Through Time and Space [FxF] (Clearsight x Javorcek)

[ClearSight]

Sitting atop a horse, a woman in battle-worn armor slowly moved through empty streets, her eyes slowly sweeping the buildings that went on for as far as the eye could see. She imagined people. The butcher who always shouted about having the tastiest steaks in the city, and the old woman selling handcrafted candies opposite him, taking advantage of parents' neglectful eyes as they shopped to slip free sweets to the children.

The taste of the candy felt fresh on her tongue, still memorable despite the decade of separation. Not far down the street, a sign hung off a building, gilded with gold that read, "Elna's Bakery." Below the lettering were the "Best in the capital!" Unlike the butcher, her claim rang true, so much so that the sweet taste of candy was replaced by an even sweeter loaf of bread.

The woman's imagination ran wild, taking a trip down memory lane as she moved at a leisurely pace. Once upon a time, she spent her days running back and forth, fetching all sorts of delicacies and trinkets to take back to the castle. Now, she approached it, surrounded by armed knights. As thoughts of her past faded, reality reared its head, and shouts and screams reached her ears.

"Report."

The woman's voice was dry, irritated by the warm air. She seemed to roll the word across her tongue as it went out, and her expression soured at the unfamiliar feeling.

"The third legion took control of the gates across the city, and the fourth has suppressed the city guard without casualties."

The woman turned her head and glared at the speaker, giving the man an impatient gaze, which earned a nervous cough in return.

"The first and second legions moved into the keep before they had a chance to react. There are a few reported injuries after clashing with the royal guard, but the agreement with the shadow guard held, and we managed to secure the entire inner castle without too much trouble. The only holdout is the throne room, but we have it surrounded and ready for your arrival."

The woman nodded, turning back around and digging her heels into the side of her horse, urging it forward.

"General Myra, we have also received word that carrier pigeon made it out of the city. Word should reach the expedition forces within the hour."

Myra grunted and pushed the horse harder, galloping toward the keep. As they moved deeper into the city and reached the inner gate, the situation became clear.

There were guards dressed in ceremonial armor kept tied and under watch near the keep, and the soldiers watching them were dressed in worn armor. The stark difference between soldiers once at war and those sitting comfortably in the capital played out, providing an interesting scenery as the heavily-armored procession made its way inside.

When they arrived at the entrance to the keep, Myra dismounted and handed her reins to a nearby soldier.

"General, we've got them holed up. Follow me." One of the soldiers walked over and offered to show her the way. Myra simply waved them off.

"No need. I still remember these halls," she muttered, her eyes softening as she realized how little had changed. No doubt the princess had insisted. "Queen now, I suppose."

Myra sucked in a deep breath and picked up the pace, her eyes hardening the closer she got to the throne room.

"Are the kids inside?" she asked the soldier trying to keep up.

"No, General. We secured the children as requested before starting the operation."

Only then did the anger ease, replaced by a coldness that caused those around her to shiver.

"Yikes, ease up, General. Your expression is reminding me of the wall."

The knights all laughed, but it didn't lighten Myra's mood. She simply redoubled her steps, forcing everyone behind her to jog to keep up.

No hesitance showed as Myra moved through the castle, the woman weaving her way through the complex halls with ease. Then she arrived at the throne room, where soldiers were packed to the brim in front of the massive wooden doors, blades at the ready.

"Open it!" she shouted, practically growling out the order as she rushed forward.

The soldiers only barely managed to get it open when she made it to the front. Myra didn't stop at all, pushing past anyone in her way and moving through the doors and into the large hall.

—

"Myra! Oh, greetings my dear. Here to look for Danika again?" Myra stopped in her tracks as a soothing voice and images of a time passed floated in front of her.

The general couldn't bring herself to speak or wish the ghosts of her past away, watching as a beautiful, kind woman walked forward, dressed in royal robes. The gentle smile on her face always made a young Myra calm, even after she pulled some ridiculous stunt that would surely land her in trouble.

"She's in the gardens having tea. Join her."

As Myra moved her eyes away and toward the door leading to the gardens, the images faded, and the sight of a screaming man appeared before her, followed by his enraged voice.

"You bitch! Answer me! What do you think you're doing?"

Myra's nose scrunched, and a deep growl rose in her throat. She barely managed to keep her anger in check as she ignored him and looked at the four men standing by his side. Each of them wore exquisite black steel armor and sported thick muscle. By appearance alone, they looked formidable and well-equipped, but Myra simply sneered.

"Did you ever think this day would come?" she asked instead of answering, her voice betraying her anger as it shook with every word.

"You sent me away. Forced me to spend every day fighting for my life. You made it so I couldn't come back. Even when you took the woman I loved away from me, I had to endure that icy hell. When my father died, I didn't hear of his passing until months after the funeral. And when you plotted against the former monarchs, I heard of it when it was too late. My entire life, reduced to a bystander forced to wallow in anger and regret as I lost everything.

"So, did you think this day would come? The day you would have to beg for your life knowing a blade would soon end your life faster than you deserve?"

Myra looked directly at the man standing in front of the throne, his anger and arrogance exploding as he drew the sword at his side and pointed it in her direction.

"Shut your mouth! I am the king, and you will show me respect!"

Myra shook her head. "As pathetic now as always. It's a shame you won't be around to watch as I take everything from you, just as you did to me. I will start with this kingdom. I'll also take back Danika, and I'll shower those pups you so heartlessly snub with affection. I'll take it all."

Before he could utter another word, Myra shot forward, two blades drawn from her back before anyone could react. Two of the oversized oafs fell in an instant, and while the other two managed to swing in her direction, she danced through the blades. Her own then shot forward like vipers, finding gaps in their thick armor and spilling blood.

Myra appeared like a phantom, standing in front of Richard. The bodies fell to the floor behind her, but she didn't turn to look, instead staring at the "king" in front of her with unmeasurable hatred.

"You deserve a much more painful, drawn-out death. Unfortunately, she will return soon, and I need to have this place cleaned up ahead of time. One more than you'll have to be thankful to her for in the afterlife. Now go to hell, Richard."

The man didn't even have the chance to react before a blade went clean through his neck. All he managed was a shocked look, one that remained even as his head rolled around the floor.

As if waiting for the battle to finish, the doors behind her opened full, and the knights and soldiers walked in. One knight even went forward and roughly snatched the grown still stuck on Richard's free head before walking it over to Myra.

"Congratulations, General. You've made it back home."

The sound of armor hitting stone rang out as everyone took a knee, ignoring the blood and gruesome scene as they rested a hand over their hearts.

"Welcome home, General! Please continue to lead us!"

Myra turned around and faced her subordinates, then looked at the crown. Then, for the first time in years, a playful grin crept to her face. Even now, with scars and the demeanor of a general, it only took a single look to realize she was up to no good.

"Right. Let's see what it feels like to be a king."

As Myra lowered her head, the knight holding the crown stepped forward and placed it on her head. Only then did she step back, giving Myra space, followed by a resounding cheer.

"Welcome home, Her Majesty!"

Myra's grin widened, and she walked to the throne.

"Alright. Enough playing. Clean this place up quickly, then bring the pups. It's long since time I met them."

 

[Javorcek]

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

Thea's ears perked at the sound of marching feet and clattering swords nearing the royal nursery. They must be finished then… The old wolf turned from her position at the window; there hadn't been much to watch anyways. The takeover had been fairly peaceful. The Queen's army was on the eastern border, Thea's Shadows lay in wait, and the spynet of Crows had sent out whispers to the citizens that they should stay inside. Richard's royal guard was the only thing left, and they soon fell to pieces under Myra's invasion. Now let us see if that foolish girl holds up her end of the bargain.

It wasn't often (or ever, really) that Thea found herself involved in political scheming. Her duty was to protect the House of Leto….which meant Queen Danika and her pups. Whatever happened to King Richard, she could care less. Honestly it was probably for the best if he were overthrown; he was incompetent and a snake, the only reason Queen Danika didn't divorce him was because she feared he would take their children away. So when an old, irritating, pain in her side resurfaced, requesting revenge, Thea had allowed it… if only because she felt it suited the Queen's need to be rid of that wretched man.

Now, what happened after was going to be the messy part.

After preparing the children and their nanny, a few more minutes passed before the soldiers arrived at the nursery. "Queen Myra wishes to see the children," their leader approached, meaning to take the pups. He was oblivious to how the children shrank back, as well as the fear in their eyes.

Before the foolish soldier even knew what had happened, Thea had grabbed his outstretched wrist, turned him about, and wrenched the offending hand into his spine. "The agreement was that the children are not to be touched," the Shadow snarled.

From seemingly nowhere two more wolves appeared. Much younger than Thea, but with the same violet pauldron that marked them as part of the Shadow Guard. They took up positions right next to the children, ready to whisk them away with their nanny, hide them down the many hidden passageways throughout the castle. With a rush of air; five more Shadows appeared, dark hooded wolves with violet pauldrons, surrounding the soldiers.

There were many, many more Shadows for Thea to call upon if the deal was broken.

"My apologies, Shadow," the soldier winced as Thea cranked his arm just a little higher. "A-and my apologies to the pups! It was not my intent to-"

"You are shortsighted and rude, same as your master," Thea snapped as she released the soldier with a push forward and a boot to his armored ass.

"I will escort them. You may leave," when the soldiers didn't immediately move, Thea bared her teeth and let out a low, impatient growl to send them on their way. "Come along, pups," the Shadow softened as she turned around to speak to the children. "Do not be afraid, I will not let anything bad happen to you."

"Where are we going?" Caleb asked. He was six and looked so much like his father…but that was where the similarities to him and his sire ended. He was smart as a whip, brave, and kind. He had held his four year old sister's hand the whole time the soldiers had been there, had even positioned himself slightly forward, as though to defend her. Now his dark eyes were searching Thea's, trying to find the lie, trying to find the missing piece that was being hidden from him so he could make a proper plan. He was so much like Danika in that regard…always trying to strategize.

"An old friend of your mother's has returned home," Thea said simply, "We shall go see what she wants."

———-

The Eastern Border had requested reinforcements to keep back the mage invaders a month ago, and Queen Danika had responded with the might of her main army. As it was every summer, the mages sought to terrorize the people of Gallia, desiring werewolf bones for use in their twisted potions. This year was particularly bad though. There had been strange things happening to the night sky…unnatural swirls of lights, similar to those seen in the Northern Territories…but just…not right. The colors were wrong and their movements were wild.. Apparently such an event had the mages worried if they were so willing to push into werewolf lands.

On their march, Danika's scouts had come across one of the most curious of creatures in the forest.

A wolf touched by magic but not a god. A woman who spoke of a time and place far away but not a prophet. Strong enough to survive in the wilds this long, but obviously not trained to do so. The Queen hadn't really known what to do with the girl at first. The prudent side of her thought it would be safest to kill the abomination, but, seeing the swell of her belly and the defiance in her eyes, Danika knew she couldn't. She could empathize with the girl…she knew what it was like to have her world ripped apart and then forced to shoulder the mantle of motherhood.

Upon the untimely death of her mother, Danika's father, unsure of what to do with a daughter, locked her in a room with a man ten years her senior during one of her heats. If not for the ensuing pregnancy, she probably would have jumped from one of the tower windows long ago. But, as it was, Danika was still alive, choosing to carry on for the sake of her pups if not for her people. Everything she did was for their safety and happiness. It was why she was here, on the front lines, modeling to them what a leader does; not just hiding in her castle and expecting everyone else to protect the ones she loved.

The new addition to Danika's army ended up being a boon. The wolf-mage had enchanted the armor of two cavalry units to make it more resistant to the elemental magic the mages used. Now she was working on the bows of their best archers to make their arrows fly farther. There was much to do, and thousands more soldiers that could use enchantments, but a note in a clean, delicate script would put a pause on such machinations.

Coup. Richard overthrown. Pups safe.

Danika felt her heart stop in her chest.

She had left her little ones at home, thinking them safe behind the castle walls, and now they were in danger!!! One cannot write 'coup' and 'safe' in the same sentence without causing a panic!!!!!!!!

"Bring the Artificer to my tent," Danika barked at one of her guards, "Then alert my officers that we will have a war meeting at the end of the hour."

The Queen was already packing her personal effects when Michelle arrived, evidently ready to leave the moment she was finished meeting with her generals. "Good. You arrived quickly. I am leaving. I honestly do not know where it is safest…" It was already known that some in the camp feared the Artificer and thought she should be disposed of immediately….but no one would dare to do so as long as she had Danika's favor. "You may stay here at the border, or come with me back to the city. There has been unrest back at the castle… I must go back to check on my pups."


———

It had taken three weeks to march all the way to the eastern border, but Danika made the trip back home in only one and a half (much to her dismay, they had to take several carts with them and that had slowed them down). As they neared the castle, a small party rode out to intercept them. Danika, being the level-headed, completely rational mother that she was when the status of her children was unknown lasted about thirty seconds before this attempt to parlay got on her nerves.

"Where are my children?!?" Danika snarled as she lunged forward. She grabbed the captain by the neck, hoisting him out of his saddle and into the air, armor and all as if he weighed nothing.

"S-safe," the man wheezed out, hands scrabbling to grab at the Queen's iron grip, legs swinging as he tried to find purchase on Danika's horse. "Queen Myra s-said no harm…"

Danika froze. Myra? -My- Myra? Why was she doing this? I thought she was happy… All Myra had ever talked about was becoming a General when they were kids. And now she was!! Sure it was for the Northern Border, and that domain was under Richard's command (it was fairly idiot proof with the only strategy to it being 'do not let Titans or Gods descend the mountain'; perfect for Richard) but still! It was the prestige and the independence her old friend had always wanted! Why had she come destroy the city? With an army no less? If the Northern Army was here…who was watching the border?!?!!?

"M-hyi La-dy," the captain gurgled, and Danika seemed to remember she was still crushing his windpipe. Rather than put him down, she decided to throw him a good twenty paces away. Best to remind these fools that they were in the presence of a wolf of House Leto. While she may not be immortal, she was still certainly very, very hard to kill.

 

[ClearSight]

Without her soldiers around, Myra changed into a different person. Maybe it was the warm weather, or perhaps her memories of exploring the halls in her early years brought it out in her. Regardless, she found herself with a smile she thought she lost, even if she was just sitting around. Well, sitting in Danika’s chair, but really, she had wanted to sit on the throne and see what it was like ever since she was a young girl. She even tried once. Unfortunately, the guards caught her, and her father ensured she wasn’t able to sit at all for the next week.

Dumb old man… She missed him.

Myra barely managed to sit up straight when the doors to the throne room opened and people filed in, interrupting her moment of peace. Worse still, it was Thea.

There wasn’t any bad blood between them, not really. But Thea had scolded her plenty when she was younger, and she constantly got between her and Jocelyn, interrupting with some ridiculous thing or another. Myra was confident the shadow thought her unworthy of Danika and that most of her interruptions were unnecessary. Not that she could prove it.

“Thea. Long time no see.” Myra grinned, dismissing the escorting soldiers while trying to look regal. She only managed to look like a grinning fool.

“And these must be the pups.”

Myra leaned forward, her eyes scanning the two, and while her general demeanor was a bit intimidating, her expression quickly softened upon seeing them.

“They look so much like her,” she said, smiling gently. Sure, some aspects resembled Richard, but she completely ignored that.

“Hello, pups. My name is Myra.”

The pups had remained hidden behind Thea at first, eyes wide with a mix of nerves and curiosity that only made them cuter than they already were. However, upon being greeted, upbringing trumped emotion, something Danika no doubt imbued in them.

“H-Hello, I am Caleb.”

The boy stepped forward, trying to act like a mature and responsible man. Adorable.

“Nice to meet you, Caleb.” Myra then turned her eyes to his sister, but before she could continue the conversation, an annoyed growl came from the big bad wolf standing with them.

“Do not forget our deal.” Thea displayed her canines, threatening without a hint of subtlety.

Myra sighed. “As uptight as I remember.”

Thea was not amused, but Myra just waited her off, loosening her posture and slouching in the throne.

“I have no desire for the throne. There’s only one thing I want now that Richard is out of the way.” Myra watched the children, trying to determine if the news of their father’s demise would cause them grief. It didn’t.

“Smart kids,” she muttered. It was sad for children to have no affection for their father, but knowing he wasn’t worth shedding a tear over gave them an edge. Myra expected no less from Danika’s kids.

“What do you want?” Thea demanded, not lowering her guard at all, despite Myra lowering hers. She even kept the children near, seemingly ready to strike at a moment’s notice. That or whisk them away, no doubt prepared to take them into hiding. Undoubtedly, there were contingency plans. Danika never did things half-assed.

“I want what was snatched from me all those years ago. My damn life.” Myra didn’t raise her voice, but it was by choice, her attempt not to scare the children.

“Richard took everything from me, something you know better than most. No, perhaps you’re the last person who knows just how much he deprived me of. And now I want it back. I want her back.”

At that, Myra pushed herself out of the throne, standing up straight and looking at the three. “Though, until she returns, I’ll settle with getting to know the only good things to come out of all the suffering he caused.”

———

Michelle barely had any memories of the attack on Armistice. She remembered portals opening up in the skies, the city under siege, and Jocelyn trying to protect her and the baby when beings descended upon them. But everything that happened after was blank. The only other vague memory she had was the portal and some misshapen face staring at her as she tumbled through it.

After that, she woke up on the outskirts of a rural village, covered in dirt and completely disoriented.

Only, when Michelle made her way to the village seeking help, what she found was covetous eyes and aggression. It ended up not being a village at all but an encampment full of mages, each of which looked at her like a rare specimen they wanted to dissect and study.

Michelle barely managed to escape, summoning every ounce of strength she had to dash into the woods and evade restricting spells and the manhunt that followed. She was only lucky the gadgets she had on her person still worked, allowing her to cast illusion magic to break away.

But escaping was only the start. The next few months were hell. Michelle was increasingly pregnant, and after a few weeks of recon, she figured out that she wasn’t on Earth any longer. At least, not the Earth she knew. The times had changed, and there was an intense war between mages and werewolves.

More than that, the level of technology was akin to the medieval period, which made it so she had no way to charge most of her gear. After the first few weeks, barely anything she had worked, including her magitech. There were still a few artifacts that didn’t rely on tech, but life quickly became difficult.

Michelle was forced to remember the lessons her father forced her through as a child, surviving in a land she knew nothing about, having to cautiously hunt down food and find fresh water on a daily basis. She barely managed to survive.

Then, one day, she stumbled across another group of people. She wanted to resist instinctively, to drive away anything that neared her and her child, but there were so many of them, and most of her protective gear was no longer functioning. And she was tired. So damn tired.

The alpha ended up being taken in, brought in front of a gorgeous woman, one who spent quite some time appraising her in silence before finally speaking. And in the end, she took pity.

Michelle could recognize the look. At first, there was an air of hostility, but it shifted to hesitance and finally to something softer. Plus, there was the look in the woman’s eyes as she peered at her belly.

But Michelle wasn’t angry. The look allowed her to finally relax. After months of tension and fear, she managed to loosen her stiff shoulders and put half a smile on her lips. Then she passed out, barely managing a tired and hoarse “thank you” before she did.

—

After Michelle woke up, she had a long chat with her savior, as well as the most delicious food she had ever eaten. She wasn’t even sure what it was or if it had proper seasoning, but after so long without anything good, she nearly cried at what could have very well been bland tastes.

It was then she learned the identity of the gorgeous wolf — Queen Danika of House Leto.

As thanks for saving her and taking her along, Michelle offered her services. At first, there was hesitance. After all, Michelle’s services meant magic. However, results trumped everything, and after Danika saw what she could do, the pragmatic ruler chose to take advantage.

Michelle started to make a name for herself. She wasn’t made an officer or anything like that, but the soldiers stopped giving her the side eye. Most of them. Moreover, Danika treated her kindly. The wolf went above and beyond to make sure she was comfortable, even if nobody else was, though that was likely more due to her pregnancy than the artificing.

So, when Michelle heard about the trouble with Danika’s pups, she didn’t hesitate. She would go with her, even if she wouldn’t be of much help. Unfortunately, she only ended up being a burden, going into labor on the way to the capital.

