A Tale of Two Lives (BurningWillows & Rskde)

[Risky]

He listens and nods. "You're one of the few to trust me, despite me being human.. But you speak of winning an un winnable war." He says before stopping her. He waves his hand in front of them, the floor before them becomes a map of the territories, the old territories.

"These are the territories of old, North, East, West, South." He explains. The map shifts as he speaks. "Gray wolves invade, South joins them and now the East has fallen." He says, the map unites under a Gray wolf banner. "So as you can see, the Gray wolves are obviously going to win, look at our numbers." He says.

"But it's not all bad news." He explains. "Look here." He says while pointing on the map, to several human cities. "Unless you want to wait for the Eastern pups to grow into warriors, untrained warriors at that, there is the possibility of recruiting humans to our standing garrison." He says. "The only wolf humans would not be able to take on would be Isaac, the rest would be able to be killed.. And for helping, we could live in harmony, you always speak of it." He says to her.

"So why not give it a shot?" He asks, the map disappears and his gaze reaches hers.

 

[BurningWillows]

She shook her head at him, "You're always trying to jump ahead. We can discuss it tomorrow Ven. I have a few ideas. But we really should sleep."

She said goodnight and slipped into her room, walking to her bathroom and undressing, brushing out her curly locks while she spoke out loud, "Ven just asked me to find a mate, he thinks I might be lonely."

"Did you tell him you already have one?"

She laughed, returning to the room and jumping on him in the bed, "Of course not. No one would understand it yet...Lukai."

 

[Risky]

Ven laughs. "You know me, trying to be helpful and all of that." He waves her goodnight, Katerina was always a faithful friend to him. He walks back to his quarters, laying on his own bed in the corner, allowing Brea to sleep with Otis. He doesn't tuck himself into the covers, allowing the cold to envelope him.

He stands before a town, flames rising above it. He feels the weight of a rifle in his hands, he looks down and sees a loose fitting Kevlar vest, he looks up to see other soldiers with him, all in the same uniform with the same rifles.

"Hadji's! In the hills!" Someone shouts, they all turn, a rag tag group of men, women, and children in bandanas and middle eastern robes stand before the demon army. They fall to their knees, dropping their rifles at their feet.

"Dominik, what're we meant to do?" He hears.

He turns. "Kill them all." He hisses.

________

He sits up, breathing heavily, a layer of sweat coats his body.. The faces of those people he personally escorted to Hell that day would haunt him for the rest of his life.

He holds his head in his hands for a moment before walking to the bathroom connected to their quarters, he only wears a pair of underwear, nothing else.

Dominik washes his face, his hands running down from his forehead to his cheeks as he cleans off the sweat, still breathing raggedly.

 

[BurningWillows]

She wakes seconds after him, crying out. She'd been lost in his nightmare, trapped watching every horrible second of it.

"Dom," she almost cries out, tears soaking her cheeks not at the sight of all the dead, but at the fear she saw in their eyes.

 

[Risky]

Dominik turns his head to look at her. His eyes are completely black. After a moment they clear up, returning to their normal state.

He walks over to her and sits down on the bed, an apologetic look on his face. "Kayden.. Can I explain?" He whispers, his eyebrows furrowed at the sight of her tear streaked face.

 

[BurningWillows]

Her breath hitched at the sight of his black eyes, and for a moment she didn't recognize the man she loved.

"D-Dom?" she asked quietly, watching his face return to normal, her breath returning as he sat down. She pushed the blankets aside, crawling into his lap and resting her head on his chest, sighing.

"I still love you, if that's what your worried over. It just...it was a lot to watch."

 

[Risky]

Dominik rests his head against hers, listening to her calming words. "I made a lot of mistakes in my early days." He says to her quietly. "It will never happen again.. I beg you not to explore my memories, there's too much sadness and terror." He says softly.

"Please, for me." He kisses the top of her head softly while continuing to stroke her hair lightly as he speaks to her. He nuzzles the top of her head.

