand. "I am SO SORRY! I was really upset and I- I'm sorry I'm Enid. How did you know that I would be in this doorm room?"

"As head of security I have read every student's files as well as all the student's files that was involved with the Crackstone insident. I should tell you Enid, I am a legeacy monster hunter. I hope this doesn't cause any-"

"Do you know anything about blood moon wolves?!"

Ainsley blinked, surprised at the random outburst question. "Um... yes I do. What little there is to know about them but yes I do".

"Then- could you teach me about them? I'm a blood moon wolf and when I went back home... I- my dad won't even look me anymore. I'm not welcomed in my own pack anymore. Please help me." Enid dashed to Asnley and hugged her who hugged her back tighter. "Oh, Enid. When would you like to start?"

For the next few days before he new semester started Ainsley spent a lot of her time with Enid teaching her all there was to know about blood moon wolves and their abillities. Aisnley was able to teach Enid more than what was in books as Aisnley used to be with a blood moon wolf. One day Enid noticed Ainsleys scars were simillar to her own and that they were claw marks. She didn't know how Aisnley got them but she could tell they had to have come from some kind of beast. Enid didn't do a god job of hidding the fact the would stare at the scars so it wasn't hard for Aisnley to notice her. "You know you can ask me about my scars if you want to Enid."

Enids eyes widden, was she that obvious? "O-Oh um... how did you get those scars?"

"They are all from my girlfriend. The ones on my jaw was from when I tried to doudge but I wasn't fast enough. Same with the one over my eye. My girlfiend wolfed out but it wasn't during a full moon. I'm not sure what came over that day but when she turned there was no human in her. She was all animal. I tried to get her to turn back to human but she never responded when I called her name. I still haven't figured out how she tured when it wasn't a full moon. She didn't even turn under an emotional reaction."

"What happned? To your girlfriend I mean?"

Ainsley turned and leaned agenst her desk. "She um... I killed her in self deffence. She was on top of me, had me pinned down and was going to kill me. So, in self deffence I stabbed her with my silver dagger."

Enids hands were covering her mouth She had never heard of a random wolf out like that before.

"After I stabbed her she turned back, smilling at me as she died by the silver poisen. I always kept a silver dagger on me just in case. I told her I would never have to use it but..."

Enid didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry Enid, that's a situation you don't have to worry about as a blood mon wolf. What happened to my Lauren was not a blood moon wolf thing. I don't even think it was a werewolf thing. However as a bood moon wolf you have more strength, stamina, and endurance than an avreage werewolf. You also have more control over yourself after you wolf out. You will also, when you're human, show more of your wolf side."

Enid tillted her head. Now were moving on back to blood moon stuff?

"When your emotions become prominit your wolf features will show. For example, when you get angry, your fur will grow through your arms, legs, back, and torso. Your calws will come out, your fangs will grow out and so will your tail. If you get excited your tail will show, your claws show, and your wolf ears will come out. You know, that kind of stuff."

"Wait are you saying that radom wolf parts are just gonna pop up everytime I get excited about something?"

"Ermm... Yeah that's one way of putting it. I suppose..."

"So like, nya?" Enid asks liffing her fist up like a paw.

Aisnley didn't know what to say to that.

[vahlee]

She has a plan.

If she fails, there will be blood on her hands.

Her heart pounds like a war drum as she strides with urgency, hoping her shades conceal the dread swirling inside her.

A TSA officer gives her a courteous nod as she passes through the doorway. She flashes a fleeting smile but keeps her lips sealed.

The Portland International Airport is a hive of activity tonight, packed with holiday travelers flocking for Memorial Day, and she is a lone wolf among them. Her petite frame makes her blend into the crowd well, yet an unsettling sensation of being watched gnaws at her.

She weaves through the sprawling terminal, down a long corridor, and breezes past a security gate using her airport ground crew badge. At last, she approaches her target — the tarmac beneath an Airbus A350 emblazoned with Air Yeet insignia.

A man wearing a reflective vest strides toward her, hands raised in exasperation.

“What do they want now?!” the crewman bellows defensively.

She shakes her head, making a slicing motion across her throat before pulling out her phone.

“What’s that mean?” the crewman queries as she closes the distance.

With her Samsung Notes open to a blank document, she types swiftly, <Not here for you / emergency unload>

The crewman’s expression contorts in disbelief as he reads her message. “Huh? Unload? We spent three hours loading it!”

The frantic woman exhales sharply and types a new message. <please, immediately, danger>

His face shifts from skepticism to alarm as the implications sink in.

“Are you sure?” he asks, concern creeping into his voice.

She darts her gaze left and right, scanning for threats. Leaning in close, she nods with palpable fear, pointing to her phone and zooming in on the word "danger".

Finally, he nods and raises his radio. “We need a delay on Air Yeet 46; we have suspicious cargo on board,” he declares.

<Suspicious?> another crew member crackles back over the radio.

“Affirmative,” he confirms.

The woman jumps, startled, as a voice bellows her name from a distance. The crewman hears it too.

“Who is that?” he whispers.

“Riuki!” the voice thunders, now unnervingly close.

Riuki seizes the crewman's hand, yanking him behind the plane's main landing gear, forcing him down between two tires. She crouches low in the shadow of the other set of gear.

“Don’t touch my plane!” the new voice shrieks, dangerously near.

Riuki trembles, holding her breath and squeezing her eyes shut.

Suddenly, she listens in horror as the crewman is dragged away.

His hands claw desperately at the tarmac, and heavy thuds silence his screams.

Seizing the moment, Riuki bolts from her hiding spot, but before she can gain any ground, a massive, meaty hand wraps around her throat, cutting off her air. She fights fiercely, flailing her arms in a desperate bid for freedom, but the man’s grip is unyielding. Her vision narrows as tears stream down her cheeks; she’s propelled through the air.

She crashes onto the tarmac beside the A350, just as its engines roar to life.

“You know the rules!” a woman’s voice rings out above her.

Panic claws at Riuki's heart at the thought of returning to her father. She gasps as her older sister flips her over with a swift kick, pinning her down with a foot on her chest. Riuki struggles to lift the woman's foot off of her, whimpering as tears blur her sight.

Her sister crouches low above her, leaning in menacingly. “You aren’t supposed to be out alone. Were you just gonna talk to them with your hands? They don’t even know what you're trying to say!”

A sharp sting explodes across Riuki’s cheek as her sister slaps her hard, forcing her head to the side. She squirms as the older woman hoists her up, but in doing so, her sister exposes them both to the fierce exhaust of the Airbus’s left engine.

A powerful gale of hot air slams them to the tarmac. In a split second, Riuki launches a blind kick backward, feeling it connect, followed by her sister’s cry of agony. Without a moment's pause, she races after the taxiing aircraft.

The Airbus is too fast. It begins to pull ahead of her at 30 miles per hour. Riuki veers to the right, across the path of another taxiing aircraft, in an effort to cut of the Air Yeet flight. After sprinting for what feels like an eternity, breathless and terrified, Riuki spots flashing blue lights as a battalion of airport security vehicles approaches. Guards leap from the vehicles, reaching for her, forcing her down onto the slick tarmac. Her face plunges into a shallow puddle, panic surging as she inhales water. A heavy weight crushes her, cold vices clamping around her wrist before she’s dragged upright, gasping for air.

Desperation floods her as she struggles to convey the danger to the departing flight, but she’s powerless without her voice. They shove her into the back of a security vehicle, slamming the door and leaving her isolated.

With a raspy sob and tears flowing down her face, Riuki watches helplessly as the Airbus A350 begins its takeoff roll just fifty meters to the right, knowing she has failed to change its fate.

Unreleased story

[elle-greenaways-last-braincell]

The Rose And Her Thorn

Masterlist

I'm so very proud of this part.

Word Count: 1100

Part 6.

Wednesday stopped at the door of her and Enid's room, staring at the brunette girl laying on her bed. Esmeria was staring at the ceiling, humming a tune under her breath.

Upon spotting Wednesday, Esmeria shot up from the bed, promptly falling to the floor and scrambling to the window in the middle of the room, blushing brightly. "Uh- Wednesday! Hi, sorry, please don't kill me. I just- I- I have no explanation for that. Sorry."

Wednesday paused, her brain fumbling for words. Strange. That didn't happen often. "I- It's okay. I was just going to play some cello, get my mind off some things."

Esmeria's eyes brightened. "Can I come? I haven't played my guitar in a while."

A very faint pink spread across Wednesday's cheeks and she nodded. Esmeria gave Wednesday a grin, then vanished into the shadows on the wall. When she reappeared with a dark purple guitar and a large black amp, Wednesday had just finished lugging her cello out of the window to the balcony, with the help of Thing.

Esmeria smiled upon seeing the hand scuttle across the floor towards her. "Hey Thing!"

Thing waved at her, running back outside to Wednesday. Esmeria followed, pulling her things behind her and out the window. "I'm back Wednesday!"

The ebony-haired girl looked to the brunette, raising an eyebrow and pointing one long, slender finger towards the amp. "Don't you need a power outlet for that?"

Esmeria glanced to Wednesday, then went back to plugging the guitar into the amp. "Nah, it's been specially made so I don't. My cousins Apollo and Hephaestus made it for my 13th birthday."

Wednesday nodded, unsurprised by the information. The girls adjusted their instruments and Esmeria looked to Wednesday for instruction. Wednesday readied her bow and began playing a song that Esmeria knew well, one of the first she had ever learned.

Paint It, Black by The Rolling Stones.

Esmeria plucked away at the chords, getting lost in the music. Wednesday sped up, playing almost frantically, Esmeria keeping up with her the whole time. The song drew to a close, Esmeria smiling as the last notes rang out across the darkening sky. There was a metallic tapping sound and Esmeria looked over to see Thing and Wednesday talking. "No, I don't really feel better. There's something wrong about this place."

Esmeria laughed. "I thought the fact that it's a school would be enough to make everything feel off."

There was a clicking sound and the circular window swung open to reveal Enid. "How the hell did you get that oversized violin out the window?"

Wednesday stood up. "I had an extra hand."

Enid shuddered as Thing revealed himself and waved at her. "Woah. Where's the rest of him?"

Wednesday shrugged lightly. "It's one of the great Addams family mysteries." The howling that occupied the background grew louder. "Why aren't you wolfing out?"

Esmeria looked at Enid in sadness as the taller girl spoke. "Because I can't." She held up her hand and flicked out her claws, withdrawing them as she moved to the balcony railing. "That's all I got. My mom says some wolves are late bloomers, but I've been to the best Lycanologist. I had to fly to Milwaukee, would you believe it? Yeah, she says there's a chance I may never... you know."

Esmeria moved up next to her, placing an arm around her shoulder as Wednesday walked over, also leaning against the railing. "What happens then?"

Esmeria sighed, her arm tightening around Enids shoulder. "She becomes a lone wolf."

Wednesday tilted her head to the ground, a look of contemplation on her face. "Sounds perfect."

Enids eyes widened. "Are you kidding me? My life would be officially over. I'd be kicked out of my family pack with no prospect of finding a mate."

Wednesday's head tilted to the other side. "I'm failing to see the problem here."

Enid scoffed. "I could die alone!"

"We all die alone Enid." Wednesday deadpanned.

Esmeria shook her head. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Confusion filled Wednesday's face as Enid sighed, placing her head in her hands. "You really suck at this." She turned to Wednesday and spoke again, her voice shaky, tears in her eyes. "Cheering people up?"

Wednesday shifted, looking uncomfortable. "Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm upset!" Esmeria jumped slightly at the outburst, moving her arm off Enid's shoulder before the werewolf got mad and tried to eat the young god's arm. Enid wrapped her arms around herself and gave Wednesday a side-eye. "Haven't you ever cried? Or are you above that too?"

Wednesday moved closer to the railing and looked down. "It was the week after Halloween. I was six years old. I took my pet scorpion, Nero, out for his afternoon stroll, and we were ambushed. They wondered what kind of freak would have a scorpion for a pet. Two of them held me down and made me watch, while the others ran Nero over until..." She paused. "It was snowing when I buried what was left of him. I cried my little black heart out. But tears don't fix anything. So I vowed to never do it again."

Esmeria was filled with rage. The thought of Wednesday being upset filled her with more anger than she had ever felt before and it made her want to scream. Enid seemed to realize something and turned to look at Esmeria. "I just realized something. Do you cry? I've never seen you cry."

"Yeah, I cry. Just because I'm a god doesn't mean I don't cry."

Enid narrowed her eyes. "When was the last time you cried in front of a living being?"

Wednesday nodded, happy that 'The Mystery Of Esmeria Roman' was untangling once more. Esmeria sighed. "I was four. I was with my uncle and aunt, Percy and Annabeth Jackson, when we got the news that my Uncle Jason had been killed. They took me home, and I cried for the rest of the day. When my father found me, he gave a lecture on how Jason was 'just another soul' and that I 'shouldn't be crying' because people die every day. So I made the logical decision that if I couldn't cry about death without being scolded, I shouldn't cry about anything at all in front of people ever again."

Esmeria could feel the tears already collecting in her eyes and quickly stood up. "I should go. See you guys later."

Enid nodded, dazed at the story. Esmeria swung her legs over the edge of the railing and slipped into the shadows beneath.

[caffinedragon]

I have two Tavs i am currently bouncing between. My OG Razzikel is my Lythari Drow Ranger who is like the stoic alpha wolf pack dad(the in the wild ver. Not the Alpha bro.)

Fav things are: Coffee, Druid Leaf(weed.), a good stew, forged snacks, his nieces excited rambles and Halsin's laugh.

Romance: Halsin(main) but havent decided of i want to also pick up Karlach or Astarion as well.

He was born in the underdark but with help and sacrifice from his mom he is able to escape. He ends up stuck in his wolf form until Halsin finds him and provided a safe place to turn back and relearn how to walk on two legs again. The two men become intensly close the ten years that he is there and even though Thirimin(Elven Soul Mates)had kicked in, neither were in a place to really acknowledge it at the time.

Also Razzikel was under the impression Drow didnt experience it because of Lolth's interference so he had no idea that was what it was at the time.

Eventually Ranger is gonna range and he begins traveling Fae Run occasionally swinging by every few years until the shadow curse happens and both men believe that the other is likely dead.

During the time between the shadow curse and the game (about 100 years) Razzikel finds adventure, falls in love, gets married for 40 years, becomes a widower (his husband was a tiefling who died at 68), goes ranging for 5 years, meets Dritz Do'Urden because people keep thinking he is him, bonds with the man and his newborn daughter and lives the next six years before the game being ranger domestic as a surrogate uncle and brother before the illithid ships swoops in and takes him after he pushes Drizt and his daughter out of the way.

My second Tav Cass is my musxle mommy tiefling Eldrtich Knight.

Fav Things: Good Food. Good Naps. Soft Boys who know stuff and get excoted about said stuff.(hence why she is romancing Gale), cuddling and or topping her favorite soft boy. And by soft we mean both squishy of body and heart.

Romance: Gale

Cass grew up in a family where dragon magic was pretty much thier whole thing. Devoted worshipperd of the god Bahamut led many in the family to be sorceres, Cass included. But, Cass was never comfortable completly relying on her magic like her younger siblings and her mom so she took a page out of her fathers book and learned how to wield both sword and magic.

Together with her father and older brother, theu made a name for themselves as Knights on tje battlefield, Cass picking up the title "The Iron Dragon" mostly due to her horns and her penchant for making it look like she was breathing fire when she cast some of her spells.

This life eventually nabbed her a husband, a soft hearted Oath of Devotion Paladin who loved to sing and cook when off the battle field.

She had everything she could ever hope for.

Then the life of a soldier caught up and her luck ran out.

Her father fell first, a month before he was to retire. Her brother fell a year after that saving a caravan traveling from Baldurs Gate to Waterdeep. Then, on the eve of thier third annivwrsary and two months before the emd of thier last tour together, her husband was caught in an ambush, staged by a noble who didnt want to take no for an answer.

Once she finished out her tour she began the long and lonely walk back to Waterdeep. As shw traveled she ran into an older man traveling with seven canaries on jis shoulders. He asked if he could join her so the traveling was a little less lonely and she agreed.

Bahamut's council turned out to be exactly what she needed.

And once she had taken the time to grieve and rest amongst her family, she set off to travel the roads like the blade of frontiers, helping those that ask, and stabbing those that caused her help to be needed in the first place.