—— Arlann Side Story ——

Arlann Side Story - Volume 1

“Fucking bastards!” The entire world seemed to turn a shade of purple as Arlann shouted, her immense magic power spilling out with reckless abandon. At her current output, even she wouldn’t last long before she ran out of mana, but it didn’t stop her from pushing even harder, unleashing a torrent of her signature gravity magic that caused everything around her to smash into the ground.

Moments ago, she was sitting down to dinner with her lovely wife and mopey daughter. Mara was talking about some odd readings she kept getting on some scanner at work, while Jocelyn was pretending she didn’t want to be over at Michelle’s. Stupid girl.

But right as Arlann was about to bring up dessert, a perfect ending to a delightful family-focused evening, the gods stuck their damn noses where they didn’t belong — Armistice.

Arlann knew more about the truth than most, about the history of the city and how it served as a blockade against the arrogant beings that thought themselves above the rest of existence. As an elder in the circle of mages, a title she abhorred and refused to be addressed by, she had long known of the hidden mission the various races shouldered together. But it seemed they had grown lax.

However long the gods had been planning, things finally began, and they burst through the sky, descending from above along with elementals that showered the city with a torrent of natural disasters. At the same time, they came for her.

Multiple gods had appeared in their dining room, and while her wife immediately launched herself over the table at one, the others cast magic that sent her flying through a portal and across time and space. Well, at least space. But Arlann made a quick judgment about the rest the moment she arrived at her destination.

Unlike the Earth she knew, the current place was home to far denser elemental energy and thinner mana, which might have been a problem for most mages but was just another annoyance for her. So, instead of being caught off guard and killed by the ambush waiting for her, Arlann simply waved a hand and crushed the horde of elementals like bugs, the gravity completely collapsing them into puddles of energy on the ground. Then, without missing a beat, she sucked the elemental energy over, converting it into mana.

Perhaps no other mage would be able to do that, but if there was one thing Arlann was confident in, it was her knowledge on other power systems and races. After all, one needed to understand them to make effective potions and sex toys!

“Hah, you messed with the wrong sex shop owner!” Arlann shouted, a look of triumph on her face as she released a deep breath.

Seconds later, her face fell.

Arlann achieved a quick victory against the elemental pawns, but when she tried to return home through another portal, she sensed interference. Divine power.

“Damned gods,” she muttered, though with far less vigor and more concern. Cursing them was good and fine, and she didn’t mind fighting one; it was something she had always wanted to do. But she was well aware of the difficulties behind doing so. Gods were not just “higher beings.” Instead, divine power was a unique system developed by an ancient race, which granted immense power but came with shackles. The gods gained abilities related to their aspects, but it defined their very personality and actions, with the restrictions growing stronger the more powerful they were.

If one were to control love, for instance, they would be able to mesmerize and affect the emotions of others, but promiscuity, desire, and even jealousy might overwhelm them at all times. And no matter the god, they all sought more power, because it meant more of what drove them.

The first thing Arlann needed to do was figure out what type of god she was up against. Only then would she be able to formulate a plan with any chance of success.

—

“Fucking gods. Fucking bastards.”

The words became Arlann’s mantra after she discovered the god behind her “imprisonment.” It took her weeks after arriving to figure things out, but the nameless god who kept her from teleporting back home and sent wave after wave of elementals to hunt her down was a specialist when it came to barriers. More specifically, a god of earth and stability, but it basically meant he sat in a damn bubble and kept her trapped in another damn bubble.

What did that mean? It meant she couldn’t brute force her way through any of it. She tried; it didn’t work.

Arlann also discovered that the humans in the world had no idea about magic or elemental energy or anything of the sort. A few accidentally tapped into the power, but they called themselves knights and ran around fighting with swords.

No technology. Limited raw mana. Abundant elemental energy. It was the perfect setup to squeeze her power while bolstering the god’s, and it left the mage a frustrated mess.

Fortunately, a few months later, Arlann figured out how to hide herself from the god and his minions, granting herself a true reprieve that didn’t involve setting up magic barriers and keeping one eye open while she slept. The bad news was that she still didn’t know what she could do about the god and his barriers. Even worse, she was starting to grow anxious about her family.

At first, Arlann managed to remain calm because it had only been a few days. Even a few weeks wasn’t so bad. She trusted Mara enough to know the paranoid wolf had contingency plans for everything. Sure, an invasion of gods, demigods, and elementals wasn’t on the list, but that wouldn’t stop her wife from turning their home and Lykos into an untouchable fortress. Mara would also take care of Joselyn.

But it started to change as months passed. Arlann grew increasingly agitated, desperate, and unable to control her emotions. It made her magic stronger, but her logical side suffered, and she foolishly tried to force her way through again. And while the plan led to a small crack in the barrier surrounding the god’s hiding place, a small temple in the capital, it was quickly repaired.

The attack failed, and Arlann was forced to flee with what little mana remained.

After the foolish attack born from anger and frustration, Arlann took a step back. She was in the presence of a god. A single god. It meant she had a chance to study divine energy and perhaps even find a way to weaken or interfere with the absolute power they seemed to wield.

—

It took years. Arlann wasn’t even sure how many. Months were spent locked away between her attempts to break the barrier. The mage studied her opponent, studied the unique divine energy, and slowly found ways to weaken it, convert it, and even use it. She grew obsessed, fed by manic energy wrought from the distress over missing her family and fear of the unknown.

But it worked. It took so long, but it actually worked. Arlann learned everything she needed to know. She figured out enough about divine energy to manipulate it slightly, and she learned enough about the god in question to discover the flaw in his power.

Despite using divine energy to create the barrier, the god relied on a few things to retain his power. First, he relied on the earth, the very source of his power. Second, stability meant many things, but in the case of this god, it meant stability of the people in the plane he resided over.

It was funny. Divine energy existed everywhere, just like mana and elemental energy, but wielding it effectively required a certain “contract.” Therein were the weaknesses of the gods. Each carried a unique set of weaknesses based on their aspects, but they all had one, and once you grasped it, you could rip it apart and sap them of their strength.

From the day Arlann realized what the god relied on, everything changed.

The god wanted the people to worship him? He wanted the beings on the planet to remain steadfast and religious, united under a single banner? Then she would rend them apart at their very core. She would introduce new religions and whisper in the ears of those who would listen, causing war between every power under the sun. She would unleash powerful magical artifacts within the world and show the people power they never imagined, leading them to scratch and claw at each other for power and greed.

The god took his power from the earth? She would unleash biological warfare to poison it and disrupt the natural order with magical mutations that ate away at the indigenous species. She would set up magical devices to pulse into the earth, causing natural disasters and chaos using the abundant elemental energy.

The god wanted to trap her in his world, keeping her from her family? Then Arlann would become a demon and bring the world down around her until the god sent her away in fear or grew weak enough to lose the protective bubble he relied on to remain arrogant in the face of her rage. No matter what she had to do, Arlann would find a way home.

 

[Javorcek]

Thea waved a dismissive hand at Myra's accusation that she had no idea. Of course she had known! Myra wasn't exactly subtle in her clumsy attempts at wooing the princess. It was obvious the girl had loved Danika and that banishment had caused her great distress. But patrolling The Wall was better than death, and young love could eventually be replaced….if only Myra had taken that second chance.

"I have eyes; so did her Late Highness. You are not as slick as you may think you are. But when the old Queen passed…everything became so… uncertain…. Believe it or not, My Lady could have done much, much worse than Richard." Thea grimaced at the mere thought of all the scum that had come sniffing around the palace for the young princess' hand. Perhaps the only thing that had kept them at bay was the imminent dismemberment Thea would cause them should they raise a hand to her charge. The trauma Richard had caused during Danika's first heat was a burden Thea had to carry…but at least she took solace in the fact that Richard had never raised a hand to the princess or the pups in all these years.

"You are not the same anymore, nor is Danika. Perhaps you only wish for a memory and will be disappointed when the real thing arrives. I would say you should consider this…but I know you lack the ability to think for more than five seconds," the Shadow sighed, resigned to enduring this plot. While Myra's unbending devotion was admirable she was concerned that the backbone of the plan was to just 'pick up where they had left off' and hope for the best.

At least the general seemed keen to express interest in the greatest new facet of Danika's life: the children.

"Jax! Amaya!" Thea barked, summoning two hooded wolves who couldn't have been much older than sixteen. Jax was trying valiantly to grow a beard on his young face, and he stood to his full height, trying to not be cowed by the invading General. Amaya was doing her best to look as serious and impassive as her mentor…but it was hard with an adorable Lily excitedly tugging on her jerkin, wanting to be picked up.

"These are the Shadows of the children. They will supervise your…playdate." Thea strode towards Myra, lowering her voice. "And I expect to see happy, smiling pups when I return…" with that, the Shadow disappeared.

————

As Danika rode down the city streets, she became acutely aware that Thea was absent. She could feel her guard, bloodbound as they were, but Thea was making a conscious effort to avoid Danika. What have you done…

So far it seemed like nothing.

The streets were clean, people were milling about. There were soldiers, a lot of them, but other than the influx of warriors the city seemed exactly as she had left it. No crumbling buildings or burning shops. No grieving widows or displaced pets. As she approached the castle, the black armored knights of Richard's guard were gone, replaced by a rag-tag group of soldiers. The men still showed deference to her as she rode by…though she couldn't tell if it was because they still saw her as Queen or just another noble.

It was only when she approached the keep did two dozen veteran Shadows appear to greet her, kneeling as she passed, "I see one amongst you is missing." She watched as the Shadows eyed eachother nervously, but none offered Thea's whereabouts. "She said it was a 'necessary trial I must face alone', hmmm?"

"Yes, My Lady," the Shadows responded in unison.

Danika sighed. They were words she had often heard during her childhood; but usually they were spoken by her mother. "Thea is your Shadow, she will always be right behind you; but sometimes there will be trials you must face alone, my darling pup." Great. Great. She couldn't wait to see what disaster awaited her inside. "Alright. Dismissed," as quick as they had come, the Shadows disappeared.

Now that she was home, the keep seemed to spring to life. Servants of all sorts passed her in the hallways, trying to prepare things the way that Danika liked them. At least she could look forward to a delicious meal, a soothing bath, and a night of pleasure as soon as she dealt with whatever headache awaited her in the throne room.

"Mommy!!!" Lily shrieked in glee as her mother strode into the throne room. "Mommy home! Mommy home!" the girl chirped as she threw herself into Danika's awaiting arms.

"I have missed you sooooo much, little one," Danika enveloped her daughter in a big bear hug, sweeping her off the floor and showering her with kisses and nuzzles before finally setting her back down. "And look who I have brought home with me," out from the pouch at her waist, she withdrew a greying stuffed dog.

"Tiberius!" Lily snatched the toy from her mother's hand and gave it a big hug. "Did he protect you mommy?"

"Of course! He is a fine warhound, he kept watch while I slept," Danika grinned, then scooped up her son who had also run over.

"Moooooom," Caleb whined as he was assaulted with the same amount of kisses as his sister.

"Oh, I didn't realize you had become a great big man while I was gone," Danika gave him one more kiss for good measure before she put him down. Now she eyed Myra, who was keeping a respectful distance away but obviously observing the interaction. "I suppose with a General here, you want to show off what a good warrior you are," she looked back down at her son, smiling softly, "I assure you though, plenty of soldiers want hugs and kisses from their mommies when they come back from the front."

"Now…why don't you both go get washed up while I talk to the General? I think an early supper with lots of desserts is in order."

At the prospect of many treats, the pups collected their toys and then scampered off to find their nanny who would help get them ready for dinner.

"I see you are making yourself right at home, General," Danika cocked a brow as she eyed the crown perched atop Myra's head.

As soon as the children left, her old friend was grinning like an idiot, greeting her and boasting of what a good ruler she had been in Danika's absence.

"Is that so? You think you are a ruler now?" The Queen poked a stern finger into the center of Myra's chest. She pushed at the General, walking her backwards until the backs of her knees hit the edge of the throne and she was forced to sit down. "I seem to remember -you- servicing me; not the other way around." Danika smirked as she towered over her old friend, not failing to notice the way that Myra's eyes glazed over. She pressed her attack further, a knee coming to press right between Myra's legs, pinning her to the throne.

"I am glad you had fun playing," Danika spoke low, her face mere inches from Myra's, close enough to see the flecks of gold in her friend's eyes. "But be a dear and get out of my throne. I'm sure I have quite the political mess to clean up now that you have overthrown Richard," she tapped her cheek lightly and then backed off completely, depriving Myra of her touch just as quickly as she had granted it.

Then she turned on her heel and made her way out of the throne room.

 

[ClearSight]

Much worse than Richard? Even if there were truth to those words, Myra refused to concede the point, sneering as she did her best to soothe the rage bubbling inside of her. She didn’t want to flare up in front of the children for fear of scaring them, but she really wanted to give someone a piece of her mind.

Really, Myra didn’t only blame Richard. There were plenty of people responsible for what happened to her, he just happened to be the face. Even the late king deserved blame, being unable to properly rule and protect his daughter after Danika’s mother passed. She really missed the Late Highness. She was also like a mother to Myra in many ways.

“I’m no fool, Thea, even if you wish to view me as one.” Myra glared at the Shadow. Fools didn’t survive the life she had lived, even lucky ones.

Time didn’t move backward, and Myra didn’t expect things to be the same. She wouldn’t want them to be. But that didn’t stop her from missing Danika. Every single day, for years, she thought of the other woman. Her best friend and first love. Her only love. Myra didn’t shy away from sex while at the border, and she was close with plenty of people, but not once had she fallen in love.

Myra sighed as Thea moved on, clearly not believing her in the slightest. She would point out how assuming she was still as “inconsiderate” as before countered Thea’s own point about things not being the same, but she held her tongue. Instead she looked at the other shadows, almost finding it amusing. Thea must actually trust her to leave two saplings to supervise their “playdate” as she called it.

“Yes, go on now.” Myra waved the older Shadow off, ignoring her one last time before turning her attention on the little ones.

“Hi, I’m Myra. I’m friends with your mother.” Myra knew nothing of children, but she knew plenty about Danika, plenty the little ones didn’t know. She also knew how to play some simple games, so she just went with what she knew. Games and their only common topic. Fortunately, it went well.

Of course, the kids were a bit shy and hesitant, but eventually they seemed to relax a bit. Well, Caleb did first, even if it was partially bravado. However, once they got past the beginning hump, things took a turn, and they started asking her plenty of questions. Lily focused on hearing about her mother, while Caleb asked about life at the border, which earned a few strategic answers not to give the boy nightmares.

—

Fortunately, Myra managed to keep the little ones entertained, all while completely ignoring the young shadows who seemed a tad bit nervous every time she made a sudden move. They did a good job not showing it. Well, barely showing it. But Myra’s instincts were honed on the edge of a blade, and very little slipped past her. She almost felt bad for them.

Myra’s pity didn’t last, though. Danika’s arrival in the city changed everything, and excitement bubbling inside the general from the moment her soldier knocked at the door and gave her the note from the soldiers at the gate. She was coming!

From that point, she barely managed to remain focused on the conversation with the pups, her eyes constantly darting toward the massive double doors to the throne room. They didn’t have to wait long. Danika wasted no time after arriving in the city, quickly arriving in the keep and pushing through the doors and into the room.
Myra just watched from the throne, taking in the warm scene of reunion in front of her without even a bit of decency. Yes, it was heart-warming, and the kids were adorable, but her eyes were roaming elsewhere.

Mommy, indeed.

Myra gulped, her body heating up as she took in the voluptuous form of the woman she remembered as a budding beauty. Danika was always beautiful, and even back then she had feminine curves, but the goddess in front of her was on another level. Myra almost drooled.

Even when they were alone, Myra hadn’t had her fill, still lecherously admiring Danika’s soft, enticing form. After the pups scampered off, she felt even less inclined to look away, staring openly.

“It seemed only natural to get comfortable after throwing a coup. And I have to admit, I find the capital refreshing. No snow or cold. No fighting, either,” she commented, alluding to just how easy it was to stop her way in and take over. Thea did have a lot to do with that, but that wasn’t important.

Even as Myra tried to sound slightly serious, the grin gave her away. How could she hold it in with Danika staring her down?

“Besides, I think the job quite suits me. I’ve managed to get rid of an incompetent, hated king and crush all of his backers in one fell swoop. This time tomorrow, and the disgusting creatures hiding in the dark will be rooted out.”

She did good, right?

Myra had that singular question on her face, clearly thinking Danika would be happy to be rid of the cowardly Richard. What she received instead of praise was a firm finger poked into her chest, pushing her back into the throne she had barely managed to push herself out of before Danika was in front of her.

“Well, I do have a crown,” she said, holding back a laugh that quickly caught in her throat as Danika continued to show a surprising fierceness.

I seem to remember -you- servicing me…

The words sent a shiver down Myra’s spine, along with the realization of what a true queen looked like. The way she moved, her tone, and the authority built up after ruling for years all overflowed, and Myra felt the urge to immediately find her way to her knees. But Danika didn’t allow that.

Myra’s breath hitched as Danika pressed a knee between her legs, grinding into her without a trace of gentleness.

The general wanted to respond, to push back and show that Danika wasn’t the only one who grew, but all she could think about was the pleasant pressure of Danika’s knee and the floral scent wafting from her supple skin, despite Danika’s recent arrival in the city after what was surely a long and arduous trip.

Gods, she smells amazing. Is it a natural scent?

If only she managed to say something. But all she could do was listen as Danika continued, holding back the wolf that wanted nothing more than to pounce. Yes, she needed to be patient. They had time. Only, she didn’t.

What Myra expected to be the beginning of a pleasant back and forth ended up being a quick show of dominance followed by a tactical retreat. Without giving her a chance to do anything, Danika pulled back, leaving Myra beyond frustrated. She even let out a small whine, which caused her glazed eyes to widen slightly. She hadn’t let out a whine or whimper in years!

“No political mess! I cleaned it up!”

That’s all she managed to say before Danika was gone.

She could have sworn she saw the other alpha grinning as she left.

—

Myra sat on the throne for a few minutes after Danika left, trying to wrap her head around what just happened. She was completely overwhelmed! Her!

“What the hell is wrong with me?” she muttered, eyes still looking in the direction Danika turned after leaving the throne room.

The alpha couldn’t accept things ending that way. Even if she would have more chances in the future now that Richard was gone, she didn’t like dropping it there. It made her seem like a pushover, and she definitely wasn’t that!

That stubborn notion led Myra to leave the throne room, leaving the crown behind, and making her way to her room. If she was going to launch a counterattack, she needed to be prepared. Only, even that plan immediately faltered.

When Myra arrived at “her” room, there were numerous servants cleaning her things out, moving them into the hall and placing them against the opposite wall. If not for her title, they might have simply thrown them out the window and been done with it, but as it stood, they seemed to be providing minimum courtesy.

Myra didn’t bother asking what was going on. Clearly, “her” chosen room didn’t belong to her. It belonged to Danika. Not that it was a surprise to the alpha. She chose it for a reason, looking to stake a claim, however temporary, to Danika.

The good thing was that her items were the only things being thrown out. The servants, although giving her side eye from time to time, didn’t try to kick her out. In fact, they didn’t say anything even after she entered. Even when she caught sight of what was happening in the bedchambers.

“Wow. That’s a lot of toys,” Myra whispered to herself, not even knowing what half of them were for. All she had was a bit of knowledge on a few common ones, thanks for their overwhelming popularity at the border, and a truck-load of curiosity.

Myra wasn’t modest. She didn’t just stand there and gawk or turn around to leave. Instead, she reached out and picked ont up, immediately starting to fiddle with the assortment of pleasure devices. At least, she assumed they all caused pleasure. Judging by external appearances, some did not. Take the riding crop, for example. That definitely wasn’t meant to feel good.

The alpha reached out and picked up the crop, slapping it into her hand a few times before starting to move it back and forth like a blade. The balance was pretty good!

“Even the sex toys are masterfully crafted.”

 

[Javorcek]

"MYRA!" The head maid stormed into the Queen's rooms, evidently enraged that someone was in here, disturbing her maids as they tried to prepare the Queen's bedchambers…and even more angry that it was someone who should know better!