 

[BurningWillows]

Kayden;s stomach knotted, "Dominik I can't promise that. I see your thoughts now, your dreams, everything. If you think of a memory, I will see it. There is no way to shelter me. But, understand I could never leave you. I knew you were a demon when I chose you. I assumed you'd have a past, and I'm sure it wasn't full of rainbows and cupcakes.

 

[Risky]

Dominik nods. "Alright." He says to her quietly. He presses his lips to hers before breaking away. "Think of something pleasant and sleep." He whispers while dragging her down with him, his arms around her. He buries his face into her neck, his breath skimming along her neck.

 

[BurningWillows]

Kayden nodded, wiping her tears away as he lay her down. She closed her eyes, trying to think of happy thoughts. She ended up thinking about her mother, all the times she would sing her to sleep.

"Goodnight," she whispered, feeling his breath on her skin as she fell asleep.

 

[Risky]

Dominik holds on to that thought, playing through it in his head all throughout the night as to not wake her with his nightmares, wishing that she would see no more but knows that she will more than likely see worse.

In the morning his arms fall from her, he sits up and yawns, running a and through his hair before slipping out of bed and getting dressed. He stretched out with a groan afterwards, looking over at Kayden and smiling.

 

[BurningWillows]

Kayden wanted to sleep in, her dreams keeping her tossing and turning most of the night. But she knows Katerina had plans for a meeting, and there was Dominik too. Finally she yawns and stretches her long elegant body, completely naked under the covers after another bout of sex the night before.

"Morning," she sighs, stretching her arms out of the fur blankets before pulling them back in and shivering, "Why is it so cold in here?"

It made no sense for the room to be cold; the caverns they had chosen had been particularly warm as Katerina had explained, so a to keep everyone comfortable. Although now that Kayden thought about it, she hadn't found it warm last night either, more like the caves up north which were moderately cold for the winter wolves. But her room felt icy now, terribly cold. Dominik wouldn't feel it with his heat, but Kayden could and it made her shiver, her teeth chattering as she rolled into him.

"Mind warming the room up?" she asked, shaking in his arms, "Please?"

Boy was she happy she had chosen Lukai. Not only was he a skilled fighter and an Alphaborn, but also an amazing lover. The two had spent almost the whole night rolling in the sheets, even though it was only their second time. It had dawned on Nina quickly that Lukai would be the one after spending the short amount of time with him in the river pack. He not only helped with advise, but he was gentle and kind and she could see the leader in him. It also helped that he had been one of her first choices before her father's attack.

Nevertheless now Katerina had her mate, and she was more than a little pleased with him. She had explained the whole Kayden ordeal when she had the chance, and he understood. Fortunately for the couple, Lukai found more in common with the real Nina, than Kayden's version.

"We have a meeting in an hour," Nina sighed, rolling into her mate and on top of him once more, counting the claw marks down his perfect chest, "Shall we go for a round ten before breakfast?"

"You're insatiable," Luke grinned, pulling her in for a deep kiss, "Just remember my sister is in the next room."

With all the chaos, Luke had barely gotten his baby sister out of the northern caves. When he arrived at the oak tree with the others, she had been on his back sleeping soundly, easily ignored while everyone thought up plans. Now she had a small room offset Nina's and his, so that Luke could watch her. They'd already heard the news of the eastern pack, but to Nina's surprise Lukai was more upset about losing his home. He hadn't shared it with anyone but he had no parents, both having died in battle after their second child. Luke had been left to raise her alone, and it was why she had come with him to the north. In a way, Nina had just gained not just a sister but a daughter, a little girl she would be raising along with their own children when the time came.

Hayley had been awake all night, sobbing into her pillow. She had let Flynn sleep, knowing he was exhausted from the beatings and the fight, still thankful he'd saved her life. But the image of her father's lifeless face haunted her, refusing to let her sleep or even lie quietly as she cried all night, having lost her home, her family...everything save for Flynn.