For five years she does this before the illithid ship shows up and scoops her up on the road.

Does anyone else have a fairly happy backstory for their Tav? My Tav (Rhiannon) is a half elf abjuration wizard from a large fairly happy family.

Her father and mother have a successful alchemist/apothecary shop. She is the second of five siblings. An older brother (Theon) who is training to take over the family business (he was the only one interested). A twin sister (Gwyneth) who is apprenticing with the Gondians to become an artificer. And 2 younger brothers, Alphonse is a flaming fist and the baby Finn who is a bard. It’s a very loud bickering household but very warm and loving.

Rhiannon wanted to become a wizard ever since she read stories about Elminster (big deal when she met him). In game she is an abjuration wizard ,but really she is a archivist wizard. She loves books and artifacts and wants to help preserve and spread knowledge.

She and her brother Finn went to Silverymoon to study. He went to the Collge of Fochlucan and she went to the Lady’s College. I HC that she was at the Blackstaff Ball Gale mentioned and they had a dance ,but he didn’t remember her until the tiefling party. She went to Waterdeep with her brother and his Bard friends who snuck in.

Before being captured by the Nautiloid she had just started her journey to Candlekeep to visit the great library.

Rhiannon loves dancing, history, spicy food and smutty romance novels.

I also love romancing Gale as a wizard because of the bickering about magic and who wrote what.

I love my magical librarian 💖

What is everyone else’s backstories?

[todayispeia]

✩°｡‘ A POE CUP TO REMEMBER

xavier thorpe x fem!reader

words: 3k

genre: smut, slowburn romance (kinda), flirting, teasing, fingering

a/n: im not great at creating a fanfic, so expect grammatical errors and typo’s ahead !! i hope you enjoy this ♡

you were the new student at nevermore. you were assigned to be roommate with the girl named enid. she was practically a werefolf and a all-rounder gossip girl at the school. she tour you to the hallway where all the students gather there, there was a werewolves, sirens, and many more. “oh, and that girl bianca, he dated our tortured artist, xavier thorpe” she said, pointing the guy who was painting at the wall. he looked at you and not a minute he continues to focus at his drawing.

after the tour, you relaxed a while at your dorm. it was raining outside, “enid, i’m just gonna go downstairs, just catching some raindrops” you said. enid just nodded and continue to dance all by herself. while walking outside, you saw the statue falling above you, but someone pushes you away from it. causing yourself to be unconscious.

after the incident where the statue almost hit you on the head, luckily a student saved your life.

you wake up at the room, seeing a guy beside you, he was already standing, perhaps waiting for you to open your eyes. you immediately get up causing him to sit quickly. “nurse said you dont have a concussion, anyway, im glad you’re awake” he muttered. ”its because im not, and will never be. and the last thing i remember is i was walking alone 'til i saw a statue falling to me.” you said while looking at him. “and, how did you even get there that fast? i believe there was no one when i walked there, i was alone” you added, it was a mixture of confusion and embarrassment. he clicks his tongue before replying to your statement, “call it instinct” he said. “instinct, huh? well, dont expect me to gave you a gratitude or something. its quite unreal to myself giving someone like that” you said while fixing your posture to face him. “mm-hmm. you know, most people just say thank you” he said, looking at you. “i didn't even requested to be rescued that time” — “and you thought i should have just let that thing smash you to mush?” he replied. “i mean, i could have just save myself” you said while crossing your arms. “too much independent would cause you trouble” he scoffs, you couldn't help but to laugh at what he just said. “id rather have a lots of independent, if i will be honest.” you said, “i know you aren't asking my name, but, im xavier thorpe. you’re the new student here, right? the last time we met, i was about two feet shorter, and 40 pounds heavier” he said, “ah, yes. i do remember you, the guy who was painting earlier on the walls. im y/n ” you muttered. “y/n, sounds good” he said. “i believe i can go now, yes? well, see you around, xavier.” you said, getting up to exit the room. “yeah, see you too” he said looking at you.

a few werewolves were howling at the night. you and enid went to the window to check out. “if you really are a werewolf, why aren't you howling like them?” you asked, its quite different to encounter a werewolf not howling when its full moon. “i cant. my mom says some wolves are late bloomers, but i have been to the best lycanologist” she muttered, she only had a claw, which is awesome because of how she painted it with vivid colors. “i had to fly to milwaukee, would you believe it?” she said, toning disgusted at herself. “what happened next?” you asked, you were interested at it because of how different she was than other wolves here in nevermore. “i would be a lone wolf” she muttered, looking down. “thats quite sorrowful to know about you, what would happen if ever you didn’t wolf out yet?” you said, while you continue to asked her about her condition. “i uh... i’d be kicked out of my family pack with no prospect of finding a mate” she said, the tone was a bit aching to feel. its like a mixture of disappointed and rage of anger. “you’ll wolf out, someday. i can feel it” you said, cheering her up. “thanks, y/n. i do hope so”

the school announce that nevermore will be attending to a harvest festival this night. “hey, are you excited for this event?” enid asked, smiling at you. “yeah, well i guess. i’ll just play some games there basically” you said, smiling a little. “thats great, well, this event me and ajax will meet there too. im so excited!” she said. after arriving at the event, enid and you decided to split up there since she said she was gonna meet ajax, her crush basically. you walked around and play darts, it was a basic one, obviously. while playing, xavier went to you, “jeez, didnt know you get any better at this, i bet you can catch the big one toy here” he said already looking to you. “im good at any games, i have played this since i was seven” you muttered, the balloons went popping and popping 'til you win. “quite a good shot” he compliment, “why dont you go search for your hobbies rather than talking to me” you muttered, looking at him to see that he was smiling. “all right, well then, i’ll play these darts too” he said while keeping his smile there. he was quite great at shooting the darts in the balloon too, there was an emotion that pops up to you out of nowhere. it was a feeling that you had a long time ago, but you couldn't understand what that is, so you shrugged it away. “hey, is your mind full of thoughts?” xavier said, tapping your shoulders. you look at him with a wide eyes, you were spaced out because of the thoughts. you look at him holding a cute bear beside him, seem’s that he win the game too.

“everyone, the principal said we should go watch the fireworks!” a student shouted at the crowds. “we should get going now, y/n” xavier said, pulling you out of the crowds to watch the fireworks. you didn't respond but just nodded at him. the fireworks were amazing, different colors, both of you were smiling each other. “seems that you had a great smile hiding there” he said, smiling at you. you couldn't help but giggled at what he said. it feel like a spark was creating that day, you thought to yourself. “hey y/n? i have something to ask” he muttered, turning around to face you. “spit it out” you said, looking at him. “are you going to the poe cup competition?” he asked, smiling. it looks like he was expecting you to see there. “oh, well, i think i would join too. and i’ll go at enid’s team, if ever she would join too” you said.

and so, the poe cup competition begins. you saw enid and the other students designing the boat. it was black and the design was like a cat figure. you went to look it more closer, enid notice you and wave. “so, you’re going to the poe cup competition?” she asked, smiling as always. “yeah, and i decided that i wanted to be part of your team, if thats what it calls” you muttered. “great! because our team will be having a cute black cat outfit this upcoming event! im sure you’ll love it” she said. “hm, maybe i will. i would check it out if there’s a costume published now” you replied. while enid was helping the others with the boat, you walked away silently and moved somewhere. while looking at the areas, you saw xavier at the archery. he was quite bad at it. you moved closer to have conversations with him, even in a small amount of time. “bad shot, i think you need a mentor for that” you said, crossing your arms. he looked at you with disbelief, “didnt see you coming, are you interested in archery or you’re here to entertain me instead?” he said, smirking while he tried for the second time. “actually, i was just lurking around here, until i saw you” you replied. you started to pick up the bow and a arrow to tried it out. “have you ever tried to handle a bow and shoot an arrow?” he asked. “we’ll see what i can do” you said, you prepared your bow and arrow to shoot it in the red spot. the luck was on your side, the sharp of the arrow went thru to the red spot. while xavier, he was quite impressed at what you did. “impressive, i already think to your statement earlier that you should be my mentor instead” he said, smirking at you. “dont gave me that look, it’s intriguing” you said. “well, see you in the competition, i bet you’ll look nice” you said and swiftly walked away. “is that a flirt or a compliment?” he shoutedly asked to you.

it is now class time and you walked over to the following schedule. you saw bianca and the other sirens looking at you. “there’s an open spot next to me” xavier spoked, you walked beside him and sit. looks like he was sketching something, more like a spider. he moves his hand only to make the sketch of his to move in reality. you can say that it was quite impressive that a sketchy spider can be alive in just by his hands. “admit it, you’re a little impressed” he muttered, looking at you with a smile. “hate to admit that you’re right, i was impressed in that magical hands of yours” — “wanna know what this magical hands can do?” xavier said, you looked at him with a disgust, but your insides says otherwise.

it is now the competition for the poe cup, enid’s team was labeled as black cats, its quite attractive. “hey, y/n! your costume is at the tent! you can wear it now” she said, smiling at you. “oh, thats great news. i’ll go wear it now.” you muttered, the outfit was fitted, and the ears fitted well to you. “OMG, you look purr-fect!” enid said, she walked back to help the others with the whiskers. while xavier walked towards you, “didnt know you’ll look good in black, y/n” he said, looking up and down at you. “you look like a serial killer clown at that costume of yours, thats more than a word attractive to me” you replied, smirking at him. “i considered that as a flirt, i’ll get back that” he said while smiling, he went on to his team and sat on the boat. it was now all settled, everyone was on the boat now. while you were focusing, you notice xavier was looking at you, you went to look at him but he looked to another direction. “i want to wrlcome you all to the edgar allan poe cup!” — “this is one of nevermore’s proudest annual traditions, dating back 125 years. each team must row across to raven island, pull a flag from crackstone’s crypt, and hustle back without sinking or being sunk. first team to cross the finish line with their flag wins the cup and bragging rights for a year, as well ss some special privileges. ”

“let the poe cup begin!” a sound of shotgun bang to the air and all teams swiftly sweep in the lake. one of the teams were suddenly drag on the side of the lake, causing them to bump into the giant figure and sunk. you immediately figured out that someone was trying to ruin the teams, so you immediately made up a plan. you remembered before the competition that you requested enid to put some traps or any thing that can capture in the lake. and this was the great time, you click the button and immediately figured it out that there was a mermaid nearby your boat that was about to sabotage. luckily it was now wrapped by a fishnet and no longer can bother your team. as your boat hit the next task, “stay here and make sure the other teams can't sabotage our boat. im gonna get the flag and perhaps, distract some jokers” you said to enid, you quickly run to the woods to find the crackstone’s crypt, you saw xavier there so you quickly hide from a tree to sabotage him. when you saw xavier is now nearby to you, you rush to pull him somewhere. “hey! we still have a competition, what were you thinking?” he asked, you quickly covered his mouth as you both made your way to the crackstone’s crypt where your flag was. “shush your mouth or my mouth will do it for you” you said while you picked up your team’s flag. “as if your mouth can make me shut up, prove it then” he said pulling you closer to him, you were furious because of what he said, the tone was underestimating you. you pull him closer to gave him a peck of kiss, and run away from him. he was about to gave it all but all he gotten was frustration from you for teasing, as you now go back to your teams, xavier also came back as well. while your team is at the lake coming back for the finish line, the mermaid was back again at the lake, trying to destroy your team’s boat, but you didn’t want to disappoint your friend neither anyone. so, you decide to swim over down to pull the mermaid back on what he needs to be. you pull his tail down to the lake and luckily, he swim away. you went back to the boat because of the water suffocating your lungs. your team fastly sweep the lake back to the nevermore, you and the team also sabotage the bees boat to slow them down. luckily, your team won after the competition. a lots of students was shocked after the competition, because all they knew is that bianca, herself, will always win. not until you were now part of the nevermore.

not until xavier pulled you to his dorm. you knew you’re fucked up.

“oh, so you’re into teasing, isn’t? teasing me in the middle of competition, you planned this, didn’t you y/n?” he asked, he was now pinning you against the wall, letting out his anger and frustrations at you. “would you be done if i said yes? or what? you’re gonna do something to me, you little fratboy” you muttered, you moved away yet his hands grab you and push you to bed. “oh yeah? actually, i have something to confess before i start something fun” he said while looking up and down to you with a smirk. “spit it out xavier, i dont wanna wait” you stated, “you know, ever since the harvest festival, i already have feelings for you. and i cant get you off my mind, and in the meantime, i’ve always wanted to have intimate with you, hopelessly devoted to get you” he said, you were shocked after what he just said. you didn’t know what to feel, the heat was getting higher and higher, it was so intense. all this time trying to shrug your feelings towards him, he finally cleared it out. you couldn’t express it properly so you pulled him to a kiss, he kissed back to you that is no eager, so needy. it looks like he have been waiting patiently for this to happened. his tongue swiftly made his way to your mouth, causing you to moan in the kiss, his hands went thru your boobs to massage it softly, your back arch because of it. both of you cut the kiss to breath first. “your outfit looks good, but you’ll look good without them, love” he said, pulling off your costume. “i didnt know jokers were into rough sex, quite fascinating to discover” you muttered, taking off his hat and running your fingers to her hair. “oh dont worry, my magical hands can do so much in you, also my mouth. just watch” he muttered, after he successfully took off your costume, you also pulled his clothes off and throw it somewhere in the room.

“lay down” he demanded, you did what he told to avoid more argues. “well look at that, such a beautiful sight for my eyes. its more than what i sketch about this” he muttered, he leans closer to your core and gives it a lick. you muffled at his action, “dont f-fucking tease xavier, please” you begged, he looked at you with a smirk in his face. “that’s a revenge for making me hard on the competition, beg more, love, maybe i can give what we both needed” he suggested, rubbing circles in your pussy. “p-please, xavier... i-i didn’t really meant to tease you that time, i j-just really want to feel your lips. please, xavier” you explained, arching your back to give signals to him to continue. “i’ll believe for now” he said, as he positioned himself at your core to have a taste. he leans closer and licks it. you moaned his name causing him to continue to eat you out. he puts kisses and licks at your pussy, even biting it, causing you to moaned loudly and continuously arch your back several times. but xavier wasn’t satisfied with, he push a finger inside of you while he continues to eat you out. you pulled his hair while continuously moaning his name. “fuck, your mouth is really good, p-please continue, im close” you said while rolling your eyes because of the pleasure. xavier nodded and pushes one more finger inside you and started to push in and out with a more pace of speed. while his mouth is busy tasting you more and more. “a-ah! im coming!” you shouted, “come on me love” in the exact time he said that, you come in his mouth. he took off his fingers and licks it, tasting you. “you taste delicious than my daily meal” he muttered, leaning you for a kiss, the kiss was passionate. you kissed back and wrapped your arms around his neck. “i’ll help you clean up, and overall, what happened between us is amazing. and i want to ask you out for a date after?” he said, “of course, and, we’re gonna be lovers after all” you replied.

[helionmylove]

Lone Wolves

Ithan Holstrom x Reader

Word Count: 2727

Not beta read

WARNINGS: Smut, there is like a sentence of degradation, praise k!nk, his roommates definitely heard you two, unprotected piv, or@l m receiving, f!ngering

SUMMARY: Ithan reconnects with a fellow lone wolf and former friend. After spending a lot of time together, Ithan gets annoyed by his roommates teasing, so smut ensues. Ithan is probably really out of character, I have no clue what this is. Oops.

You left the den after the pack of devils died. It was a difficult and odd decision, not many people had understood. But your mother had died two years before and your father wasn’t in the picture, so you didn’t have any family holding you there, and then shit hit the fan once the devils were murdered. Danika kept everyone in line, whether she realized it or not. With her gone, you didn’t feel welcome in the den. Omegas, like yourself, were considered the weak links of a pack. Many believe the only thing worse than being an omega is being a lone wolf. But according to Sabine there’s something even worse: being half human and an omega. So, when Sabine started getting worse, you left. It was painful at first, but you managed.

A few years later, you heard Ithan Holstrom got kicked out and the shit beat out of him. You’d been friends before, so you reached out and told him that if he needed someone to talk to, you’d be there. 

It took a few weeks, but he eventually showed up at your apartment with a pizza, beer, and hard seltzers on night out of the blue. When you opened the door, Ithan was standing there in an old sunball hoodie and a pair of gray sweatpants. His hair seemed shinier.