Hilde was a plump, old wolf who had been chasing the General out of the kitchens with a wooden spoon since she had been a young pup. And now here Myra was, a grown wolf, still requiring a firm hand. "Still causing trouble?!?!! Coming in here, disturbing my staff, touching things that don't belong to you?!?" she gasped, seeing exactly -what- Myra was touching. Those were her Highness' personal -things-!!! "Get over here, girl!" Hilde hissed, grabbing Myra by the ear and yanking her down so they were on the same level. The old maid may be just five feet tall; but even the toughest soldiers and nobles knew to yield to the head housekeeper.

"You think just because you're a General you don't have to have manners anymore?!" Hilde continued her tirade as she dragged Myra out by her ear. Several of the younger maids were trying their hardest not to giggle as the big tough general General was forced out past them. "Spirits rest your father's soul. He was such a good man. Imagine if he should have to see his daughter like this!! I should cane you on his behalf," the old maid growled as pushed an already off-balance Myra out the chambers.

"Now go on! Get! And clean up all this rubbish here!" the exasperated maid pointed at all Myra's junk cluttering up the hall. The Queen would be finished with her dinner at any minute and there was still all this trash here!! "Hurry now! And go wash your hands. It is nearly time for dinner. And clean under your nails!!" Hilde glared at the girl's dirty paws as she prepared to close the double doors before remembering one more chore for her to do, "And go tell your men to clean their boots!! I tire of sweeping up after them. Hmmph!" and with that, she slammed the doors shut.

——

After a fine feast with her two pups, Danika walked the children back to the nursery for an early bedtime. She regaled them with stories of her travels, the highlight of which being the Artificer she had acquired. The pups were enraptured, eager to meet the wolf who could wield magic, but that was an adventure for tomorrow! So she gave them kisses and left, letting their nanny finish their bedtime routine.

It was early and Danika still had yet to see Thea or get a report from her spynet of Crows or be interrupted by the Captain of the City Guard. It was…strange. Usually -something- somewhere required her attention upon her arrival back home. But perhaps Myra had indeed taken care of things in her stead. Well…I suppose if there is no need for me now, everything might as well wait for tomorrow. No point in seeking out problems that didn't exist.

She retreated into her chambers, through her library and sitting room, past her bedroom, and into the bathroom where a steamy tub awaited her. Danika had missed the luxuriousness of a proper hot bath while away. Bathing in a cold river didn't come close to a nice, hot, sudsy soak.

Her handmaidens washed and braided her thick black hair, then gave Danika a thorough scrubbing from head to toe to get all the caked dirt of travel off. "Mmm. Thank you, I feel much better," she heaved a happy sigh when they were finished, already feeling like an entirely new person. "I wish to lay here for a while longer…but send for Eleanor." The stablehand would probably be waiting for a while, but Danika trusted her to strip down and present herself on the bed in the meantime.

"Of course, My Lady," the handmaidens bowed, made sure Danika's towel and robes were within easy reach, and then dismissed themselves for the evening.

Now alone with her thoughts, Danika let her mind wander. Unfortunately it kept wandering to Myra and not to all the absolutely filthy things she was about to do to a gorgeous, muscular, stablehand. She used to think of Myra often…she had been her first love after all - probably a foolish distraction on her part. Her friend was noble through military rank, not through land or power…they never would have been allowed to be mated. But still, she would think of her… until the longing became too painful to bear. Danika had eventually just locked that part of her life up.

During her first year with Richard, she used to dream of this moment: Myra would come charging in here, her white knight vanquishing her horrid husband and sweeping her off her feet, just like in the stories of princes and princesses. These were the silly hopes of a teenage girl in a bad situation… But… Everything was different now. Both her parents were gone. The weight of the kingdom lay squarely on her shoulders. She had been forced to adapt and grow shrewd to compete with her husband. And now she had two young children…

Despite some of her misgivings, she hadn't missed how Myra's eyes had been glued to her breasts during their brief encounter.

Danika had always been soft, but motherhood had made her all the more voluptuous. She was the object of desire for many, many nobles and warriors who wanted to bury their faces in their breasts…or sheath their members in her shapely rear (Richard had tried once and her wolf had bitten him fiercely for it; even in a full heat, Danika hadn't been frenzied enough to allow it).

A shiver ran down her spine as she thought of Myra's eyes. She had always loved the way her friend looked at her with that glazed over expression - lecherous but also worshipful. And that adorable little whine that had snuck out… There had been a time when Danika made it her mission to draw that pitiful, needy whine out.

Maybe things hadn't changed at all.

With her core starting to throb and her bath getting cold, Danika decided it was time to get up. Eleanor was surely waiting for her by now. Playing with the beautiful stablehand would hopefully clear her head and give her a release she desperately needed. However, as she came out, looking delicious as ever in a silken purple nightie (that stopped high on her thigh because she didn't want Eleanor ripping to shreds her actual nightgowns), there was no naked Eleanor!!

Danika's brow furrowed in confusion. Eleanor was always eager for their playtime, had the girl found a more permanent lover in their time apart? That was all well and good, she would miss her of course, but why hadn't her handmaidens sent another in her place?

A soft tapping at her door made her sigh. Well. Maybe that was the Captain of the Guard, finally interrupting her. I'll sort her out and then send for someone else I suppose. Danika grabbed her robe, pulling it over her nightie to give herself a little more modesty as she strode through the sitting room and to the double doors of her chambers. "What is it?"

At least…she thought she was giving herself more modesty. The silk of the robe slid against the silk of the nightgown, and whoever her visitor was would be treated to the sight of purple lace and unmarked, supple cleavage.

 

[ClearSight]

Myra was deep in thought when she heard her name cried out, and it immediately sent her into a panic. It wasn’t because she was caught looking and touching Danika’s things. It was because the voice sent her straight back to her childhood, back when she used to get chased around by the head maid for sneaking around the castle and getting up to no good. Usually, it was trying to visit Danika when she wasn’t supposed to, but she often stole snacks from the kitchen or left a mess in her wake, constantly getting into some sort of trouble.

Myra shrank her neck and turned her head, only to find a much larger woman than she remembered. Still, everything else was the same, and it transported her to a simpler time.

“Hilde,” Myra started, determined to soothe the maid’s ire with nostalgia. It was a useless thought.

The head maid didn’t listen to a word she said, honing in on what Myra was doing wrong and quickly making it known to everyone within earshot. She even grabbed her by the ear! The ear! Myra couldn’t believe it!

“H-Hilde, stop, I know, I was wrong! I was wrong!” she cried out, scrambling to keep up and avoid getting her ear torn off.

Myra’s pride was shattered as she was dragged past young, cute, giggling maids. They tried to hold it in, but how was that possible? Myra’s situation looked ridiculous, with her large body pulled along by the short and plump figure of the head maid. But it didn’t bother the woman as much as her pleading cries made it seem. Even as she was thrown into the hall and told to clean up her things, she felt more nostalgic than humiliated. She even smiled when the woman slammed the door in her face. It was nice to know not everything had changed, even if it was a hard-learned lesson.

Out in the hall, Myra spent a few moments staring at the door, then looked down, opening her hand to reveal a sex toy she had been looking at before being dragged away. It was shaped like a teardrop but had a wide base, which was an odd share for it to be a dildo. Still, regardless of what it was, she had it! That meant she needed to return it, something she planned to do right after Danika had dinner with her children, an event that even she was tactful enough not to crash.

In the meantime… she might as well move her stuff.

—

Myra was bored. It didn’t take long to move her things, not seeing as how she had picked a room very close to Danika’s to store it all, determined to stay within the keep until someone threw her out or Danika let her back into “her” room. Yeah, that was the plan.

The downside to a short move was that it gave her too much time to do nothing, which was never a good thing when it came to Myra. It led to her practically pacing back and forth along the stretch of hallway in front of Danika’s door, appearing like a distressed pup wondering when its owner would return. It was yet another sight that seemed to amuse the emboldened young maids who caught a glimpse of her earlier humiliation.

But eventually, even the maids left, leaving Myra to sit around and wait in utter boredom. At least, that’s how things went until she caught sight of an oddly familiar figure approaching. The familiarity wasn’t because she recognized the person. Instead, it was familiar because… the woman looked exactly like her! The same hair, the same eyes, and an eerily similar build. Okay, so there were differences, but there was a shocking resemblance!

“She replaced me?”

Although some part of the alpha was flattered to know Danika still pined for her, that wasn’t the main thing she was feeling. Mainly, she found herself consumed by jealousy. Her entire body tensed when she realized that someone else was allowed to take her place, touching Danika with an appearance so similar to hers.

The emotion completely ruined Myra’s original plan to act subtly and wait for her chance. Upon seeing the other woman, she threw such thoughts away and instead threw a childish tantrum, stepping in front of the woman and growling in a low, threatening tone.

“Go away.”

The order was firm, and the low growl grew in intensity to make her displeasure obvious. It was enough that even the confused stablehand managed to realize something was wrong, stumbling back a few steps with panic on her face.

Seeing Myra seemed to confuse her even further, but before she could grow curious or ask a question, Myra barked another order, once more telling her to get lost.

“Go!”

The poor stablehand turned and fled after that, noticing the gold in Myra’s eyes and deciding not to stick around. It almost made Myra feel bad, threatening the innocent and all, but rationality no longer had control. All she could think about was Danika and how she deserved more than a mere replacement.

—

Myra barely had the presence of mind to knock a few times before going in, brazenly moving through the doors and into Danika’s room. But the second she did, she froze, her brain no longer working as it should.

A purple nightie hugged Danika’s curves just so, highlighting a generous bosom and wide hips. Lacking fabric provided vision of smooth, mouth-watering skin, while flickering candlelight gave it an enticing glow.

It was such a divine sight that Myra’s wolf, which stayed ever calm until she needed it on the battlefield, began to grow restless.

She looks this way for someone else! For the replacement! Take back what belongs to us!

The urge was so intense that Myra nearly went along with it. Even after so many years, her desire was still there, perhaps stronger than ever. But she resisted, trying to pretend she wasn’t completely out of control, even as her eyes darted about frivolously.

“Not who you were expecting?” Myra asked, her voice not quite as confident as she struggled to overcome her wolf’s influence and calm the dancing flecks of gold in her eyes.

“Or can’t you tell the difference?” Myra asked, managing a slight smirk as she caught the look on Danika’s face. “I can’t say I wasn’t flattered.” She was starting to enjoy the situation, but it only managed to make her jealous again, causing the smirk to falter and her intensity to return.

“But you should know things have changed since you last saw me naked. I’m no longer a soft young girl that knows nothing but training and mischief. Nor am I a soft stablehand.”

Myra didn’t manage to hide the desire and jealousy raging about inside of her, not again. She stepped forward and closed the doors behind her, the air growing heavier than she intended, but she refused to retreat. What was supposed to be a lighthearted, playful reunion turned into Myra’s smoldering gaze and undisguised jealousy.

The alpha stood there, locking eyes with Danika, even as her entire body screamed for her to look elsewhere. Myra slowly gripped her shirt by the hem and lifted it above her head, not breaking Danika’s gaze until the fabric forced her to, watching Danika’s reaction carefully to determine whether her actions were welcomed. But once the shirt was over her head, she no longer hesitated, removing it entirely with a swift motion and throwing it out of reach.

“Your little stablehand is a shallow imitation. Don’t you agree?”

Myra stood there confidently, her upper body on full display.

When wearing clothes, the changes were harder to notice. She had a scar on her neck that stood out once noticed, but the only other visible scars were on her arms, which was the same for almost every knight. Sure, she had a few more, but as someone who trained and went to war constantly for years, it wasn’t strange. But when she removed her shirt, the story of her life revealed itself. How she lived became clear.

Myra’s muscular body was littered with old wounds. On the right side of her abdomen, traces of a sword still looked angry, with a similar wound appearing on her lower back where it pierced through. A deep scar ran up that same side, going from just above her hip almost to her armpit. Her back showed a long scar from her shoulder blade to her spine, stopping right before the vulnerable center of her back. And surrounding those wounds were countless more from slashes, stabs, burns, and arrows.

Even with her wolf’s healing powers and medicine, Myra nearly died many times, and traces of those battles couldn’t be erased, nor did Myra want them to be. She was proud of her accomplishments. Even if it was a difficult life, she celebrated it, proven by the tattoos that accompanied the war wounds. Some symbolized achievements, others those she lost — a full moon surrounded by stars, one for each fallen friend. Then there were the others, such as Danika’s name, placed right above her heart.

 

[Javorcek]

"No…not at all." Danika found herself clutching at the top of her robe, as if trying to hide that she was most definitely wearing a nightgown that was really a lingerie treat for her young lover. Gah. How dare -she- try to embarrass -me-. This is my room after all! I am a healthy alpha of breeding age, newly widowed, I can do as I please! But still, even though she was well within her right to take a lover, her cheeks burned in embarrassment that Myra had found out…and they burned even brighter as my she was accused of having a -very- specific type.

"There are- you- I-" Danika huffed, obviously tossed off balance by the insinuation that Eleanor resembled Myra. There were plenty of people that shared similar traits to her old friend! At least half of all female soldiers were of the same build, age, and hair color! "You are not the only green-eyed brunette in existence!" The excuse was flimsy, even to her own ears. Eleanor did resemble a young Myra…and even though she wasn't the same, nor her wolf as strong, Danika could easily overlook such faults.

"I would hardly call Eleanor 'soft'." Danika huffed. Saying the stablehand's name and insinuating that she was as tough as her old lover, only seemed to make Myra more jealous. The General pushed forward, forcing Danika to walk backwards and deeper into the room. Despite all of Myra's growling and the golden glint in her eyes, Danika didn't cower. She wasn't ashamed!! Could have sent for Myra…her wolf knows us…it wants us…you sent for Eleanor on purpose… Well of course she had! It had been too long. Myra was an unknown at this point! Coward… Danika's gaze lowered for a moment, her wolf was right… she was afraid of this. It had already been torn from her once and broken her heart.

But Myra was brave (or an 'impetuous idiot', as Thea always said). She wasn't afraid to make the first move, to slowly peel off her nightshirt and grace Danika with the view of rock hard muscle and lovely, perky breasts. For a moment she couldn't speak, all the wetness in her body decidedly going someplace else. Her eyes roamed all over; taking in the new scars that littered Myra's body, as well as the tattoos that decorated it. Seeing her name etched upon the General's body made her beak out into a smile, and she stepped forward, running tentative fingers over the brand.

"There has never been an adequate substitution for you…" the Queen's voice was barely above a whisper. Her eyes stung at the admission and she clenched her jaw, willing the tremble out of her voice so that she could speak again. "But I do not wish to talk about that now. I just want something familiar after being away from home…and I know you want the same."

Slender fingers crept upward, wrapping around the back of Myra's neck to urge her downward for a kiss. At first Danika seemed shy about it…nervous; still afraid. But when Myra have an encouraging prod with her tongue, instinct took over. She parted her lips to allow her entrance, her own tongue playing back in kind as they relearned the other. The gentle grasp to the back of Myra's neck became more firm as Danika pressed her entire soft body up against the lean wall of muscle that she had desperately missed.

Oh but now what to do with Myra. She couldn't let her into the bedroom, there was an entire table of sex toys neatly laid out! And some of them were quite…unique. She had slept with an elven ambassador a few years ago who had introduced her to such toys in her stay. Some were already known to werewolves but others were even more taboo. Too taboo for even some of her lovers!

She wasn't ashamed for liking what she liked…but she didn't want to scare Myra off either.

The sitting room then? They had fooled around in Danika's old one often enough (at least there they could pretend to have been 'studying'). There was plenty of comfortable furniture in here for entertaining, but Danika chose to pull Myra towards the chaise by one of the bookshelves to hopefully rekindle some old memories. She gave her lover a push back onto the couch, only for the wolf to yelp and hop back up, clutching at her leg as though she had been stung. "Are you alright?" Danika's brow was furrowed in concern…until Myra withdrew a shiny piece of metal from her pocket.

A very familiar, polished, tear dropped shaped piece of steel with a flared base.

"Is that- Myra, did you go through my things when I was gone?!" Danika got up from the chaise, rounding on her old friend. A mixture of fierce embarrassment and anger filled Danika…the anger eventually winning out though when Myra proved to not know what exactly it was that she had stolen.

"Go." Danika commanded, pointing towards her room, "Go to the bedroom and strip. Then present yourself on the bed. You are in so much trouble."

The General pouted but did as she was told. Danika let her go on her own. Let the short walk and some time spent naked on the bed alone give her time to think about what she had done! Besides, Danika needed a moment to think to herself. This was uncharted territory after all. They had fooled around plenty as teens, but had never used toys before. Should she perhaps take it easy on Myra? No…if she had seen the plug, then she had certainly seen it all.

With that settled, Danika strode into her room.

"I will only take what is given…" she said as she ignored Myra's presented ass and moved towards the table of toys. Danika had many implements for discipline - paddles of all kinds, crops, floggers… The flogger seemed appropriate for Myra's punishment - something that would turn her bottom bright red.

"If you need to stop, you must tell me. I will not hold a grudge. But… I think…thirty lashes is fair." Danika picked her favorite flogger, the one of medium size and with a worn handle. It would hurt more than the softer suede one she had…but this was a punishment after all. "Ten for the thievery, another twenty for sitting on the Queen's throne. And you will count them out to keep track, understood?"

The first five were relatively light, on par with leaving scratches with her nails. Danika gathered the tails and sent them flying with an easy flick of the wrist. But as she found a rhythm, her blows got harder.

"Count!" Twenty seven… Danika waited a beat but Myra whined and shook her head.

"Twenty eight." THWACK "Twenty nine." THWACK "Thirty" THWACK THWACK THWACK THWACK The last count was followed by a hail of blows - Myra had lost track after all. It was important she keep it! Otherwise she would be subject to more punishment than was agreed upon.

"Turn over. We shall try again." Danika waiter patiently for Myra to roll onto her back. "Now spread your legs," she gathered up the tails, and it was perhaps then that Myra understood where she meant to hit. "It is very, very important that you are perfectly still," it took a bit more skill to properly flog thighs. The tails always wanted to wrap around the curve…and if she went too close to her lover's core, errant ones were liable to hit the delicate folds of her sex too hard. "Hold them open by the knees if you have to; I promise to not strike your hands."

"I am sure you will like this more than the beating to your ass…but judging by the mess between your thighs, you did enjoy some of that," dark eyes blatantly examined the glistening folds of Myra's sex. Gods, her old friend had always looked and tasted so good. Forget the flogger… Make her scream with our tongue… Show her what we have learned… Danika's wolf was prowling forward, tempted by the scent of sex and the promise of delicious arousal. Her hand tightened on the flogger, and she recentered herself. She wanted this to last, not be another stolen moment between the two of them.

They had time now. They needn't rush.

"Count." the Queen ordered, sending the first strike to the middle of Myra's left thigh. Then her right. Alternating back and forth until the skin was a beautiful rosy red.

"Hold still…" Danika warned, eyeing the mouthwatering sex that was taunting her. She carefully sent a blow straight for Myra's core, earning a yelp that didn't entirely seem born of pain. "Again," another, and another strike. The many cruel tails of the flogger left nowhere to hide, Myra's beautiful cunt was entirely at their mercy.

It took a great effort, but Danika managed to peel her eyes away from black leather biting into pink flesh long enough to observe her plaything's face. Myra's features were contorted with pain and pleasure…but Danika was trying to find where 'enough' was. The strikes kept coming, just a little harder, just a little faster, the rhythmic beating of leather and flesh…until she saw the tremble in her lip, until she saw the tears pricking the corners of her eyes.

There. That was enough.

"You have done so well…" Danika offered the praise freely as she gathered up the flogger and set it neatly aside. Then she leaned down, pressing kisses to Myra's muscular thighs. The flesh still burned hot from the beating, so Danika ran a soothing tongue over it. "So, so well… Now tell me what you need, love." She pressed soft kisses down Myra's trembling thigh, then ghosted over her core, blowing a stream of cool, refreshing air over her poor, abused sex.

"Do you require a break?" The Queen asked, her voice feigning innocence, as if she didn't know that was the last thing Myra's straining clit needed right now. "Perhaps some healing balms?" the lightest of kisses was placed on the parted, puffy outer lips of her lover's sex. Her wicked tongue came out next, dragging a slow, wet stripe up the join between her needy core and her thigh, still blatantly ignoring Myra's pretty, swollen bud as she awaited an answer.

