Wild Heats and Precious Souls -Temptress x Bunny-

[Temptress RN]

A murder of crows fled the trees, their calls echoing out through the woods as ice shook free from the branches of the trees at the sudden movement. It all happened so quickly. One moment they were there, and one moment they weren’t. A huff of exasperation escaped the gray wolf’s muzzle as his paws landed back on the soft surface of the snow because while he tried to complete the hunt that the land surely needed, he really wasn’t the most suited for the task at hand. Wolves could jump, they could run, they could dig, and while they could climb, they weren’t particularly well built for it. And as much as Kian hated to admit it, his own skill with climbing was substandard at best compared to others with his animal soul.

What the area really needed to stave off the curse of the land was some other shifters who made their home in the area. The curse was pretty explicit in that citizens of Kawahain needed to allow their bonded animal souls to roam and tend to the land as they would if they weren’t bound together or the land would perish in death and decay, and from Kian’s understanding, things were handled fairly well all those years ago when the curse befell them. However, now it was failing, neglectful. The common folk tried to grant their animals time to tend the land, to keep the curse at bay and to keep their home alive; there was only so much they could do, though, when they also had families to take care of and when the royals and nobles were busy playing their political games that kept their best warriors away at wars, or defending neighbors who hadn’t truly earned that trust all to get a proper bride for one of their own.

Kian thought it should all be burned to the ground. No more towns or villages. Roads weren’t needed when one could run as a wolf, a panther, a cat, a leopard… They could just go wherever their legs could carry them. Bureaucracy and politics were pointless when their animals could defend territories just fine. Kian himself was a glowing example. He didn’t need to rely on anyone else. He hunted to eat. He could curl up and sleep under the shadows of the trees. He could run for miles just to feel free. Sure, he spent some time in his human form simply because the world demanded it. Though he’d left civilization behind three years ago, some of the folks who better understood him still leaned on him just a bit. He helped with some woodworking crafts and they delivered him other essentials in exchange. They never talked; Kian didn’t trust his wolf with another human soul anymore, but he’d worked hard enough to be able to stay away.

With no one to dominate, his alpha tendencies had no choice but to abate.

Then Kian could simply be.

Contemplating his existence was a long and hard process while his wolf was in charge, though, and a subtle breeze knocked a bundle of snow from a nearby branch, causing the white fluff to land right on his snout. With a quick indignant snort, the gray wolf shook his coat free of the winter water, hints of auburn over white glistening along his flanks. Auburn like the hair on the gruff alpha male within…

Then he took to inhaling the scents in the air, finding the scent of a rabbit, likely curled up in a burrow somewhere not far off. Having identified much more appropriate prey, he let his wolf reclaim his mind, instincts directing the hunt until his teeth sunk into soft flesh, drinking in the delight of meat, blood and flesh. Though it stained the snow, ruining the light, it was natural despite the plight of the land.

Meanwhile, a young beta had just stopped by the alpha’s cabin, picking up some bundles of firewood before dropping off an old newsletter and some blankets his mother had crafted from some of the furrs Kian had given to them. The beta knew better than to wait for the wolf to return and he just began the trek back to his own home much closer to town. Flynn had never really known Kian well; it was his mother and father who knew the alpha and who had arranged some trade with the man despite his isolation. However, the young lad did appreciate the walks that it gave him the opportunity to take. There was only so much he could handle in a home with four sisters. The walk was almost a quarter of a day one way, but he knew it well. His father had walked it with him until he’d learned the way well enough on his own.

The sun was setting as he finally arrived, and the hustle and bustle of conversation he heard inside had him holding his breath for a moment before he opened the door. His youngest sister charged him as soon as he did so. “Flynn! Did you see the scary man today?!” Anastasia was always a bundle of questions.

“Nope. Wasn’t trying to, though. He did leave some firewood for the stash,” Flynn called out to his mother who was at work in the kitchen. He set it near the mantle, before he walked in to see his three other sisters pouring on the most recent newsletter. They got an update once a month from someone in the nobles who thought the common folk might want to follow them. His sisters always soaked it right up, too, like it was their lifeline or something. With a sigh, he dared to ask, “What’s new?”