“Uh hi?” You said, raising an eyebrow.

“I know it’s rude to show up unannounced, but I come bearing gifts.” He held up the six packs in one hand and pizza boxes in the other.

You step aside, letting him into the tiny apartment. “I never told you my address.”

He walked in, heading to where he could see your small kitchen to place his offerings down. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. I asked Declan Emmett to find out for me.”

“Hanging out with the fae now?”

“Living with them.”

You stood with him in the kitchen and couldn’t help but notice he’d gotten even more attractive than the last time you’d seen him. You’d always had a crush on Ithan, how could you not? He was sweet and athletic and gorgeous. You rubbed your eyes, forcing the thought out of your mind. 

“What brings you by, Ithan?” You question, grabbing a slice of pizza and sitting on the counter. 

“Well,” he ran a hand through his hair, getting his own slice, “I was thinking about… stuff. Reread your text. Next thing I knew I was stealing booze from Flynn’s stash and ordering a pizza on my way here.”

“Couldn’t give me a head’s up?”

“My hands were full?” 

You couldn’t help smiling at the cheeky grin on his face. He seemed to be doing well, that was good.

“So, just feeling nostalgic?”

“Honestly?” Ithan’s face fell. “I had some questions.” You took a swig of your drink and nodded for him to continue. “Does it ever get easier?”

“Quite the philosophical question, Holstrom.”

“I mean the lone wolf thing.”

“I figured.” You sighed and shrugged. “I suppose so. I mean, every now and then I miss that feeling of belonging but I’ve moved on, I guess. Why?” You frown. “Is it getting to you?”

“Every now and then.” He took a swig from his beer, leaning beside where you sat. “It’s been nice hanging out with Bryce again. I like living with the guys, and we have each other’s backs. But…”

“But you miss having other wolves around.” You finished for him, earning a solemn nod in response. “Maybe we could help each other out.”

“Become a pack of two?” He suggested.

“A pack of loners,” you nudge his side with your foot laughing softly.

He held his drink up to yours in a toast, clinking the cans. “To the pack of loners.”

——————

You two had spent all of your free time together. It got to the point where you were spending more time at Ruhn’s house than you were in your own apartment. Like right now, you and Ithan were sitting on the couch in the living room, with Flynn on the opposite end of the couch, and Declan in a chair beside him.

Ithan had sat incredibly close to you, draping an arm around your shoulders, his fingers absentmindedly drawing circles on your arm. You tried not to pay attention to it, looking anywhere but at him. You had noticed his tendency to ignore your personal space whenever the guys were around.

Ruhn walked in the front door, scanning the room as he entered. “Something’s different. It’s too quiet in here.”

“The fire sprites are upstairs watching Fangs and Bangs on my tablet.” Flynn shrugged.

“Which we could have been watching down here,” you chimed in. 

“No,” Declan, Flynn, and Ithan said simultaneously. It had been an argument for about ten minutes, them versus you and the fire sprites over what to watch. You lost, the guys deciding to watch highlights from some sunball game. 

“You’re more than welcome to go join my girls upstairs.” Flynn hummed.

“She’s not going in your room.” Ithan shut him down, eyes trained on the tv.

The three fae males all shared a knowing look, the same sinister smirks breaking out across their faces. You sat back into the couch, trying to avoid their stares, but ended up cuddling closer to Ithan by accident. 

“Why not?” Declan chimed in. “It’s not like Flynn would be up there anyway.”

“She should come hang out in my room. We’ll have a great time.” Ruhn winked playfully.

“Don’t get in the way of the poor girl’s fun, pup.” Flynn nudged him.

A muscle feathered in Ithan’s jaw. He stood up, taking your hand and heading upstairs to his room. A chorus of “oh come on pups it was a joke” and obnoxious laughter sounded from downstairs as Ithan ushered you into his room.

“What’s wrong with you?” You huff as you sit on his bed.

“Nothing.” He grumbles, laying face down on his bed.

“They were just messing around, Holstrom.” You nudge him playfully. “No need to go all alphahole over it.”

“I’m not.” He swats your hands away.

You take the opportunity to poke him all over: his cheeks, chest, stomach, anywhere that would bother him. He continues swatting at you. Eventually deciding that he’s had enough, he takes hold of your wrists and pins you to the bed. He’s impossibly close. His breath is warm against your face. His eyes hold yours in an unfaltering gaze.

“Ithan,” You gasp.

His eyes flicker from your eyes to your lips before he gently pressed his lips to yours. His lips were warm and surprisingly soft, the kiss was gentle but firm. Ithan’s grip tightened on your wrists, his weight shifting over you. If you didn’t know any better, you’d say he was holding himself back. He broke the kiss, eyes fluttering open slowly. 

“I’m sorry,” his voice was wrecked.

“Why?” You furrowed your brows, studying his face.

“Why? Y/N, I shouldn’t have forced that on you.” 

You rolled your eyes, wriggling your wrists out of his hold to grip his hair, pressing a kiss to the corner of his lips. Then the other corner. Then fully onto his lips. 

It only took a second before Ithan took control. His strong hands holding your waist in a firm grip. His soft lips against yours in a claiming kiss. A gasp falls from your mouth into his, as he slides his powerful thigh between your legs, right against where you want him most. The way you grind ever so slightly onto his thigh brings a satisfied growl from him. You grip his soft hair tighter, desperate to bring him closer to you.

His lips move away from yours, trailing along your jaw, down your neck, across your collarbone. Every now and then he’d nip and suck at the sensitive skin, leaving a trail of hickeys, and relishing in the way you whimper at the sensation.

He makes himself stop, pushing back so he’s kneeling above you. Those warm, brown eyes scan over your breathless form in a way that turns your core molten. 

“Tell me to stop, and I’ll stop.” He rasped, licking his lips as you shake your head. “You want this?”

“Please, Ithan.” Your hips move slightly, desperate for friction. “Fuck me please.”

He pulled his shirt over his head, before slipping yours off you. His pupils blew wide as he took in your nearly bare form. Ithan dragged his lips along your collarbone, kissing a trail to the hollow of your throat. He kissed and nipped until he was satisfied with the bruise forming there. Your soft whimpering spurred him on. Your nails dug into the strong muscles of his back. In an instant, your arms were held above your head, his large hand holding both your wrists, his other hand trailing down your torso with a featherlight touch.

“Be a good girl for me?” He murmured into your neck. Those skilled fingers undid your jeans before slipping under your panties. His long middle finger slid along your folds eliciting a whiny moan from you. “Fuck, you’re so wet for me. Want me to play with your pretty little pussy?”

“Please Ithan, please!” You plead, squirming in his grip.

He slowly pushed his long finger into you, thrusting it ever so slowly. “Sound so pretty when you beg. Tell me pretty girl, who’s this pussy belong to?” He pushes a second finger into you, groaning as your slick walls constrict around his long digits and a litany of moans slip from your mouth.

“You Ithan!” You whimper as he starts moving his fingers in a ‘come hither’ motion. “It’s yours. Please!”

“Please?” He chuckles darkly, no sign of that sweet cuddly guy you spent all your time with, just that primal dominant wolf. “What is it you want, sweetheart? Be a good girl and tell me.”

“Want you, want your cock. Please Ithan, I’ll do anything. Please.” Any other time you would feel pathetic for begging like this, but if this was how good he could make you feel from just his fingers, you needed to feel the rest of him. 

Those warm brown eyes turned black. Before you could register what even happened, your pants and panties were tugged down, your bra removed from your chest. You lay completely bare before him, his ravenous gaze trailing along your body, from your hickey covered neck to your soaked pussy. He kneeled between your legs, undoing his pants and pulling them down with his boxers, letting his hard length jump free. Your eyes widen at the sheer sight of him: long, thick, and veiny. Holy fuck, he was going to ruin you. 

A cocky smirk graced his face as he caught you staring. “Like what you see sweetheart?”

It honestly felt like an out of body experience. Instead of answering, you got off the bed, kneeling beside it. A string of profanities left his mouth as you reach up and slowly pump him, running your thumb over the leaking tip. Hesitantly, you lean forward, swirling your tongue around the tip. But that wasn’t enough for Ithan. A feral growl came from him as he gripped your hair tightly, pushing you further onto his cock. You couldn’t help gagging at the intrusion, or the tears that threatened to spill as you looked up at him. He only grunted, pushing you to take even more of him as he thrusted shallowly into your mouth.

“That’s a good little bitch,” his head lolled back as he continued fucking your face. You’d never heard him talk like that, and honestly it just made you wetter. You slipped a hand between your legs to play with your clit, only to be interrupted by Ithan pulling out of your mouth. “Can’t focus on me for just a little, huh? You’re that needy, slut?”

He pulled you up by your hair, eliciting a high whine from you. His soft lips kissed away your tears as he took your head in his hands. “Such a needy little pet. Don’t worry, gonna fuck that out of you.”

You fell onto your back, only to be flipped onto your stomach. You buried your face in his pillows, relishing in his lingering scent on the soft fabric. Then you felt the claws - a perk of fucking a wolf shifter - trailing down your spine. He was really determined to mark you up. He propped your hips up, pushing your head down. A satisfied moan sounded as he slowly pushed himself into you. Your back arched as you felt his massive length enter you.

His thrusts were merciless, fucking into you without abandon. His claws dug into your hips to keep you right where he wanted you. His breath was hot against the back of your neck. Your hands desperately grasped for purchase of the sheets. You couldn’t help your loud moans. You could feel your sense of self starting to fade, all that mattered was your building orgasm.

“You’re mine, Y/N” His thrusting became erratic. “Only mine.” A slap to your ass followed by a particularly hard thrust. “Not Ruhn’s. Not Flynn’s.” He pounded harder at each of their names making your legs shake. “Mine.” Another slap.

You were so close. Every powerful thrust brought you closer. You started moving your hips back against him. Through his pleasured grunts, you heard him chuckle. “You wanna cum? I feel you squeezing my cock. I bet you’re so close. Wanna cum on your alpha’s cock?”

“Ithan,” You whimper through your moans. “Please let me cum.” 

“Say you’re mine.” His rhythm began to falter. He was close too.

“I’m yours. I’m yours Ithan, please!”

He hid his claws so he could rub your clit without hurting you. “Cum for me, pretty girl.”

Your orgasm nearly crashed into you so hard you nearly fainted. Ithan hardly let up, chasing his own high. His hips slowed, gently coaxing you both through your climaxes. You two stayed in that position for a minute, panting and sweating. Carefully, Ithan pulled out of you, your body lying limp on his bed. He got up, grabbing his towel from the back of his door. He gently cleaned the mess from between your legs, stopping to wipe the trickles of blood from where he clawed at you. He worried his lip between his teeth as he brushed over the marks.

“M��sorry,” he murmured, staring at that spot.

“Don’t be,” you hum, burrowing into the blanket. “Felt so good.”

He gently moved you off the bed, despite your warning, so that he could get the sticky comforter off the bed. Once he was satisfied that the sheets were dry underneath, he allowed you to lay back down. His large form curled up beside you, pulling you to cuddle with him. You buried your face in his chest, breathing his scent in deeply. You were content here in the safety of his arms.

“Please be mine,” he whispered into your hair. “I don’t want to be a lone wolf anymore. I want you by my side.”

“Ithan, the only time I leave your side is to go to class or work,” you reminded him. “Plus, the guys are basically a pack.”

“I’m serious, Y/N.” He looked at you pleadingly. 

“So, you want me to be your pack omega?”

“I want you to be my… girlfriend isn’t a strong enough word for how I feel about you.”

You studied him for a moment, the longing in those soft eyes. A pang in your chest, a strain of your heart. Realization flooded his gaze.

“You’re my mate?” You whisper.

“Are you okay with that?” Was that fear in his voice?

“Ithan, I’m thrilled.” You pulled him closer, nuzzling your face in the crook of his neck. He buried his face in your hair, breathing deeply.

A banging and loud laughter came from his bedroom door. 

“Are you two finished?” Flynn shouted.

“Next time keep it down! There are other people living here you know!” Declan joined in.

“About damn time!” And there was Ruhn.

Ithan chuckles, pulling you even closer as he shouted at his roommates, “oh, fuck off.”

The laughter continued as you heard those three going back downstairs. Leaving you in the comfortable quiet of Ithan’s room. You slowly drifted off to sleep, cuddled close to your mate.

[jackoshadows]

 “You,” Ned said, kissing her lightly on the brow, “will marry a king and rule his castle, and your sons will be Knights and princes and lords and, yes, perhaps even a High Septon.” - Eddard, A Game of Thrones

My featherbed is deep and soft, and there I’ll lay you down, I’ll dress you all in yellow silk, and on your head a crown - Arya, A Storm of Swords

“Aegon has been shaped for rule since before he could walk. He has been trained in arms, as befits a knight to be, but that was not the end of his education. He reads and writes, he speaks several tongues, he has studied history and law and poetry. A septa has instructed him in the mysteries of the Faith since he was old enough to understand them. He has lived with fisherfolk, worked with his hands, swum in rivers and mended nets and learned to wash his own clothes at need. He can fish and cook and bind up a wound, he knows what it is like to be hungry, to be hunted, to be afraid. Tommen has been taught that kingship is his right. Aegon knows that kingship is his duty, that a king must put his people first, and live and rule for them.” - Kevan, A Dance with Dragons

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So this is an essay of sorts on my speculation/theory that Arya is going to end up as a leader of the North by the end of the series. I will split this into several parts:

Arya and leadership

Arya and Northern leadership

Arya and Nymeria

Skillsets

Importance of being a Warg/Skinchanger

Succession

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Arya Stark and leadership

“Know the men who follow you,” she heard him tell Robb once, “and let them know you. Don’t ask your men to die for a stranger.“  - Arya, AGoT

Arya has always been a leader rather than a follower. Just like Jon at the wall, she initially chafes at having to follow orders instead of doing what she thinks is the right thing to do. Despite Gendry and Hot Pie being older than her, she’s the one giving the orders and making the plans. She manipulates or forces characters into doing what she wants – getting Gendry to leave Harrenhal and forcing Jaqen to help her free the Northmen.

Arya took the lead, kicking her stolen horse to a brisk heedless trot until the trees close in around her. Hot Pie and Gendry followed as best they could. From time to time Arya glanced over her shoulder, to make sure the two boys had not fallen too far behind, and to see if they were being pursued - Arya, ASoS

Like most of our protagonists, Arya is ambitious and interested in being an active participant at the top. She wanted to become a King’s councilor and build castles. That entire little speech that Varys gives about the ideal candidate for ruling fits Arya to a T.

Arya has gone hungry, scrubbed and cleaned, cooked and kept house, sewed and mended clothes, bound up wounds, been hunted, been scared for her life – and done all this with limited protection. Just survived on her wits. Arya can wield a sword, is fluent in several languages and has studied with a Septa.

We also see war torn Westeros and the suffering of the smallfolk through Arya’s eyes in ACoK and ASoS. It doesn’t matter if it’s Stark or Lannister, the smallfolk suffer the same – Septon Meribald’s ‘Broken Men’ speech in AFfC embodies what Arya observes. After Arya frees the Northmen using weasel soup and Vargo Hoat betrays the Lannisters, there are reprisal killings, torture and rape enacted by Stark bannermen and the sellswords. The smith, Maester and the head maid are executed for merely serving Tywin – something on which they had no choice. Gendry points this out to Arya and she feels guilty for her part in all this.

“I hate this lot worse. Ser Amory was fighting for his lord, but the Mummers are sellswords and turncloaks. Half of them can’t even speak the Common Tongue. Septon Utt likes little boys, Qyburn does black magic, and your friend Biter eats people.”

The worst thing was, she couldn’t even say he was wrong. The Brave Companions did most of the foraging for Harrenhal, and Roose Bolton had given them the task of rooting out Lannisters. Vargo Hoat had divided them into four bands, to visit as many villages as possible. He led the largest group himself, and gave the others to his most trusted captains. She had heard Rorge laughing over Lord Vargo’s way of finding traitors. All he did was return to places he had visited before under Lord Tywin’s banner and seize those who had helped him. – Arya, ACoK

"It’s not a village, it’s only black stones and old bones. “Did the Lannisters kill the people who lived here?” Arya asked as she helped Anguy dry the horses.