 

[ClearSight]

The sight of Danika on the receiving end, of her burning cheeks and embarrassment, brought a delight to Myra unlike any other. Even when they were young, it was rare that she got the upper hand, always trying but rarely succeeding. Danika simply outmaneuvered, leaving Myra’s schemes and plots and everything else to fail.

But Myra wasn’t able to enjoy her little victory. It only served to strengthen her jealousy, especially when Danika began to defend herself by trying to pretend it had nothing to do with her. There were plenty of other green-eyed brunettes? Did that mean there were others? Were there multiple replacements? Multiple cheap imitations?

What really set Myra off was hearing the stablehand’s name, listening to the lips she desired utter it with such familiarity.

Prove it to her. Prove that we cannot be replaced! Not by anyone!

The only thing stopping her from completely losing control was the soft voice that reached her ears, penetrating through the thrashing beast inside her head.

“Good, because I do not wish to hear her name from your lips again. I want them to myself,” Myra responded to Danika’s whisper, finally managing to inject a bit of playfulness back into her tone at the queen’s pleasant admission.

There was no adequate substitution for her. It meant she tried and failed, which was infinitely more satisfying than either other option.

But Danika wanted to speak of it no more, and Myra would indulge.

The first kiss since fate cruelly ripped them apart was full of nervous energy, Myra’s own stomach knotted as her lips met Danika’s Yet, it only took that one shy meeting of the lips, a single spark to light the fuse.

Myra’s tongue prodded, then pushed, soon filling the silence with erotic sounds. Emboldened, fingers reached out, tracing down Danika’s curves until they reached her hips. There, they dug in, melting into the softness as they firmly pulled her in.
In her memories, Danika was less developed, and her muscles were more pronounced. Myra much preferred the softness, especially knowing that behind it hid a fierce and powerful creature capable of overpowering her should she lower her guard. It was a contrast that stoked her desire and pleased her wolf tremendously. Her wolf who, despite denying it openly, had always craved Danika’s firm hand. That very craving made her pliable.

Even as Myra contemplated taking Danika right there — of lifting her into the air and moving her to the bed to be claimed — she gave in at the slightest tug, allowing herself to be led away toward the sitting room.

Myra still displayed her willfulness, though, even as she was dragged further from the bedroom. The moment they came to a stop, she moved in close again and hugged Danika tightly, lips finding their way to her neck for a few teasing nibbles.

Danika’s intoxicating aroma filled the general’s head, her natural scent mixed with the oils in her bath made for a mix that would drive any creature mad. The same was true of Myra, whose light nibbles soon turned more intense, the wolf suckling and biting at what should have been hers all along.

For a brief moment, Myra had the perverse desire to leave marks of her teeth in the supple flesh, but by that point, Danika stopped indulging her. The queen pushed her into the chair, regaining the control she gave up for but a moment and standing over her with an eager look on her face.

But everything came crashing down when Myra let out a yelp, a sharp pain digging through her leg.

The desire and tension drained in an instant, and Danika showed concern that would have been touching if not for the cold sweat that quickly made its way to the back of Myra’s neck.

Before she reached down and pulled it out, Myra realized what the pain came from, as well as what it meant to pull it out in front of Danika. Sure, the queen would have learned eventually, the old maid surely informing her of Myra’s “manners.” However, that would have been after their passionate reunion! By then, Danika would be swooning, and she could talk her way out of it!

“This is… its-” Myra tried to think of a way to explain herself that didn’t get her in trouble, but she failed. If anything, her stammering and lack of explanation only served to increase her guilt, leaving the alpha to watch as all of the built-up emotions in Danika turned into anger.

“Wait, but-” she started again, wanting to protest. Not the part about going to the bedroom and presenting herself, but the part about being in trouble. “But I was already scolded by Hilde!”

Bad move.

Danika only seemed to grow more irritated after discovering that other people knew. That others had seen Myra with her toys.

In an instant, everything shifted. The feeling of reuniting equals searching for comfort and passion had vanished, and in its place, Queen Danika appeared. The queen gave an edict, and Myra was expected to obey. If the words weren’t enough, the firm eyes full of authority were.

Myra pouted, but she didn’t disobey, quickly doing as demanded and making her way into the bedroom to make herself ready. Clothes off and ass presented, Myra obeyed, trying to listen closely and figure out what Danika had in store.

While Myra quickly adapted and found what was happening exciting, part of her felt a bit odd. Talk of lashes took her back to early years at the border, when those out to get her used her inexperience and any other excuse to bring her under the whip. That hadn’t turned her on, but even before Danika brought down the first lash, Myra’s core began to throb.

“Yes, my queen,” Myra responded, her voice trembling with delight as she turned her head back and caught a glimpse of Danikaa with the flogger in hand.

I’m in trouble.

It was the last thought on her mind before the pain appeared. It started light — so much so that it didn’t even compare to wounds received during sparring — but that soon changed. Danika grew more confident and brutal with each blow.

By the time they reached the mid 20s, Myra was a mess, a mix of pain and pleasure leading the general on a euphoric ride unlike any she had experienced before. It should have been nothing but pain, and yet, she found more pleasure in it than discomfort. Each blow drew a whimper, but they also evoked moans and dripping folds.

Making matters worse, the sensory overload was so intense that Myra had trouble keeping count, her dazed mind drunk with unexpected bliss. And by lash 27, she failed to keep track.

The punishment that came after was harsh, Danika showing no mercy as she proceeded to finish off the count herself, plus a few additional blows to express her disappointment. Myra barely noticed, her body quivering as she came dangerously close to orgasm.

It was a strange feeling to nearly climax while being hit, enough to make the general wonder when she turned into such a person. But even as she questioned her proclivity for pain and punishment, she obeyed Danika’s every word.

When told to turn over, she did, and when told to spread her legs, she obeyed. Even if it meant showing just how depraved she was — news even to herself — Myra did as Danika instructed.

The next round of punishment began, and soon the rhythm returned, with Danika starting slowly before peppering her with blows that became harder and harder. Only, Myra’s willpower was crumbling.

Danika told the truth about her enjoying the new round more. There was more pleasure than pain, or at least enough for Myra to mask, causing her counting to be tinged with involuntary moans. That was especially so when the flogger hit her core, sending a shockwave through her body that caused the general to arch her back ever so slightly.

As Danika continued to rain down blows, Myra started to whimper and whine, each moan followed by small sounds of protest. But there was no mercy or reprieve, only endurance as the alpha took each blow, right at the edge of true pleasure but unable to reach it.

Even at the end, where Danika finally stopped, Myra didn’t manage to reach the height of pleasure. It left her a mess, panting and whining, tears at the corner of her eyes. Toward the end, she even started to bite her lip, trying to hide just how good it felt. But perhaps that was already too obvious. It definitely was.

But Danika’s gentle praise managed to soothe her, pulling her back from the edge of her shattered worldview.

“Need?” Myra hazily muttered, Danika’s lips and tongue making it almost impossible to think as their softness ventured across her hot skin.

“I need…”

Myra paused again, unable to pull her thoughts together as the gentle attention continued to soothe the aftermath of her punishment.

Fortunately, she wasn’t completely gone, still present enough to shake her head and whine when presented with an option she didn’t like. No break! No healing balm!

Knowing what she didn’t want only went so far, though. Myra still found it difficult to piece together her own thoughts, especially as Danika continued to tease her, dragging a silken tongue around the throbbing sex begging for attention.

“I need… to cum.”

Myra said it, finally getting those two agonizing words from her brain to her lips, a feat far more difficult than it deserved to be. Yet, even after finally triumphing over her own pleasure-addled mind, Danika didn’t give her what she wanted.

Instead, she kept talking and teasing, toying with her! If not for the complete inability to take control, Myra might have lost reason. As it was, she merely whined and whimpered pathetically, squirming under Danika’s touch in an attempt to brush her sensitive, swollen lips across the lips or tongue that tormented her.

“Please…”

Myra whined out another word, one of the few her brain managed to grasp on to. And when it didn’t work, when she was still tormented and teased, her voice grew more desperate.

“Please, my queen… I need to cum.”

Not once since she left for the border had Myra begged. Not when she was abused for being the daughter of a fallen house. Not when she was thrown into a war before truly becoming a soldier. Not when she almost died far away from home. Not when she lost those closest to her and wondering why the gods were so cruel. Only before Danika did she beg, desperate for release and knowing it was the only way the gorgeous wolf might give her what she needed.

 

[Javorcek]

"I need…to cum."

"Mmm…I don't know…" once more, Danika gave Myra's sex an appraising eye. She was an absolute mess - a damp spot already underneath her from the arousal she had dripped during the beating. She was definitely in need of a climax… But her tolerance for pain had been high, and Danika had flogged her poor little cunt for nearly thirty strikes on its own. All that had been pink was now an angry shade of red; she was fairly certain if she were to directly touch the hypersensitive flesh, Myra would be in pain again. "It's going to hurt, darling. Are you sure?"

"Perhaps it would be better if you rest a moment," the Queen offered, a grin tugging at the corners of her lips as she continued to lick and kiss at the muscular thighs that were parted for her. She wasn't enjoying this at all! She was just thinking of the good of her lover. "I suppose if you are in desperate need, you can plead your case and I may change my mind."

It took an embarrassingly long time for Myra to pull herself together enough to formulate something that resembled a sentence. Danika wasn't swayed in the slightest during the first attempt at a "please", content to explore the shifting coils of muscle for as long as it took. Myra was smart, she could put together a better argument than that!!

She strayed as far as the General's knee before Myra began to truly beg, her voice tinged with sheer desperation. The Queen preened in victory; it was difficult to get an alpha to beg, let alone a proud soldier like Myra. She must -really- need to cum if she would trade soothing affections for a violent orgasm If their roles had been reversed, Danika probably would have waited ten to twenty minutes for her wolf to heal. She personally enjoyed her pleasure pure and untainted by pain.

Myra was certain she could endure it though, so Danika would give it to her. With a nod she withdrew and stood back up. Dangling off the edge of a grand bed wasn't exactly the most comfortable position anyways.

"I am going to give you a reward, but you are to keep your hands to yourself," Danika soothed as Myra whined over the loss of contact. She didn't make her lover wait too long as she climbed up the bed, turned about, and then knelt over her body. The already high-cut nightgown hitched higher as she straddled Myra, the purple silk pooling at her waist. Her lover was offered a view of glistening folds that begged to be tasted, and a pale round bottom that taunted many an alpha but hadn't been claimed yet.

So maybe it was less of a reward and more a full blown assault to Myra's senses, but Danika reasoned that their current position would help give her toy a welcome distraction from the incoming pain.

With her ass high in the air, far out of reach of Myra's mouth, she lowered her front in a typical breeding pose. Her lips and tongue gave a cursory inspection to Myra's abs as she draped herself over her body, the silk of Danika's nightgown tickling at her ribs. The Queen trembled slightly as she traced her tongue down a line of muscle - her lover was carved from stone! She could imagine the thorough fucking the wolf could provide…and was definitely going to save that fantasy for later. For now she had lower still to go, over the wiry hair on Myra's mound and to her long waiting prize: her delicate folds. She had meant to go slow, she really did. But now the scent of sex was strong…and the moment her tongue touched quivering folds, coating her taste buds in mouth watering juices, Danika's wolf came roaring forward. Mine! Mine! MINE! Make her scream our name!! Make her cum so hard she can barely breathe!!!! The Queen could barely hold back a transformation, but she managed to keep the beast at bay….mostly due to concern. After such a rough flogging, she doubted Myra's tender sex could handle the press of predator teeth or the voraciousness of a wolf's tongue.

"Fuck…Myra…I'm sorry, but you taste -so- good," Danika apologized before her ravenous tongue began to attack the beat red folds, searching for more of her delicious snack. Fully immersed in her lover's scent and salty-sweet taste had Danika and her wolf in a frenzy. She lapped up every drop within reach and when there was nothing more, she trapped Myra's clit between her lips and demanded it. Her tongue roughly lashed against the poor beaten bud, giving Myra's body no choice but to climax and reward her efforts with another batch of juices to be lapped up.

It still wasn't enough, Danika's wolf wanted more. If the human side wouldn't release her, then she would push to get what she wanted: more. More Myra screaming, more Myra trembling and bucking, more Myra cumming all over the bed! The wolf quickly rammed one finger, then two into their lover's tight sex. Danika thrust them into her neglected hole, relishing in the sinful, wet noises that Myra's channel made as it rippled and clenched around her invading digits.

Danika's hips were starting to squirm on their own, obviously she needed attention if she was chasing a slight breeze to take the edge off. But her focus lay on drawing more glorious screams and moans from Myra to appease her wolf. She had never heard her lover cry out with such fervor before - they had always been hushed as they snuck about as teens. Even as an adult, most of her lovers feared her husband's wrath and were relatively quiet in the bedroom. Now, as Myra screamed her name to the ceiling, probably alerting at least half the keep of what they were up to, Danika's wolf kept pushing, wanting everyone to know who was in her bed tonight.

"Again!" the wolf growled as poor Myra tried to close her legs. The wolf had lost count of how many orgasms their lover had had - some ran into others and were difficult to keep track of. But she could keep going! She just wasn't trying hard enough! And such bad behavior, like trying to close her legs, only earned Myra a rough bite to her thigh. "Keep them spread, I know you can take it," well, she didn't really -know- …but the wolf was pretty sure as long as their toy was conscious, that meant they could keep playing with it.

The two fingers that had been furiously pumping in and out of Myra's silken channel withdrew after drawing out yet another orgasm and a wave of wetness. As if her lover wasn't already delirious with pleasure now, Danika seemed hellbent on breaking her brain entirely. She reached down her own body, taking those two glistening digits and touching herself right before Myra's eyes.

"Gods. Myra, look what you do to me," Danika moaned as she spread her puffy outer lips open further, giving Myra an eyeful of needy royal sex. She then circled her own clit, swollen and throbbing, hips bucking into her hand. For a moment it looked as though she might continue to tease this way and work herself to orgasm….and she wanted to, gods, did she ever want to. But first she took those two fingers that were still soaked in Myra's arousal and pushed them into her tight channel, allowing her lover's juices to mark her.

 

[ClearSight]

Pain, pleasure, Myra could barely tell the difference between the two by the time her punishment came to an end. Her nerves, confused by overdoses of each, throbbed at each new sensation, no matter how light, causing her brain to stumble all over itself as it tried to communicate what noises she should make and what reaction suited her treatment.

The difficulty of forming words only further increased with Danika’s teasing, though she eventually managed to get enough of a sentence out to earn her lover’s attention. Or was it mercy?

It didn’t really matter why. Myra just knew that the further away from her abused folds her lover went, the more desperate she became. She needed release. She needed Danika’s soft tongue and deft fingers to move from her thighs to her core and deliver the attention and relief she so desperately craved.

But even when Danika finally decided to give her what she needed — what she begged for — she wasn’t done teasing her. The queen would give her the pleasure she wanted, but she also presented her with an impossible task — keeping her hands to herself.

Under normal circumstances, Myra would respond confidently to such a challenge. Even now, fueled by desire and desperation, she would claim herself disciplined enough to resist the urge to move, much less touch. But some things were more difficult than others to resist.

When Danika hovered her bountiful backside in front of Myra’s face, her unfocused eyes immediately regained clarity. The view, framed by exquisite purple silk, might have been the most beautiful thing the general had ever seen, and certainly the most enticing.

Perfectly round and fair, Danika’s backside appeared as artwork, jiggling ever so slightly as her queen moved into position. The very sight evoked urges in the alpha, from the tame desire to stroke and kiss it worshipfully to her inner wolf’s obsession with claiming her so thoroughly that Danika begged for more.

The queen’s arousal proved equally enticing.

Myra felt further urge to bury her face between Danika’s thighs and stay there until she ran shy of breath, licking and suckling until every last drop belonged to her. To stay down there so long she erased all traces of her former mate, replacing them with her own presence.

The alpha felt her willpower wane as she leaned forward ever so slightly, drawing closer to Danika’s sex. Closer still she moved, wanting nothing more than to close the gap and extend her tongue to taste. But Danika moved first.

Before Myra could break down and disobey mere moments after being told to keep her hands idle, Danika moved her tongue downward, merely taking a quick pit stop at the general’s abs before finding her swollen, needy folds.

Perhaps she would have faltered still if convinced solely by gentle licks, but after a single tentative stroke, Danika showed no mercy. The domineering queen devoured her, offering a few hollow words of apology before bearing down on her like a predator savoring its prey.

But Myra showed no signs of anger or displeasure at Danika’s rough treatment, barely even managing a throaty acknowledgement. The alpha was too busy crying out in pain and pleasure, her muscular form writhing in a mix of sensations that once more catapulted her into sensory overload, washing over her senses with a tidal wave of agony and euphoria that swirled together into an immensely satisfying and unstoppable torrent of ecstasy that tore through her body and left convulsions in its wake.

The initial outburst left Myra at her lover’s mercy, her body no longer able to resist Danika’s onslaught in the least. One orgasm after another erupted, each brought on by the queen’s unyielded assault on her throbbing folds and sensitive clit. Fingers, tongue, and teeth came together and trampled all over her, leading an invasion that would no doubt leave her hoarse the next day, all because of a single word — a single name.
Myra lost count of the number of orgasms. She forgot about the difference between pain and pleasure. For a time, there was only a dreamy haze, one defined by the intensity of her ecstasy at any given moment. But eventually, her body grew weary, quietly complaining and begging for reprieve. Thankfully Danika noticed. Maybe. Or maybe coincidence allowed Myra a break, one that allowed her mind to finally relax enough to take in new information. And what she took in was Danika’s gorgeous folds… penetrated with fingers covered in her juices.

The goddess of a woman, her first love and lifelong obsession, blamed Myra. She said that Myra was the one responsible, giving her credit for the glistening folds. Then she penetrated them with fingers that had pummeled the weary alpha just moments earlier. It caused her mind to break. She lost it. Not her wolf, but her.

Without the unceasing waves of pleasure keeping Myra’s mind at bay, the only thin barrier stopping her from acting was her own self-restraint. That was gone. Unable to hold herself back, Myra acted, her arms reaching up and wrapping themselves around Danika’s thighs, her raw strength ensuring the gorgeous woman wouldn’t be able to slip away.

“Enough!” Myra roared, her voice so raw it neared unrecognizable.

Those were the last words she uttered, the ravenous alpha pulling Danika down onto her mouth and immediately going for the sweet, tempting nectar that dripped about in front of her the entire night, or however long it had been. Myra was ignorant of the passage of time, deliriously so, but the scent of Danika’s arousal had already drilled its way into her, a constant temptation among her tortuous “reward.”

Nothing stands in our way! Taste her! Devour her! Make her beg for a change!

Myra’s wolf howled, and flecks of gold swirled around in otherwise hazy eyes, painting a rather mysterious contrast. But nobody would see her eyes. Myra had no intention of letting Danika move now that she had a proper hold of her — lips and tongue hungrily assaulting her queen’s dripping folds.

In that moment, Myra was more beast than human, trading skilled tongue for long, powerful strokes, dragging it from end to dripping end, refusing to let even an ounce escape.

Minutes passed, dozens, and only then did her relentless actions slow, sore jaw and soothed beast finally returning a sense of rationality. But even then, she simply adjusted her efforts, loosening her grip enough to adjust Danika’s position.

“Mmph— sorry,” she started to speak between suckles and licks, her voice still hoarse but more Myra-like in its tone, no longer tainted by a frustrated wolf. “Your thighs,” she continued while exploring enthusiastically, “might be bruised tomorrow.”

Myra wasn’t actually sorry. Love marks! She planned to leave a few more as well.

 

[Javorcek]

Danika gave a token resistance as Myra pulled her back onto her face; she couldn't just act -too- eager…even though her wolf was leading their hips to buck and grind against a strong tongue. She tried to pop back onto her knees but between Myra's iron grip and her wolf deciding that now was the time to behave like a poorly trained slut…all Danika could do was accept the offer of pleasure. To anyone else, the fierce roar and rough treatment might have been intimidating, but all Danika's alpha heard was Play! Challenge!

