AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for reading, rating and commenting. It's very much appreciated and really encouraging! This chapter is a bit of a slow burn compared to my previous pretty heated chapters. I'm getting a better feel for the world and characters so I explore that a bit more this chapter! As always, this is an ongoing story so definitely go read the previous chapters. Happy reading!
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Anahid bounced baby Aylsa on her lap. The little girl had Kayl's golden ringlets and Sim's bright blue eyes. From her vantage under the large overhang next to a quietly sewing Kayl Anahid could watch Kaev and the other warriors spar. She tracked his every move. Though he towered over the others he also moved with a deceptive quickness. There could be no doubt he outmatched all the other Lycans. Even Cobb who stood nearly as tall moved like a cock-sure puppy when he squared off with Kaev. In only a few punishing lunges and sweeps Kaev would have the other man tumbling to the ground in defeat, then he'd be whipping around, knocking back the next Lycan that leapt at him.
She leaned forward, interest peaked as Varick darted at Kaev. The smaller man was quick, lithe on his dancing feet as he circled. Anahid had sparred enough with him in the last few days to know he couldn't be underestimated. His laughing eyes seemed to see everything. His slender frame was deceivingly strong. They matched blows, Kaev relentless as he pressed against the smaller man. She had to give it to Varick, he could at least take a hit. Eventually Kaev's strength won out and Varick stumbled. Kaev pressed his advantage and had the other man defeated on the ground in the next moment.
Anahid swelled with pride (and other things) as she watched. Kaev stretched, offered a hand to Varick and pulled the other man up. Peeling her eyes from the practicing group she looked to Sim. He sat next to Kayl with another small child on his lap. In his human years Sim had trained under his village's healer and had fallen into that same role within Kaev's pack. Though the Lycans were long lived and robust there were still injuries and births to be watched over. He'd also taken on the role of mentor for any of the human-born Lycans.
Anahid, let her gaze slide from the somber man, found Kayl watching her with a slight smile on her face. "She likes you," the other woman said.
Baby Aysla warbled in Anahid's lap. Laughing, she bounced the little girl a bit more, pulled her tight into a hug. "It's mutual." She let her eyes run back over the lounging pack. Nearly half were out in the sun sparring with Kaev. A dozen lounged under the cave overhang with Anahid, sewing, caring for the few children, or preparing the night's dinner. The rest performed odd jobs around the valley in the fields, patrolling, or tending to their livestock. "Tell me Kayl, how many mated pairs are there in the pack?" She'd been wondering, trying to pinpoint it as they gathered nearly nightly in the large ringed pit for dinner and music and fucking.
Kayl cocked her head, seemed to count off pairs in her mind. "I think there are around ten," she mused.
Anahid glanced at the gathered children. Counting Aysla there were only two others younger than ten. She frowned. "Why are there not more children then? I know only mated pairs can bear children...but still... Why hasn't Variya had another child? Varick said he's nearly four hundred years old. Why have Variya and Ash not had another?"
Kayl twitched, surprise shadowing her face. She glanced around, lowered her voice. "Kaev hasn't explained?" she asked. Seeing Anahid's puzzled expression she went on, "Most pairs can only have one child in their lifetimes. A..." Kayl blushed. "A female goes into heat only once in a few hundred years, only then can her mate... you know."
"Impregnate her?" Anahid finished for the reddening Kayl. She glanced to Sim, saw his ears were perked as he listened.
Anahid gazed down at Aylsa. Shook her head slowly, "I don't think I understand still. You live hundreds, if not thousands of years. Surely even if you can't become pregnant often, you could still have several children."
Kayl glanced to Sim. The serious man cleared his throat. "A Lycan female's heat is a dangerous time. Sometimes her mate is not able to...catch her."
Anahid stared between the two of them, confusion still swirling within her. The normally open Lycans spoke now like this was some dark secret. Something embarrassing. She sighed, decided not to press them further. She would ask Kaev later.
Sim set the child he'd been looking over back on the ground and reached for Aylsa. Anahid passed him back his daughter. Watched as his serious eyes brightened in delight as he cuddled the girl to him. Aylsa squealed with happiness as he bounced her on his knee and chattered to her.