It was his eldest sister who answered, sounding much like she needed to catch her breath but wasn’t allowing herself to do so. “It says here that the princess has been betrothed! She’s to wed one of the generals of Arstair! Apparently he actually wants to bring the curse into his kingdom!? I don’t know what I think about that, but the wedding will probably be glorious!!! Do you think they’ll do like they usually do and invite everyone to witness?” One thing the royals and nobles understood well enough was that small doses of excitement were helpful to keep everyone in line. Witnessing a royal claiming ceremony was something they often shared although none of them actually attended the party afterwards.

Flynn wrinkled his nose a bit. “Isn’t Arstair… like… terrifying or something? Aren’t they the reason we were at war for a while?”

Lenora - the eldest - rolled her eyes at her brother. “That just makes it that much more romantic! The princess not only gets a brave, strong, alpha warrior, but she also gets to help secure peace!”

“That’s enough gossip for now,” their mother interrupted. “Flynn, go help your father finish the meat for dinner. And girls, help me set the table.”

The household scurried to the tasks, scarcely aware that come summer-time, the leaves wouldn’t be growing back onto some of the trees. Sure, the nobles would come up with some sort of decree to try to hold it back some more, but unless something drastic changed, it wouldn’t be enough anymore.

At least, that was what Kian knew. Though clothes weren’t a requirement when one lived all alone, they were a comfort nonetheless, and Kian had a pair of trousers hanging on one of the pines that he grabbed and threw on as he walked. He finally made his way back to his cabin after finishing his meal to find that someone had stopped by, and he collected the small bundle of blankets with a soft smile. It wasn’t an expression he wore often anymore, but something about that family made him feel like the world was alright. Gareth had been a good friend of his before he’d removed himself from civilization; it was Gareth who nearly perished at his claws. Gareth’s wife - Evana - had gone into heat while Kian had been visiting. It was a rough situation for any alpha. Gareth had asked him to leave and Kian wanted to but… his inner alpha wouldn’t allow it. His wolf erupted, Gareth’s leg had shattered… one of the children had a scar across her cheek she would never be free of. It could’ve gotten worse, too. And yet, Gareth still cared. Evana did too.

As he started up the stairs, though, a new scent tickled his senses. His sense of smell wasn’t as strong in human form as it was while he was a wolf, but he was still an alpha at his core. It was sweet… like maple dripping down the trees waiting for harvest. Warm. Honey and heaven.

A growl erupted from his throat as his eyes sought the source - nay, demanded it come forward.

@Bunny

 

[Bunny]

Being a princess seemed so glamorous from the outside looking in. A princess was perfect; beautiful, kind, reserved and intelligent. Naturally, she would want for naught; dresses, teachers, suitors and anything else her heart could desire. That was the way of it in fantasy books and the way her people saw her. Katarina knew her life was not quite the fantasy that they imagined. Some aspects were true, for one, her education was one to be envied. Her clothing? It was immaculate.

Nothing is ever free however.

The only child of King Henry and Queen Eleanore, much to their chagrin, Katarina was useful for one any only purpose. To be married off. She couldn’t continue their bloodline, but they could sell her like chattel to the highest bidder. A cruel reality, perhaps, but life was rarely kind or fair. Not even to a princess.

When her parents had approached her to inform her of a bid for her hand in marriage, Katarina had been nervous. Declan Drake, one of the most feared generals in the Arstair armies, wished to wed her. Trepidation aside, Katarina had little choice but to meet him. The man who had given her a charming smile and bent to kiss her hand softly as his voice rumbled out a greeting had not been what she’d expected. She’d expected a brute of a man, based on what she knew of the Arstair people. He was tall and willowy, the jacket he wore showing off his toned frame in elegant lines. Short brown hair had fallen across his brow and kind honey eyes had gazed out from behind delicate spectacles.

The fear she had felt had melted away as Katarina had gotten to know Declan. He was endearing and seemed to care about more than her pretty face. Worries that he’d been too perfect, too kind had slipped away over the few weeks she’d gotten to know him. The thing that had appealed the most to the princess was he made her feel seen. In a palace that swarmed with courtiers, servants and guards, Katarina had always felt invisible.