 

[Risky]

Dominik groans quietly, not having noticed the cold but he feels her body shivering against his and he just nods, slipping out of the bed before setting himself completely ablaze, the room is warm in a matter of seconds. He puts himself out before collapsing on the bed next to her, letting out a little sigh as he buries his face into her neck.

Even after around 2200 years of experience, Dominik had never been able to find a love like Kayden, Demonesses never were sated by demons, usually consuming humans through sexual acts is what they did to be satisfied. But the girl next to him is special and he wants her to always be safe.

 

[BurningWillows]

Kayden hummed while he warmed the room, then giggled as he returned to human form...stark naked.

"You forgot your clothing burns," she laughed, pulling him down on the bed as their bodies intertwined, "I like you better this way though."

They were fooling around, trying to rid their minds of that nightmare by making the other laugh when there was a small knock on the door and Kayden only had seconds to cover her and her mate before Nina's head poked in.

"Hey love bird - holy hell is it hot in here!"

Kayden shrugged, "Not really, it seemed cold before so Dominik turned up the heat a bit."

Nina arched an eyebrow, "Kay it feels like a sauna in here. The caverns are naturally warm. Are you feeling alright?"

"Fine," she shrugged, "Maybe I'm just not used to the temperature."

"Mhm, well we have a meeting right after breakfast so I suggest you eat. See you then."

~

The meeting itself was in a large room Ven had cut out of the rock, with a giant flat slab in the middle as a table that had also been Ven's design. Kayden was catching on quickly why Nina liked having Ven around, and why she trusted his advice. He'd been proving himself quite a bit in the last few days.

Around the large slab were chairs that had been brought in for them. The River Pack were the traders, merchants, and builders of the clan - the wolves of trade- so luckily for them they were without a lot of necessary furniture when they moved in the night before. Wolves had dragged carts full of leather blankets, wooden pieces to make beds and chairs, and all kinds of tools to continue their respective trades. During breakfast Kayden had heard a number of people talking about setting shop in their rooms to provide other items to the small mismatched pack.

Each chair at the table was filled. Beside Kayden on her right was Dominik, then Flynn who looked pretty gruff and no one had dared speak to him yet other than hello's. Beside him was an exhausted and upset looking Hayley, though no one could blame her, then Ven, Christian, the River Beta, Petonia, and finally Lukai and Katerina who completed the circle at Kayden's left side.

"Thank you all for the short notice," Katerina spoke, her voice loud and confident, "Look I'm not like my father, and I won't sit here and demand things. I organized this meeting as a way to help everyone. But please note, my primary priorities are to find my father, and my sister-in law, Ivory."

Nina's eyes turned to Christian as she continued, "My father poses a threat to us as long as we are unaware of his location. Be he dead or alive, we need to find him. If the other side takes him, he can still be a danger to us. And Ivory is a danger to herself. She is pregnant, scared, and very likely alone. And it's already been three days since the inital attack, so she may start to feel we aren't coming for her. And no wolf should be felt like her family doesn't want her anymore."

Her last sentence was directed at her older brother, telling him she was still upset at how little he cared she was alive.

"Now as for how we find them, I don't know. And we still have a war to wage and a pack to protect."

"I don't mean to sound crass, but perhaps it be best we cut our losses and leave?" Petonia suggested, "find your sister and father, deal with the matter at hand, and then leave before the war hits us?"

"So abandon our territory?" Kayden asked, skeptical.

"There is more land out there, just waiting to be ruled. We do not have to fight over this. Besides, their numbers will lower, and without a proper leader, they will eventually dissipate. The only thing keeping them together is the fight."

"She's not wrong," Hayley croaked, "Those men...what they wanted to do to me. What they did to those girls who died? They aren't interested in returning to old clan laws. They want blood and sex and chaos. If we leave, we might just save ourselves, and let them rot."