“No.” He pointed. “Look at how thick the moss grows on the stones. No one’s moved them for a long time. And there’s a tree growing out of the wall there, see? This place was put to the torch a long time ago.”

“Who did it, then?” asked Gendry.

“Hoster Tully.” Notch was a stooped thin grey-haired man, born in these parts. “This was Lord Goodbrook’s village. When Riverrun declared for Robert, Goodbrook stayed loyal to the king, so Lord Tully came down on him with fire and sword. After the Trident, Goodbrook’s son made his peace with Robert and Lord Hoster, but that didn’t help the dead none.”

A silence fell."  - Arya, ASoS

"Wolves, she thought again. Like me. Was this her pack? How could they be Robb’s men? She wanted to hit them. She wanted to hurt them. She wanted to cry.” - Arya, ASoS

The smallfolk in the Riverlands are caught between the Starks, Tullys and Lannisters with no good choices. And on the ground level, Arya sees this, understands this and acknowledges this. Her actions benefited house Stark and no one else. She understands the cost of war.

Arya is also very keen on justice. In that she not only thinks that characters deserve justice, but she wants to actively participate and deliver justice. She considers the execution of Dareon from the NW as a just one.

Dareon had been a deserter from the Night's Watch; he had deserved to die. - Arya, AFfC

“Guilty!” Arya shouted with the rest. “Guilty, guilty, kill him, guilty!” …

Arya could only think of Mycah and all the stupid prayers she’d prayed for the Hound to die. If there were gods, why didn’t Lord Beric win? She knew the Hound was guilty… - Arya, ASoS

Her father beat her so often and so brutally that she was never truly free of pain or fear until she came to us.”

“Did you kill him?”

“She asked the gift for herself, not for her father.”

You should have killed him.“ - Arya, ADWD

Arya drew back from him. "He killed the slave?" That did not sound right. "He should have killed the masters!" – Arya, aDwD

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Arya and Northern leadership

I would sooner my men die fighting for the Ned’s little girl than alone and hungry in the snow, weeping tears that freeze upon their cheeks. - Hugo Wull

The North has famously never had a female leader in House Stark. So is it possible for valiant Ned’s precious little girl to become the first Lady Stark to lead the North?

In terms of personality, Arya resembles some of the other female leaders/members of Northern houses. She is bold and forward like Lyanna Mormont and Wylla Manderly. She has trained with the sword and learned how to use a bow and arrow. She proactively engineers her own escape like Alys Karstark. Characters like Ygritte and Alys remind Jon Snow of Arya.

Arya venerates Ned Stark. She follows his advice as much as Robb, Bran and Jon do. Even more so. She executes a NW brother for desertion. And that is important for the Starks.

I should kill them myself. Whenever her father had condemned a man to death, he did the deed himself with Ice, his greatsword. - Arya, ACoK

The blood of the First Men still flows in the veins of the Starks, and we hold to the belief that the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. - Bran, AGoT

“The Starks do not use headsmen. Ned always said that the man who passes the sentence should swing the blade, though he never took any joy in the duty.” - Catelyn, ACoK

“Rickard Karstark, Lord of Karhold.” Robb lifted the heavy axe with both hands. “Here in sight of gods and men, I judge you guilty of murder and high treason. In mine own name I condemn you. With mine own hand I take your life. Would you speak a final word?” - Catelyn, ASoS

The pale morning sunlight ran up and down his blade as Jon clasped the hilt of the bastard sword with both hands and raised it high. “If you have any last words, now is the time to speak them,” he said, expecting one last curse. - Jon, ADwD

Arya is one of the Starkiest Starks of the whole lot. She is also the only Stark to actually have the Stark look. She is stubborn and determined to do things the Stark way. She often uses her father’s advice to guide her way.

Her father used to say that a lord needed to eat with his men, if he hoped to keep them. “Know the men who follow you,” she heard him tell Robb once, “and let them know you. Don’t ask your men to die for a stranger.“ - Arya, aGoT

Arya had loved nothing better than to sit at her father’s table and listen to them talk. She had loved listening to the men on the benches too; to freeriders tough as leather, courtly knights and bold young squires, grizzled old men-at-arms.- Arya, AGoT

Whenever her father had condemned a man to death, he did the deed himself with Ice, his greatsword. “If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him go look him in the face and hear his last words,” she’d heard him tell Robb and Jon once. - Arya, ACoK

Now there are theories that it is future Bran who was communicating with Arya through the weirwood at Harrenhal, but she does gain strength from her father’s words when she prays to the Old Gods.

Gooseprickles rose on Arya’s skin, and for an instant she felt dizzy. Then, so faintly, it seemed as if she heard her father’s voice. “When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives,” he said. “But there is no pack,” she whispered to the weirwood. Bran and Rickon were dead, the Lannisters had Sansa, Jon had gone to the Wall. “I’m not even me now, I’m Nan.” “You are Arya of Winterfell, daughter of the north. You told me you could be strong. You have the wolf blood in you.” - Arya, ACoK

And while Arya is travelling incognito, GRRM keeps her connected to the North, house Stark and the Northern plot. She starts her journey from KL with a NW brother Yoren. She’s disguised as a boy like Danny Flint, Manderly requests a song about brave Danny Flint at Ramsay’s wedding with ‘Arya’. In the Riverlands, Arya’s plot intersects with her father’s bannermen, she participates in the capture of Harrenhal for house Stark and is there for Roose Bolton’s war council. She meets both Roose Bolton and Aenys Frey – our antagonists in Winterfell facing off against Stannis in ADwD. She meets Robett Glover – who is currently in White Harbor - when she lets him out of the dungeons. She gets Jaqen to help her father’s men.

“Vargo Hoat’s come back with prisoners. I saw their badges. There’s a Glover, from Deepwood Motte, he’s my father’s man. The rest too, mostly.” All of a sudden, Arya knew why her feet had brought her here. “You have to help me get them out.” – Arya, ACoK

Arya looked. She knew all of her father’s men. The three in the grey cloaks were strangers. Arya, AGoT

Twin towers. Sunburst. Bloody man. Battle-axe. The battle-axe is for Cerwyn, and the white sun on black is Karstark. They’re northmen. My father’s men, and Robb’s. - Arya, ACoK

Harwin?” Arya whispered. It was! Under the beard and the tangled hair was the face of Hullen’s son, who used to lead her pony around the yard, ride at quintain with Jon and Robb, and drink too much on feast days. He was thinner, harder somehow, and at Winterfell he had never worn a beard, but it was him—her father’s man. Arya, ASoS

“I bet there are Winterfell men too.” Her father’s men, the Young Wolf’s men, the direwolves of Stark. - Arya, ASoS

Arya is also involved in betrothals/marriage – first to Elmar Frey and then married off to Ramsay Bolton to hold the North. As a side note, her connection to all these bastards is indeed interesting - Elmar Frey, Ramsay Bolton, Gendry and Jon Snow. Is GRRM trying to say something here?

We now have the Northerners and Freys that Arya sees in Harrenhal transposed to Winterfell and ‘her father’s men’ rising up for Arya Stark.

Now, we can speculate and assume that these Northerners would have done the same for the other Starks, but that’s not the point here. In the books, GRRM has written this story to revolve around Arya. The mountain clans are marching for ARYA. The Northern houses are fighting alongside Stannis for ARYA. When lady Barbrey Dustin points out the anger of the Northmen at the treatment of ‘Valiant Ned's precious little girl’ she is talking about ARYA.

GRRM has Stannis wanting to rescue Arya for Jon. He has Mance trying to rescue Arya for Jon. He has Jon breaking his vows and dying trying to rescue Arya. A large part of what drives this plot forward is that it’s Arya, and her special relationship with Jon Snow influences a lot of what is happening south of the wall. The story only happens this way with Arya in the North. And that’s why it’s Arya’s story and not that of any other Stark. Superimposing this or that Stark in place of Arya to make a case for why they would be leader of the North makes no sense. GRRM writing in the marriage of Arya Stark to hold the North makes the case for why Arya is important to the North.

So, Arya has actively helped free Northmen in the Riverlands, engaged with important Northerners and Freys at Harrenhal and drives the plot to take down the Boltons in the North. With her leadership skills, her ability to wield a weapon and fight, looking like Ned, following in Ned’s footsteps and advice, her fierce personality, her loyalty to bannermen, her desire for justice and to help the weak and powerless, her huge direwolf - she would be like the Kings in the North of yore.  I think the Northerners will be fine with Arya Stark being the Stark in charge.

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Arya and Nymeria

“What if the wolves come?” “Yield,” Arya suggested - Arya, ACoK

The direwolves are an important part of the books, and an important aspect of the Starks.They are as much a part of the Starks as Dany’s dragons are a part of her. They cannot be ignored as unimportant pets who will end up serving no purpose.

“He is part of you, Robb. To fear him is to fear you.”  - Catelyn, ASoS

Ghost did not count. Ghost was closer than a friend. Ghost was part of him - Jon, ADWD

“Part of you is Summer, and part of Summer is you. You know that, Bran.” - Bran, ACoK

“Wolves and women wed for life,” Haggon often said. “You take one, that’s a marriage. The wolf is part of you from that day on, and you’re part of him. Both of you will change.” - Varamyr, ADWD

You have five trueborn children,” Jon said. “Three sons, two daughters. The direwolf is the sigil of your House. Your children were meant to have these pups, my lord…The direwolf graces the banners of House Stark,” Jon pointed out. -  Bran, AGoT

“Roose Bolton has Lord Eddard’s daughter. To thwart him White Harbor must have Ned’s son … and the direwolf. The wolf will prove the boy is who we say he is, should the Dreadfort attempt to deny him.“ - Davos, ADWD

GRRM has mentioned several times that they are important.

The Lannisters are always likening themselves to lions, for example, and their motto “Hear me roar” speaks of a certain way of looking at life. But I think for the Starks it goes a little bit beyond that, especially in this generation, with these direwolves. It’s more than just a handy metaphor with them - GRRM, interview

"Wolves have been part of European folklore, of which America's descended, going back thousands of years. In Rome, Romulus and Remus -- there's always been this relationship between wolves and men." That relationship is seen time and again in Martin's series, and it's one that will Martin says will continue as the last two books are eventually released. Arya's wolf, Nymeria, in particular, will play an important role. "You know, I don't like to give things away." says Martin, a grin spreading across his face. "But you don't hang a giant wolf pack on the wall unless you intend to use it." - GRRM interview

The direwolves are important especially for Arya whose theme is ‘The lone wolf dies but the pack survives’ and there are constant mentions of the pack in her POV chapters. Nymeria is an alpha, a leader of her pack like Arya is a leader of hers.

“She says there’s this great pack, hundreds of them, mankillers. The one that leads them is a she-wolf, a bitch from the seventh hell.” - Arya, ACoK

Throughout ACoK and ASoS, Arya mentions the wolves in the Riverlands. They appear to be just ahead of her or behind her. In her chapters there are mentions of wolves eating people, of Roose going wolf hunting. It’s almost like the wolves are traveling with her. They even help her escape – the wolf howl giving the signal – from harrenhal. And it’s possible the pack was picking off Roose Bolton’s riders chasing Arya because they were following right behind.

She could hear the sound of her own breath, and the wolves as well, a great pack of them now. They are closer than the one I heard in the godswood, she thought. They are calling to me. - Arya, ACoK

Once, from the crest of a ridge, she spied dark shapes crossing a stream in the valley behind them, and for half a heartbeat she feared that Roose Bolton’s riders were on them, but when she looked again she realized they were only a pack of wolves. She cupped her hands around her mouth and howled down at them, “Ahooooooooo, ahooooooooo.” When the largest of the wolves lifted its head and howled back, the sound made Arya shiver.   - Arya ASoS

Nymeria keeps amassing this huge wolf pack and Arya being a strong warg can sense this

She was no little girl in the dream; she was a wolf, huge and powerful, and when she emerged from beneath the trees in front of them and bared her teeth in a low rumbling growl, she could smell the rank stench of fear from horse and man alike. - Arya, ASoS

She dreamed of wolves most every night. A great pack of wolves, with her at the head. She was bigger than any of them, stronger, swifter, faster. And her brothers and sisters were with her, many and more of them, fierce and terrible and hers. - Arya, ASoS

In her wolf dreams she was swift and strong, running down her prey with her pack at her heels. - Cat of the Canals, AFfC

The wolf dreams also helps Arya connect to Bran, Jon and Rickon. We see Ghost able to sense the other direwolves and Bran trying to communicate with Jon.

Nymeria is a grey wolf and the stark sigil is a grey wolf on a white background.

 “The rain had washed the guard’s blood off her fingers, she wore a sword across her back, wolves were prowling through the dark like lean grey shadows, and Arya Stark was unafraid.” - Arya, ACoK

“Arya had her father’s eyes, the grey eyes of the Starks.” - Reek, ADwD

What’s in a name? I have already mentioned in another post, the symbolism of the names for the direwolves and them being an indication of the future for the Starks. Arya’s direwolf is named Nymeria – a Rhoynish warrior queen who led her people to safety. Something that Arya may well do in the future when the North is under attack from the Others.

More importantly, Nymeria in Dorne changed the customs and rules of house Martell to follow those of Rhoynar and allowed for female rulers. Nymeria herself was the first female leader and was followed by her daughter. Nymeria changed the norm for Dorne and we could see the same happening with Arya Stark in the North.

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Skills and Education

Look with your eyes, Syrio had said, listen with your ears.- Arya, ACoK

Education at Winterfell:

Arya was mainly taught by Septa Mordane and received the same education as Sansa. She would have been taught history and about the Faith by the Septa, she can read and write, and is good with sums. She’s better than Sansa at managing a household. She can ride a horse like a Northman and is an excellent swimmer. She knows some high Valyrian. Besides the Septa, Arya also hangs around Ned Stark when he is teaching the boys. Many of his words of wisdom that she remembers is from when he is teaching the boys. She mingles with her father’s men, the cooks, the stable boys etc.

Kings Landing:

Water Dancing style of swordfighting from Syrio Forel.

Harrenhal:

Being incognito allows Arya to move around like a mouse or the ghost of Harrenhal and observe and learn things. She is privy to Roose Bolton’s war council and listens to them discuss the Northern campaign against the Lannisters. We get the first inkling of the Red Wedding in these chapters between Roose and the Freys.

Arya observes the different people, analyzes their movements and figures out how to approach them.

The night she was caught, the Lannister men had been nameless strangers with faces as alike as their nasal helms, but she’d come to know them all. You had to know who was lazy and who was cruel, who was smart and who was stupid. You had to learn that even though the one they called Shitmouth had the foulest tongue she’d ever heard, he’d give you an extra piece of bread if you asked, while jolly old Chiswyck and soft-spoken Raff would just give you the back of their hand. - Arya, ACoK

And as lords and ladies never notice the little grey mice under their feet, Arya heard all sorts of secrets just by keeping her ears open as she went about her duties. Pretty Pia from the buttery was a slut who was working her way through every knight in the castle. The wife of the gaoler was with child, but the real father was either Ser Alyn Stackspear or a singer Lord Lefford made mock of ghosts at table, but always kept a candle burning by his bed. Ser Dunaver’s squire Jodge could not hold his water when he slept. The cooks despised Ser Harys Swyft and spit in all his food. Once she even overheard Maester Tothmure’s serving girl confiding to her brother about some message that said Joffrey was a bastard and not the rightful king at all. “Lord Tywin told him to burn the letter and never speak such filth again,” the girl whispered. - Arya, ACoK

She aids in the escape of the near hundred Northmen imprisoned in the dungeons and even Roose is impressed enough to make her his cupbearer. And the next time, she conceives of, plans and executes their entire escape all by herself. She plans for the logistics – weapons, transportation, people, travel route, what to wear.  She makes sure she is warmly dressed, takes the map from Roose’s chamber, uses her position of cupbearer to manipulate several men,  manipulates Gendry into escaping with her, takes down the guard and leads them away. It’s an endeavor that showcases her intelligence, cunning, determination, ability to strategize and lead.

Arya also shows a lot of restraint and keeps her secrets. She doesn’t trust the Glovers or any of the Northmen in Harrenhal - and considering the Red Wedding, it’s a good decision.