"Aahhhhh!" Danika gave a surprised cry as pleasure exploded from her core and struck her body like a shot of lightning. Trading finesse for brute force was working in Myra's favor, because her strong tongue easily drew an orgasm out of the Queen. And it was the -way- Myra licked her too…all the way from top to bottom in search of juices. Every time the alpha licked low, her nose would threaten to bump into the Queen's forbidden hole. Danika felt a thrill go through her every time Myra went just a little too low…she had never felt comfortable with anyone so close - still didn't feel entirely relaxed with Myra…but this was the closest she had ever been with giving the order to have her bountiful rear explored.

"Ff-Myra-fuck. You cheater," Danika whined as her lover changed tactics and now focused in on a spot that always made her right thigh twitch and reduced her brain to a pile of mush. The pulses of pleasure were exquisite with every flick of that powerful tongue… but it wasn't fair! Myra's wolf still remembered what set her off, even after all these years.

————

Thea tossed and turned in her bed, head buried under her pillow, trapped somewhere between awake and dreaming as she tried to ignore the screams of Myra. She had almost fallen asleep…but then Danika started her moaning, and that was decidedly worse than hearing Myra's pleasure-induced babbling.

A knock on her door ended her losing battle for sleep. With a huff, she crawled out of bed, carrying her bedside candle with her and trying her best to remove the scowl from her face. Judging by the handmaiden's nervousness, she hadn't done a particularly good job.

"I apologize for disturbing you, Shadow, but the Queen's Artificer has been moved to the infirmary…she has gone into labor and I don't know if I should alert Her Highness…."

"Fuck! Myra! More!"

"I will see to the girl. My Lady is currently…" Thea sighed and waved a hand to the air. Why bother pretending that they couldn't hear exactly what the Queen was currently busy with. "It is her first pup, we have many hours to go. I'm sure the Queen will be ready when the baby is."

"Gods! Right thererighttherepleaseepleaseplease!"

The handmaiden looked relieved that she would not have to interrupt the Queen's good time. Then the girl scampered off, back to the servant's quarters and away from the moans of her mistress.

Thea changed out of her nightclothes and into her uniform (not really having much in the way of off duty clothing), then speedily walked down to the infirmary. She passed through the main room, most of the cots were empty, but there were a few soldiers from the front still resting here. There were several other rooms that branched off and she went into the one that was used by the nobles for birthing.

"You are not Danika. Where is she?" the midwife asked. The ancient alpha was probably the only person who could get away without referring to Danika by her title (a right she earned by birthing the late queen, the current queen, and her pups!).

"Her Majesty is currently…indisposed at the moment," Thea grimaced. She would much rather be here, with a stranger about to give birth, than listen to her charge's caterwauling.

"Hmmph…well…we still have a ways to ago." The old woman patted Michelle's thigh in sympathy before standing up from her chair at the side of the bed and reaching for her cane. "Twelve hours or so, I reckon… The baby is ready, but her body is not. The herbs I have given her should help…but it is too early for her to take anything for the pain." She turned to Thea, poking the Shadow right in the chest with her cane. "No. Food. Only water. And even then, only sips of water," the midwife waved her cane threateningly at Thea, to let her know she would be at the receiving end of it should she disobey the rules. For -both- Danika's pups, the Shadow had snuck the girl a snack…and for both the pups, Danika had been sick to her stomach while also having to push.

"I will do my best, Healer," Thea replied noncomittally. How bad could a caning from an eighty something year old wolf possibly be?

The midwife eyed Thea before deciding to just hobble back to her bedroom. "Try to rest, girls. My assistant will come in to check on you every few hours…but try your best to get as much sleep as you can."

Now left alone with the Artificer, Thea gave a short bow and introduced herself. "I am Thea, Queen Danika's Shadow, or, uh, her bloodbound guard if you prefer," she clarified after remembering this Artificer was not from here and so probably didn't know their ways. "I will help care for you until Her Majesty arrives. I have no pups of my own, but I was there for My Lady when she gave birth… Her mother had already passed and her husband's mother was about as useless as he was," Thea offered a small smile. She tried her best to do what she thought the Late Queen would want…after all, that had been her first boss.

"Come. Let us walk for a little bit while you still can. It'll help ease the pain," Thea offered her arm for Michelle to take so they could do a few slow laps around the room.

——-

"Mmm…why do I feel as though you aren't really sorry," Myra always marked her places no one could see when they were kids. Love bites to her ribs, bruises to her thighs, scratches to her back… she was used to it. "Mmmmph…oh, Myra," Danika moaned, her toes curled as she hit another, more decadent orgasm. Without the wolf's insistent tongue, the Queen was treated to a slow, steady build of pleasure as Myra explored her folds.

"Enough, you fiend," a light tap to Myra's side was given. She knew her lover could probably keep going, but Danika's sex was becoming over sensitive and the pleasure was starting to lace with pain.

With great effort, she scooted forward so that she could sit up on Myra's chest, then her nightgown was tossed away and she flopped back onto the bed with her head in the pillows. She pulled Myra towards her, leaving the General little choice in staying. Not that she seemed to want to anyways; with the Queen's breasts finally freed, Myra quickly lay her head in them and snuggled.

 

[ClearSight]

Myra gave Danika her first orgasm, one of many that she planned to ply from her gorgeous companion. But the wolf took a moment as Danika started truly falling apart, a smile playing at her lips. The mighty queen, a ruler beloved by all and powerful enough to strike fear in her enemies — in entire nations — cried out in pleasure. She moaned Myra’s name, her sweet voice tickling the general’s ears.

“It’s not cheating. I just never stopped thinking about you long enough to forget.”

Even Myra felt it was a sappy line, but considering how many days thoughts of Danika saw her through… she couldn’t deny its truth.

Unwilling to give Danika time to respond, Myra dove back in, her powerful tongue redoubling its efforts, beginning to mix in deep, exploratory probes inside her lover’s scorching folds. Her mission? Enough orgasms to make Danika forget her earlier words entirely.

———

The birth took everything Michelle had and more, leaving her a dried-out husk. She ached all over, her eyes burned from lack of moisture, and what were once lips turned cracked and painful. Even with the expert care of the midwife, the drained alpha felt as if she might fall apart at any moment. But she made it, and her reward was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen.

Michelle released a few happy sobs despite being unable to form tears from her dried out body. She cradled the small creature, still deliriously happy from when the midwife handed the child to her. Her baby. Her… daughter. “Thank you for being born. Thank you for being healthy. Thank you.”

Since her arrival in this new plane, many things had become uncertain. At first, she wondered if she would be able to return home. She thought about Jocelyn and whether the love of her life was okay. But as time passed, she grew nervous for other reasons. Would she survive? Would her baby be okay? Having a child was trying even in a modern world with magic and a support system. In one fell swoop, Michelle lost all of that.

Danika finding her was a turning point. Michelle saw hope, though at first she remained guarded and unsure. But thankfully, the queen took pity on her, giving her and her child a fighting chance.

Despite that, it was only once she had her healthy child in her arms that she relaxed, perhaps more exhausted by that fading tension than the pregnancy itself. They were okay. Her daughter was okay.

“Do you have a name for her?” asked the midwife, a gentle smile on her face.

“Aurora,” Michelle said after a pause, looking lovingly at her child. The light that kept her going.

Only after a long time did Michelle manage to look up, her eyes moving to the person who had been with her from the start.

“Thea,” she started, finding it strange how close and thankful she felt to someone she barely knew. “Thank you for staying with me.”

Every word took energy Michelle didn’t have, but she managed to get them out anyway. Thea had remained by her side dutifully, walking with her, giving her sips of water, and allowing her to brutally squeeze her hand when it came time to push.

Thea was a rather awkward woman. Or perhaps it was just their awkward meeting and situation that made it seem so. Regardless, her initial introduction seemed hazy now. The queen’s shadow, her bloodbound guard. Her presence and calm kindness had been enough to get Michelle through the worst of it.

Michelle then turned to Danika, who was flanked by another curious woman, who kept looking over Danika’s shoulder and smiling at the sight of the baby.

“Queen Danika. I owe you more than I can hope to repay. Thank you for bringing me back.” Michelle wanted to say more, overwhelmed with emotion now that her child was safely born, but Danika stopped her from speaking any further with a wave of her hand. Michelle just gave a weak smile at that, mouthing one last “thank you” before lowering her head and smiling at her daughter again. Aurora. Michelle already felt like she resembled her mother. Gods, she missed Jocelyn.
———

Myra had never experienced a more glorious morning in her entire life. Why? Many reasons. The main one? Breasts! Danika’s glorious, soft breasts. Myra lavished them with affection the night before, and when their pleasure-seeking ended, they became lavish pillows.

Of course, there was also the soft bed and luxurious sheets, and Danika’s presence, which assured her the night before wasn’t some heart-wrenching dream she would wake to realize wasn’t real. But the breasts stood supreme!

Unfortunately, new life interrupted her desire to spend the entire morning in Danika’s bosom, a situation likely to turn into more sex. Not that it stopped her clinging and playfulness entirely. She simply followed along to see the baby, constantly groping and whispering in the gorgeous alpha’s ear whenever the chance presented itself. Even now, while watching the artificer gaze at her child, Myra was nibbling at Danika’s ear.

“The baby is adorable,” Myra whispered, though soon followed it up with something less wholesome. “You were also adorable last night,” she cooed.

When they first arrived in the room, Danika had warned her to behave, but she couldn’t help herself, even if it meant punishment later. She wanted to be clingy! And she had never been capable of controlling her mouth. Besides, she was already in deep for leaving a few visible marks, so digging her hole a little deeper didn’t hurt! Well, it would, but she didn’t mind the pain.

—————

Many things had changed since Myra’s arrival in the capital. For one, she officially put in a transfer request for her and a number of loyal knights from the north. There had been opposition from a few elders uncomfortable with her return, arguing about who would take her place, but those voices were eventually silenced. Danika was kind of scary when mad. Though, it just turned Myra on when the anger was on her behalf.

Thanks to the beautiful queen, Myra’s request was approved, and soon after, she managed to push through a request to create her own knight order. Thanks to Danika’s help, her own surname and reputation, and the slew of loyal knights by her side, the Order of the White Lotus was born!

Not everyone loved the name, but the order quickly grew, taking in some additional bodies to serve as knights in training. She even managed to snag a few talents from the academy, much to the frustration of the pre-existing orders.

But the biggest change of all was Myra’s job title. No longer a general, Myra had fully transitioned to a member of the capital. She now served as Danika’s royal guard captain, spending her days following Danika around like a loyal guard dog. Well, spending her day. She followed Danika around every day, but her new position only became official a day ago after weeks of mind-numbing meetings and, frankly, objections.

Still, Myra won out in the end, and this time, it was without interference from Danika! That made it feel even more official, and because she was so proud of that fact, Myra was hamming it up, wearing her full royal guard captain uniform when she picked Danika up to attend the festival.

———

“Eva, over here, quick!”

The festivals were amazing, full of fun and games and all sorts of things to see. Even if one didn’t enjoy the eventual orgy — they all did — there was more than enough to make it worth attending. But as fun as they could be, they attracted plenty of drunken idiots and people fighting for stupid reasons. Because of that, Evandria always had something to do.

Unlike most people who attended the festival, she did not do so for sex or pleasure. She merely offered her services as a healer, leaving her cozy little shack in the slums for the massive tents set up near the main city square. Well, healing and dancing. She usually participated in some of the evening festivities, only leaving when everything started to devolve.

But for the moment, she was focused on one thing — treating patients.

“I’m here!” Eva shouted, having to do so even when near the helper because of the noise.

“Laceration to the forehead. Likely needs sutures. There’s also a deep gash in his abdomen I can’t get to stop bleeding.”

Eva nodded, walking over and snagging a few things from one of the nearby trays. She then returned to the wounded man and took a closer look at the wounds.

The head wound was shallow, despite the heavy bleeding. All she needed to do was a quick suture to solve the problem. Pressure would also work, though it was likely to open back up, especially since she doubted the man would miss the evening festivities, even in his current condition. Wolves healed fast, and they tended to take advantage of that fact to excuse moving around before properly healing.

However, the stomach gash was a different story. Much deeper, gushing blood, and unlikely to close easily. Plus, there was a chance something more was wrong beneath the surface.

Using the excuse that she needed to touch around the wound, Eva reached out and subtly let some mana go through her fingertips and into the man, being careful not to let anyone notice what she was doing.

Soon after, she breathed out a sigh of relief. It wasn’t that serious, just bloody.

“How did this happen?” she asked, starting to channel some more mana to help ease the bleeding before getting the rest of what she needed to treat it.

Instead of the man answering her, who was clearly trying to hold back pained screams, someone else stepped forward from a small group of men standing to the side.

“He was being mouthy, and things got heated. He’ll live, yeah?” the man asked, his breath reeking of cheap liquor.

Eva grimaced, disliking the smell as well as the man’s tone. From the sound of it, they were the ones that hurt the man, and she quickly motioned to one of the guards loitering about.

“He’ll be fine, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

While the men left, they glared at her angrily as they did, muttering beneath her breath. Eva paid them no mind, turning her attention back to the injured man. Fortunately, his wounds weren’t worse, and after a few minutes, she had him sutured and ready to rest.

“Make sure he doesn’t run off for a bit, and have someone clear the wound in a few hours. If there is any additional bleeding, apply some resin.”

The helper nodded a few times, noting everything down.

“Good. Okay, I’m off. Doctor Jonas will take over, so inform him of anything else.”

Eva wrapped things up and headed out of the tent, her shift finally over. Now, she could enjoy the tail end of the festival before heading back home. Not that things were ever that easy.

“Look who it is, the bitch who threw us out.”

Eva hadn’t gone far from the medical tent when she ran into the trio from the tent. While they acted like it was a coincidence, they seemed to be waiting.

“Heh, not so high and might now, are you, beautiful?” one of the men asked, taking a few steps closer, embolden by her lack of response.

The man looked her up and down, licking his lips as he did.

While Eva wore rather loose clothing, it couldn’t hide her curves. It also couldn’t hide her stunning features, from the flowing black hair tied into a ponytail to her eyes that shimmered with a warm amber and gold.

“Maybe we should start ahead of this evening’s festivities?” one of them suggested, a somewhat nervous shake to his voice. But it didn’t take long for his nervous expression to turn into a grin as his companions gulped and nodded, coming to a quick agreement.

Eva looked on wide-eyed, unable to believe what was happening. Did they not realize what would happen? The queen took such things very seriously!

“You’re all drunk. I suggest going back immediately and sobering up,” she said in a raised voice, though it lacked the nervousness it should have contained. Not that any of them picked that up. They just stepped forward, looking to surround her.

With a sigh, Eva prepared to run, only to find someone walk forward and stand in front of her. Who? She didn’t know.

 

[Javorcek]

Despite the midwife's advice, Thea didn't catch more than a few winks of sleep that night. She did her best to rub Michelle's sides and back as she whimpered and whined in pain through the hours. Only when her new charge was settled, succumbing to her first bout of exhaustion, did Thea shut her own eyes…and by then the sun began to creep through the window. So Thea stayed awake while Michelle rested, and waved off the midwife's assistant when she came with an offering of breakfast for the Shadow.

More hours passed, the pain becoming so great that Michelle couldn't sleep any longer. It was then that the midwife finally hobbled in and offered the girl a mix of herbs to chew on to help ease the pain. "Not long now dears… Now come, help me prop her up," the midwife had Thea place some pillows behind Michelle so that she could start to get in position for birthing.

"Did I miss it?" Danika asked as she rushed into the room, Myra right on her heels.

"No, we're just at the exciting part now. Here, come and hold her legs up," the midwife waved to Danika and Myra. The Queen to her credit didn't balk at getting her hands dirty and did as she was instructed, hoisting one of Michelle's legs up. "Alright now, go ahead and push Michelle."

"Oh I looked. I shouldn't have looked," Danika paled at the sight of a goopy tuft of black hair trying to make way, framed by a vagina that definitely shouldn't look like that.

"You've had two of your own and you're squeamish now, girl?!" the midwife huffed. "Alright, big push now Michelle, we're almost done. One, two, three, push!"

'Almost done' turned out to take a dozen more attempts. It was difficult work, the midwife knew. Such was the problem when the baby was ready before the mother. Michelle was expected to push as hard as she could while being weak from lack of food, water, and sleep.

"You are doing well," Thea winced as Michelle attempted to crush every bone in her hand, "Just a few more Michelle, I promise. I can nearly see the head from here."

With one last push, the baby finally came, wailing and wiggling. The room was a rush of movement as the midwife and her assistant gathered up the tiny one. "Go, go, place the baby on her chest now. Need to bond them so the alpha doesn't grow wild," the midwife instructed her apprentice, who hurriedly accepted the baby and circled around to place a still slightly dirty, crying bundle on Michelle's bare chest. The skin to skin contact seemed to soothe the newborn, at least enough so that its cries weren't so loud.

Thea heaved a sigh of relief now that it was all over. There were many mothers that did not make it through childbirth…and it was always a worry in the back of her mind when a friend was going through it. She gave Michelle a gentle pat to her shoulder in congratulations, her eyes on the baby that was precariously perched in her mother's grasp. The Shadow was sure Michelle wouldn't drop the tiny bundle, but still, she watched, protective as always.

Danika, on the other hand, smiled dreamily as she gazed at the baby. It almost made her want another of her own! Pregnancy was awful, childbirth was even worse…but there was something so magical about a newborn that made her wish to relive all the trials. As Michelle started to thank her, Danika's attention was drawn back to her, and she waved a dismissive hand. She had merely done what was right; nothing more, nothing less. "Congratulations… Now, I must get to work, I cannot show any favoritism," her eyes narrowed in on Thea's "I'm sure I have many reports to hear today."

Thea gulped, knowing she was probably in trouble for the coup. Well, not necessarily the coup, but definitely for making such a major decision without consulting Danika first. But as the Queen left, she did not feel the pull of Danika's will…which meant she was free at least for a little while to watch over Michelle until she got settled.

————-

Slowly but surely, life in the capitol assumed a new normal.

With Richard's guard disbanded and his sympathizers ousted, Danika had a slew of positions to fill. One such opening happened to be for the captain of the royal guard….which Myra jumped all over. It came as a bit of a surprise to the Queen; Myra was basically asking for a demotion. She had assured her old friend that she would assign her a new post anywhere she liked under the rank of General, but Myra stubbornly declined.

The elders were also unhappy about the shift of power, as Danika already oversaw the Shadows and now, without a mate, she would basically be in control of all branches of the military. Some feared the power would go to her head (a silly idea that she scoffed at).


———- Several Weeks Later ———



When Danika had been whisked away by her handmaidens to prepare for the Harvest Festival, she had thought Myra's fleeting, 'I'll come escort you as soon as you're finished,' meant that she would be treated to Myra as her date for the day….not a literal escort. Alright. Well. This is a thing I get to deal with now. Apparently her new Captain wanted to show off how seriously she took her job. And that was fine…they could make it work…

But then Myra didn't even offer her her arm as they left the keep!

Danika was incredibly confused by the turn of events. She had thought that Myra would want to stake some sort of claim today…especially on a day when the elders wouldn't begrudge them for indulging in the traditional festivities. And -especially- with Danika hurtling towards her heat. All the decisions regarding her appearance had been made by her wolf in preparation for her heat: a dress that bared her shoulders and dipped low, the corset pushing her breasts up and putting them on proper display. Her dark hair was pulled into an updo, showing off her regal throat that needed a new claim. Her scent was more beguiling than usual, her skin glowed with desire; everything about her appearance was to be alluring and delicious…prey meant to be hunted.

So she would absolutely -not- be chasing a foolish Myra!

It did hurt to not be immediately snatched up by her old friend. Merely a week ago, Danika had pounced upon her the -second- she had noticed Myra's change in scent, totally unable to resist her. For three days she had kept her lover chained to the bed, helping her through her heat. She had even broken a harness! (Which was of course entirely Myra's fault and a good enough reason for Danika to give her a spanking followed by hours of teasing while they waited for it to be repaired.) She had made her own affections exceedingly clear! And now Myra was doing this confusing thing and Danika just didn't know how to process it.

So she wouldn't. She would just ignore big dumb Myra and enjoy the festival!

Their morning was spent together as an odd little family. Danika visited some of the performers with her pups, Thea, and Michelle. Lily was a little too little to enjoy the firebreathers but she giggled at the jugglers and jesters. Caleb was getting to the age where he wanted a real sword of his own, and dragged Danika to the tables of elvish wares once they were within sight.