"We have easily a hundred wolves in these caves," Katerina shot back, "I'm not saying its an idea, and I know even Ven has been pushing for it, but how are we to move all these people unnoticed? And who will govern them?"

 

[Risky]

Dominik throws the covers over them and rolls off of her to look at the door, his chest exposed and his face a little red at being caught by Kayden's sister.

When she leaves he looks back at Kayden. "We can continue later." He says quietly before pressing his lips to hers, jumping up to get redressed.

~

He had had enough of politics, the cowards around him that hadn't noticed his cold glare seem to still be content on running away. When Katerina finishes he stands up. "We've all been through hell the last couple of days, and I know what Hell looks like." He says loudly, the arguing voices calm and all eyes turn to him.

"Everyone is right, this is a war of chaos and that's how it's being played, obviously nobody wants to go back to the old laws, because they we're made by Isaac." He explains. "So why not fight for what is ours.. Well, yours." He says. "If we don't stand and fight now we'll be pushed over for the rest of our days, if you want to be like humans, caged in and surrounded by opponents then go ahead, nobody here needs your negativity in this war." He calls out.

Flynn stands when Dominik is finished. "I agree, our top priority needs to be this war, making our territory safe again for our young, I'd bet you even have some young coming, Katerina." He says to her.

"Nobody wants to run from this territory, we're all just a little terrified.. But the enemy are not good fighters, they took heavy losses trying to even get into the northern caves, and now with Ven's handy work we have the most defendable position on this side of the territories." He says before taking a seat.

Christian stays quiet before speaking. "I'm assembling a scouting team to find my mate, and then I'm killing every bastard with gray or red fur that's ever done my pack wrong." He says, then goes back to being quiet, leaning back in his chair.

Ven looks over at Katerina. "We still have the human garrisons." He says quietly, the idea of humans and wolves working together sounded like blasphemy, but in reality they have the chance to form the greatest fighting force in the area.

 

[BurningWillows]

"That's enough!" Katerina slammed a fist on the table, "I asked for a table discussion, not testosterone filled rage. Christian, I will see to it we find the best trackers for your team. But condemning the fire pack hardly seems necessary. Or have you all forgotten its the greys and the west that we are fighting?"

"There were still traitors in the fire pack when they attacked," Petonia replied, "How else would the grey's get in so silently and butcher Gernesh? Either the fire pack was not equipped to protect themselves, or they let the attack happen."

Hayley let out a sniffle, and suddenly her chair clattered to the ground as tears started to rush down her face, obviously affected by these cold words about her pack.

"Maybe we were too busy helping the East to realize we were being attacked!" she yelled, "Next time, we'll make sure to protect ourselves before we protect your children Christian!"

She was of course speaking of the Eastern children that had all made it out alive, while Hayley could count in her head all the other pups that lay dead now back at what had once been her home. With a scream she tossed the chair at the wall, shattering it before storming out, pushing right past Flynn who was trying to restrain her.

"So much for calm discussions," Katerina sighed, "Flynn, you are excused to handle that issue. And please, don't mention me being pregnant till I am. I love you like a father but I'm in no way ready for children."

She excused him, hearing Hayleys snarls and screaming as she tore down the hallway, yelling at whomever got in her path.

"You all failed to remember that was her pack," Nina spoke somberly, "I don't think they'll be returning today. Back to the issues at hand. No Dominik, we are not running in and fighting blindly. If they have my father that be suicide. And no Ven, wolf matters are not outside matters. Humans would simply die in our fights. What I need from all of you is ideas on how to win this war without more bledshed. Or we leave. And I need to find Issac."

"Let me," Lukai offered, "I'll take a few men and we will sniff him out."

"Lukai I need you here," Nina shook her head, "If we get attacked, every eastern soldier will help. I will send Ven and a handful of wolves though, if you are up to it Ven. You can track him with magic, yes?"

While the discussion went over way Kayden tried to pay attention but that cold was setting in again. Soon she felt like she'd be sick, the cold biting at her skin.

"Is anyone else cold in here?" she asked.

