Chapter Four
Kull
Heat that I had never experienced before enveloped me. I thought Typhon had been calling her bluff and there was no way she would give into this request, but then she had shown an unexpected willingness to pleasure us. It was almost enough to dull the irritation I felt after the man had escaped. Even now I stared into the distance in the direction the car had driven away, and I knew I should have been faster.
I stomped past the fire and stood by the edge of the lake. The water looked dark at night, as though it was going to swallow up everything. The surface was utterly still, pristine and perfect. I picked up a stone and tossed it across the surface. It skimmed, breaking the stillness. Nothing in this world was perfect, nothing deserved to be. My head swam with all kinds of different sensations. I wasn’t sure how to understand any of them. I glanced back at Ambrosia, who was sitting by the fire, not making any attempt to move.
Typhon came towards me. He stood at an angle so he could keep one eye on Ambrosia.
“Is everything alright?” he asked in a low voice.
I hissed. “I let him get away.”
He put his hands on his hips and looked to the side. “You shouldn’t beat yourself up about that. You couldn’t have known the fender was going to break off.”
“I should have anticipated it. I shouldn’t have let the chase end there.”
“We have another prisoner, and I think she’s more impressive. Besides, there’s a chance that Derren will tell other people what he saw here. The word could spread, and the humans will fear us.”
“Maybe. I just wanted to impress Vance. I thought this was our chance.”
“As did I, but all is not lost. We have her,” Typhon gestured to Ambrosia.
“We should be careful. She might try to run as well.”
“I’m not sure. I think she knows she won’t stand a chance. She has seen what we are capable of, and she does not strike me as an unintelligent woman.”
“Don’t let yourself be influenced by what just happened. She is still a human. She’s still the enemy,” I said, noticing the way Typhon’s gaze lingered upon her. He looked indignant when he replied.
“I don’t know what you’re implying, but I’m certainly not going to let that happen. She is a means to an end, that’s all. Vance will be impressed when we bring her back.”
“And are we going to stand by the terms of the agreement? Are we going to ensure that her life is protected?”
Typhon rolled his shoulders. “We shall do all we can. Ultimately, we cannot make Vance’s decisions for him, but we can tell him how useful she could be.”
I grunted. “Do you think he will debase himself by coupling with a human?”
Typhon frowned. “Is that what you think we have done?”
“It’s different for us. We’re not true bloods,” I said with a hint of regret in my voice. Typhon bristled, as I knew he would.
“Don’t say that. We’re just like them. At least, we can be. We have just conquered a human female. It is a great victory, and we have also driven a human male from our territory. Vance is going to be impressed. I can feel it. Things are changing, brother. It won’t be long now until we are included in the main pack. We will be seen as equals with the other wolves. We will be given more and more chance to prove ourselves, and when the war comes we will be running with the others in the first wave of attacks.”
I sighed. Despite there being so many similarities between us, there were also acute differences. Sometimes I think the things we have in common only served to highlight the things that we did not.
“I hope you’re right. I fear that nothing is ever going to change the way they look at us. We are little more than abominations to them.”
“I can’t believe that. I won’t believe it,” Typhon said, his voice strained. “If I thought for one moment that was the case then I wouldn’t be able to carry on.”
“Perhaps you should open your eyes and your ears, brother. They have always looked down on us. We have to resort to getting pleasure from a human because no other wolves will mate with us. We cannot escape our nature.”
“Yes we can, because we have been given the ability to rise above the station of our birth. The others may not understand who we are, but we will show them through our deeds. Our names will live in history with the other famed warriors of our pack.”
I stared at him for a few moments and then turned my attention back towards the lake. Sometimes it seemed easier to throw myself into a thing like this and just disappear.
“I hope you’re right,” I said forlornly.
He grabbed my shoulder and spoke with unwavering belief. “I am, Kull. This world is ours for the taking, and when the war comes we shall prove ourselves. This is the first step,” he glanced back towards Ambrosia.
I shook off the lingering sensations of orgasm. It was a strange sensation. I had always dreamed of what it would feel like, never once imagining that it would be inspired by a human female. She was not without her finer qualities, and there was something in her eyes, a fierce defiance that was almost reminiscent of a wolf. Typhon jerked his head in her direction, and I followed a few paces behind him.
Ambrosia stirred when we approached. She was staring into the fire, her knees drawn into her chest, her arms wrapped around her legs. My gaze was drawn to her lips, the source of so much pleasure. I felt a twinge deep inside. I experienced an uneasiness about the fact that we would give her to Vance, and he would decide what happened to her. She was our prize, and we should have been able to keep her. That was the way it worked for other wolves, but not wolves like us.
“I feel as though I lived up to my part of the bargain. I think you’re both suitably satisfied,” she drawled, the words rolling across her sultry lips. There was a coy look in her eyes. She seemed fearless and uninhibited. I started to wonder if Vance had underestimated the humans.
“Indeed we are. You are a credit to your species,” Typhon said.
“And I’m sure the same is true for you. But what species is that, exactly? Are you really werewolves?” she asked.
