A Tale of Two Lives (BurningWillows & Rskde)

Hayley blocked the weak punch, then smiled at the compliment, knowing it was an act but nevertheless. She too turned to see Jeziah as he stepped between two trees and into view.

"Gernesh wants me and Bear to keep our eyes on you," Jeziah explained, "Which means no wandering out with barbarians for...what is this?"

"Fighting lessons," Hayley lied smoothly and flawlessly, "I saw Katerina taking them and Flynn has trained other Beta's. He offered to give me a few easy tactics to defend myself."

"Your father had express orders-"

"Back at the pack I know," she rolled her eyes, cutting him off, "No fighting for little Hayley. This isn't fighting. It's defense techniques, in case I'm attacked."

"You're just making up excuses to be near him. I still don't understand what you see in him."

Hayley stepped up to Jeziah, fire in her eyes, "He takes charge and asks no permission. A true male wolf. I'm tired of so many washed up boys crying their feelings out on my lap. Now leave us be so I can return to my lesson."

A dark glint sparked in Jeziah's eye as he sneered back, obviously annoyed at her antics, "You'll get what you ask for one day Hayley. And you may not like it. You are coming back with me whether you like it or not. There's news of what is happening in the mountains and they want all to attend. Including stubborn princesses."

Hayley rolled her eyes and pushed past him roughly, "Fine. I'm going. Flynn..."

She looked back, her eyes much softer, "Thanks for the lesson. See you for our study date. Those books won't read themselves!"

Laughing she let Jeziah lead, knowing there was no way in hell either of them would read a lick if they were alone and unsupervised.

Flynn shakes his head when Jeziah calls him a barbarian once again.. The boy speaks to Hayley with little respect and Flynn feels himself growing a little impatient of the boy and his snobbiness.

'And you'll get what's coming to you..' He thinks to himself.

He nods to Hayley when she says she has to go, not allowing any emotion to touch his face as if trying to mislead Jeziah, which seems to work pretty well because they leave without a word.

He walks up to the cave when they are out of sight, in his mind he fantasizes more secret meetings with Hayley, he goes to his quarters to continue dreaming of such things. He sits on his bed and smiles to himself, he had finally found someone who could keep pace with him.

The meeting turned out to be less than ten minutes and it wasn't mandatory, essentially only about the fact the Grey Wolves hadn't been settled yet and the North needed to stay alert. Hayley couldn't find Flynn after that so she spent the day doing her usual routine, eventually falling asleep when night reached.

However in the middle of the night she jolted awake at the sound of her door opening, looking around in time to see five shadows circling her, closing in on her bed.

"Not funny Jeziah," she snapped, "You can't scare me into dating you. That doesn't work either."

"Jeziah isn't here," one of the voice sounded quick young and...eager, "He told us how you like things rough though."

"That your into men who take no orders," another chimed in.

"Men who do as they like," A third agreed.

"So what?" she asked defiantly, although a sliver of her was beginning to worry.

"He also told us how your of age in a few days."

"You'd make a perfect mate."

"A girl who will take any man if they take her as they please."

"Not any man," she corrected, "That's not what I meant at all. Can you creeps get out of my room?"

Two of them lunged, pinning her down as a hand clamped over her mouth to stifle her scream and the other hands held down her arms and torso. The other two wrestled with her legs, trying to rip her shorts off she had chosen to wear to sleep in.

"How does this work?" one of them muttered as they dragged her shorts off, Hayley screaming against the hand.

"We can take turns," another shrugged, sounding nervous, "Will that hurt her?"

"Jeziah said she liked this," another replied, "He said she practically begs for it all the time."

"Guys I don't like what we are doing. She sounds scared," one of the men holding her down got nervous.

"It's part of the act," one of them shrugged, "I don't know man. Rip her shirt off already."

