She had almost fallen. Plummeted to her death as he stood helpless - mother nature was a bitch, but he had not been surprised to see yet another muse in his life almost taken from him. Like everything else he had, it was only a matter of time before the enigma that was Sagacity left him too. Nothing was stability anymore, his life had been a tough one, full of hard lessons since the day he had been born. Much like the icy wind that battered his back as he looked out towards the lands of lore, with his back to his home, he had been numbed to feel the pain. Sure, everyone had a tough life around these parts, everyone had their own sob story, but it appeared that they had been made stronger by the challenges that they had faced- he didn't feel strong anymore. He felt cheated, robbed of everything that was his and even with his pack lands behind him, he didn't feel satisfied like he had at the lake; he didn't know that playing the family man had been so very dull he had begun to enjoy life at a more relaxed pace. He often wondered what would of happened to them if he had not chased Naira into the night, if he had not lost Lily upon the way. He couldn't imagine himself basking by the lake beneath the sun anymore, talking nonsense with Athena and watching his children growing up around him. It was a fuzzy image, more a dream than that which had once been his life but unlike most dreams this one hadn't felt real, not then and not now.

It seemed nothing would ever satisfy whatever itch he had. The moments he stole with Sagacity were enough to turn off rational thought and numb him from his torment, but when she was not around him his mind ran riot with thoughts of despair and loss. She was like an anchor, rooting him to the ground in the wildest of storms and yet he felt he could not latch onto her. He was many things; cold, violent, selfish but to name a few and most of the rumours which circulated about him were true, but he was not a liar and never had he been. He could not, would not, allow himself to spend any more time with the silver siren who tempted him from his true path... Yet, what if Naira was no longer the path he should walk upon? What if she, like everything else in his existence was just waiting to be taken away from him as she had before- was he fighting for a lost cause? Sure, they had been getting along better and the pack was doing well though a little thin on suitable candidates and yet, he found himself longing for their arguments, for the moments were harsh words were exchanged and the comfort of saying sorry would bring them closer still. It appeared he was destined never to find peace- his life was unpredictable, fiery, just like he was and he was never going to be satisfied until the calm that was settling around him erupted into flames and burnt not only him but everyone around him. Maybe he wasn't quite as healed as he thought.

The scent of the tawny wolf he thought of was carried to him as if by a servant, swirling around the tip of his wet nose upon yet another frigid blast. There was something more to her aroma, the sweet scent of her heat burned into his lungs and sent in instincts into overdrive- no wonder she had sought him out.

He glanced over his shoulder, allowing the cold of his eyes to find her and follow her as she made her way across the ridge, her position clearly meant for him as she sat down to wait, and with the smell that accompanied her he knew why she had come - she had an itch only he would scratch. Despite the sudden fire within his veins to take her there and then, he found his paws rooting to the floor, not letting himself move. The thoughts in his mind turned darker still, anger rising to the surface that it was her he had to honour rather than the female who made his blood boil, that it was her who made the choice to come to him when he had no doubts in her mind that she rather she could seek comfort from another, a dark wolf with bright eyes most likely. He wasn't stupid, in fact he was certain he was perhaps one of the smartest wolves in the lands; he was her last choice and with the look on her face which was not of glee or loving and in that moment in time he felt himself slipping.

He hated the way she was now- unlike Saga, she was strong and confident, so much unlike the girl he had first met. She did damage to his ego, continuously making him feel less alpha and more omega at her side, crushing his ego at every change she got by her need to be so damn independent and show the world she could do things on her own. Ha, bet she couldn't scratch her inner itch on her own, though no doubt she didn't need him to help with that either and she'd just find some other sap to do it. Not that he would ever allow that of course- he might not be in love with her for the moment, but he still loved her and she was his possession, whether she liked it or not. What he needed was to show her just who was boss around here and that he would not let her take another male at her side, that he was strong enough for the role she had so begrudgingly given him. An inner snarl set his instincts on fire, and he turned, leaving his throne and headed down the path that would bring him before her. His gaze set in stone, his agitation clear by the way he walked and the bristle of hackles along his neck. His mood was foul but the scent she emitted was like a beacon, calling him to her and he was almost powerless to resist... no matter how much he wanted another- Naira was here now.

It shouldn't have felt so good to see her stir, to rile her up as she took a few steps back, her own ugly snarl echoing from her lips towards him. Her agitated state was almost amusing, after the pain she had caused him he took comfort in seeing her squirm, seeing her suffer should not have made him feel so powerful, but love and hate were a very fine line- a line they seemed to walk upon more often than they should have. They seemed to bring new definition to the term "dysfunctional family".

His pace continued until he was perhaps a little too close, though he was not afraid of her. She had a nasty bite that was for sure, but in truth he felt for some reason that he welcomed any pain she might give him - he needed to feel something from her, even if it was the sharp sting of her teeth in his flesh. It was all wrong of course, but he couldn't hush the fire within him that told him to claim her and make her know that he was not her equal, but her god, a fact she had long forgotten in her quest to become a queen and whilst she was a worthy ruler- he was not a wolf who took well to authority.

He would have settled for a little argument, maybe a little tough and tumble but her stance changed. She didn't just look hot headed, but there was something more in her eyes. Her nose twitched, taking in his scent which still ponged of the silver vixen who had marked him. Her expression changed from defensive to attack mode in an instant, the pearly whites of her teeth was an ugly yet beautiful sight on her, but her words were not nearly as sweet as the sight of her all riled up.