"No it's warm in here Kay," Lukai shrugged, "You not feeling well?"

"I'm fine," Kayden shrugged, standing up shakily, "I think I might just get a breath of fresh - oof!"

The minute she took a step she fell, her brain going dark as she fell unconscious, her body crumpling to the floor.

 

[Risky]

Dominik sighs, running a hand through his hair, watching his mate when she speaks up, he doesn't notice the temperature but when she stands up and falls he jumps to his feet, immediately down at her side, he rests a hand on her forehead, noticing a fever developing. "I need to take care of her, excuse me." He says before scooping her up, walking her to the makeshift medical area.

A few of the Northern wolves that had been in the infirmary back in the caves had made it here, they all have their hands full with the patients that seem to constantly be coming in. He lays her down on one of the beds, a nurse immediately getting to work on her, recognizing her as Katerina's sister.. Or Katerina, either way he doesn't care, he wants her to heal.

Flynn jumps up and follows her out, having been given permission to do so. He catches up with her easily, placing a hand on her shoulder, a firm grip that wouldn't be broken easily. "Hayley, they don't know what they're talking about.." He says quietly while wrapping an arm around her, pulling her against him.

Christian's senses have become too numbed by the absence of his mate to even care about what Hayley was babbling about, his eyes meet Katerina's, the kind've 'We need to talk' look before he simply stands and leaves, not even asking for permission to do so.

Ven bites the bottom of his lip before nodding. "I'd be willing to go with the scouting party." He says.

 

[BurningWillows]

Katerina sighed, the meeting was quickly falling apart.

"Please Ven. I trust you with my life. If you find him, don't tell him I'm here. Let him meet me face to face."

"I'll help the wizard find a team," Petonia chimed in.

"Ok," Nina waved, "Meeting is obviously dismissed, I need to speak to my brother and find my sister."

As the room cleared out Lukai remained, waiting till no one was watching to pick her up and set her on the table, kissing her neck.

"You looked stressed," he mumbled against her skin, his hands roaming her perfect body.

"I am, everyone is at odds. I should find Christian, he gave me that look that says he wants to talk. And my sister..."

"Is in good hands with her mate. And Christian can wait ten minutes."

Suddenly he was pushing her tunic up, his own pants falling to the floor.

"Sex here Luke? Wasn't last night enough?"

"No," he groaned, thrusting into her, "I can't get enough of you. I swear, I might be addicted."

She moaned in response, riding him hard while still sitting her bare ass on the table, "And I you. Be quick love, I do have duties."

~

In ten minutes Katerina was prancing out of the room, looking much happier as she slip down the hall to Christian's quarters that she knew was near hers. Lukai slipped out of the room too seconds later, the biggest grin on his face as he went in the opposite direction.

"Christian?" she knocked on his door, hoping he'd answer.

Kayden was out cold, and as much as the nurse tried, she could see nothing wrong with Kayden, not even a high fever.

"She's slightly flushed," she shrugged, at a loss, "But otherwise she's healthy. I don't know why she won't wake."

Another nurse walked up to check, and ended up seconding that conclusion.

"I'm sorry, we haven't had this problem before," the first nurse looked terrified, "We...uh...we don't have the equipment to know."

"It doesn't look like a virus of any kind," the second nurse added, "But this isn't something we've ever handled before."

Hayley tried to pull from his grasp, in such a rage and in so much pain she was blind to what Flynn was trying to do. But his strength outmatched hers and he held her in place, stopping her rampage. When he pulled her into his chest her tears became sobs, shaking in his embrace.

"They don't understand," she sobbed, "They don't understand."

 

[Risky]

Christian had been waiting in the hall until he hears moaning coming from the area the meeting had been held in, he rolls his eyes and walks to his room, closing the door behind him before sitting on his bed, holding his head in his hands.

He starts to weep, the stress of battle, his mate being lost, all of it crashing down on him at once. He hears her knock on the door, he wipes his stained cheeks, not wanting to appear emotional in public, as sorrow is something to keep private.