They did so, exposing her tits and one of the young wolves she could hear panting, obviously aroused. Meaty paws were suddenly on her breasts, squeezing and touching them, invading her personal space and the sanctity of her body. Tears welled in Hayley's eyes, hating them for this. She had imagined all of this with Flynn...not with a group of idiot kids wanting to rape her. Her screams grew, but still remained muffled as each boy had a turn playing with her breasts. When they got to the last boy who was keeping her quiet Hayley had been deathly quiet for minutes, tears streaking down her face. The boy took his hand off for a second and her head darted forward, smashing into his and knocking him unconscious. Two more boys rushed at her but she spat in one's eyes and poked the others, making them both cry out as she temporarily blinded them.

"Get out of my room!" she screamed at them, jumping up and tackling the fourth member. They wrestled and several punches were thrown, a few even hitting Hayley's eye, but then she pinned him, making him eat and spit out dirt before letting him run away. The fifth boy was gone, as was his unconscious friend. Finally alone Hayley dropped to her knees, feeling attacked and raped even just by them touching her breasts. The girl who rarely cried let tears stream down her face as she rocked herself, scared to fall asleep and wake to that nightmare once more.

Flynn jolts up as he hears screaming, running out of his room and spotting the open door to Hayley's room. He takes a peek inside, seeing her on the floor. He slips inside, closing the door and locking it before kneeling down next to her.

"Hayley, who did this to you." He says to her quietly, not expecting her to tell him, but he is trying to let her know he cares. He wraps his arms around her and holds her close to him. "Calm down.. Everything's going to be fine." He says quietly, resting his head against hers. He knows she doesn't like emotional guys, but he feels that right now she needs this kind of support.

Hayley jumps at the sound of footsteps, thinking they might be coming back. Or worse she woke other residents and they were coming to investigate. Seeing her like this could lead to a lot of trouble. But it was only Flynn, and he locked the door behind him so anyone else who might have woke would assume it was just bad dreams or the like.

"I don't know who it was," she kept her voice low, resting her head on his chest, "they had to be around my age. They were able to pin me down, and they started pawing at me."

The only clothing still on her was her underwear, thankfully. She say in Flynns arms without protest, accepting his gracious efforts to calm the storm in her. Hayley couldn't sleep and she didn't, remaining awake well past dawn until she could bear the cold ground no longer.

"Flynn," she nudged him, unsure if he was awake or had fallen asleep, "would you escort me to breakfast once I'm dressed."

There was a large black ring around her right eye now from being sucker punched and a few nail marks on her chest and arms where they touched her. With her stature in the clan, if any fire wolf saw her they'd swear revenge on the men who hurt her. The thought of that pleased her, but the thought of them tearing the north pack apart because of it worried her. Alliances were thin these days.

Today she dressed in a shirt that clung to her neck and arms, hiding any marks, and a pair of tights as usual. There was nothing she could do about the round eye other than lie and say it was a fighting wound. On their way to breakfast there were a few murmurs but nothing compared to the uproar as she sat down next to Bear with space on her right side for Flynn, Jeziah across from them. The rest of the table was a mixture of red heads and brunettes all here to spectate the Trials.

"What happened?" Bear growled, catching her chin and inspecting the bruise.

"Training accident," she lied, "Flynns teaching me a few defence moves and I blocked left when he swung right. My bad."

"This is why you shouldn't hang around with brutes," Jeziah sneered.

She gave him a look of daggers, one that threatened to rip his tongue out. The crowd at the table quickly scooped up thier plates and found other tables, feeling the tension.

"You did this," she growled once they were gone, "wasn't it your idea to send a group of horny pups into my room? Think rape is funny Jeziah?"

"Wait I thought you said it was a training accident," Bear looked confused, "it wasn't?"

"No," she snarled, "your dick of a brother convinced five horny little pups that I was 'open game' and like being taken advantage of. They fucking pawed me Jeziah. Touched my...my..."

"Jeziah!" Bear snapped, "she's our princess. How could you? You've tarnished her and to think what Gernesh will do when he finds out."