Mutt? Challenge? She was so funny indeed, always jumping to conclusions. In fairness, he had been tormented by his guilt of his last encounter with Saga, the wolf who broke down his last line of defenses with her confidence and soulful eyes. He realised the look in her eyes at that moment, hurt, confusion- he had to hold back a smirk at witnessing the emotions he often felt when he caught a whiff of Triell or Tenzin upon her flank, but he held his expression neutral if not a little distant at that moment. Slowly it merged to a sneer, and his own head lowered from a dominant position to that of anger and defence. "Oh Naira... not everyone is a whore." he began, his usual smooth tone cold and dark. "Whilst you're busy being queen, the only other female in this pack almost fell to her death in an earth tremor, not that you would give a shit about someone other than yourself of course." he stated, matter of factly. "She was lucky I was around to help pull her from her death. At least someone appreciates my being here." he finished, adding his own snarl to the end of his words as he took yet another bold step towards, his head swimming with both anger and lust from the scent which drove him crazy as it hung like smoke in the air between them.

She made a bold step forward, her stubborness knew no end but he was not worried about losing his victory over her. In his guilt after her dissapearance and losing Lily upon the way, he allowed himself to drop his defenses, to take up yet another mask like he did with the rest of the world- a mask he hoped would let her love him again after they had been apart for so long, to help him fix himself and build himself back up to be the wolf he knew he was. The problem was the mask was cracking and he was unable to contain his true nature much longer. In the past it had been easy, many of the wolves he met during his time as a loner, he doned a different character for, he rarely saw again them again which made keeping up the illusion much easier; he was fit for only two roles in life, a loner or a leader and wouldn't settle for anything in between. Now though, the mask was old, worn and he was unable to cower to her whim like everyone else. He was strong, proud and he wasn't perhaps the most hated wolf in the land for no reason; she had forgotten her place with him and today would mark whether they could fit back together as they once had... with him on top as always.

Jealousy was an ugly look on her. The steely determination in her eyes almost brought a chuckle from his lips; he found it funny at how very angry she looked when she had come back to him far too many times drowning in the scent of other males. He never questioned her and yet here she was, accusing him of something she knew nothing of- no matter how true it might be. "Jealous, love? You're a fine one to talk... seen Triell much lately?" he crooned, not caring to hear the answer, in his smooth draw. He took yet another step towards her without an inch of fear or sign of backing down upon his face or in the way he stood. "She was very appreciative of course; she has fucking manners. Unlike some. She knows how to be a lady and be thankful to her king." he chortled, a gruff bark added to his end word as he threw it like a dagger towards her and watched her eyes closely as he waited for it to hit.

Bang. There it was. The hurt he had been looking for, the words that tipped her over the edge though he could not say he wasn't hurt by the fact it was talking of her beloved Triell that broke her, not his encounter with Saga. Would the proof of her love for the other male ever stop building up? It only spurred him on to seek out the only female in this pack who made him feel like the man he knew he was but he would find her later- for now he had to teach his woman her place. No longer was he her puppy dog, but he would show her the king he was. She would beg for mercy and scream out his name when she gave herself to him, accepting her defeat and her place in the world beneath him; with all the other dogs.

His body was coiled, bracing for whatever she threw at him, but her strength and size were not something he could easily overcome. He was not as heavy as her, but what he lacked in weight he made up for in speed and height- something most who took him on overlooked. Her movement was swift, but he turned into her rather than away, offering her the shoulder which had long since healed, and was perhaps even a little numb, since his scuffle with Marsh. She didn't take hold, instead nipped ferociously at the area, the strength in her teeth felt as if she would cut to the bone and whilst the thickness of his winter coat helped absorb some of the blow, the needle like canines began to cause the skin to throb and ache under her onslaught.
Of course, it happened so quickly- he did not stand there and simply let her nibble him. As she sought to work his shoulder he swung out his rear, turning so they were side to side, face to face, his shoulder in level with her teeth, his head around her stomach. His neck craned, he dipped low and took a snap towards her back leg, hoping to catch on in his grasp where he would pull the limb towards him and hope to knock her off balance- his weight was ready should she fall, ready to lean into her and topple her to the side with a nice shove from the shoulder she so desperatly wanted to taste.

In a blur of motion she toppled, her body landing not so softly upon the deck, despite the blanket of snow. It was far too facile, he felt she could give him more of a fight, but he would not waste time being petty- he had won and he would make sure she knew it. He had to prove himself to her, prove that he was no longer soft and with mercy. He would not let her rise, he would not play honourably because that was not who he was. He was Rhysis, a God in his own right and he needed to remind the tawny wolf who held the key to his heart that he would take no more of her insubordination towards him.


As soon as her skin met the floor he moved, standing tall over her, his long legs caging her from either side and his head dipped towards her ear. The words he spoke were not of love, nor was the tone he used of kindness. Bitterly, he spat them at her between gritted teeth. "You will learn your place." His lips moved from the cave of her ear; his nose trailed down to her cheek then he pulled his sturdy neck back, dragging his nose and the tips of his teeth along to her nape. Where it was thickest, he nipped her, harder than he should have and held on for longer than was needed. "You. Are. Mine." he hissed and moved his mouth across to her other cheek. His lowered his body, his chest pressing against the column of her spine, his teeth found the tip of her silky lobe and pressed down, hard enough to cause pain as he whispered his final words. "I am your God, Naira."



The screams of Nine Inch Nails* filled the air, breaking whatever was left of the peace around them.


*Barry White was not available for tonight, instead he has been replaced with Nine inch Nails for the purpose of this post fading.