He opens the door to see his sister, he motions for her to step in before closing the door behind her, his eyes softening. "I'm sorry.." He says quietly, unsure if he can even touch her any more with the way he had treated her. "I.. This is all too much at once.. I don't know what to do." He explains while running his hands through his hair.

Flynn pulls her into their room before anybody can see the disheartened princess, he closes the door before wrapping his arms around her again, letting her cry it out.

Dominik sits by her side for what seems like hours, but she still shows no signs of waking, he takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, reaching out for the connection that had formed on the horizon of his mind, only to be met with silence.

He continues to try over the course of an hour, he ends up falling asleep, his head resting against her stomach. Finally something comes to him, while he can't speak out to her he can see her thoughts, her dreams...

 

[BurningWillows]

Katerina wasn't expecting an apology. She was actually expecting more of the cold and emotionless Christian who'd be stomping around as of late. She understood he was stressed without Ivory, but she thought he was getting lost in his anger and pain.

"Christian," her eyes softened and she pulled him into a hug, "Oh big brother, we will find her. I was only mad because you made it seem like you didn't care I was alive. But I understand your pain. We will find her. We will tear this forest apart for her."

Kayden was dreaming she was in a meadow. It was quite and peaceful and she lay there alone, staring at the sun for hours. Eventually she got up and wandered through the meadow, finding a waterfall, and then a warm lake. Her dreams were nice and gentle, soft and sweet, caressing her to remain asleep.

 

[Risky]

Christian hugs her back, resting his chin on her shoulder. "I care that you're alive.. You just.. Caught me at a bad time, I guess." He explains. "I missed you so much and I'm glad that you're alive.." He says quietly.

"Also, next time I ask you to meet me, please don't fuck your mate and keep me waiting." He mutters to her, a grin playing on his lips. "Oh Katerina, I'm soooooooooo addicted to you.." He teases while breaking away from her. "Oh Nina, last night wasn't enough- By the way, I heard that too, kept me up all night.." He shivers.

 

[BurningWillows]

Katerina smiles and then let's put an embarrassed laugh as he teases her, "oh god you heard that? And that?"

She rolls her eyes as he continues to tease, "not my fault he's an all in one package. But don't you go telling anyone yet. Last thing I need is for everyone to be down our throats that we chose each other."

Then she punched him in the arm, "how about the first night you and Ivory were together. Your bedroom was always beside mine. 'Ivory bounce harder. Christian, like that!!! Oooooh aaaaaaah."

She laughed and teased, glad to have her big brother back, "oh Christian, I missed you. We will find her and put everything right. I promise."

 

[Risky]

"If you want to keep it a secret you might want to avoid doing it in public." He says with the roll of his eyes, leaning against the wall while watching her.

"You were too young to understand all of that.. You wanna team up on Kayden? I heard she got so,e action too." He says with a laugh, his arms crossed over his chest.

 

[BurningWillows]

"Definitely," Nina smiled but then frowned, "she should be feeling better by now right? Maybe we should go check on our sister."

She opened the door, beckoning them to follow. When they reached the makeshift infirmary Nina was dismayed to find her twin still unconscious with Dominik sleeping at her side.

"Dom," she shook him awake, wanting the news, "Dom wake up. Why's Kayden still here?"

"She's not waking ma'am," one of the nurses explained as she walked by.

"What?!" Katerina sounded panicked, "why? What's going on Dominik?"

 

[Risky]

Dominik wakes up when he is shaken, looking up at the woman standing over hi and her brother, his eyes flick down to Kayden and he sighs. "They don't know." He explains. "And neither do I, she's just out, nothing to explain it.." He runs his hands through his hair, leaning back in his chair.

"I just want her to wake up.." He says quietly, watching her. "She's dreaming, but she's not responding when I try to talk to her, even through our connection." He says, his hands still hold one of Kayden's.