"She told me she liked that!" Jeziah defended himself like a coward, "talking big game about how she likes men who take and don't ask. I was showing her what she was begging for. Flaunting herself to every brute and barbarian she finds...she'll get hurt. The boys were just suppose to scare her. "

"Did more than that," she growled lowly, waving at her swollen black eye, "your sick Jeziah. My father will tear you apart."

"Please don't tell your father," now he looked pale and scared, "I messed up. They weren't suppose to hurt you. Honest Hayley."

"If you tell your father he's a dead man Hayley," Bear spoke softly, "look my brothers an idiot and kind of a dick, but please. Don't kill him."

"So stand by while I get molested," she was so furious, "no this is being punished Bear."

"Trial by combat!" Jeziah squealed, looking terrifed, "I request a trial by combat."

Hayley wasn't sure how the other packs worked but in the South -and from rumours the eastern pack too- when one had committed a crime that was punishable by death they could ask for a trial by combat. The guilty had to fight whomever the accuser chose...to the death. Thus crimes were still paid in blood, as wolf law demanded.

"Seriously Jeziah," Bear grimaced.

"Please," Jeziah looked firm, "please."

"Bring the pups you tricked to the pits in an hour." Hayley growled, standing up abruptly and motioning to Flynn, "I've lost my appetite. Let's get out of here."

Once they were out of the mess hall her shoulders slumped, letting a little of that anger out, "I'm sorry you got wrapped up in this Flynn. Now I need to find a fighter for this trial by combat. And a bowl to hold coals...im burning the palms of those little twerps. Will teach them not to touch stuff they have no right to."

Flynn sits through the conversation, listening to it while picking at his food. His hands get balled up into fists as it turns out Jeziah sent the pups to her.

He feels himself getting ready to attack, Jeziah has something coming to him once this trial by combat starts, he assumes that Hayley will want him to fight the little wolf.

He feels her tugging on his arm and he stands, walking out with her and nodding his head at her words. "That almost not enough punishment.. I'll kill Jeziah for you Hayley." He growls, obviously angry.

"If you want a fighter for the trial, I'm the best one here, pick me Hayley, let me fight for you." He says to her.

She didn't speak they were in her room, away from listening ears, "those pups sounded younger than me. Little dirtbags, but not warranted of death yet. Jeziah is 18. He should know better. I'll burn the little ones hands, and they'll never think twice of harming me. Jeziah though...I didn't think he'd stoop this low just because I rejected him."

She sat on her bed, looking at the floor, "you understand a trial by combat is to the death. And it's in wolf form not human. The strongest wolf wins. I don't want you to get hurt over me."

It was a genuine statement void of snark or sass, "I'm not getting soft on you Flynn. Far from it. I just don't want such a great kisser to go to waste because of some dumb mutt."

There's the sarcasm.

She smiled weakly at him, "I should go prepare. If your serious about being my champion, come to the Pit in an hour in wolf form. Thank you Flynn."

Kissing his cheek she left her room in search of what she needed, having little time to prepare.

Flynn nods to her. "I would fight for your hot ass any day." He says with a grin, allowing the joking side of him to come back in.

He closes his eyes when she kisses his cheek and watches her walk out, he leaves a short while after her, thinking about what he would do.. He decides to go and be her champion.

An hour later he arrives at the Pit in wolf form, sitting down in his own little corner in the Pit, readying himself for the fight ahead. He knows the spots to aim for on a wolf, his problem would be defense, Jeziah is smaller than he is, allowing him to be much faster.

He would have to strike once and then let the blood loss kill the boy.

The boys got their punishment first. They arrived shortly after Flynn -who Hayley had problems taking her eyes off, his wolf form quite stunning- and Jeziah and Bear had yet to arrive. She had a wide bowl full of hot coals and made them each place both thier hands into it, burning them. The boys were terrified of her now, muttering apologizes and even crying but she remained stony faced, making each of them do it. After a minute of burning thier hands they were allowed to douse them in ice cold water, making the pain unbearable while it also healed. By the time they were all done each boy looked thoroughly convinced they'd never lay a hand on a woman again.