With a book clutched to her breast, Katarina made her way to Delcan’s rooms. She found a rare tome, something that he’d expressed great interest in. She wanted to present it to him, a wedding gift of sorts. Her hand rose to knock on the door when she heard a female voice from within.

“You are going to marry someone else!” Her hand froze and her eyes grew wide. “Marry, yes. She means nothing though, my love.” Peering through the door, Katarina saw Declan pull a tall, beautiful woman into his arms. She was the complete antithesis of Katarina. When she was tall, her hair full of rich color, like flames and her skin was like honey.. Her body was sinful, the sort of body that men seemed to crave. Soft, plush curves and long elegant limbs. Katarina’s own hair was a pale icy blond and her skin pale alabaster. Her figure was delicate, and while she had a curve of breasts and hips, she wasn’t nearly as developed.

“Are you sure you don’t like pale, delicate little birds?” Came the woman’s scathing answer. “Why would I? When I have a goddess in my arms?” His voice wasn’t that soft, careful tenor, but it held a cruelty to it. “I want that princess for two things. The title that marrying her will give me and the power her blood holds.” “So you will lay with her” “No, my love.. I will breed her. You will raise my children and be queen in her place.”

Fool. Utter fool. Stumbling back from the door she waited tills he rounded the corner before she broke into a run. He had seemed too perfect and for once, Katarina had decided to allow herself to believe that fairy tales were real. She thought.. He’d actually cared for her. Gullible, stupid fool. Her mind whispered. How could she not have seen it? The questions about her people, her lineage. The curse that ran in her veins. How he’d seemed more than willing to have children with her and accept that curse that so many of them pretended didn’t exist.

All her people though had an animal predator within. Katarina was a snow leopard. Her Father was a lion and her mother was a brown bear. The animal that lurked beneath their skin came to light then they turned sixteen. It had been four years and Katarina had changed once. The first time they had little control of the change. As a princess, she’d been sequestered once it had been clear she was an omega. After that first change, her heats had been managed by drugs and isolation.

Inside her rooms, pale blue eyes glanced out the window to the dark sky as snow fell softly. She couldn’t stay here. Her parents wouldn’t believe her and even if they did, Katarina had trouble believing that they would care. They had never been loving towards her and they had made it quite clear early on, she was only of value in one way. They’d give her to a man who planned to rape her to get to the curse in her veins without a second thought; for Katarina would never lie with Declan of her own free will now.

There was no other choice. She’d have to run.

As the castle settled down for sleep, Katarina stole away with all she could afford to take. Warm clothing and a heavy cloak. Good boots and a pack that she filled with food that would last her. Hard cheeses and dried meat. While she would have loved to take more, she had no idea when she’d be able to find more food, so she had to be smart about it. With the snow, she wouldn’t have to worry about water.. Though some flint and steel were added to her pack along with another blanket and a knife. No money or jewels were taken. Nor any of her beloved books.

Leaving from an unwatched escape passage for the royal family Katarina stole away into the frigid night. At first she tried to take care of her tracks, careful to cover them and once she felt she was far enough away she began to run again and only stopped when her lungs were burning and a stitch was forming in her side. And as the night slowly slipped away, she kept walking and running. They would hunt her down, Katarina wasn’t under any illusions that they would simply let her go.

Snow crunched underfoot as the sun shone down on the dark hood of her cloak. The edges were soaking, but her boots and warm socks had helped insulate her lower half. Neither however helped the pain that was coming with each step. Katarina wasn’t used to such a taxing environment and more than once, she had considered shifting, but leaving behind her supplies might spell the end for her. Pulling on the strap of her bag she huffed out a sigh and then she heard a growl.

Freezing, she searched the snowy woods for the cause. There were no predators in the world who didn’t have a second form, a human form. Until now, she’d not been worried. Clutching her bag tighter, she took a few more careful steps, slipping into a clearing and finding herself face to face with a male. Her voice was so soft and sweet as she spoke, though there was no mistaking the tremble it held as his scent drifted over her. The man before her was an alpha... "Hello."