Their captors permitted no chatter. A broken lip taught Arya to hold her tongue. Others never learned at all. - Arya, ACoK

Arya watched them die and did nothing. What good did it do you to be brave? One of the women picked for questioning had tried to be brave, but she had died screaming like all the rest. There were no brave people on that march, only scared and hungry ones. - Arya, ACoK

On the road Arya had felt like a sheep, but Harrenhal turned her into a mouse. She was grey as a mouse in her scratchy wool shift, and like a mouse she kept to the crannies and crevices and dark holes of the castle, scurrying out of the way of the mighty.- Arya, ACoK

Braavos:

Arya’s education here is not limited to killing for the Faceless Men. She is also educated in poisons and languages. She improves on her high Valyrian and is now fluent in Braavosi and other Essosi languages. She learns acting/mummery. Not showing emotions on one’s face, detecting emotions in another person.

“A man does not need to be a wizard to know truth from falsehood, not if he has eyes. You need only learn to read a face. Look at the eyes. The mouth. The muscles here, at the corners of the jaw, and here, where the neck joins the shoulders.” He touched her lightly with two fingers. “Some liars blink. Some stare. Some look away. Some lick their lips. Many cover their mouths just before they tell a lie, as if to hide their deceit. Other signs may be more subtle, but they are always there. A false smile and a true one may look alike, but they are as different as dusk from dawn. Can you tell dusk from dawn?”

Arya nodded, though she was not certain that she could. “Then you can learn to see a lie… and once you do, no secret will be safe from you.”  - Arya, AFFC

------------------------

People skills

“I will remember, Your Grace," said Sansa, though she had always heard that love was a surer route to the people's loyalty than fear. If I am ever a queen, I'll make them love me.” - Sansa, ACoK

Arya’s ability to make friends wherever she goes highlights her people skills. And Arya is able to communicate and connect with people from all walks of life.

Sansa knew all about the sorts of people Arya liked to talk to: squires and grooms and serving girls, old men and naked children, rough-spoken freeriders of uncertain birth. Arya would make friends with anybody. - Sansa, AGoT

She had loved listening to the men on the benches too; to freeriders tough as leather, courtly knights and bold young squires, grizzled old men-at-arms. She used to throw snowballs at them and help them steal pies from the kitchen. Their wives gave her scones and she invented names for their babies and played monsters-and-maidens and hide-the-treasure and come-into-my-castle with their children., Arya, AGoT

Her father used to say that a lord needed to eat with his men, if he hoped to keep them. “Know the men who follow you,” she heard him tell Robb once, “and let them know you. Don’t ask your men to die for a stranger.“ - Arya, AGoT

Cat had made friends along the wharves; porters and mummers, ropemakers and sailmenders, taverners, Brewers and bakers and beggars and whores - Cat of the Canals, AFfC

Her girls were nice as well; Blushing Bethany and the Sailor’s Wife, one-eyed Yna who could tell your fortune from a drop of blood, pretty little Lanna, even Assadora, the Ibbenese woman with the mustache. They might not be beautiful, but they were kind to her - Cat of the Canals, AFfC

She’s also loyal to her pack. She doesn’t betray Jon even to her father. She helps free her father’s men. Despite Gendry talking of leaving Lommy or Weasel behind, she refuses. And despite the odds, she tries to help Gendry.

It didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that they had Gendry. Even if he was stubborn and stupid, she had to get him out. She wondered if they knew that the queen wanted him. - Arya, ACoK

-------------------------------

Importance of being a Warg/Skinchanger

She was the night wolf, no scraps of skin could frighten her. - Arya, ADwD

Since this is a fantasy series, magic is a big part of the story with a magical existential apocalyptic threat on the horizon. The North is the first bastion facing this threat. Jon and Dany both have magical pets and prophetic dreams. Bran is the 3ER. They are leaders or will become leaders by the end. Arya is a strong warg/skinchanger. Apart from Jon and Bran, she’s the only other Stark to use these abilities so far. As GRRM as indicated, having a direwolf is going to be useful in battle – we are going to be seeing direwolves involved in the battle for Winterfell for example. Arya is able to warg Nymeria from all the way over in Braavos. She skinchanges cats and sees through their eyes, when she is blind. She is deft with a sword, knife and decent with a bow and arrow (she could be better now using her FM senses). She would be an effective fighter to have against the Others and her warging skills could prove useful in battle.

------------------------------

Succession

I’m not a lady, Arya wanted to tell her, I’m a wolf. - Arya, ASoS

And finally we come to succession. This is the hardest part and entirely speculation and we need the next book to get an inkling of where GRRM is heading towards. I am also basing all of this on Hibberd more or less confirming that King Bran on the Iron Throne is GRRM’s ending.

So of the true born Starks, Arya is pretty much last in line. With the inclusion of Robb’s will, we have 5 Starks left. Bran is the rightful heir to the North. Taking him out of the running, leaves Jon, Rickon, Sansa and Arya. Assuming Jon ends up North of the wall – in his dreams the Old Kings in the North in the crypts reject him, maybe foreshadowing that he doesn’t belong in Winterfell - that leaves Rickon, Sansa and Arya.

As for Sansa, again there is a plot significant reason for why GRRM has put an obstacle in her path, allowing for Arya to jump the queue. Sansa is currently married to Tyrion Lannister, a marriage that cannot be easily annulled (With an enemy regime in KL) or ignored like the show did. Robb Stark has most likely disinherited/removed her from the line of succession and named a legitimized Jon Stark his heir and Lord of Winterfell. If he has the support of the Northern houses who want an experienced, older Stark to lead them, Jon Stark could well be the next KITN over Rickon Stark. I don’t think a 7 year old Rickon would object to Jon in charge. So that makes it Jon Stark, Rickon Stark and Arya Stark.

Does Rickon have to die for Arya to become Wardeness of the North? It’s possible Rickon dies, but it’s also possible he doesn’t.  It could be that Rickon does not want to lead the North – by the end of the book, he would be 8 or 9. Of course there’s the argument of a regent doing the job for Rickon until he’s ready. Or, he could just give way to his sister because he wants to. Something similar to Aemon refusing the throne and it passing to his younger brother Aegon.

Or we could have the traditional situation where Rickon becomes lord of Winterfell as next in line, while it’s Arya who is involved in running the day to day affairs. However, that would very much be status quo - with Rickon at WF and Bran down south in KL, it would be men ending up in positions of power everywhere once again, except maybe Dorne. If this happens, then Arya would be a leader of the North, but the Stark line would continue with the male line.  

It’s possible Jon Stark as King could change things for the North. Jon treats the spearwives the same as the brothers of the NW, he respects Val’s abilities, he trusts in Alys Karstark. If Rickon refuses the mantle, it could very well be that Jon Stark relinquishes his position to his favorite person ever, Arya Stark, to be the next Wardeness of the North.  Thus paving the way for Arya Stark to be the first female leader of the North like her hero Nymeria in Dorne.

It would be fitting for the character who introduced Jon Snow to equal rights for women.

“The Lannisters are proud,” Jon observed. “You’d think the royal sigil would be sufficient, but no. He makes his mother’s House equal in honor to the king’s.”

“The woman is important too!” Arya protested. - Arya, AGoT

Could King Jon reverse Sansa’s disinheritance after her marriage is annulled when KL is in friendly hands? Sure. But we don’t know how the Sansa/LF/Vale group will react to Jon as KITN and whether they will mount a challenge in Sansa’s name. And if Jon has to choose between Sansa and Arya as to whom he wants in charge of Winterfell, we know who it is he will think is more capable and will always choose.

I do think Winterfell succession will not be as clearcut as many Stark fans are hoping. Too many factions supporting the different Starks. GRRM loves to write about dysfunctional families and the Starks are not anything special in that regard. TWoW will tell us of whether there will be any kind of Stark civil war.

Is Arya too young for all this? I predict that by the time we get to the end of the books, about 5 years would have gone by. At 14, Arya would still need a regent – one of the many lords of the houses in the North. But I think considering her experiences, skillsets, a huge direwolf, Ned Stark’s wisdom and strong connections to the North, she will be an able leader. As GRRM said,

“[Arya is] older than some of the 40-year-olds in the book.” - GRRM

Either way, whether she gets Winterfell or not, Arya will end up as a leader in the North. Either she rules for Rickon and takes care of the day to day responsibilities or she does so in her own right as Lady of Winterfell/Wardeness of the North. She’s not going anywhere or sailing off on a boat. The show’s ending makes absolutely no sense for a character yearning for home in 5 books after going on the nightmare ‘adventure’ from hell. She will be in the North, in Winterfell, being a leader and continuing Ned Stark’s legacy.  She will counsel her brothers and build and her people will love her just like they loved her father.

So in conclusion, I think there is enough story, character build up, characterization and set up for Arya to go North and take over as a leader of house Stark to face the threat of the Others along with Bran, Jon, Dany and Tyrion.

[tyb1]

If It’s The Right Thing To Do (4)

Words:2886

Character: Seth Clearwater

Note: let’s imagine your Sam’s little sister 

Dialogue prompt:“So let me get this straight when I need you you’re nowhere to be found but when I do something dumb you magically appear.”

Series List

tag list:  @alecvolturiswifeforever​ @scoverdale1​ @anndaydreamer​ @fae-lore​ @queen-of-embracing-uncertainty @nickangel13​ @bi-bi-spencer​@a-vild-bluemyrtle​ @little-miss-naill @crystalxavlove @ilovesethclearwater

Seth Clearwater Masterlist

A/N: message me or comment if you’d like to be on the tag list. sorry it took so long I love you guys:)

“I’m sorry Seth but you and I both know that what you’re saying is bullshit.” I snatched my hand away from his chest, the feeling of his racing heart was no longer there. I knew he wasn’t lying about what he said but for his and my sanity, we both needed this to end here. This entire relationship was causing too many problems...well before he decided to join the Cullens. 

“What (Y/N)....what are you talking about?.” He stood there with tears in his eyes, I’m surprised he didn’t let them fall like I was letting mine fall. That was one thing I hated about him. He held in all of his emotions and then when it came to the breaking point he would explode. Trust me when I say it’s not a good sight to see.

I had to put off a bold face for him. I couldn’t let him know that I was actually dying inside. I was letting a few tears slide down my face but that didn’t compare to the aching feeling that I was feeling inside of me. It was the same feeling I felt when he first left me.

“Fine since you want me to say it so badly”- I roughly pointed my finger in his face.- “ Leave me alone. We’re breaking up so don’t call me, or text me until you get your priorities straight. I’ll be home when you get your shit together.” 

Seth couldn’t look me in the eyes, he started to kick the dirt with his feet. The sand below him started to change different colors from the tears that were falling upon it. He started to mumble a few words but the only thing I could hear was. “You don’t have your priorities straight either (Y/N).”

“It’s because I’m dealing with your shit! I’m around here following you like a lost puppy when you only play mind games with me! I’m so done with you and your bipolar ass!” I spat bitterly, I turned my back to him then marched towards Sam. I turned around to look at him once more, I instantly regretted it. He stood there with his hands in pockets with his head still hanging low. His head shot up instantly making eye contact with me, I quickly snatched my gaze away from him. This was going to be a new start for both of us so I didn’t need to be drawn back in with his puppy dog eyes.

Seth POV 2 weeks later

 I was too much of a coward to say goodbye. I was truly heartbroken. I wish I could run to her and tell her that I love her and tell her that I cherish everything about her but I know she wouldn’t believe me. I was all out of options. The only thing that felt right to do was to cry and that’s what I did. I cried so hard that day that Jake had to carry me home on his back. It’s been two weeks since I have last spoken to (Y/N), two of the longest fucking weeks of my life. I thought losing my dad was painful but this...this has won the race. I couldn’t bear the heartbreak so I started to stay out longer. I asked to take over Leah and Jake’s patrol hours. I don’t even remember the last time I ate. I can only remember our last encounter, it’s like a nonstop movie in my head it was causing me to go insane.

I hate it here.

I have been spending most of my days down at the border. I was monitoring the days where Colin and Brady patrolled, they were my best option to trick into letting me cross the border. It was my only way to apologize to (Y/N). So here I was trying to wave down Collin and Brady so I could continue with my ridiculous plan.

“Hey! Colin, Brady pshhh, come here!” I yelled out in the distance to the two wolves. I was standing at the border waiting for them to shift as well. I wasn’t in my wolf form. The last thing I wanted to do was be a threat to them. 

Brady was the first to walk from behind the tree while Colin stood behind the tree too nervous to face me. I could read their body language from a mile away, they were very uncomfortable with being around me. 

Brady snarled at me, I observed as all of the muscles in his body grew tense as he spoke. “I heard you got into it with Paul. He should have ripped your fucking head off.”

“Wow I wasn’t expecting that from you Brady, but thanks I guess.” I wasn’t trying to be an ass but it just rolled off my tongue. Straight away I regretted it, it only pissed him off even more. 

Brady pulled Colin by the collar of his shirt pushing him towards me. The kid could barely keep his posture straight or his eyes focused on me. He had no confidence in his steps and started to trip over the branches on the ground.

Brady pointed between the both of us with his thumb. He had an irritated facial expression plastered on his face. “Tell him what you told me when he left.” he spat bitterly, a small smirk was rising on his face but soon faded as Colin spoke.

“Do I have to?” Colin mumbled, he waved shyly at me. I took this opportunity to wave back to him. I gave him a small smile as well. Colin, Brady, and I were always close but Brady was always the fiery type while Colin was timid.

“Yes, you have to say it!” Brady exclaimed.

Colin rolled his eyes, “Fine, I said that you were an ass for leaving us behind. It wouldn’t be the first time that you left us.” Brady glared at him to continue, “I also said that you have a reputation for turning your back on us.”

I noticed Brady smiling at Colin; he must have felt accomplished. I must admit, I did feel bad, I left them behind but it was some things that they have not come to reality with.  “Listen I need a huge favor. I need you to let me cross the border so I can see (Y/N).”

Brady rolled his eyes, “Wow so you just completely ignored what we have to say? Why would we let you cross the border and jeopardize us? Yeah, that was a stupid request.”

“You’ll do it because I am your superior. In Jakes’s pack I’m the beta...but don’t ask Leah or else she’ll lie. She thinks she’s the beta because she’s older but in reality, Jake named me the beta.” 

Colin had a questionably look on his face, by now he has grown more comfortable with me and now is standing face to face just like Brady. “Why would you want to see someone who doesn’t want to see you?” 

I was taken aback, “Why do you mean? She wants to see me, there is no way that she would not want to see me.”

“Umm I highly doubt it, she’s been living well since the accident. We went skating last week with us and the others. Not once has she mentioned your name.” Brady slapped Colin across the back of his head. I watched as the two bickered back and forth. Brady pushed Colin away from him. He snapped his fingers to gain my attention from my feet. I hadn’t realized that I was getting sidetracked but I was trying to figure out why (Y/N)  wasn’t heartbroken.

“She made it clear that she didn’t want to be around you anymore Seth. Dude if I were you I’d really leave her the fuck alone. She really wants nothing to do with you. If you try to see her she’ll probably freak out on you. You’re pretty much dead to her.” Brady then smirked, “There’s also another guy that has been keeping her busy lately.��

Ouch. Well, that hurt...it actually hurt a lot. I cleared my throat so I could stop the tears from arising. We’re not about to cry in front of them!

Colin now slapped Brady beside the head. “You could have said it nicer, idiot.”

“What! Her words, not mine!” 

“Just forget about it.” I spat bitterly, If you wanted to forget about me and everything we had then so be it. I could forget you just as fast as you did me. I could care less about those stupid ass memories we made together. Just like you said I really didn’t love you it was just the stupid feeling of you being my damn imprint. 

I continued to walk and degrade our relationship. Jake tried to stop and talk to me but I just shoved him out of the way. He started to piss me off as well. He had his nose shoved so far up the Cullens ass he couldn’t tell you what roses smell like. Then here comes my second problem, Leah.  I didn’t dare shove her. I didn’t want to pick a fight with her right now. I could explode on her and say some things I didn’t mean. 

“Where the hell have you been!? Were you down at the border again?”

“Does it really matter?” I rolled my eyes at the screaming woman. If she wanted to be my mom then she should have birthed me out. She tugged me backward pulling her face up to hers. I stared into her lonely eyes as she did the same with me.

“You’re my little brother so you are my business. Stop doing dumb shit, Seth.”

