Anahid crouched, watching Vairya warily as the other woman circled her. Variya's wolf form was even fiercer than her human. Deep brown that darkened to black at her paws and snout. Large, though not as large as Anahid still. She was more muscled though, not as lithe OR quick as Anahid. Which Anahid took advantage of now. She darted at the other wolf, taking her by surprise and knocking her to the forest floor easily. Variya scrambled, trying to regain her feet but Anahid pressed in, snapping and pouncing, and finally pinning the other wolf to the ground. Variya whined and rolled to her back in submission.
Behind Anahid she heard another wolf. She twitched, prancing away at the last moment as Varick leapt at her. Varick—like his mother—was a deep brown coated wolf. Slightly larger than Anahid though, he was a bit more dangerous an opponent. The two circled now, Anahid snarling and snapping at the handsome wolf that eyed her intently. He charged her and Anahid danced back from him, tried to circle him. He matched her, twisting and catching hold of her front leg. With a savage shake of his head he threw Anahid to the ground. She clawed at the dirt, gnashed her jaws at the attacking wolf but he pinned her. Anahid growled low in her throat, refusing to submit to him. Finally Varick chuffed and stepped back from her. Anahid rolled back to her feet still growling menacingly at him.
Varick shifted, his wolf form retreated, he grew smaller and the man emerged. Anahid sighed and shifted as well. "I won," Varick said, his brown eyes crinkling in humor.
Anahid snorted, tossed her hair. "It was two against one."
Variya—still in her wolf form—huffed as she came up beside Anahid and stared balefully at her.
"She thinks I went easy on you, waiting to attack," Varick chuckled.
Rolling her eyes Anahid stepped from the treeline and began to walk back across the narrow valley towards home. They'd spent the day sparring in wolf form. Anahid craved the feel of the sun again on her soft human skin. She turned her face up as she walked hearing Varick fall in beside her as Variya trailed behind them. Anahid bristled. Variya was her constant shadow. Teacher. Bodyguard. If Anahid wasn't next to Kaev then Variya was sure to be close at hand. So Anahid tried to stay near Kaev. But he was gone the last few days, working with Kayl and her builders to fortify the defenses around the valley. Traps, snares, several deadfall pits. Anahid wondered if they would really keep out the vampires that threatened. She shivered. Atalanta had grown up here, paced these same halls, felt the sun of this valley. She knew it too well.
Anahid knew she was beginning to obsess. The vampiress scared her. She hated her. Envied her. Wanted her dead. She felt in that animal sense, that Kaev would never be safe as long at Atalanta lived. Varick cleared his throat, brining Anahid out of her musing.
"I think tomorrow we spar with mother and I playing vampires," he said.
Anahid cocked her head up at him, he stared down at her, that same subtle grin always on his face. He was handsome, lovely even. He had Variya's dark curling hair and deep chocolate eyes, but with the lightly tanned skin of Ash, the same mischievous eyes. Anahid couldn't help her roving eyes for a moment. His lean muscles rippled in the sun as they walked and she had to glance away, feeling her cheeks instantly redden. Though she'd been among the pack for a week she still wasn't used to the openness.
"Vampires?" Anahid asked.
Varick nodded, "Yes, we'll stay in our human forms, we're as strong, as dangerous as your average vampire while in these bodies," he ran a hand down Anahid's arm. "But you should face us in your wolf form. You'll see the challenges when fighting such a quick, small opponent."
Anahid's arm rose with goosebumps as he touched her and she stiffened, meant to pull her arm away but his fingers had already retreated. He walked on, ignoring or not noticing her sudden flush. She swallowed, "Great. I want to be ready for anything."
Anahid hurried back up to her room, afraid the Lycans she passed would sense her distress. Sense the arousal within her. She flung open the door to her room, hoping Kaev would be back. He was not. As she'd known. He wouldn't be back until the evening, several hours at least. Three days he'd been gone. Three long days she'd sparred with Variya, joined the gathering, sitting next to Variya and Sim. The three all missed their mates, watched as the wolves around them fucked. One night Variya and Sim had turned to each other even, giving in to their need. Anahid had watched it all, arousal and longing for Kaev thrumming within her.
So walking next to a lovely, rippling Varick in the sun did not help things. She paced the room, still naked, nearly vibrating with need.
She imagined Kaev's face.
Those steely gray eyes that watched her so intently.
The massive chest, covered in thick dark hair.
She licked her lips. This wasn't helping either. She could paint every brushstroke of him in her mind and it would slowly drive her mad with need. With a snarl Anahid grabbed up her green dress and hurried from the room again. She needed a bath.
Anahid entered the bath, groaned as she saw who sat already in the large pool.
Of course.
Varick lounged, head back against one of the ledges, eyes closed as he slumped in the water. It lapped at his glistening chest, covering just enough. Not enough. Anahid turned to leave.
"There's room," Varick said. Always he used the same tone, the same light voice with the edge of laughter barely held in.
"Oh. Right. I just worried you were asleep, I didn't want to wake you," she mumbled.