As they scampered off Jeziah and Bear appeared, Jeziah a small red wolf slinking down the steps. He found his place as Bear stood next to Hayley.

"Please don't do this," he begged one last time for his brother.

"We cannot bend the law," Hayley shot back, "I won't allow it."

"It is a battle to the death. May the blood that runs deep and thick be penitence for the crime. The trial by combat has begun," she announced, as so the fight started.

Flynn waits for Hayley to finish speaking before entering the ring, growling loudly at Jeziah. He knows he can end this fight quickly, which he plans on doing.

Jeziah lunges at Flynn, who immediately side steps and slashes Jeziah's ear, the entirety of it falls off, leaving the little wolf to whimper in pain and retreat a little bit.

Flynn growls again, starting to corner the little wolf, who goes for another lunge. This time Flynn bats the little wolf aside, pinning him down and in a flash, his face is buried in Jeziah's muzzle, his teeth rip the section of his throat out, leaving the little wolf to write in pain, choking on its own blood.

After what seems like hours, Jeziah stops struggling, a pool of blood forming around its head. Flynn is not left unscathed however, several deep cuts on his hide reveal the struggle, though Jeziah obviously failed to hit any sensitive area, the wolf's hide is made to be battered.

Flynn howls in victory, stepping off of the little wolf and looking over towards Hayley and Bear.

Bear looks white as a sheet, staring at his little brother in horror. It was obvious he didn't truly believed he would die, not till he saw him dead.

"I'm sorry Bear, law is law," she whispered.

He nodded but said not a word as he picked his limp brothers body up and carried him out to be buried. Of course Bear didn't blame her...he understood the gravity of the crime Jeziah had committed, to violate Hayley as he had done.

"Are you hurt?" She asked, kneeling down and opening her palm with a raised arm, beckoning Flynn to step towards her, still in wolf form. She wanted to touch his fur and see if it was course or soft, to bury her head and breath in his intoxicating smell. It was easy to see the fire princess had grown quite the crush on her beast.

Flynn pants lightly as he steps into her hand, nuzzling her hand with her fur. He's obviously hurt, though he doesn't seem to mind it, blood seeps into his white fur and stains it, though the flow is interrupted as the blood begins to clot, cutting it off from the wound.

Flynn also doesn't seem to mind the fact he just killed another wolf, he nuzzles against her hand again, continuing to pant happily as he is in her grasp. He motions his head towards the entrance/exit of the Pit, as if asking her to leave with him. He wants her to patch up his wounds in human form, so that they could communicate while doing so.

Her fingers sink in his dark fur, feeling how coarse each hair is, like the man hiding underneath. Kissing his head she stands, never letting her hand stray from his neck as they walk in sequence up the stairs and out. She lets him lead, this time to his room, a room she's never been in. By the time they reach the door he's mostly healed...a perk to being a werewolf. Pushing the door open she beckons for him to go forth, letting him Change in peace and privacy while she waits outside. Hayley's interested to see his room, how he's decorated it, if it's rugged like him with thick firs and dark lighting, or something she'd never expect.

Flynn walks with her to his room, going inside and changing quickly. He changes into a fresh change of clothes, smoothing his hair back and pressing his hand to his healing wounds.

He opens the door and pulls her inside, closing the door before smashing his lips to hers, allowing her to trip backwards on to the bed where he continues to kiss her.

"There's nobody to interrupt now.." He mutters against her lips.

She tripped into him, hearing the door slam and being lifted onto the bed, his head blockin her view from the room as his lips crush hers. She allows it, breathing in his glorious musky scent as her arms and legs wrap around him like a monkey, clinging to him so he cannot move away. He ignores the fire inside her, making her dizzy with ecstasy at his touch. She lets go, getting lost in his touch, forgetting where she was or who she is.

"Flynn," she sighs after several minutes of kissing, "I need to breathe too."

They barely come up for air, kissing each other like it was a drug.