 I ripped my face from her hands. “So let me get this straight when I need you you’re nowhere to be found but when I do something dumb you magically appear.” I already knew where the conversation was heading. I was not in the mood to hear her shit right now because I was a walking bomb ready to explode.

“Did you go see (Y/N)?”

“No! I didn’t see her. Why do you make everything about her? I could care less about her.” I couldn’t control myself. I threw my fist into a nearby tree. It cracked and fell to the ground. I didn’t realize I was crying until I felt the tears roll down my cheeks.  As much as I wanted the tears to stop falling I couldn’t. I have never felt so empty in my entire life. That same feeling of heartbreak resurfaced throughout my body. My chest began to tighten, a sharp pain shot throughout my body as I tried to walk forward.

”Make it stop hurting Leah.” I began to sob uncontrollably. “It hurts so bad, why did she have to go? Why is everyone leaving me? What did I do to deserve this….I just try so hard to make everyone happy but when will it be my turn to be happy?  Mom is fucking dating Charlie now. We barely see her anymore only on fucking holidays!  Why did dad have to fucking go!? And you only check on me when it’s convenient for you Leah! Why is everyone leaving me, Leah!?”

“Seth I-”

I cut her off, “Don’t say it.” I knew I was going to apologize about the accident that happened with dad. I never blamed her for the accident. She didn’t mean any harm by it. I could never bring myself to blame her.

 I started to wipe my tears with the sleeves of my flannel shirt. It brought back the memories of the time that (Y/N) would take my flannel and wear it with her converse and shorts. I started to cry all over again at the thought. I started to choke on my words, everything that was coming out of my mouth was undetectable. “(Y/N) was always there for me and now I chose the bloodsuckers over her. She doesn’t understand that it was the right thing to do. They were going to kill a baby. Leah, I don’t have anyone else. I’m so fucking lonely!” 

“I know how it feels Seth. It hurts like hell but you’ll get over it. I’m sorry that you felt like I wasn’t there for you. I must admit that I was being completely selfish. I love you Seth and don’t you forget that.” I started to relax under her embrace. I haven’t seen this side of her since she and Sam were together. It was good to have her back though. “I love you too.”

I followed her gaze, she was staring up at the stars. “I want you to cry it all out, Seth. All of that heartbreak and sadness you have deep within you I want you to let it the fuck out. If you hold it in it’ll turn into anger then that anger will turn into bitterness. I’ll come back and check on you in the morning.”

I don’t want to be alone…

Leah’s footsteps started to become faint, I was left alone in my thoughts once again. I honestly didn’t want her to go. All I wanted for her to do was to hold me and tell me everything was going to be alright. I was stuck on ground zero like I was when my dad died, no one was there for me except (Y/N). She would probably hold me in her hands while whispering the things I wanted to hear. I wish you were here right now, maybe I wouldn’t be so angry at the world. 

“Fuck it!” I started to yell out in the night air. I threw punches in the nearby tree to try and let my anger out. I hit each syllable of the words in the tree. “Fuck you, Sam! And Fuck you too Paul!! I’m not scared of you!” “I don’t care what anyone does and says to me. I’m going to see her and no one is going to stop me.” I didn’t stop until the tree flew back by the force of my hits.

I shifted into my wolf and ran towards her scent. Brady and Colin were still on patrol however they were both on the other side of the forest. It would take them a while to catch up to me at the speed I was running at. A sinister laugh escaped from my lips. This power or maybe it was the adrenaline….no, this was most definitely power. It made me feel invincible, By no means this was me finally sticking up for myself, or how (Y/N) would say, this was me finally growing some balls.

Her scent was in the direction of the beach, oh how could I miss that scent. I followed the dominating scent but there was something a bit off with her scent. It was a mixture of something foreign. I gazed out to the beach scanning every person that was out there. It seemed like there was a party, there were so many teenagers out around the bonfire. I growled out as I watched you sit on a log with another guy’s hoodie on. His cheap polo cologne filled my nostrils. You were sitting there laughing at something that he said which probably wasn’t that funny. 

“Tch, I want to know what’s so funny.” Anger arose in my body causing my teeth and claws to sharpen. My breathing became irregular and there was a tight feeling in my chest. I tried to ignore it but the harder I breathe the more painful it becomes. I took a step forward and instantly collapsed on the ground. My wolf form quickly disappeared and there I was laying on the ground in the fetal position. I tried to crawl but my body felt numb. The only feeling I had was the tears falling from my eyes down my cheeks and onto the ground. I even tried to scream out your name but nothing came out but a gasping sound.

Was I dying?

I started to cry even harder, the thought of dying always freaked me out but the thought of leaving you with guilt made me feel even worse. The sobs were coming out more frequently than I anticipated. I didn’t have time to catch my breath or even think straight. Everything felt like it was closing on me. The air around me started to thin out making me feel dizzy. The pain in my chest starts to become more unbearable. 

“(Y/N) wait...I..I...can’t breathe!” I choked out the words barely having the strength to do it. My head started to pound from the lack of oxygen I was getting. My hearing was becoming undetectable. I felt my body go stiff and my eyes fluttered shut as well, everything became dark and warm. 

It took every bone and ounce of energy to draw a tiny heart near me. If (Y/N) found me like this then she would see the heart. She’ll know that I died loving her...right? Was I even dying or am I just being dramatic? I don’t know, I just want to embrace the warmness that surrounding me right now. 

[bokettochild]

Hey I was wondering if you could write a short fic related to your story ‘the blood between us’, from Warriors PoV when Wild got taken away from him as a child

This is more of a drabble than anything, and I probably will revisit it later, but I thought I would share this little piece now.

Sorry if it isn't angsty enough, I'm running on nerves and spontaneous inspiration right now.

Link cried when he first saw his son.

Bundled up in the carefully washed scarf that Zelda had made for him years ago, his child looked so small and fragile. Sablya had smiled, weak and weary as she offered the child to him, and for half of a moment he almost refused.

Once their child was in his arms, however, there was no removing him from them.

Whisps of golden hair and a brief hint of shimmering cornflower blue eyes reflected a perfect balance of the orange sheen of his mother and the dusty blonde of his father, as well as a the mix between Royal blue and dusky silver.

Their child’s skin was mottled in a way that may have worried the two new parents, had it not been for his mother’s blood providing all the answers they could need.

He was perfect.

Link had clutched the tiny bundle close to his chest, crystal tears running down his face as his wife gently patted his arm, a smile twitching at her dark lips as she listened to the whispered promises of love and protection from her soldier husband. There was no doubt in the mind of the midwife, as the woman packed her bag and made to leave, that these two would make excellent parents.

“Why Zve-Zvee-”

“Zvezda.” Sablya correcting, the word rolling off her tongue with the same lilting of her accent that it always bore. “It mean ‘shining one’, Link.”

“And for Hylia’s sakes, you are not naming your child ‘Link’.” Grandfather had grumbled, shuddering slightly even as a sad smile pulled at his features.

“See?” Dark brows arched regally as his wife looked down at him. “Fate can not steal him if name is from realm beyond the control of goddesses themselves.”

Link had sighed and shaken his head. “I can’t even say it.”

“Then say Zvee,” Sablya chuckled, eyes lingering on the child in her arms. “It mean ‘bright’.”

“And bright he will be,” Grandfather chuckled. “I can already see him messin’ round with those contraptions yer cousin had commissioned.”

“Riding Guardians, play with runes.” Sablya chuckled. “Will master all mysteries.”

“Hey now, don’t settle too heavy of expectations on the babe’s shoulders, he’s not even babbling yet.” Link protested, reaching out for the infant in his wife’s arms only to have the other two laugh at him.

Little Zvezda, or Zvee, as Link eventually agreed to, grew fast and strong. He was a small thing, but there was never any fear for his safety. Not when Link was such a doting father, forever keeping his gaze after the child, even with Linkle’s and his wolf friend from their childhood looking out for him.

True to the family ways, the babe was active, if not a bit quiet, and there were few days when he wasn’t found wandering about, his father trailing behind and the wolf faithfully following at his side. Animals flocked to him and there wasn’t an outing where some bird or beastie wasn’t found coming closer than usual to their small infant.

He was nearly silent, slipping off and out of sight in a moment's notice. Unnaturally fast, Link had complained to Grandfather with a fond sigh, eyes trailing after his son as the boy chased after his wolf companion. He was remarkably clever; Zelda had laughed as she watched chubby fingers held twist a bolt into one of the guardians that her Sheikah researchers was working on.

“Sunshine.” Zelda cooed as she swung about the castle halls with him in her arms.

“Little Shade.” Sablya whispered as he snuck into their room in the middle of the night.

“Wild Child.” link would chuckle as he removed the babe from one or another den or grove that the babe somehow managed to sneak off too.

Zvezda was the light of Link’s life but there was no getting away with keeping his precious son to himself. Even the Guardian’s of Time, on their rare visits to the castle, had become enchanted with him. Cia and Lana would coo and laugh as the cubby toddler would explore and poke about in a manner all his own, their laughter only growing as Link had been forced to break form from the rest of the soldiers in order to chase down his offspring. He would have left Zvee at home with Sablya, only Zelda had insisted that she get to see her nephew.

Link had never been stared at with such disapproval by his commanding officer, but with his son giggling and cooing in his arms, he found that he didn’t really care.

It was the little moments that he loved the most. The moments when Sablya and he would wrap their child in Link’s scarf, for no blanket would suffice, not as far as Zvezda was concerned, which Zelda had carefully enlarged for that very purpose, songs and melodies slipping off of their tongues as they sang him to sleep.

It was moments like when Grandfather would toss Zvee into the air, shrieking giggles filling the house as Sablya watched with worry as their child soared, only to be caught by hands roughened by sea and storms but gentle as could be. Zvee would burry his hands in Grandfather’s beard just as Link had as a child, and it wasn’t uncommon to find the two fast asleep together come the middle of the day, Zvee looking for all the world like a little golden bird curled up in his great-grandfather's beard.

It was moments like when the wolf would come, Zvee hanging out of his mouth like some sort of cub, a tired expression on the canine’s face as he deposited a scraped and bruised Zvee into Link’s lap, where he would be combed and brushed, the twigs pulled from his hair and the scrapes tended as Link would scold him gently. The scoldings were quickly forgotten and the twigs would be back within hours some days, but Link could only smile and settle the child down again, repeating himself as he ran a brush through silky long locks.

Moments like when Sablya had taken their family to her own home and presented their child to her own great-grandfather, pride clear on her face as she had watched the old Hylian hold their son. Zvezda had taken to his great-great-grandfather in a way that he had never done with strangers before, but Link blamed it on the heavy furs that the man wore; Zvee was always a sucker for fluffy things.

These were the moments that he treasured the most. The simple times.

But all good things must come to an end.

A guardian can only stand to sit alone in a palace and watch the world go by for so long. Two girls locked away from the world, save on set occasions, were bound to eventually snap.

Lana had turned her loneliness and sorrow into passion as she did her best by the timeline, but Cia had allowed hers to fester, growing bitter as she watched the rest of the world find love and safety in the arms of others, left herself with no one.

Her jealousy towards the crown and her desperation for a companion that would last through time had driven her to break the vows of the Time Guardians attacking the palace and the princess within.

Link had been called to service that day, a messenger riding past their house with a message to gather at the castle, to defend the princess.

Link kissed his wife and son goodbye, eyes lingering on them for a moment as resolve stirred within. He’d defeated Malladus as a child, a corrupted Time Guardian could hardly be worse. He would be home in no time, his child in his arms and his wife by his side.

Sablya smiled at him with pride. “Kick ass.”

“Ass!” Zvezda echoed, earning his mother a sharp look from her beloved as she chuckled.

A final kiss for the each of them and he was swinging up on Epona’s back and riding out with the rest of the soldiers.

He never would have guessed that while saving a life he would be bestowed with the Triforce. Never could have guessed that in gaining the goddesses favor he would also catch the eye of a bitterly lonely woman.

He was named the Hero Incarnate before the kingdom.

Grandfather had smiled with pride, but his eyes had held a sadness that Link could not understand.

Sablya had kissed his lips, murmuring softly that the hero’s tunic suited her beloved far better than any Hylian soldiers' uniform. Zvezda had promptly pulled off his hat and attempted to put it on.

“You’ll never have to wear that thing,” Link promised that night as he pulled the long green cap from his sleeping child’s fingers. “Not on my watch, Little Zvee.”

“Thank Hylia.” Linkle giggled quietly from the door to the bedroom. “That thing looks terrible.”

He’d thrown the cap at her, making her muffle a screech as she darted out of the way, but he didn’t push further. Pride welled in his heart as he thought of the honor he had been bestowed, and that one day, his son might look to him and see a hero. It was a wonderful thought.

Being a hero was a wonderous thing.

Until it wasn’t.

Until he was waking up to a wind that shouldn’t have been there. Until he was rushing down the halls as Zvezda’s screams echoed into their room.

Sablya and he had barely burst through the door, their nightclothes hanging loose about them as their terrified gazes had turned from the empty bed to the child sliding slowly across the floor, his sleeve locked in the jaws of the golden wolf as it attempted to pull it away from the swirling dark abyss that had appeared on the far wall.

Link had darted forwards, fear pounding in his heart and hands already reaching for his son.

Zvezda’s fingers brushed against his for one heart pounding second.

There was a whooshing of the portal, a final pull fo wind and a final shriek mingling with a frightened bark.

And then there was silence.

Link cried when he first saw his son.

The night that he lost him, all of Hyrule could hear the roars of agony.

[stayatiny]

The King ~Chapter Four

Pairing(s) King!Werewolf! Bang Chan x Human!Reader Series Warning(s) – Swearing, Violence, Wolf Dynamics, Smut (in later chapters) and along with others that will be added later. Chapter warning(s) – Lots of Swearing, almost fight A/N – Thank you to everyone who has followed, like and reblogged. I feel someone shaking me awake. I crack one eye open to see Hannah. She’s in everyday clothing. “Hey, Y/N, its time to get up its 10am.” I sit up, rubbing my eyes. “Your brother brought you some clothes. I'll help you get dressed if you need to,” she said. I throw my legs over the side of the bed. I was able to stand on my own and put weight on my ankle. “Good it looks like you can get around on your own now. But do you still need me to help you?” I shook my head. “No, I think I got it. But if I need you, I’ll call you,” I say grabbing my clothes. She nodded, happily and sat on the bed. I was still hobbling not really wanting to put weight on it yet but some. My brother brought me a t-shirt and jean shorts and even some sneakers. I finish getting dressed and handing my dirty clothes to Hannah. Jay even thought about packing a scrunchie for my hair. He knows me so well.