“Do you find that impossible to believe?” I asked, baring my teeth, ready to give her another demonstration. It might have been worth it to test just how fearless she was. Ambrosia cocked her head to the side and pursed her lips.
“When I first saw it I thought that it must have been, but I would be a fool to reject something I saw with my own eyes just because it seems impossible. I’ve always possessed an open mind, and I like to think that I’m able to accept reality even when it’s surreal. In fact, I find it quite fascinating. It would be interesting to study you. What is your history? How long have you been in the world? Do you ever take part in human society?”
“We are not going to answer your questions,” Typhon said. “The matter is simple. You are going to come with us, and we shall bring you to our Alpha. He will decide what to do with you.”
“But you’ll make sure I’m kept alive, right? That was the deal,” she said.
Typhon and I inclined our heads.
Ambrosia sighed and looked around. “You know, we don’t have to leave right away. I have some food in the cabin. We could stay and hang around for a while and maybe, well… maybe I can offer you something else. What would it take for you to let me go?”
“That is out of the question,” I said.
“Are you sure?”
“We are taking you to Vance,” Typhon said.
Ambrosia ran a hand across her chin. “What makes him the Alpha?”
“He is the strongest wolf. He commands respect from every member of the pack. He has led the pack for a long time, and he has proven his prowess in battle on many occasions. He has also fought off every challenger who dared to face him. There are none stronger than him.”
“I see, so that’s why you’re ready to bow down in worship to him? I just thought that maybe you might want to show a bit of backbone and independence. Maybe you’d want to prove to yourselves that you don’t have to simply do whatever this Vance wants. I mean, if you defied him by, say, letting me go, then you might feel better about yourselves. It would do your confidence the world of good,” she said.
I stepped towards her and clenched my fists, just about to give her hell, when Typhon held me back.
“You are quick with your words, Ambrosia. You won’t be able to turn us against Vance. He is the Alpha, and we are aware of our place. We hope to improve our standing with him by bringing you to him. You will make a wonderful prize.”
“I see,” Ambrosia said icily. Her head dropped and her shoulders became rounded. There was a dark look in her eyes, and she crossed her arms, digging her hands into her armpits. “Then we might as well get this over and done with. Where are we going?”
I pointed into the vague distance our direction shrouded by darkness. Ambrosia shook her head and huffed.
“I’m going to need some food before we leave, and water,” she said, looking back towards the cabin. It wasn’t an unreasonable request. Typhon and I glanced towards each other, and he gestured for me to follow her. She entered the cabin. I leaned against the doorway as she gathered some food in a bag.
“You know, what you’re doing is pretty fucked up,” she muttered.
I shrugged. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“It’s a wolf thing, is it?”
“Something like that.”
“So tell me then, what’s the deal with you? Do you only change under a full moon?”
“We’re not going to answer your questions. Gather your things and let’s go.”
“Man, I thought I was in a bad situation with Derren. It’s only getting worse. You know, I came up here to get away from it all. I thought I was going to have a nice stress-free weekend in my family cabin.”
I heard drawers and cupboards opening. For a moment she disappeared from view, and my suspicions were aroused. She emerged with a bag slung over her shoulder. I narrowed my eyes and caught her arm on the way out. I grabbed the bag from her and rummaged through it, my hand finding the handle of a knife. I pulled it out and gave her a disparaging look. She scowled.
“Did you really think I wasn’t going to try to defend myself?” she muttered.
“We’re not going to hurt you. I thought we already made that clear,” I said.
She tilted her head and looked at me with profound curiosity. “Why?”
I wasn’t quite sure I understood the question. “Why what?”
“Why aren’t you going to hurt me?”
“Because there is no honor in it.”
“Not even if I’m armed? I must say I’m a little insulted that you don’t see me as more of a threat.”
I was impressed that she showed no fear, at least outwardly. I could smell the unease radiating from her, but she was doing her best to hide it. There was more to her than I expected from a human.
“We are the threat. You and your kind should be afraid of us,” I said, baring my teeth. Perhaps I was a little insulted that she wasn’t cowering in my presence.
“You just said you weren’t going to hurt me. Are you lying?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t have anything to fear from you, and it’s not going to do me any good to tremble with fear. I might as well try and make the best of my situation. I’m not going to make any trouble, because then you’ll be less likely to keep me around. But you should know before we go any farther that I’m not anything special. I don’t have any power or influence with the other humans, so if you expect to use me as some kind of bargaining chip then you’re mistaken. I’ m just an ordinary woman. I’m not sure that I’m going to have any value at all.”
“You do have value because you are human. Now, it is time for us to leave. Don’t try anything stupid.”
She stopped in the threshold of the door and stared at me for a few moments. I couldn’t understand what she was trying to discern. It felt as though she was peeling away the layers of my soul. I was thankful when she moved on, as I wasn’t sure what she would see. She might have thought she was ordinary, but I could already sense that she was wrong. Perhaps with her I could… no. I pushed the thought away almost before it entered my mind. I sighed, my body still processing the sensations that her sweet mouth had elicited. I gazed at her swaying hips as she strode away from the cabin, becoming hypnotized by the mesmerizing movements.