"When you are a little taller, Caleb," Danika sighed as her pup pulled her excitedly to a table of beautiful mithril blades. She was not ready for her son to be a man yet.

"Best to listen to your mother, young prince," the voice of a tall, blonde elf made its way to the family. "Mae govannen, mellyr," the woman greeted with a smile, one that broke even wider as the children tried their elvish salutations on her.

"Ambassador Talia," Danika brightened and bowed, "A pleasure to see you."

"So formal today," Talia teased, but she bowed as was custom of her people, then reached out to shake Danika's forearm as was typical of wolfish friends. "But it is a momentous occasion today! Free and able to actually enjoy the festival for once." It was common knowledge that the tradition of the royals participating in the end of day celebration of sex was stopped with Richard. Jealous and fearful that Danika would enjoy the company of another wolf, he would yank her back to the keep and bed her there. Some of the commoners blamed the following harsh winters on Richard going against tradition, adding to their already low opinion of him.

But now Danika was free to do as she pleased!

Even freer because her current admirer was an idiot!!!!!

"Why don't you two go and play some games while I talk to Ambassador Talia," Danika knelt down to give her beloveds kisses and some coin, "No weapons, Caleb. We can revisit this discussion but not today, I do not want to be rushed with this decision. Now go have fun! I will see you both in the morning. Be good for Carmen," she shooed the little ones away with their nanny….and of course they were headed straight for the sweets with their newfound riches.

"Now that the pups are away… I would like to inquire how you are currently faring? Because if Her Highness requires any services during her heat, I am more than willing to offer mine," Talia offered a roguish smile before lowering her voice. "Though rumor has it, it takes half an army to satisfy your heat. I am sure the other ambassadors would be more than willing to assist you as well."

Danika rolled her eyes. Gods, of all the rumors about her, she hated that one the most. "It wasn't half the royal army. It was six very willing prisoners of war. And I was still heat sick afterwards!" admittedly not as ill as if she hadn't taken lovers…but still. The whole ordeal hadn't been quite a picnic for her, despite however needy the rumor made her seem. "Richard hated it if I took another wolf to bed during my heat…so I took the mages. Then he started that awful rumor when I came home, as though he were the only one who could satisfy my heat. He was no great lover, I assure you. One or two of my Crows would always come to service me after he fell asleep." It was widely known that Danika had a mysterious network of assassins and informants…but it appeared they were especially skilled at going unseen if they could fuck the Queen while her husband slept and not even alert his nose to it the next day.

The elf burst into laughter at the end of Danika's story. Richard had been a handsome man, but he definitely wasn't as charming as he thought himself. The elvish ambassador enjoyed having another story of his hubris biting him in the ass. "I congratulate you then, Danika, on being rid of him," Talia raised her crystal glass in toast before taking a sip. "And I look forward to seeing how you celebrate your new found freedom, perhaps with an old friend?" the elf winked.

"Oh I don't know Talia…I know how you like to 'celebrate' but I have forgotten all the toys you crave back in my chambers," the Queen grinned as the elf's pale face reddened. The first time Talia had convinced her to 'celebrate' had been after a trade agreement between their two kingdoms years ago. The ambassador had shown off quite the collection of elvish toys…including a beautiful plug that was still in Danika's possession, made from the same enchanted crystal as the elf's cup.

——————

Most visitors who came to the Harvest Festival understood the rules of decorum. With nobles and commoners freely mixing together, it was imperative for one to maintain a civil, courteous manner at all times. It would be a shame to miss any of the events all because one was being an asshole.

And even bigger shame should that asshole be discovered by a Shadow.

Thea had wandered off from the disaster that was surely about to happen as Danika began to flirt with Ambassador Talia in front of Myra. She stayed with the children for a little bit before being brushed off by their nanny after making the mere suggestion they not waste all their coin on candies. So she kept wandering about, basically patrolling even though she was not in uniform. As chance would have it she would stumble upon Eva, a strange creature that Danika had her keep tabs on before (Thea has stopped after deeming the demigod no threat). Even now, the other female was not causing any trouble…she was merely surrounded by it. "I strongly suggest the three of you obey the healer's warning, immediately."

"Hah! There is only one of her and three of us! She's not even armed," the leader shouted.

"As if I need to be armed in order to beat such a pathetic excuse for an alpha," Thea scoffed. It astounded her that a simple change of clothing made her unrecognizable. Out of her armor and into a filigreed tail coat, these men must have been confusing her for a noble.

The leader drew a dirty, bloody knife, and with a sneer he lunged at Thea. With well practiced ease, the Shadow blocked his blow and struck at the inside of his arm, hitting a pressure point that paralyzed the whole limb. Thea moved unnaturally fast as she jabbed more points, cutting off control to his legs as she did so. As the man stumbled forward, threatening to fall into her, she disappeared from this plane entirely.

"Shadow!!!" one of the men gasped. He tried to turn and flee, but Thea caught him by the back of his shirt. His friend tried to help by launching himself at her while she was distracted…but Thea merely struck him right under his jaw, a blow that sent him crumpling to the ground. By now all the ruckus had alerted the city guard, who rushed over double time upon seeing Thea was the source of the commotion.

"Lieutenant, please dispose of this trash outside of the city walls. Make sure our guests know that if they wish to behave like animals, they can spend the night in the forest." Thea commanded as she tossed the one conscious wolf towards the guard.

"Of course, Shadow," the knight saluted and then turned to the soldiers flanking him. "You heard her men, clear 'em out."

"They'll be alright, healer," Thea reassured the woman who, despite being threatened by three buffoons earlier, now seemed concerned for them. "They will wake up in a half hour or so, and then can sober up with a night in the woods."

 

[ClearSight]

Childbirth was hell, not made any better by the lack of familiar faces surrounding her when it happened. The midwife was a god-send, and Thea did her best to comfort the otherworldly alpha, but more than once during the excruciating process, Michelle found herself thinking of Jocelyn. Her partner, the person she most wished to have by her side, was nowhere to be found. Not in the same world or time or whatever in the hell was happening.

By the time her baby was born, Michelle was completely worn, and while she put up a good front and smiled at those around her, she found it hard to summon any real joy. The only exception was when she held and looked upon her child. Perhaps that was enough.

—

The weeks ahead proved that her child was enough. She still longed for the familiar support and affection Jocelyn always offered, even when it was obvious the other alpha felt overwhelmed and had no idea what to do or say. But that wasn’t an option, so she had to make do with what she had.

Fortunately, aside from Aurora, there was another support system. Thea visited once in a while, the quiet guard softening up at the sight of the newborn. Danika was much the same, clearly having great affection for children. Even her… partner? The loud grinning one who followed her around. Even she was friendly and helpful, albeit with odd tasks like running off to find things. The pups were adorable, too.

It wasn’t what Michelle expected. How could it be? But she managed to regain some energy after a few weeks, just in time to join in for some of the festivities. Well, more like following the others around while taking in the sights, all the while missing the tiny one to the point of anxiety. At least she managed not to make her inner panic obvious.

———

Despite some unhappy elders and voices of opposition, everything was going smoothly since Richard’s death. As time went by, Myra was more confident than ever that she did the right thing. Even if she ignored removing him from Danika’s life and getting her revenge, killing the bastard was the best thing for the people and the kingdom. It only made them stronger.

Of course, Danika played a major part in that. The competent ruler finally found her shackles undone, no longer needing to contend with her own “mate” to enact policies and actions that benefit her people. No more being forced to battle, even when it wasn’t necessary. No more hiding her affections. Though her unleashed desires were only good because the queen seemed nice and focused on her! Myra very much liked that.

Things were only set to continue improving, too! Or so Myra thought. But her expectations were dashed not long after they appeared, with her good news not being received like she thought.

Myra became the captain of the royal guard! It was a prestigious position, if she cared about that stuff. Well, she did, but only because it would have made her father proud to see her serving in the position he once held. But other than that, she couldn’t care less. Myra didn’t crave fame, honor, or fortune. If anything, she liked the idea of being a solitary expert, fighting when needed but otherwise retreating into obscurity.

However, she did care about something else: being by Danika’s side. As the captain of the royal guard, not only could Myra build her own seat of power to protect Danika, but she could be physically by her side, day or night. There was a reason, and none of the damned elders against her very presence in the capital could go against it.

So when she showed up to escort Danika, showing off her new position to the gorgeous alpha, she expected excitement. At the very least, a smile and congratulations before they all went around the festival. Instead, Myra got to experience the coldest of shoulders.

Danika seemed intent on ignoring her. Even when Myra tried to find an in through the tiny ones, playing along with their games as they moved about, Danika would entertain her children while completely ignoring her.

It forced her to give up, and she returned to a silently sulking guard, standing vigilant by Danika’s side. Even if she was mad, Myra would ensure she remained safe and enjoyed herself. Even if the only thought on her mind was how incredible Danika’s scent was and of all the things she wanted to do to her.

Gods. As they moved around, Myra’s eyes constantly drifted toward Danika’s neck, the alpha practically drooling at the sight of smooth, tender flesh.

But Myra managed to resist! She did it! Kind of. Mostly.

Myra was in constant argument with her wolf, which started being disobedient again, something unique to the time she spent around Danika. Apparently, the warrior within could remain calm and collected in any circumstance, as long as the circumstance didn’t include her childhood sweetheart and current obsession. If only the human part of her was as convinced.

After Myra was exiled by political maneuvering, she lived a life filled with danger and near-death experiences. All she knew was being a warrior and war. Everything else felt strange, even affection from a beautiful, amazing woman. But that didn’t stop her from being a jealous mess.

—

Myra managed to “do her job” for the entire day without fail. Even though Danika’s scent was driving her crazy and the atmosphere of the festival was eroding her self-control, she remained firm. But the moment Ambassador Talia came around, things changed.

When everyone else greeted the elf, Myra’s eyes narrowed, honing in on the woman’s expression. Like a predator recognizing a competitor, Myra grew tense.

The elf wasn’t the only one pleased with their meeting. Danika’s cheerful mood dampened Myra’s spirits further, and the rash alpha had the urge to reach for her weapon and drive the other woman away.

The last time Myra felt similarly was with Eleanor.

However, unlike with Eleanor, losing her cool around an ambassador would cause an incident, one she couldn’t lay at Danika’s feet. Not even if she really wanted to. Not even if Danika sent the kids away as if expecting something to happen!

I was right!

Myra shouted internally, followed by an echoing wolf in a far less intelligible but more furious manner.

Not more than a moment after the pups vanished, the cunning elf made her intentions clear, daring to spout such drivel from her lips about helping Danika with her heat.

It is our job!

Golden flecks played at Myra’s eyes, and as the elf continued to speak, her expression soured. Half an army? Prisoners of war? Crows? Toys?!

Our toys! She wants them!

Every sentence seemed to add a new enemy for Myra to keep an eye on, from the soldiers to the prisoners and even the intelligence officers under Danika’s command. Must she be wary of everyone?!

Finally, Myra couldn’t take it anymore, her body language already straying far from the respectable captain of the royal guard and into jealous lover territory. She was so out of sorts that she couldn’t even think about whether Danika would welcome the interruption.

Myra walked up to Danika and wrapped her arms around her from behind, pulling her in and nipping at her pulse point in an effort to soothe any irritability at the sudden embrace.

Only once she was sure Danika wasn’t going to shove her away did she look up, peeking at Talia over the queen’s shoulder with a look between anger and pouting. There was even a low, threatening growl for good measure.

“The ‘old friend’ spot is taken.”

The alpha fought the urge to say more, busying her mouth to ensure she didn’t utter nonsense after laying her claim, like saying Danika didn’t need half an army, only her.

Instead, she nibbled at Danika’s neck again like a spoiled child, then whispered in her ear, “Those are my toys.”

Spoiled and selfish.

"And... you are my Danika. Right?" Myra whispered uncertainly, her voice trembling. Even her arms grasped all the tighter, afraid to loosen her hold and watch Danika slip away.

———

Trouble came often enough for Eva to consider it an old friend. But no matter how accustomed to it she became, it remained tiresome. Always the same thing. She would be minding her own business at work or during her rare downtime and some troublemaker would give her a hard time.

Why? Because they caught a glimpse of her appearance or thought a physician must have coin. But her money went toward helping others, and her beauty was her own, answers that only served to irritate the men disgraceful enough to torment a stranger.

The frequency led to Eva developing a system to avoid trouble. She wore loose hooded robes to hide her figure and face, and when trouble still appeared, she ran. Running might be humiliating, but it was better than the alternatives of being harassed further or discovered after accidentally hurting a mortal.

But this time, Eva had a protector, a knight in fancy clothing. Yes, fancy clothing. Dashing as well. The demigoddess found herself smiling, even releasing an amused giggle. She liked the dashing knight in fancy clothing more than the fully-armored, sweaty savior portrayed in most “hero and damsel in distress” stories.

Okay, so the stories never called them sweaty, but they definitely were!

The men standing opposite didn’t share Eva’s amusement. Instead, her pleasant giggle only infuriated them further, so much so that they ignored the “hero.”

The woman standing between them displayed signs of strength. Discipline etched into her bones to the point even a casual stance stood out, and coiled muscles ready to strike out at any moment. Her calmness alone should have keyed them in. But they let bravado and anger supersede good judgment.

The “honorable” men decided to fight as a group, but their “fearsome” attack quickly led to sniveling, arrogance draining from their faces the moment the woman made her move. And they weren’t the only ones.

Shadow!

While the revelations caused the men to go weak with fright, Eva similarly faltered, the color draining from her face.

Oh goodness. Oh no. I should have sensed it.

Utter chaos and frantic mental pacing perfectly described Eva’s state of mind. As the shadow quickly wrapped things up with her would-be assailants, she worked herself into a panic in a hopeless search for answers.

Will she notice? What should I do? Run? No! Running makes me look guilty.

Eva barely managed to present a calm facade, even presenting an awkward smile as she fought the urge to spill the beans on herself or flee. Discomfort still managed to show in her expression, but the shadow thought it was her worrying about the ruffians. It was not, but it provided a momentary escape.

“Ah… Yes, that’s good to know. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

Act cool. Act natural. Act like a mortal. Yes, a mortal. Mortals ask names. They introduce themselves. Yes! Introduce yourself!

“I’m Evandria, though most people call me Eva.”

Good job! Yes! No! Wait… Hands! Mortals shake hands when they introduce themselves!

It was all demigoddess pretending to be a mortal 101, stuff Eva had been doing to blend in for forever, yet it all felt like the first time in front of the shadow. Nervousness about her identity being revealed because of their common origin was enough to make her a nervous wreck.

Still, panic or not, she retained control of herself and managed to extend her hand. It even remained still and unshaking! It was a good start.

Handshake and introduction. That will provide the opening. Then I can run!

Eva’s rational self leaned toward retreating to put as much distance between them as possible. But while that made the most sense, the small part of her that found the “hero and damsel” scenario so entertaining didn’t want it to end in such a fashion. Instead, that part of her felt like she owed Thea a drink. And… perhaps… enjoy the company of her dashing hero a bit longer. Besides, it was the festival. She wanted to enjoy herself!

Yes, if I leave now, I can’t go to the festival because she might see me and think I only ran off to avoid her!

Rationalization. But Eva couldn’t help it. Those with divine power all had certain compulsions related to the origin of their power, and although she was only a demigoddess, it still affected her. It made the idea of missing out on the dancing and singing and the fun of the festivities so awful she was willing to risk it all! Well, risk a little.

—

Eva’s rationalization won out, her desire to enjoy the festival managing to suppress her very instinct to survive and live a peaceful life. But… she couldn’t say she regretted her choice. Thea was amazing.

At first, Eva felt on edge. Like when she stumbled over her words and ended up stuttering out her invitation to get a drink after their stiff introductions. And the trip to the nearby pub was made in near silence. She even tripped! Thankfully, Thea caught her, but that only made things worse, and after another stuttered apology and thank you combined into one awkward mess, she doubled her pace to the pub.

Fortunately, things started to warm up after that. Rather, after a few rapidly downed drinks.

“I told you I can drink,” Eva said with a silly smile as she whispered the words to Thea in the noisy bar, as if she were telling some big secret.

After telling her very important secret, Eva leaned back in her chair, holding a half-empty glass of mead and rocking back and forth to the music barely audible above the chatter. She even began to hum, adding a soft but beautiful accompaniment to the music filling the streets.

“Mortals make such beautiful music…” she whispered, this time only to herself. But the moment she did, she seemed to half sober up, her eyes popping open and one hand covering her mouth in such a startle that it made a smacking sound.

Mortals don’t say mortal. Mortals say other things because they are also mortals. Oh divine!

Mortals also didn’t make it a habit of panicking after speaking and covering their mouth, a realization that caused Eva even more anxiety. The remedy? Putting down the mead and immediately putting both hands in her lap… where they belonged… to look natural. Yes, she looked so very natural.

Good job.

But then it lasted for far longer than it should have. Long enough that her mind began spinning again, and she found herself wondering if mortals would sit there silently. She also happened to start tapping her leg to the music, unable to ignore the pleasant sounds, even as cold sweat beaded at the back of her neck.

Eva needed to do something else, anything. Fortunately, the corner of her eye caught something marvelous.

Mortals love to dance! I love to dance!

It was perfect.

In one swift movement, Eva pushed her chair out and stood up, smiling as brightly as she could manage as the weight of her nervousness pressed down on her.

“W-Would you like to dance?” she asked, her hand already extended in invitation, hanging in the air as she stared at Thea with wide, hopeful eyes.

 

[Javorcek]

As strong arms laced around her, Danika stiffened, tempted to push their owner away. Myra had been ignoring her all day! This was the sort of treatment she had been craving for hours, and it still aggravated her that Myra waited this long to touch her. Her lover chose now, when she was having an enjoyable (and maybe slightly inappropriate) conversation with a friend, to act like proper mate material. "Hrrrmph…" Danika's wolf let out a soft huff of irritation at the behavior, but the majority of her ire was soon soothed by teeth on her pulse point.

Talia eyed the growling alpha, sizing her up. She wasn't any sort of great fighter herself, but the length of leash the Queen allowed her guard would determine her next steps. She supposed as long as Danika was between them, she needn't worry, and could give a little jibe to the pair for her own amusement. "Your warhound seems to be quite possessive."

"My war -puppy- forgets her place sometimes," Danika sighed. This was not how she had envisioned this day! She had imagined Myra on her arm as a handsome new lover she got to show off….not have her personal knight behind her, fully armored and pouting like a petulant child.

"-Your- toys, hmm?" While Myra chose to be candid and whisper, Danika did not. Let everyone know that the proud General wanted to be on the receiving end of paddles and floggers! Let them know that she was the one who begged for such treatment with toys!! "I don't even know if you deserve them anymore. With the way you've been acting today, I wasn't sure you were even interested," she didn't bother to hide the notes of hurt and frustration in her voice. The wolf felt snubbed after all; she had put all this effort into enticing with her appearance, only to be ignored, only to have this ridiculous barrier of professionalism put between them.

To top things off, Myra was not sure of their standing, a revelation which boggled Danika's mind. Her own late husband had never been allowed to stay in her rooms, and Myra -lived- in them with her!!

"Of course I am yours," even on the cusp of her heat, Danika found the patience to deal with this confusion; if that didn't show her love and devotion, she didn't know what would. "Do you think I allow all my lovers to stay in my chambers as long as they like? Or that I let my children grow attached to them?" Caleb and Lily were enthralled by Myra, and Danika let them be! Even though it was Myra's fault Caleb wanted the sword all the more; Myra's fault Lily wanted to ride her own horse even though she was far too small.

"You have been the focus of my attention for weeks, inside our bedroom and out of it." Danika placed her hands over Myra's protective ones, giving her an encouraging squeeze so that she would loosen her grip.. "I have been waiting all morning for your touch…but all I can feel is metal and leather. Go back and change?" With Myra's grip loosened, she turned around and gave a nip to her ear. "And don't you dare just strip here and throw your armor carelessly away. It was a lot of work to get it commissioned." Danika had gone the extra mile to have the plate made of mithril to offer her love (and her men) extra protection…so she better take care of it! "Now go back to our room and change into something that will come off more easily tonight."