“Chris wanted to make sure that you ate before meeting with him. He knows that you have a lot of questions.” I nod and follow her into the dining room. She linked her arm with mine. I used to roam around these halls with her and Chris when we were young. Before our parents died, our family were the closest nobles to the royal family. So much so that us kids would play together. We hung out and played together constantly. But when I turned twelve, our parents were killed by the king. “Our chef made some French toast and hash browns. I think those are still your favorite, right,” she asked. I nodded. I’m surprised she remembered that. Although I was twenty now, I still eat like a child. “Good.” We continued in silence as she opened the dining room door to see Jay and Chris sitting at the table. “Good morning, Y/N,” Jay said letting me sit by him. I sat quietly while they talked. Chris smiled at me as I sat across from him. I half smiled back. “Did you sleep well?” I nodded looking around the dining room. Nothing really changed except the wall color was now a pale cream color instead of navy blue. I looked over at Chris. He was in a plain white shirt now, but I noticed some stray blood on his face. It was too small of a splatter to be his. I shudder to think on what happened to the suspect. I had heard that his three years as a king he is quite brutal when it came to crimes against his people human or not. Hannah pointed it out to Chris as he wiped his face. “Good. Food should be ready soon and then we can talk, okay?” I took a sip of water. “Okay.” We ate while talking about the olden days of our childhood like nothing ever changed. “Okay, I have to go to work. Chris will make sure that you get home alright?” Jay hugged me and kissed my forehead. Great alone again with Chris… “Y/N, come with me.” I hear Chris say. He grabs my wrist lightly and pulls me into his office once again. It brought back the memories of me finding out the truth a pang of guilt and sadness surging through me. “I’m sure that you have a lot of questions.” He sat in his chair waiting on me to say something. “Just one. Why?” He let out a sigh. He got up and stood in front of me leaning on the oak desk. “From what we gathered, they knew that you wouldn’t have a normal life and they though that killing us would make it better for the humans. But in all honesty, it probably would have led to another war between the two. I don’t blame them for wanting better for you,” he explained. “Why am I just now finding out about this?” Chris frowned. “You should have been told when it happened. I wish someone had I feel like you would have been around more had you known the truth.” I feel myself blush. I do have to admit that I did have a crush on him when I was young. “Maybe I would have. Everything is so different now that you are king.” He frowns again. “I’m still the same guy just with power and not as awkward.” I chuckle. He was. I was getting ready to hug him when fucking Miranda busted through the door. Motherfucker… “Chrisy, I was so worried about you,” she said going to hug him, pushing me out of the way again. I roll my eyes. Hannah followed in after her. “Miranda, leave my brother alone and go home. Also how did you even get in the castle grounds they’re off limits to the public right now?” Miranda smiled. “My mother works for yours remember so she let me in to see Chris,” she said putting her hands on her hips. She glared at me. “What is she doing here then,” she huffed and then pointing to me. I clenched my fist and my teeth. “I mean considering Y/N’s brother works here and my brother was protecting her last night. I also believe that’s its none of your fucking business to know why she’s here. Their family is still one of the most powerful families out there so I would watch who you’re talking too.” Hannah is in her face. Holy shit I forgot how kick ass she is. “At least my family didn’t commit treason.” Before I knew what I was doing. I lunged forward but Chris grabbed me holding me by the waist. “She’s not worth it, Y/N,” Chris

whispered in my ear. I kept trying to get after her. “You need to leave,” Hannah said, looking like she’s ready to her herself. Miranda flicked her hair back. “Fine then but wait till everyone hears that the human is hanging with the big dogs again.” She left out of the room leaving the tension at a high. Chris still held me in case I went after her. “Are you alright now?” I looked at Chris. I fixed my shirt that had raised from him grabbing me. “Yeah I’m fine,” I huffed. Not really but I didn’t want to end back up into his arms again. “I’ll tell mother that Miranda was let in. Why don’t you take Y/N back home? I’m sure she has work tomorrow,” Hannah said, looking to her brother. Oh yeah right full moons a thing. “Right. I’ll walk you home. Do you still know the back way?” I nodded as we left the office. We would take a lone path behind the castle that led to our house. I was tired and ready for a hot shower and my bed. Chris led to the path it was only slightly overgrown with colorful flowers, weeds, and vines. Even though grown over the ghost of a path still remained prominent. “It looks so different out here. But there again it has been years since I’ve been through here,” I said then letting out a nervous chuckle. “Yeah I didn’t realize how beautiful the flowers are through here,” he says smiling. I blush lightly. He grabbed my hand leading me down the path. “You know as kids we were pretty wild, right?” I looked up at him and nodded. “Yeah we were even up until…you know. We were always in trouble.” Chris nodded as we neared our back gate. As we reached my house, Chris stopped me from going in his eyes changing color. “What’s wrong Chris?” He pushed me to the side of the house gently. He points to the door. Its slightly ajar but I never open the back door “Stay here. Someone’s been in your house besides your brother,” he explained and headed in. My hearts starts to pound while waiting for Chris to come back. After a lifetime, or about 10 minutes he comes back out. “You’re gonna wanna see this,” he says following me into the house. Everything was still in place until I got to the basement door. I stared at Chris. He gave me a nod letting me its okay. “What did you keep down here?” My brows knitted together that’s when it hit me. “When my parents papers and journals were seized when the assassination attempt was made what ever was left my uncle put down in the basement,” I said flipping on the light. As light filled the room, I see everything thrown around papers, documents, even our baby pictures laid scattered on the floor. Chris bent down to look at what’s left of the papers. “There’s nothing here but old grocery lists, drawings you and your brother did, and receipts. What ever it was they didn’t find it and left.” I nodded. But what were they looking for?

[btsqualityy]

Assuage: Chapter 19

Yoongi x Reader

Genre: ABO (Alpha/Beta/Omega) dynamics, angst, fluff, smut, enemies to lovers

Warnings: Mentions of abuse

“You did what?!” Taehyung screamed and everyone in the room cringed from the sheer volume of his voice. After the chaos of the day, everyone was gathered in Namjoon and Hyorin’s cabin in an attempt to regroup and discuss what needed to happen next. 

“Tae, let it go,” Jungkook whispered but Taehyung shook his head as he looked at his brother. 

“Fuck that! I can’t believe you kicked Yoongi hyung out of the pack!” Taehyung yelled. 

“It’s what had to be done,” Namjoon shrugged. “His loyalties came into question and I had to make a judgement call.”

“Oh yeah, so damn near choking him out was a part of that judgement call?” Taehyung scoffed.

“What?” You spoke up and everyone looked over at you as you were laid out on the couch, your head placed in Hyorin’s lap as she stroked your hair. “Joon.”

“He put the pack at risk, not to mention the fact that he betrayed you, Y/N-ah and Tae and all of us,” Namjoon pointed out. “Me choking him was honestly the least harmful thing that I could’ve done to him in that moment.”

“But he has nowhere to go and you know that!” Taehyung chastised. 

“That’s not my fault Taehyung,” Namjoon spat back. 

“Yeah well, you’re no better than Seo-hyun then,” Taehyung snorted and everyone in the room froze. 

“Tae Tae,” Jimin tsked in disapproval but Namjoon held his hand up, silencing him. 

“You know Tae, I realize that as our spoiled younger brother, the concept of responsibility may be lost on you but to me, it’s not,” Namjoon started. “As Pack Alpha, it is my job to ensure this pack’s safety. That means you, Y/N-ah, my mate, my pups, and everyone else that belongs to this pack.”

“So that means you would kick a member of this pack out if you thought that they endangered it? Even by accident?” Taehyung questioned.

“Yes, because that’s what has to be done sometimes,” Namjoon shot back. “Making difficult choices is what comes along with being Pack Alpha and it’s hard but you do what needs to be done in order to preserve the futures of the people who trust you. It’s a thankless job but I do it, without hesitation or reservation, because I fucking care and the last thing that I need is bullshit flack from one of the main people that I’m trying to look out for.”

“Joon hyung,” Taehyung tried to say but Namjoon swiftly turned his back and walked over to the front door, yanking it open and storming out. Hobi looked over at Hyorin and after receiving a nod from her, followed behind him and shut the door as he left.

“God, I can’t believe him,” Taehyung huffed as he began to pace back and forth around the living room. 

“That was a low blow Taehyung, and you know it,” you admonished him. “Joon just did what he thought was best.”

“And you know how he can get sometimes,” Hyorin added. “Joon’s extremely intelligent but he’s still an Alpha and you know how Alphas react when they or the people that they care about have been threatened.”

“That’s no excuse though,” Taehyung replied.

“It’s just different for Alphas, Tae,” Jungkook said. “As much as I don’t agree with what Joon hyung did, I can’t say that I wouldn’t have done the same if I were in his position. It’s about principle.”

“Fuck principle!” Taehyung exclaimed. 

“This is all my fault,” you whispered suddenly and everyone immediately looked at you, shaking their heads firmly.

“No, it’s not,” Jin told you. “You fell in love and you can’t be blamed for that.”

“Yeah, but I fell in love with a lone wolf that we didn’t know from a hole in the wall,” you sniffled. “I didn’t even ask him to explain more about his old pack because I didn’t want to be insensitive but look where that got me. Where it got us.”

“It’s not like you knew,” Jimin tried to say. “And don’t blame yourself for trying to be respectful of someone’s trauma, there’s never anything wrong with that.”

“Jimin’s right, you don’t need to beat yourself up over this,” Hyorin agreed. 

“But I can’t help but to feel so fucking dumb,” you huffed. “I let him spend my heat with me Hyo, all because my Omega liked his Alpha and I let that cloud my judgement. I should’ve thought things through more and not have rushed into it.”

“You let him spend your heat with you based on what you knew about him at the time,” Hyorin pointed out. “And don’t blame your Omega. Our wolf side doesn’t always follow the same logic as our human side but you know your Omega would never knowingly lead you astray. If your Omega trusted him, it’s because he made you feel like you could.”

“Something is off about all of this,” Taehyung announced suddenly, making everyone look over at him. “This entire situation just isn’t making sense.”

“What are you talking about?” Jin wondered.

“Y/N-ah, did you let Yoongi hyung explain when he came to talk to you?” Taehyung asked and you arched an eyebrow.

“What was there to explain Tae?” You questioned. 

“I just don’t know if any of us should be taking Seo-hyun’s word at face value,” Taehyung explained. “We don’t know that there’s any truth to what he said other than him saying it and we all know he’s a liar and a master manipulator.”

“For your information, yes, Yoongi told me himself that he was from Seo-hyun’s pack and that he knew Seo-hyun was the one who killed our parents,” you revealed. “But even if he didn’t, just the fact that he either belonged or still belongs to that pack is enough for me to never want to see his face or smell his scent again.”

“Maybe you should back off a little Tae Tae,” Jimin suggested. 

“Fine,” Taehyung huffed, reaching out and grabbing Jungkook’s hand before stalking over to the front door, pausing only to throw it open before stomping out. 

“You know, I really think you should calm down,” Jungkook told him as they walked down the front steps of the cabin. “We should head home and get some sleep.”

“You go, I’m gonna go to the Head Hall,” Taehyung shook his head.

“I really don’t think Joon hyung wants to talk right now.”

“No, not to see him,” Taehyung rolled his eyes as he began to walk away from Jungkook. “I’m going to look through some history records.”

“History records?” Jungkook repeated. “History records of what?”

“The Great Pack War,” Taehyung smirked knowingly and Jungkook groaned loudly, knowing that his fiancée was up to something. 

“I knew he wasn’t going to let this go,” Jungkook whispered to himself as he followed behind Taehyung.

..........................................

Since joining the Kim’s Pack, Yoongi hadn’t allowed himself to reflect back on the 10 years that he spent as a part of Seo-hyun’s pack but as he roamed around the woods carrying only a backpack and a duffle bag full of clothes while trying to find shelter for the night, it was almost as if his mind couldn’t help but to go back to that dark time. 

Of course, his life in that pack wasn’t always completely horrible. As a pack comprised mostly of Prime Alphas, they were always seen as desirable so there was always an ample amount of Omegas to fuck and that were willing to treat him like a King. In addition to that, being in a pack with several amazing hunters and builders meant that food was always plentiful and the cabins that they lived in would’ve been the stuff of royalty, if they had been living in medieval times. 

However, for every positive thing that Yoongi could remember about that pack, he could counter it with two negative things. Toxic masculinity was the basically the law that Seo-hyun’s pack lived by, and Yoongi couldn’t even remember how many times he had been referred to as weak by Seo-hyun and most of the other Alphas in the pack because he wasn’t a complete asshole like them.

He remembered how they would starve him if he didn’t hunt big enough animals. He remembered how getting into fist fights with other Alphas in the pack was the only way that he could somewhat prove himself and his worth. He could even remember the time when Seo-hyun demanded that he be chained up outside, in the dead of winter, all because he had given a pregnant Omega one of his extra blankets for her nest. 

Yoongi’s life had been like a rollercoaster every since the Great Pack War had started and he had thought that maybe he had finally found a stable life that could make him happy with the Kim Pack. Boy, did he feel foolish now. 

After walking for over an hour, Yoongi managed to find an abandoned cabin. After searching through it and finding no signs of human or animal life, he set his bags down and began to look through it. The cabin seemed to have been abandoned for a good while, so Yoongi figured that it was as good a place as any to stay while he figured out his next moves. 

“I don’t even know what the fuck that would be,” Yoongi muttered to himself as he spread a blanket onto the old, ratty couch that was placed in what Yoongi assumed was once the living room before laying down on top of it. Actually, as he thought about it, Yoongi realized that this was the first time in his life that he had ever been truly alone. Sure, he felt alone after his parents died and he was left in Seo-hyun’s pack, and he had felt alone when he first joined the Kim’s Pack but there was something different about now. 

Without any other bodies around, Yoongi found the silence deafening and with only his own thoughts to keep him company, he could only hope that he wouldn’t be forced to be left alone with them for too much longer. 

..........................................

Tag List:  @jikook-enthusiasts @veryuniquenamegoeshere @seolarsyj @littlrmills14-blog @preciouschimine @kt-rny @copenhagenspirit @min-yus​ @cheysjimin

[subbing-for-clones]

The Alpha and The Omega Part 4

Alpha Maul x Omega Reader

Word Count: 4.6k

WARNINGS: Cursing, Mentions of death (bounty hunting), mentions of drinking to be done in the next chapter, reluctant pining

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        Maul had stayed in the cockpit much longer than it was necessary, allowing autopilot to guide the Wolf through hyperspace. He was silently obsessing why you had felt the need to call another hunter; another Alpha. He couldn’t explain to himself or anyone else who would be stupid enough to ask why this upset him so much. He remembered what Zeni and Coth had said; Bane got you into the guild and the both of you had traveled around together for a bit over a year, long after your membership had been established with the house. He had been told that you were unmated but he couldn’t stop his mind from wondering if a close comradery was all you had shared with the Duro. The thought left a sour taste in his mouth.

    He eventually left the cockpit when he smelled something in your pheromones change, not being able to place it exactly, he ventured out. When he found you, he almost smirked at the sight before him. One he hadn’t ever seen before. The mighty lone Omega had buried herself completely in his sofa bed under the blanket she had lent him. Every few seconds her hand would dart out to snatch a piece of jerky from a plate on the nearby table and pull it under the blanket.  

    He slowly approached; mind set on taking some of the food for himself but he stopped in his tracks when a low growl rumbled out from the mess of fabric. He took a step back until it subsided. Warily he took another step forward and outstretched his hand earning a second growl that he was sure humans wouldn’t normally be able to make.

    He had become familiar with some of the cultural dynamics of the cross subspecies but as for the specific habits and instincts, he was uneducated to say the least. Equally confused as he was humored, he took another step back, gauging the perimeter around you that you suddenly required. He finally decided what the smell you were giving off was; aggression. But not outwardly so, a defensive aggression. One that said back the fuck up, so he did; not without poking the proverbial bear though.

“I understand that this is your ship, and everything in it belongs to you. However,” he watched as you peered out from your wrap, “we have six hours before we reach Hoth and I would like to rest.” He didn’t really need to. He had and could again go, days without sleep. However, he was not one to avoid getting under someone’s skin when the opportunity presented itself.

    You eyed him carefully with your eyes narrowed. Finally, ‘the bitch’ gave up for a moment so that you could understand his reasoning. With a huff, you stood with his blanket still wrapped around you and grumbled nonsense under your breath until you reached the door to your room. You glanced over your shoulder just long enough to catch his confused gaze before you turned and entered your sanctuary. Ignoring how he sniffed the air in the path you had just walked. You locked your door and turned on the incredibly dim colorful lights and pressed a remote that played soft music. You continued to grumble about stupid inconsistent cycles. It wasn’t a full-on heat like you normally experienced, more like a nagging annoyance in the back of your mind, dulled needles underneath your skin.

    After trying several different placements for the blanket saturated in his scent you finally found one that ‘the bitch’ was satisfied with. Clamoring into your vast array of blankets, pillows and other various soft things you settled in its center and closed your eyes; preparing for the tremors that you were convinced would come. Just as you got comfortable, your vambrace started beeping and an obscenely offensive red light blinked in time with the wretched noise. Growling audibly, you reached for your table and strapped it on to your wrist, violently pressing the answer button.

“Fucking. What?” your teeth clenched so hard they could crack.

“Last I recall you’re the one who wanted to talk. Had a question or something,” the Duro’s head lit up in that blue only holo-comms could emanate. You pinched the bridge of your nose and scrunched your eyes shut apologetically.

“Sorry. Yeah, yeah I do,” you opened your eyes slowly and looked at him, almost hoping he could just pry the information out of your head so you wouldn’t have to say it out loud.

“Well, you gonna ask or what ‘Meg?” he folded his arms across his chest already tired.

“So, I’m sponsoring an Alpha who didn’t know what he was until a few months ago…” you started, hoping that either Zeni or Coth had filled him in in the few days that you’d been gone.