Flynn breaks the kiss for a moment to allow them to breathe. He then goes back to kissing her, groaning at the feeling of her lips against his, unable to get enough.

He breaks again before chuckling. "Sorry.. Your lips are like honey." He mumbles, his forehead rested against hers. "I keep having dreams of you, always different, always me pinning you to something.. When do you turn eighteen, Hayley?" He asks quietly.

Truth time.

He kept catching her lies, and as much as she tried to convince him otherwise it was like he knew.

"A week's time," she murmured, looking away, "Father has some form of plans for it, but I know nothing about it. Why do you ask?"

She had questions herself but couldn't bring herself to ask him. What had happened to his mate? Was this a fling, or something more?

Flynn bites the bottom of his lip softly, she had asked an important question.

"I was thinking.. Since I've been having all of these dreams, and I know you've been having them too.. Maybe we could become mates?" He says quietly, biting the inside of his cheek.

"It's not a simple decision, but I want to be there to rip your clothes off whenever you require." He says with a grin.

Hayley sat up abruptly, sitting there beside him as her fingers ran through her wild red hair, "Flynn that's not a small question. That's a life decision. We barely know each other."

She smiled slightly at his last joking comment, "While I am in need of a professional clothing ripper, it's not a free position. Applicants must suceed and interview first."

She put on her best snotty voice for the last line, raising her nose high in the air, letting the tension die from his question as she giggled afterwards. Sometimes you could truly see the pup in her, even when she acted like she was already of age.

Flynn thinks for a moment before a grin appears on his face.

"Have you ever heard of the old game Two Truths and a Lie?" He asks with the raise of his eyebrows. "One person says two true things about themselves and one false thing, if the other person identifies the false thing then they win, otherwise they lose." He explains.

"We could play it so that the loser had to strip or something, I dunno.. But it'd be a great way to actually get to know each other if you're interested in doing that." He offers.

She rolls her eyes, "God you are old. That game got boring years ago, pups started cheating."

She got up and looked around at his room, finally taking his decorating in, "I like your room, it's...rustic." There were rugs of fur on the cold floor, as well as on his bed, all made to keep the cold night air out. His walls were lined with weapons and paraphernalia from his years, and she browsed each, giving nothing away as she remained blank faced.

"My mother died when I was born, ya know? My father was so upset over her death, he always felt a need to over protect me, to keep the last bit of her alive I think. Or maybe he just didn't want anymore family to die. When my brother deserted he was heart broken. He can't bear to lose anymore."

She looked back at him, her eyes soulful for a second before she suddenly bounded into his arms, laughing senselessly, "So which one was it?"

At Flynn's confused face she just laughed harder, "Do I need to spell out for the elderly in the room? You wanted to play two truths. So I started. The games only fun when you make it into a story, make the lie harder to detect. You guess it, and my shirt comes off. Now go."

Flynn chuckles. "I told you, I'm not that old." He says with a laugh, rubbing the back of his head as he listens to her story.

When she bounds to him he catches her in his arms, his face shining confusion at her. "I don't think your mother died when you were born... Hopefully, I was never good at this game." He admits.

"However winning would be worth it.." He mutters while placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Dammit," she growled, "Nah, my mum passed when I was a child. She caught that plague that ran through the clan. Our pack was hit hard, many died. I remember hearing Issac's mate passed from it too. Well, enough of that sad shit. Shirt off professional ripper!"

He laughs before literally ripping her shirt off, his eyes fixing on her perfect breasts, he kisses the top of her chest lightly before thinking to himself.

"I was born in the Northern pack, but both of my parents left me here because they could not take care of me.. And I've trained every generation of princesses since." He says before running his hands down her back.

"What am I lying about, sexy? You gotta get it right to get this shirt off." He says with a grin on his face, wanting her to get it right.

She bounced in his lap playfully as she pretended to think, "Easy one Flynn. You weren't born in the pack. You're hair gives it away. Let me guess...Eastern?"

Her fingers play on his shirt, ready to rip it off and expose his muscular chest. All he had to do was admit she was right.