"Hurry along now, warhound, before I steal your dance partner," Talia's eyes were bright with mischief as she sent the jibe Myra's way.

"Oh, Talia, I'm sorry I won't be able to entertain you," Danika frowned. No doubt at the height of her heat she would be a ravenous beast…but for this first night she definitely just wanted her Myra.

The elf waved the Queen's apology away, "It is quite alright. You know me, I'm more than capable of finding trouble to get into. But let me have this dance while you wait for your date to return."


——————-

Thea grew concerned at the healer's distress. Maybe she shouldn't have been so rough on the hooligans? She had tried her best to use stick to non-lethal points that left no permanent damage (she didn't mean to make -more- work for the healer). Should she have just whisked the demigoddess away and avoided a fight altogether? Could she have? Thea could pull Danika and her kin between planes easily…but it was more difficult to do with someone not bloodbound, and she had never tried to on someone divine.

No, no, no, she had done the right thing. If those pathetic excuses for alphas hadn't been bothering Eva, they would have terrorized someone else.

The healer seemed to forgive her violence quickly enough, introducing herself and offering a hand, "I am Thea, Shadow to Queen Danika," Thea offered a gentle smile with her introduction. There were many rumors out there about certain Shadows…Thea was known to be the most intimidating of them all. As a person she was kind, thoughtful, and loyal. But as a Shadow…she was known to be ruthless. Those who crossed House Leto came to very gruesome, painful deaths by her hand. But even that was a calculated plan on her part: the more people afraid of death by her, the fewer people she would have to kill overall. She took no pleasure in hurting others, but saw the necessity of it to protect those she cared about most.

Well. That was a lie. Making the man who had killed her mate suffer had given her some joy.

After introductions, Thea had been ready to part ways and go back on patrol, but Eva suggested they get a drink together. It was a kindness that she didn't want to ignore… not that she could have - Eva started off towards one of the pubs, leaving her little room to do anything but follow. Thea had to hurry to keep after her, and made a mental note that the demigoddess didn't seem to pay much attention to how her divinity affected her speed. The other woman tripped halfway through their walk; she was going so fast, and Thea had to use her abilities to rush forward and catch her. Even after a stumble and apologies Eva hurried right along soon after, undeterred from her goal of having drinks.

Drinks she probably couldn't handle.

"Yes…you did assure me you could drink," Thea chuckled as she looked at her tipsy companion. They had already had one drink and were on to their second but Eva seemed to handle her mead about as well as Danika did…which was not very well at all.

The silence stretched between them as they sat there, not that Thea particularly minded. Many people went quiet after a long shift, so she just assumed that Eva was coming off of a round in the medical tent and needed silent companionship. Besides, the Shadow was content to people watch. There was plenty to take in; the tables around them were full of amorous wolves making plans for tonight. Barmaids were setting up piles of blankets and pillows in unused spaces; the pub would surely turn into a pleasure house once the bonfires were lit and the real festivities started. Music was streaming in from outside, meaning the dancing had started. They probably had a good two hours before sundown. Plenty of time for a drink and then for Thea to go back to the keep to be alone before the orgy began.

Eva, as awkward and as bad at pretending to be human as she was, surprised Thea by suddenly offering her a dance. "Oh…I uhm. I don't really dance." Thea's dance instructors had called her 'a strong lead but a bossy follow,' and she was quite good at ballroom…just not the organic rhythmic writhing of bodies that was taking place outside. She didn't have the reckless abandon or creativity required to invent her own moves. Besides, a dance was usually just a dance…but today it was a way to 'interview' a prospective candidate for the ensuing orgy. Did Eva know what she was really asking? Probably not…but still…

Years of etiquette lessons finally won out. Thea was a representative of the Queen, she needed to act with grace and poise and not be a chicken.

"Alright… let's dance," Thea stood and took Eva's offered hand and led her outside. At least here there were so many people dancing that no one would notice her ridiculousness.

There were dancing circles of unpaired wolves, males and females moving freely to the sound of flutes and drums. They showed off their athleticism and creativity; hopping, clapping, and shuffling to the beat. Thea couldn't do that…she could be expressive in dance but not really all that creative, at least, not without a framework to build off of.

She brought their joined hands up, and pulled Eva close so she could lay her free hand on the small of her back. The city square was already packed with bodies; not a ton of room for Thea to properly do ballroom in. But she managed in a little circle, holding Eva close to her muscular frame as she led the demigoddess to the joyous music that the band played.

 

[ClearSight]

Myra’s wolf wanted to deny the “puppy” part when Danika “introduced” her, but considering she was basically begging for attention over the elf, she found it hard to do so. And by the time she figured out a good argument against it, Danika was talking about the toys out loud and sending her inner alpha into a panic.

They know!

The wolf cried out, its emotions so strong that Myra found herself turning her glare away from Talia and burying her face in the crook of Danika’s neck, hiding a trace of embarrassment that made it to her face, regardless of her efforts to remain calm.

“I love them,” Myra muttered, which was only quieter still after being muffled by Danika’s hair and neck.

Nooooo! Our secret!

Ignoring her wolf, Myra whined gently as she looked for flesh to start nibbling on again. Although her wolf was distraught at the idea of admitting they enjoyed the submissive acts, Myra was focused on the emotions in Danika’s voice.

The last thing Myra ever wanted to do was hurt Danika, and her stupid insecurities had done just that. Myra wasn’t stupid. She knew Danika wouldn’t allow just anyone to be close to her and the pups. She also had ears and people in the castle, and the servants seemed to like her, so she knew plenty. She was just… afraid.

Was there another lover who received the same treatment? Would Danika realize she wasn’t good enough?

General or not, Myra paled in comparison to many of the candidates the elders kept throwing out to take Richard’s place. Some of them stabbed that point home, picking at her worries day after day. And while Danika rejected the idea of finding some replacement, it didn’t stop Myra from worrying.

The worry weighing down on her was one of the reasons Myra was working so hard to establish herself in the capital. She established the knight order and filled it with her best people, and she took the honored position as royal guard captain, all to build up enough influence to make herself “worthy.”

But in reality, nobody could get rid of her if Danika wanted her around. All of it was to ease her own anxiety. It was idiotic, especially since it hurt the most important person.

“I’m sorry.” Myra whispered the words, her voice trembling slightly as she did.

But after that, energy began to return to her, and Myra’s spirits soared. Right, Danika was hers and she was Danika’s and everyone else be damned.

“Mhm. I’ll go back and change.”

Revitalized, Myra agreed to Danika’s request quickly, even deciding not to throw her armor into an alley and run back as quickly as possible.

Though, before she left, she leaned in for one last nibble, whispering a few final words in Danika’s ear before disappearing.

“You’ve long known I’m an idiot. Thank you for loving me anyway.”

As for Talia, all she received was a far more confident smirk, though if it went beyond teasing words, the growl might return, along with a very aggressive swatting.

———

In the very back of Eva’s mind, past her inner monologue, random zippy thoughts, and probably a grocery list long forgotten, she knew what dancing meant during the festival. But she wasn’t a wolf. She wasn’t a mortal either! The courtship ritual of wolves had little impact on her day to day, and with the buzz of mead heavy on her brain, it was completely ignored.

Huh? Doesn’t dance?

Thea’s response to her invitation was like a giant ball of magical water splashed directly into Eva’s face, catching her off guard and causing her posture to sink. “Who doesn’t dance?” she muttered, devastated to the point of not knowing what to do with her hand. It just sat there, hovering in the air between her and Thea.

Do I leave? Run? Hide under the table?

Various thoughts flooded Eva’s mind as she looked at her extended hand and then looked up at Thea. How did mortals handle rejection? It was so awkward!

First, hand down. Right, yes.

But Eva’s hand remained motionless, still hanging in the air for several excruciating moments that made the demigoddess wonder if Chronos or his kin were playing a prank on her. It wouldn’t be the first time, oh no.

I will never forget that sneeze!

Just as Eva’s anxiety neared its peak, Thea finally relented, giving a half-hearted response. Fortunately, the unenthusiastic words were accompanied by action, with Thea taking her outstretched hand and pulling her along.

Oh, thank the divine for pity!

The brightest smile appeared on Eva’s face as she followed behind Thea, feeling as if she had just been snatched from beneath a guillotine.

Ah! Look at that!

Eva’s next thought was on what awaited them outside. Countless wolves were dancing, many of them doing so in a manner that was borderline madness. Before they even came to a stop, the energy infected the demigoddess, causing her to start to skip and hop behind Thea. She would have spun too, but Thea’s firm grip kept her close and prevented her from getting too excited.

Such big hands. Oh! Oh oh oh!

Just as Eva began to admire the big, rough hands holding hers, Thea turned around and pulled her close. And like that, her brain melted.

The big hands she was admiring now locked her in, one holding her smaller hand firmly, and the other resting on the small of her back. Immediately, her skin warmed, the unfamiliar sensation causing her to gently arch forward. It was there she found a whole new world.

Firm. Oh goodness.

Eva gulped, lifting her head only to realize just how close she was to Thea when her nose touched the wolf’s chin.

“Abs.”

The word just slipped out, repeated so many times in her head as she pressed into Thea that it escaped from her mind to her tongue and right out in the open. But whether Thea heard her or not, Eva didn’t know. The wolf just started to dance, moving them in a circle, swaying back and forth in time with the music, or as much as possible.

Eva, on the other hand, found it hard to even move her feet, clumsiness that only sent her tumbling into Thea’s chest.

One after another, Eva’s stalled brain undermined her, and by the time she returned to herself enough to do something not completely embarrassing, she found herself practically cuddled up to Thea as she danced along with her, their little improvised waltz placing them firmly in a world of their own.

Simply or not, the dance was so pleasant that Eva managed to forget about everything else and sink into it, embracing the closeness and regaining her footing enough to finally look like she knew what she was doing.

But once she calmed down and got into it, everything changed. The worry and jumbled thoughts vanished, replaced by a bright smile and energy that couldn’t be contained by a mere ballroom dance, even if being pressed together with Thea was absurdly satisfying.

I must twirl!

Eva giggled, forgetting everything else as she pulled back and did a twirl, still holding Thea’s hand as she did. The desire to let loose was so powerful that she didn’t even realize she had to use quite a bit of strength to pry free from the powerful Thea’s embrace. She wasn’t really thinking of anything.

The demigoddess didn’t calm down as the festivities started to shift from tame to naughty, the spry creature constantly adding flourishes to the impromptu ballroom dance, twirling around Thea or moving in such a manner that a snake would be jealous of her flexibility.

But eventually she started to calm down. Not because she was tired or wanted to leave. Instead, she simply slowed down to match Thea’s pace, more and more finding herself wanting to stay close.

Why does being next to her feel so…good?

Eva couldn’t find the answer, but it was the reality, one that led to her looking into Thea’s eyes and chewing on her own lip. It was so strange.

Is it the abs?

Although a definite point of attraction, Eva shook her head after a moment. It wasn’t the abs, even if they were firm. So firm.

Her eyes?

Thea had nice eyes. Really nice eyes. Even if they had an edge to them at times, Eva found them lovely. But no, not them either.

I give up. Heh.

Only two guesses in, and she already pushed the question aside. It was better to just enjoy it, especially since the surrounding festivities were quickly devolving from tame to debaucherous. Eva could already hear moaning in the distance, her sensitive ears picking up panting and whines from a nearby building.

But instead of the urge to flee to her home and avoid what came next, Eva found herself with feet planted firmly to the ground. She even stopped dancing.

Lovely eyes. Lovely abs. Lovely.

Eva smiled, then without uttering a single word of warning, she leaned up and kissed Thea, and it was anything but chaste.

 

[Javorcek]

Thea's wolf preened as its muscular stature was noticed. Nearly every moment that wasn't spent by her charge's side was devoted to training, either by herself or with the young Shadows she mentored. But her body was often hidden under leather armor, and few got the chance to ever admire it. The last time was probably way back during the Winter Solstice, when she had had to entertain nobles with dances in the keep.

Eva was definitely no noble she was saddled with. The healer wasn't pretentious or a show off. She also didn't appear to be up on the latest dances, seeming a little confused on the steps. That was all well and good. Thea was a patient lead, and her form was unyielding, giving her partner no choice but to follow. "One, two, three, one, two, three," the wolf whispered her count in time with the music, trying to help Eva until she fell into their rhythm.

Thea smiled as her partner twirled herself out in the middle of their dance. She could work with this, doing these flourishes as long as her feet were allowed to keep one-two-three-ing. And Eva proved to be quite the dancer when allowed to improvise, their dance quickly evolving into something more intense…more intimate…

Something was…different.

Thea felt this -pull-.

It was early, too early for the orgy to begin. The sun hadn't set, Danika's prayer hadn't been spoken, and the bonfires still weren't lit. But there was a buzzing in the air, a charged excitement that was contagious. Already the sounds of moans and cries of ecstasy drifted into the square from the surrounding pleasure houses. Many of the wolves that were dancing were growing restless as well. Usually pairs would continue to celebrate, maybe even get food or drink together to prepare for a night of lovemaking. But now there were already grouped up wolves with wandering hands all around them. Bodies were grinding together, not necessarily to the beat any longer, but just for the sake of contact.

Apparently the removal of the late king had not only freed Danika, but had freed the people as well, causing them to want to commemorate their newfound liberty during the Harvest Festival as soon as possible.

Their environment was apparently affecting her companion as well. Because out of nowhere, Thea found soft lips pressing against hers. The kiss caught her off guard, but Thea's wolf was quick to return it with just as much fervor. She pulled Eva's curvy form snugly against her own, using the demigoddess' perfect, luscious rear as her handhold. Thea was acutely aware that everything was moving so fast, but she couldn't bring herself to stop as everything spiraled out of control. Her skin prickled with heat and desire coiled in her belly, and the roar of her wolf was in her ears, demanding she do something about the soft, pliant body in her arms.

She wants us…she asked us to dance…take her.

'There are plenty of people who ask us to dance that we don't maul like an animal!'

Hrrrmph….those ones want us too. But this one is good. This one calls to us…almost like our love used to…

'No one can replace Mariana…'

Not replace… -Never- replace… But she would not want us to be forever alone. She would want us to have fun.

"Gods! More!" A female cried out next to them, sandwiched between another female and male. She writhed and grinded against her two lovers, clawing at her own clothes to get them off faster.

There were too many distractions. The music in the chilly autumn air was now turning to a symphony of sex. Thea couldn't focus. And if she couldn't focus then how could she control her strength?!?!

Why be gentle? We cannot hurt her.

The wolf finally broke free, the human side unable to argue their logic. The seams of Thea's tailcoat and trousers strained with the addition of muscle as she partially shifted. Her face kept most of its human features, but now her blue eyes were overcome with gold, and her ears were pointed and covered in tufty black fur. She let out a soft huff of annoyance as her tail sprouted, unfortunately still confined to her trousers. Clothes were stupid and the wolf hated them!

A low growl rumbled in her chest as she leaned down to graze her sharp teeth against Eva's delicate throat, asserting herself as the dominant alpha here. Rather than give a claiming bite, the beast decided to play with its prey, offering tantalizing licks and nibbles as she nosed her way down. One of her hands had left its task of fondling Eva's behind to instead tug at the healer's loose blouse, nearly ripping it as she sought out the glorious breasts that hid beneath the offending fabric.

 

[ClearSight]

Eva let out a tiny squeak into Thea’s mouth as the wolf pulled her in, and the delight that followed sent her deeper into the kiss. Fingers continued to trace the alpha’s muscular form, attempting to trace every curve and dip created by years of effort.

Tempting as it was to continue enjoying Thea’s soft tongue and hard body, the palpable lust hanging in the air along with a symphony of lovemaking sent Eva’s arousal into overdrive. Desire that remained dormant for so long flared up, and the demigoddess lacked the ability to return it to its bottle.

Mirroring her hunger, Thea showed signs of her wolfish nature, her muscles swelling as golden eyes and fluffy pointed ears replaced their tamer counterparts.

“Eyes are still so beautiful,” Eva remarked breathlessly, only just managing to get the words out before returning her lips to Thea’s and letting her hands grope more shamelessly, appreciating the power barely contained beneath the wolf’s clothing.

Oh divine, please remove these clothes from my path!

Eva wanted to whine and whimper as she tried to will the clothes away, but Thea stopped her short.

The alpha breaking the kiss left the demigoddess wanting, but sharp teeth against her throat sent a shiver down her spine that shattered her disappointment.

I know this. She wants… to prove herself the dominant.

Which meant she wanted Eva. If the returned kiss and hands on her backside told the curvy healer that Thea wanted her, the wolfish ritual expressed how much. Licks and nibbles were further offered, an appeasing gesture that earned a deep, sensual moan from slightly parted lips.

I’m such a slut.

“Oh!”

Thea tearing at her blouse earned an exclamation, but as the air hit her bare skin it quickly turned into a low growl of her own.

So bold. Like a wild beast that sees me as prey to be toyed with.

Eva’s body trembled, the desire to prove the powerful wolf wrong overtaking her reason. Before the demigoddess could grasp for reason, instinct overtook her, and she dragged Thea into a nearby alley, slamming her against the closest wall. It only took moments for the same powerful hands to rip the strained clothes from Thea’s torso, tossing the shreds to the ground haphazardly.

Oh no! What have I done!

But just as the demigoddess went to return the claiming bite, intent on proving herself just as much a predator, she froze.

By the gods, I released my power! Did I hurt her? Is she fine?

Eva looked about in a panic, trying to find any hints of an injury on Thea’s person, even forgetting to bring her power back down as she practically spun the wolf around to check her back.

Thank the heavens. She’s fine.

But upon finding out Thea was, in fact, fine, a new problem presented itself.

I can’t control myself. I can’t do this. Last time…

“I don’t want to hurt you. I’m sorry,” Eva whispered, her heart dropping as she turned and fled down the alley, dashing at full force to get away from Thea before she could change her mind.

However, before she could reach the next opening onto crowded streets, a hard, familiar wall appeared directly in front of her.

“Ah!”

Eva took no time to recognize the chest she had been admiring throughout the dance and had moments before revealed.

But how…

When she tilted her head back, she was met with Thea’s face. Gorgeous golden eyes, adorable pointed, fluffy ears, sharp but attractive features, and a softness unexpected after what she did.

“You can’t hurt me.”

A few simple words, but the demigoddess found it impossible to think properly, responding with a dimwitted and vacant “Huh?”

“I said. You. Can’t. Hurt. Me. So don’t run.”

Perhaps the wolf played a part, but Thea words sounded one part comforting and one demanding, clearly unhappy that she tried to run away, no matter the reason.

“But… I might. And I’m… I’m…” Eva started, only for Thea to pull her in close, refusing to let go against the healer’s token struggle.

I don’t want to run, either. But she doesn’t know.

“You’re a demigoddess.”

Oh, she knows.

The token struggle ended as surprise overtook her actions and expression, leading to a still and gawking Eva. It was a change that pleased the wolf, who leaned down to capture her lips. When it ended, Eva was smiling brightly, her gorgeous features highlighted in joy.

She knows and doesn’t care!

Eva found herself incapable of hiding her joy, internal cheering turning to external delight as her skin flickered slightly, the overwhelming joy causing her to lose control for a mere second of delightful luminescence.

As the glow died down, the demigoddess jumped at Thea, hungrily kissing her again but no longer holding back her strength. She pushed Thea against a nearby wall — again — and nipped at her neck as she planned before.

The cute wolfie knew and didn’t care! Eva planned to finally let loose again after so long.

———

Myra left Danika’s side to change, wasting no time at all… until she did.

The plan started off strong: return to the bedroom, throw on a quick outfit of whatever was in reach, and rush back out. But on the way back, she noticed some provisions set to head to the north. Nobody was working, so they were all just sitting around, packed and ready to go. Nostalgia took care of the rest.

The alpha returned to the room, but after stripping off and “carefully” putting away her special royal guard captain armor, she rushed off to dig through her things. Then she found it, the perfect outfit.

Spending so much time in the north redefined Myra’s wardrobe. She owned normal clothing, but she also owned plenty of furs, including a set that she often wore over her armor to get extra warmth during a snowstorm or when she planned to stay out past the walls for an extended period.

Unlike normal fur, it was made from a beast capable of absorbing mana naturally. The rare beasts were powerful, and their furs were highly sought after due to the brilliant coat and durable hide.