“Heard something about that. I know the guy, did a job with him back before I picked you up. Something about a captured Jedi he wanted to hunt. Didn’t talk much.” Your eyes widened at the new information. “You haven’t told anyone about that bit, have you?”

“The fuck do I look like kid?” he was almost offended at the implication that his lips even held the ability to flap. Even if they could they wouldn’t. The sigh that escaped you was exasperated in your relief.

“So, what about him. Is he fucking with you?” his eyes narrowed further and the last word came out as a protective growl.

“No, no he’s fine but I’m not.”

“’Meg if you don’t start speaking plainly, I swear to Maker I’ll find and kill you both.”

“He smells…. Different. Intense. More so than any other Alpha I’ve ever come into contact with,” you chuckled, “even more than Fett.” His eyes widened and he thought for a moment before responding.

“When was your last cycle? Has he triggered another one?”

“I mean maybe a week or so ago? I wouldn’t call it a new one, feels different. Lighter? ‘The Bitch’ is talking more in my ear and I’m starving. Like, fucking famished.” He nodded with his fingers on his chin looking off to the side.

“Where are you right now and where is he?”

“On the way to Hoth.”

“No, I mean on the ship. Where are the both of you?”

“Oh, I’m in my room; doors locked. He’s in the common,” you glanced at the door like it was possible he could’ve manifested on your side of the durasteel door. The force could do some crazy shit but teleportation wasn’t on the list as far as you knew. Even for a Sith.

“Good. You’re not gonna like the answer ‘Meg. Don’t shoot the messenger,” your eyes snapped back to his projection, waiting for him to continue.

“Someone always smells best, stronger. Mine did, Coth and Zeni got that. Not everyone gets it or waits long enough to find it but I’d put five quarries’ credits worth on the fact that that guys’ your Alpha.”

“W-what? No, that story’s bullshit. That’s not real, is it?” He growled slightly angrily in his response.

“I said.. I fucking had it. It’s why I can’t ever have another. Don’t doubt anything cause you’ve never known it before. Like me saying your Jedi force shits fake. Ignorance I can handle ‘Meg; arrogance I won’t put up with.”

    You couldn’t respond. This is not what was supposed to happen. You were going to live your life as the lone Omega, ‘Meg the hunter. Live your life in solitude only occasionally coming to the surface to socialize with your pack members to stave off the inevitable loneliness.

“Sorry, no you’re right. I just, don’t want that? I guess, you just shocked me was all. I didn’t mean to offend you or your Omega.”

He visibly relaxed and sighed as he rubbed his head under his hat.

“Do what you gotta do. Whether that means scenting him, mating, kicking him out now, or waiting till you finish what you started with him. You don’t need to explain yourself. But that’s my best guess to your question kid.” You nodded and stared off for a moment away from the door. You thanked your old friend for his time and his insight before hanging up and rolling over and failing to find rest as the tremors started.

      Maul truly had no clue what had crawled into your skin and possessed you. He wondered for a moment if some cousin to Dathomirian magick had made its way into the ship before shaking his head. That would be ridiculous. He had grabbed another of the no less than what guessed were a thousand blankets from the shelf and laid back. He didn’t really try to eavesdrop but when he recognized the voice that was speaking to you, he bristled. He only caught a few words while he passed, faking a trip to the fresher should you be able to feel him through the force. On his way there he realized that you were in fact as affected by his scent as he was yours and that it wasn’t necessarily normal.  On his way back he couldn’t hear your words but it sounded like you had received some information that you really didn’t want to hear.

    The pheromones that you gave off were those of fear mixed with frustration and anger. He wondered how long you would’ve lasted as a Jedi if they hadn’t thrown you out. Despite his bitterness the overwhelming urge to comfort you assaulted his every sense. He pushed it down with a snarl at himself before stalking back to the cockpit trying to put some distance between the heady smells.

    He must have watched you eat at least three pounds of the dried meat hastily while gearing up to venture out onto the frozen wasteland. A small part of him wanted to ask what all this was about with you but the larger part of him knew it wasn’t his business unless you made it his business. He settled for simply asking if you were alright. You threw a sarcastic ‘perfect’ over your shoulder before throwing yourself out into the blizzard.

    You had yet again, not permitted him to bring his saber. Jabba usually wanted a head over a warm body but bodies couldn’t pay their debts, and this particular Talz owed him big. He had thought it worth the expense to make an example himself out of this smuggler. Maul was just as frustrated as he had been last time but was silent about it, much to your personal relief. You were in no mood for argument and he no doubt could sense it.

    He had landed the ship just outside a large cavern, the tracking fob blinked rapidly, signaling that the one you sought was close by. As you entered the cave you had expected to run into a Wampa or two. Bones of different creatures varying in size had alluded to it being home to one of the creatures. What you had not expected was to walk right into an onslaught of blaster fire.

    Maul had force pushed you roughly to the ground a couple meters away from your position; landing you behind a large enough boulder for you to take cover behind. Cautiously, you looked to the side through the bolts to find him taking refuge along the wall behind stone that jut out from the wall with his blaster pointing to the circling, looking to you for approval.

    You took a flash grenade out of your utility belt, hit the countdown button and tossed it; taking cover before the blinding light filled the cavern. It must have been cheaper to hire guns than pay Jabba, six humans doubled over covering their faces allowing you to take a few shots. After putting down three yourself fairly quickly you looked over at your companion again. He was firing alright but not hitting a damn thing.

“I thought you said you were ‘quite familiar with other forms of weaponry!’” you shouted over the returned fire in a slightly mocking tone.

    His response was only to look at you with wild, angry eyes that made you double over laughing in the thick of the standoff. You rolled your eyes and shook your head. You raised your blaster and took out two more, leaving one man and your quarry. You turned to face Maul and crossed your arms in your seated position behind the boulder smiling toothily at him, nodding your head to the last man.

    It took him a few shots but he managed to hit the hired gun square in his chest. You missed the glint in his eye but felt his pride through the force before he covered it again and chuckled to yourself once more. You could see the Talz shaking as he raised his blaster in his trembling hand as he slowly backed up. You pulled out your blow gun and loaded one of your tranquilizer darts. The long needle glinted ominously in the low light of the cavern, Maul watched as you took a deep breath and bring the long tube up to your mouth and wrap your lips around it. The dart flew with a short huff of breath as the Talz turned to run; striking him directly in his spine.

    The toxin took hold before the quarry could take another step, dropping to the floor with a thud and a grunt. You stood from your position and made your way over to the first of the dead body guards. Maul went to bind and secure the smuggler while you scoffed at the small number of credits you pulled from the dead’s pockets. They really didn’t get paid shit, and they died for it. You almost felt bad for them; now wasn’t the time to get soft though. They took the job and they paid the price for it, just like you risked each and every job you took. No different from the rest of the pack.

    You handed Maul half of the measly amount and one of the better blasters that one of the men carried. He hoisted the Talz onto his back and raised his brow at you before taking what you had offered.

“I told you half of what we make is yours. This falls under that category despite the fact that it’s not technically a bounty prize, I don’t go back on my word once I give it.”

    He nodded his head in thanks and followed you back to the ship. Once the smuggler was frozen in the carbonate, you led him back to the cave. He watched as you dragged the bodies of the fallen gunmen to various positions and distances. You made your way back to him and when he opened his mouth to speak you raised your hand to cut him off.

“That was a fucking atrocious display if I’m being honest. Mildly disappointing if I’m being kind,” he snapped his mouth shut with a quiet clink of his teeth. “You can’t bring your saber to the higher paying jobs, as I’ve said, too many witnesses. Do you want to pick off the bottom of the barrel, cheap thieves for your career?” he crossed his arms and glowered at you.

“No, but what would it matter if I only go after those who are wanted dead?” you jut out your hip and rested your hand on it while rolling your eyes.

“You allow yourself to wield a crutch. What if you’re attacked in public? The longer you play the game the more likely it is to happen. You going to flash your pretty red blade and take out an entire town to maintain secrecy or are you going to be smart about it?”

    He growled at your logic and took out the blaster you had plucked off of the corpse. You watched him take a few rushed shots before snarling to himself at all of his misses. You silently walked over to him and kicked the insides of his ankles lightly to widen his stance and kicked one of his heels to push it forward a few inches. He allowed you to but not without a glare. You pulled out your own blaster and demonstrated how with your dominant hand you gripped it tightly, pointer finger lined up with the barrel. With your other hand you held your palm to the bottom of the grip and wrapped your fingers around both it, and your other hand to stabilize it; bending your elbows slightly and raising the sights to your eyes.

    He followed your movements with the accuracy of a mirror. You didn’t speak until you saw him close one eye to aim, “both eyes open, its more accurate,” you demonstrated again and fired your blaster a single time, hitting the furthest target square between his eyes.

    In only three shots, Maul had hit two targets square in the chest, knocking them over. You backed up and watched him practice. It was slow going but after resituating the corpses he knocked over multiple times he had started to get consistent hits on them. When you were satisfied with his progress you lifted a head sized rock with the force and moved it side to side a decent distance in front of him. Moving targets were always a different game compared to stationary ones and the victorious glint in his eyes when he landed a single shot took you back a few years to when Bane was teaching you to shoot.

    The twin suns were beating down on you harshly in the desert that stretched out as far as you could see in any direction. The sand here was what water is to the ocean, swallowing up everything in its path. The durasteel of the ship was growing hotter and hotter by the minute under your belly and you could hear Bane curse under his breath. You didn’t have to see him on the ground below you to know his eyes were pointed in the same direction as yours, the massive skeleton of a creature you couldn’t name even if you tried. Hopefully they were extinct or at least, nowhere in the area. It lay against the horizon three hundred meters away, unscathed by your attempted blasts.

“Bane, it’s really hot up here. Can’t I come down and try again tonight?”

“Hell no, next job ‘m gonna need you to cover me from ‘nother building ‘Meg. Either you’ll hit the target or melt onto my ship tryin. Focus, the scope is doin all the hard work for you. Breath like those Jedi taught you over so many years. Take the shot when you let your breath out. Closest thing I ever come to meditation is behind the scope and you’ll do the same now until you make your mark.”

    You had taken his suggestion to heart and waited before your next shot, breathing deeply and slowly. Sweat pooled on your forehead before gathering enough to drip down your face and streaming between your breasts as the minutes ticked by. Bane was silent as you focused your shot. With one last deep breath you slowly let the air out of your lungs and squeezed the trigger. You looked through the scope again and saw that you had indeed scorched the beast just below its eye socket like you had been instructed to do. You leapt to your feet and whooped unceremoniously in your gleeful victory. You cast a prideful look down at Bane who never turned to look at you.

“You can come down after you do it five more times.”

    Your shoulders sagged and you audibly groaned, the skin on your belly getting ready to blister from the hot hull of the ship. You could have sworn at the time you had heard your literal and figurative cold blooded companion chuckle.

      You smiled at the memory as you now spoke the words of your mentor to an all too full of himself Zabrak after he hit the floating rock a single time. “We can warm up in the ship after you hit it five more times handsome.” Just as yours had, his shoulders visibly dropped but he said nothing and carried on his target practice.

    When he had accomplished the goal you laid out for him you had reached your limit in the frigid environment. When you left the cavern, the air whipped around you violently while a vicious flurry burned the exposed skin of your face. Snow had piled up even deeper around you and a thick white blanket shielded your view. You hit a button on your vambrace to open the hatch that both you and the Zabrak scurried inside. You shivered wildly as you stripped out of your already soaked outer layers. Blizzards always caught you off guard on Hoth, you hated the planet for a plethora of reasons and would take a planet like Tatooine over this frozen wasteland any day if you had the choice.

    By Maul’s body language you assessed that he would as well. His jaw was clenched yet his body still shook of its own accord from the cold. You set a pot on your stove, readying it to brew life-saving hot caf. While the water boiled you had taken first dibs in the sanistream. Under the hot water you thanked whatever gods were responsible for staving off whatever kind of ‘light heat’ you had experienced. Maul barley waited for you to fully exit the fresher before he was stripping off his tunic an indulging himself in the shower just as you had. You bit back a chuckle while you made your way to the cock pit with steaming caf in hand. You watched the blizzard from the safety and heat provided by the combination of durasteel and trans-durasteel walls of the Wolf, allowing your mind to wander.

    You had never really been a caf drinker when you were a Jedi. Your master couldn’t drink it and most of the others you surrounded yourself with looked down on the drink despite filling themselves with various teas like your old friend. You had always teased Obi Wan for loving the sugary flowery varieties over any else. Like with many other things it was Bane who introduced you to the dark ‘life sustainer’ as he called it. He laughed at how you scrunched your face up the first few times you drank it but after thirty-three hours awake steaking out a quarry you needed the boost to function.

    Your eyes rolled to the back of your head when you downed the last of your cup and you sighed at the chore of walking the six meters to the kitchen to pour yourself another cup. Like he could read your mind, and he probably could, Maul’s hand extended from behind you and took your mug. He returned a few minutes later, two steaming cups in hand, and took his seat in the co-pilot’s chair. The two of you continued to watch the snow storm in a comfortable silence.

    The quiet was broken by an incoming holo-comm. You always found the beeping to be unnecessarily jarring when the air was still. Maul simply leaned back in his seat while you answered it, the top half of your favorite Mandalorian appearing in the familiar blue hue, you grinned cheekily at the man who had half-heartedly tried to court you on multiple occasions.

“Mando Fett,” you teased, “What’s up?” His helmeted head lowered slightly in a silent sigh but your companion quickly caught his attention and he straightened his back again.

“Heard you were rolling around with another Alpha.”

“Mmm, yeah, some of what Zeni spills is the truth. Or at least half true. Heard you were the one who gave him the card.”

Maul nodded his head once in greeting to Jango who returned the gesture.

“Yeah, I did.”

“So what’s going on? Need a hand getting out of a sticky spot or do you come with holo-roses this time?” you leaned back and put your feet up on the dash, taking another gulp of caf while waggling your eyebrows at your fellow bounty hunter.

“Neither actually,” he chuckled, “I know how you love a good hunt and I’ve caught word that the Jawas on some back water planet are offering an unusually high price for Mud Horn eggs. Plus their horns always fetch a nice price, someone’s always ready to buy the hides. I figured I’d extend the invitation to you and your cold-blooded outlaw friend. New guy can come along too of course. What do you say, wanna go have some from away from the office?”

“Hmm,” you animatedly tapped a finger to your chin, “the promise of a good hunt, decent credits and you bring the beer, what’s the catch?” you smiled coyly.

“First off, bring your own booze. Secondly,” he unsheathed a large viroblade, “I say we make it interesting.”

“No blasters?”

“No blasters.”

“You’ll have to pry Bane’s from his cold dead hands.” Jango laughed loudly, “please, he’s not just a gunman, he’s an alpha. All I have to do is poke at his pride a bit and he’d take a few down with his bare hands and his teeth just to put all us younglings in our place.”

You laughed this time and turned to your tattooed companion, “what do you say? Wanna take a break from chasing quarries and go on a hunt for a day or two? It’ll still get you credits.”

    Maul took a second to glance around the cock-pit and looked at all the pictures that had been taken from various hunting parties and for the first time in his life he actually had the want to experience something like that. Yes, he had battled and defeated an array of fearsome monsters but it had always been a solo operation and for only the benefits of getting stronger and proving his worth to his master. It seemed like his new peers viewed such acts as a time to be enjoyed and remembered, the promise of credits was an added bonus as well.  

“Alright, a day or two wouldn’t put us behind schedule, would it?” his velvety yet raspy voice that you hadn’t heard in hours cut through you like a lightsaber and you caught your whimper in your throat but not without creasing your brows in annoyance.

“No it wouldn’t. you’ll just be stuck with me a little longer.” He shrugged his shoulders in response so you turned your attention back to the image of the other hunter.

“Alright, we’ll be there. Send me the coordinates. We’re on Hoth at the moment so we’ll be there in however long it takes to meet you leaving from here.”

“I’ll wait just for the sake of missing your complaints of taking a head start.” You couldn’t see his face but you could hear the smile in his voice. You pointed a finger gun in his direction, “head start or not I’ll still bag more eggs and more horns than you.”

The both of you laughed as you hung up the call right before the transmitted coordinates synced in your nav computer. Three Alphas, one Omega, and a promising hunt. This is going to be really fun or go horribly wrong. Either way, you’d get some good pictures out of it.

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