“Yes! Perfect outfit!” Myra cheered, pulling everything out and immediately starting to put it on.

Because it was meant to go over armor, it didn’t cover much, just enough to improve warmth and add some additional protection. There was a massive cloak with a hood made from the beast's head, as well as a belt and loincloth, bracers, and shinguards. She even put on some comfortable boots to complete the image.

At that point, Myra was all laughs, looking in the mirror and admiring herself with a grin. Chiseled abs, scars and tattoos on full display. She looked like a true warrior! A true warrior prepared to return to her queen and show her how much she desired and adored her!

The very thought was enough to cause golden runs to flicker in the alpha’s eyes as her wolf responded to the imagery. It was time to go claim their beloved!

—

It was still early, but when Myra started to head back, she noticed something was off. Danika definitely hadn’t given her prayer, and the bonfires weren’t lit, but the scent of sex and sounds of pleasure covered the city.

Myra’s first response was to grin and feel proud, taking the excitement as a direct result of Richard’s demise. But that feeling only lasted a moment. Next came panic as the alpha realized her lover was alone, surrounded lustful creatures like that Talia!

No! Find mate! Claim her!

Myra agreed so wholeheartedly that she dashed off, sprinting through the streets and leaping over obstacles in an attempt to return to Danika’s side even a moment sooner. She moved so quickly that some even thought her a white tiger, the white furs with black stripes nothing but a blur in many a peripherals.

 

[Javorcek]

Riiiiiiiippppp. The baggy blouse that had been hiding gorgeous, supple breasts tore apart easily in Thea's hands. Her mouth watered as her eyes caught sight of dusky pink nipples hardening in the chilly autumn air….but before she could trap one between her lips, she was yanked away and pulled down an alley. "Oof," Thea let out a sharp exhale of breath as she was suddenly slammed into rough stone. The impact hadn't hurt, but it definitely surprised her. Eva was very similar to Danika in that she possessed great strength…but where Danika carried herself as though she could take on an entire nation, Eva was as unassuming as a mouse. It was easy to forget that the demigoddess wielded great power.

While some may find a strong lover overwhelming, Thea's entire body trembled with excitement. The demigoddess was showing off her power by ripping apart her coat and tunic, and all Thea could think of was ways that she could retaliate. Should she fight back and bring them both down to the ground? Maybe coax the demigoddess onto her knees to service her? Or just try to top from this pinned position…

Just as soon as their dance for supremacy had started, Thea found herself cold and alone. What?! Hey! The wolf blinked. Its prey had gone!! (Eva could think that she was a powerful alpha demigoddess all she liked, but Thea knew a sub when she saw one).

The demigoddess retreated, but Thea was still in "play with new toy" mode. She bolted forward, the Shadow proving to be much faster. Tearing off between realms, she raced ahead, closing the gap and then surpassing Eva. Right as she apparated into existence, she widened her stance, dug her feet in, and let the other woman bounce right off of her. Strong arms wrapped around startled prey before she could fall, and Thea tried to give her assurances that she did not care about whatever worries Eva had.

"You cannot hurt me." Well. She doubted that Eva would hurt her in the context of sex anyways. The demigoddess went through her life managing to not hurt humans as she treated their injuries, and just now she had had a drink at the pub without crushing her glass while tipsy! Even if she did somehow lose total control of her strength, the Shadow was a lot more powerful than a normal alpha.

Besides, a bruised bone or two might be worth it with such a lovely goddess.

"You are a demigoddess." the wolf affirmed. "And I am a Shadow. I do not care about either fact if you don't." Eva seemed adequately stunned at such a turn of events, so Thea leaned down with a grin, capturing her shocked lips in a heated kiss. Desire and impatience poured off of Thea, and it was evident that the wolf wanted to do much, much more than kiss.

"Mmm…" the wolf hummed happily as she pulled away for a breath of air. The brief reprieve was the only opening Eva needed before she launched herself right at Thea to push her into a wall yet again. "You are eager, aren't you," wolf chuckled as she caught the demigoddess…though it soon turned to a groan as her throat was nipped. It had been years since she had taken a lover, and Thea was rapidly finding that her neck was particularly sensitive to blunt teeth and warm breath. She was caught somewhere between wanting to moan or giggle…but her list ended up winning, and she moaned as Eva worked her teeth along her neck.

"I think you will soon find that you are not alpha here," she grabbed Eva's fleshy rear once again and picked her up, urging the demigoddess' legs around her slender hips. She spun them around so that Eva could rest with her back against the wall and more comfortably receive the incoming attention. Now in this position, Thea didn't have to bend down so low to play with her breasts.

All the scuffling and chasing had managed to work her tail free. Now the bushy black extension swished back and forth, her happiness evident as she started to kiss and lick the soft curve of Eva's breasts. She probably should have toyed with them longer…but her tongue ached for the feel of pebbled flesh under it. As delicately as she could, she trapped a straining nipple between her teeth and flicked her tongue, trying to sweet moans from her new lover.

 

[ClearSight]

Eva almost managed to convince herself that Thea’s acknowledgement was a mere hallucination. But after the second time hearing the words coming out of her mouth, she couldn’t help but believe it. Those reassuring words were all she needed, and as quickly as her worry arrived, it vanished, replaced by pure desire.

The demigoddess grunted out a barely-audible “don’t care” before jumping Thea, giving her identity as a shadow absolutely no thought. If anything, she found herself thankful, realizing she didn’t have to be gentle or worry about hurting Thea because she wasn’t an ordinary mortal.

Eva’s thanks was converted to more biting, along with the demigoddess practically shoving herself into Thea, curves and all. By instinct, she even started to move in an alluring manner, grinding gently into the powerful wolf as nibbles turned to licking and suckling. But while the demigoddess was satisfied earning a few arousing moans, Thea clearly had other plans.

Before she knew it, Eva found herself lifted by her buttocks and spun around, a swift movement that earned a surprised giggle from her lips. Though, it soon turned into a gasp of delight as Thea reclaimed the lead and switched the attention to her breasts.

With her clothes torn — which was totally Thea’s fault — Eva's upper body was on display. The mouth-watering curves and pert nipples begged for attention, and Thea did not seem to have the heart to reject them.

The alpha wasted no time, lips and tongue moving in to lavish Eva’s breasts with attention. It started with licking and kissing, but Thea only delayed for a moment before moving toward her hardened nipples, earning a delighted moan from Eva’s lips upon arrival.

“Oh divine, don’t stop.”

Eva’s words proved pointless, with Thea showing no signs of letting up. The patient wolf merely continued her actions, ever so gently coaxing moans from the demigoddess’s very core.

It feels so good.

But Eva found herself confused. Why did it feel so good?

The entire situation threw Eva off, mainly because she had never experienced anything like it. Yes, she had been with others. But none had ever treated her like Thea. None had ever been so… gentle. It was unfamiliar, though the pleasant sensation only further stoked her already potent arousal.

“Oh gosh, oh. T-Thea, please. More.”

Thea’s name felt strange on her tongue, but she didn’t dislike it. Instead, she wanted to use it more, to say the gorgeous wolf’s name, and Thea soon gave her plenty of opportunities to do so.

Eva soon found herself a whimpering mess, the gentle attention quickly turning her mad. In the battle of patience, she clearly lost. But it wasn’t quite enough to send her over the edge, a fact that seemed to delight Thea.

“If you weren’t so cute… I’d be mad,” Eva whined, her hand slowly drifting up to stroke a fluffy ear. Then, revealing its true desire, the hand slipped into Thea’s hair, even so subtly trying to make Thea do more… or head south. She didn’t care which, but she was growing desperate.

Please, please, please. Let her descend lower!

So. Very. Desperate.

 

[Javorcek]

It had been so very, very long since Thea had taken a lover. Out of practice and with the frenzy of desire leading the way, she was like a puppy with a new toy: unable to focus. Torn between holding Eva's luscious rear end or playing with her bountiful bosom, Thea ended up pushing her more securely into the wall so that she could withdraw a hand to play with her neglected breast. A warm, calloused hand massaged the tender flesh, providing a counterpoint to ravenous teeth and tongue. Every whimper she earned fanned the flames of her carnal needs, and by the time Eva was finally pushing at her head to coax her to give more, Thea was ready to dive between her legs and turn those whimpers into screams.

Well…she had almost been ready. But Eva had tossed a cold bucket of water onto her with her words.

Cute?!!??! She thinks we are cute?! Thea couldn't believe her ears! Of all the ways she had ever been described, 'cute' was most certainly not one of them. Was it because of her tail? Because she couldn't help that it wagged! Having her ears pet or her scalp scratched was a sure fire way to get that bushy black tail sweeping back and forth. But the rest of her was not certainly cute! She was a strong, battle-hardened, ferocious, apex predator!!!

"I will show you who is cute," the wolf growled, ears folding back, teeth grazing threateningly against a hardened nipple. Suddenly her hand left the other breast, returning to the skirt and underthings that were in the way. She tore at the fabric, enough that it hung in pieces around Eva and exposed her. But rather than reach for her newly revealed, overheated sex…Thea went straight for the plushy rear end that she seemed so intent on playing with. She squeezed and massaged…and crept her fingers closer and closer to the cleft of Eva's bottom.

Her attentions earned a squeal of surprise, and Thea grinned. "Now -that- is cute," she drummed her fingers right along the seam of Eva's rear…not separating the cheeks or touching her hole just yet, but definitely making her intent clear. She was giving the demigoddess a moment, seeing if she was indeed an alpha and would fight Thea for daring to touch her most private place. But Eva didn't snarl or bite, if anything she just grinded her hips and seemed desperate for intimate touches of any kind.

"I will give you more, but you need to present like a good bitch for me," Thea promised as she let Eva down. She pulled off the bits of fabric that were still hanging onto the demigoddess for dear life and set them on the dirt floor, motioning for her new lover to get on all fours and present herself on them. Unfortunately, it soon became clear that Eva didn't quite know quuiittee how to offer herself, so Thea knelt next to her to help.

"Hrrmph…like this," the wolf gruffed out as it hauled Eva's hips up just a tiny bit more. Then she grabbed the back of her neck and forced her face down to the ground. "There…this is how a good, submissive bitch presents." Still holding her down, Thea's free hand began rubbing Eva's back, as though she were a warhound to be inspected. Her palm came down, over her rear and between her legs, immediately finding heat and wetness there. "We will have to do something about this mess…" rough fingers ran through the slippery folds, not moving in any sort of way to give pleasure, just inspecting, gauging how much of a needy slut the Shadow would have to deal with.

The wolf released her lover and crawled behind her, appearing satisfied with what she saw. Before Eva could even ask what she was about to do, Thea had ducked her head; lips and tongue on the goddess' sopping wet slit. She had meant to go slower, truly she did…but Eva's taste and scent drove the wolf wild. She licked long, eager swipes through the slick velvet, trying to lap up every bit of arousal that she could. And of course because Thea was so wrapped up in absolutely devouring Eva's sweet sex, she took no care to keep her mouth from going a little too high or her nose bumping where it shouldn't. A surprised squeal from her plaything made her ears twitch, and like a curious pup, Thea went to investigate the noise further.

With surprising care and tenderness for someone who had been ravenously eating her lover's cunt, Thea's rough hands parted Eva's cheeks. Her tongue made a slow, deliberate lick all the way from one tight little hole to the other, drawing more shameful noises from her new little sub.

"How adorable…a powerful demigoddess whining over having her bottom being played with, and here I thought you might fight me for Alpha" Thea teased before licking again. Her tongue swirled and glided over Eva's taboo hole, evidently not shy about this form of domination at all. Eva could whimper and wiggle all she liked, but Thea would just chase her and lick just a little harder, until this whimpers became moans and those wiggles became wanton bucks.

"Wet again," Thea remarked as she pulled away just to take stock of her lover. Despite having licked the goddess' sex nearly clean, Eva proved to be soaked again after a little play with her bottom. "You like this, hmm? Having my tongue all over your naughty little hole… But what if…I wanted to claim it…" Thea tossed out the idea as she reached for Eva's drenched folds, running fingers through the slick. Then they drew upwards, up and up until her index finger settled on her quivering little hole. She pushed slowly, gently, trying to gain entry. "You are tight…too tight for my cock," Thea lamented as she slooowwwllyy worked her finger inside Eva's taboo hole. The demigoddess keened and squirmed, causing the wolf to grin; she may not be able to claim this cute goddess' bottom, but she could surely make Eva squirm with the thought of it. "But you want it, don't you? Want to be claimed. Want to be my naughty little butt slut."

 

[ClearSight]

Myra’s sprint through the streets ended up being anything but uneventful. The city already started its descent into debauchery, and her wolf decided that now was the time to have a full-blown panic attack over their mate being alone. Not that her rational side was much calmer. No, she had her own thoughts, heavy ones about how stupid she was and how she needed to hurry back to Danika and fix her big dumb mess.

Her wolf continued to urge despite her feet already carrying her swiftly toward their lover, its demanding tone making it almost impossible to think. Almost. But she still had the wherewithal to scold herself for being too cautious and insecure. Her! Myra! War hero and feared General of the North! And more importantly, Danika’s beloved, by her own words and actions.

Fortunately, Myra didn’t leave Danika waiting much longer. Dressed in her furs, her heart racing, Myra made her way to where Danika waited, catching sight of her queen, standing there, the glow of festival lights making her skin practically shimmer. Myra’s breath hitched. How was it possible that she was even more beautiful now after such a brief absence?

Maaaaate!

“Shut up!” Myra snapped, too distracted to keep her inner monologue internal. “Okay, focus. Foot on ground, not in mouth,” muttered Myra, giving herself an ineffective pep talk as her wolf was all but howled with excitement. It was also her attempt to ignore Danika’s scent, which filled the air. It was heady and intoxicating and made Myra want to forget everything and take her right then and there. But no. She needed to apologize first. Then claim her.

Her wolf hated the order.

Still, Myra managed to persevere, taking a shallow breath before stepping forward. As she approached, Myra couldn’t help but raise her lips into a confident grin, her furs billowing dramatically around her as she struck what she thought was a rather impressive figure. "My queen,” she said, her voice carrying with it all the affection and reverence she felt for Danika. She then spread her arms wide, showing off her attire and warrior physique. “I came prepared.”

Danika didn’t give her the reaction she expected. The queen raised a brow, her expression unreadable as her gaze roamed over Myra’s form. “You look ridiculous,” she said, though her eyes lingered a little too long on Myra’s exposed abs for the words to sting. “I asked you to change, not to dress like a savage.”

Myra’s grin faltered slightly, but she was undeterred. Stepping closer, Myra softened her voice, her eyes locked onto Danika’s. “I thought I looked sexy, and it won’t stop you from touch,” she murmured. “Besides, I thought you liked having a warrior by your side.”

She knew Danika did. She could see it in the way her pulse quickened, could feel the way her queen’s gaze drank her in, even if she was trying to keep her expression cool. But Myra had messed up earlier, and she knew that. The distance, the formality — it had hurt Danika, and she wanted to make it up to her.

———

Eva’s heart raced as she felt Thea’s strong hands on her body, every touch sending a jolt of electricity through her. It had been so long since she had allowed herself to let go like this, to be with someone who understood her strength, who could meet her where she was. And Thea — Thea was perfect. Strong, confident, and so full of fire. It was everything Eva hadn’t known she craved.

But even as Thea’s calloused hand massaged her breast and her sharp teeth grazed her skin, Eva’s mind wandered to the absurdity of it all. She had called Thea cute. Thea, the fierce warrior, the deadly Shadow who could tear through enemies without a second thought, was cute. Thea’s reaction to that word sent a ripple of amusement through her, even as desire tugged at her core. The growl that left Thea’s throat, the way her ears folded back — it was almost enough to make Eva giggle again. Almost.

Except there was nothing cute about what Thea was doing now.

Eva’s breath caught as Thea tore at her clothes with a swift, almost feral intensity. Her heart pounded in her chest, anticipation building as her body ached for more. She didn’t care about the tattered fabric or the cold air biting at her skin — all that mattered was Thea. Her strength, her power, the way she looked at Eva like she was something to be devoured. It thrilled her, excited her in a way she hadn’t expected.

But then came the command. Present like a good bitch.

Eva froze for just a second, her mind racing as she processed the words. Present? Like a—?

Before she could fully grasp the command, Thea was there, adjusting her hips, pushing her down. A shiver ran down her spine as she felt the wolf’s firm hand on the back of her neck, guiding her, positioning her in a way that made her feel both vulnerable and aroused. The sensation of being handled like this, of being told what to do — it was foreign to Eva, but in the best way possible. Thea’s dominance, the control she exerted over her, sent waves of heat through her body.

This is how a good, submissive bitch presents.

The words echoed in Eva’s mind, and for a moment, she felt the urge to resist, to show Thea that she wasn’t just some submissive little thing. But then Thea’s hand was on her again, rough fingers gliding over her skin, teasing her. All thoughts of resistance melted away as desire took over, and she found herself pushing back against Thea, craving more, needing more.

When Thea’s tongue finally made contact, a sharp moan escaped Eva’s lips. The warmth, the wetness, the sheer intensity of the sensation — it was overwhelming. Every stroke of Thea’s tongue sent sparks of pleasure coursing through her, and she couldn’t stop the whimpers that followed. Her body trembled, lost in the feeling of being thoroughly, completely devoured.

But Thea wasn’t just devouring her. No, she was teasing, testing, and when her attention shifted, moving to places Eva hadn’t expected, a surprised squeal escaped her lips. Thea was relentless, and Eva found herself squirming under the wolf’s attention, unsure whether she wanted to escape or press herself closer. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting desires — dominance, submission, control, surrender — but her body had already made the choice for her.

This is how a good bitch behaves.

The thought echoed in her mind, this time not something Thea said but her own thought. A surprising one at that. And though she hadn’t fully accepted the title, the way her body responded to Thea’s touches said enough. Every swipe of Thea’s tongue, every teasing press of her fingers, sent her spiraling deeper into pleasure. And when Thea’s finger finally pressed against that back hole, Eva’s entire body tensed, a strangled moan slipping past her lips.

It was too much, but at the same time, not enough.

She’s going to break me, Eva thought, her breath ragged as Thea continued her teasing. And maybe, just maybe, Eva wanted her to.

Soft whimpers soon echoed in the alley, Eva’s body trembling with anticipation as Thea’s relentless teasing pushed her closer and closer to the brink. Every flick of Thea’s tongue, every deliberate touch, sent Eva spiraling deeper into the haze of lust. She bit her lip, trying to stifle the desperate pleas threatening to spill from her mouth, but it wasn’t working.

Eva was barely holding herself together, her breath coming in shaky gasps as she squirmed beneath Thea’s touch. “Thea…” she whispered, her voice shaky, “please…”

But the heat in her words was laced with frustration. The ache between her legs grew unbearable as Thea continued her torturously slow exploration. Eva’s body strained toward her, silently begging for more.

“Please,” she begged again, her voice breaking with need, her hips pressing back instinctively, trying to close the gap between them. “I… I can’t take it…”

Her hands curled into fists as she tried to keep her composure, but the pleasure building inside her made it impossible to remain still. She needed release, needed to feel Thea give her what she was so desperately craving.

A low moan escaped her lips as Thea’s teasing hands grazed her once more, barely brushing against her core, and it was enough to unravel what little control Eva had left. “Thea,” she gasped, her voice soft but urgent. “Please… don’t tease me… I need…”

Her words faded into a breathless cry as Thea’s touch finally grew firmer, the teasing replaced by a focus that sent a wave of heat rushing through Eva’s body. Her whole body quivered in response, her need rising to an unbearable peak. She was so close now, she could feel it. Her mind was a blur of sensation, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment.

“Oh gods…” she breathed, her voice trembling as the tension inside her coiled impossibly tight. “Please… Thea, I’m so close… please…”

When Thea finally gave in, the sensation was overwhelming. Eva’s back arched, and a shuddering moan tore from her lips as the waves of pleasure crashed over her, pulling her under. The release was intense, her body convulsing as she finally reached the climax she had been so desperate for.

For a long moment, she was lost to the sensation, her mind blissfully blank as the aftershocks of pleasure rolled through her. Her breathing was ragged, and she barely had the strength to whisper one last, breathless plea:

“More…”