A long, anxious howl sounded across the valley. Instantly all heads swiveled to the sound. Anahid stood, goosebumps leaping across her skin as she sensed something was off. On the practice ground the Lycans turned as one towards the approaching wolves. Kaev leapt forward, transforming mid-stride into his wolf form and racing with Cobb, Variya, and Varick hot on his heels across the valley. Anahid and Kayl hurried to the edge of the overhang to watch them go. She twitched with the desire to change as well, to run after Kaev but knew she might only be a distraction if there was a threat approaching.
Eventually the wolves returned. The pack loped slowly back towards the waiting Lycans, Anahid stood on her tip-toes counting the wolves. Next to Variya, Ash ran. His wolf form slightly smaller than his mate's and a pale strawberry blonde. Anahid stiffened realized neither of the trackers that had left with him returned. The group reached the overhang and all reared, transforming back to their human forms. Anahid hurried forward. Grief yawned on Kaev's face. She grabbed his hand as the group made their way under the overhang into the gathering area.
Ash looked exhausted. More worrying, his normally smiling eyes avoided Anahid. Slid over her like he couldn't bear to see her face. "What is it?" she asked quietly, squeezing at Kaev's hand.
He looked down at her, his eyes welling with guilt. He glanced to Ash, gritted his teeth. "He says they caught the scent of the vampires. They traced it back to your village Anahid."
Her world tilted, cold seeped into her bones. Clutched at her heart. Her adopted family. Her kind mother with her crinkling brown eyes. Her short, laughing father. Her brother, Dymion. "Tell me," she whispered, meeting Kaev's eyes.
He sighed, tried to pull her into a hug but she wrenched from him, looked to Ash. "Tell me," she ordered, and her pack leader voice slapped the Lycan in the face. Ash jerked, whipped his head up to face Anahid.
He swallowed, the words tumbled from him. "They killed them all. All of them. They gorged on your family."
Rage erupted within Anahid. Hot and angry it swept over her and then she was transforming. Her wolf form leapt forward with a screaming snarl. She snapped at Ash, bearing her teeth, her hackles standing on edge. Then she was whipping around, racing back the way they'd come. She howled her furious grief into the afternoon sun. Reaching the treeline she found Ash's scent and followed it. Behind her she distantly heard another wolf gaining on her. She knew who it was. She would know him anywhere. Would sense his presence even as she raced in blinding anguish through the trees. Kaev kept pace with her. Together they ran, Anahid, glistening red and brown and gold with the giant black shadow of Kaev close at her heels.
When they collapsed in exhaustion having run well into the night Anahid curled into Kaev, still in her wolf form. He rested his giant head on hers, his tongue tenderly licked at her head, trying to ease her, to offer her comfort. She closed her eyes, let herself shake with grief against him. Eventually her ears pricked, two more wolves joined them. Varick, with his deep brown coat curled next to them. Cobb trotted around them, sniffing and scanning for any threats. His large wolf form was a sandy color that gave way to a dark brown muzzle and feet. He sat at Kaev's back on alert. Kaev yawned in greeting to them, then rested his head back on Anahid's, urged her into sleep. Surrounded by her pack, protected she let herself take the small comfort.
A few hours later she woke. Varick tentatively licked one of her paws. She yawned with a high whine and stretched, nuzzling into Kaev. The large wolf awoke, growled deep in his throat, snapping at Varick. The smaller wolf sprang up, backing away from them as they stood. Anahid leapt away from them, back on the trail of Ash's scent, back to her village. She needed to see it with her own eyes. The three other wolves ranged out behind her, Kaev stayed always close at her heels while Cobb and Varick disappeared into the trees around them.
The four wolves ran and stopped, ran and stopped. They caught only a few hours of sleep and Anahid realized their rhythm, always one of the others stayed awake, alert while the rest of them curled into each other in sleep. Anahid eventually even let Cobb lay his head on her side as he collapsed in exhaustion on the third day. He'd stayed awake the longest and finally Kaev let him sleep, opting to stand watch.
Eventually Anahid noticed the familiarity of the forest. This forest that she'd spent many long hours wandering, getting away from the village she felt so out of place in. Her heart thrummed, knowing they were close. She let herself believe for a few long minutes that Ash was wrong. That her family would be well, would run out to greet her as she barreled back to them.
The smell of smoke in the air told her to stop her hoping. It wasn't the comforting scent of wood smoke. Instead, it spoke of death, of burning flesh and a decimated village. Anahid broke from the trees, passed the well on the edge of their fields. A large fire still smoldered at the center of the silent village. Its ashes dark and foreboding. Anahid padded up to it, swiveling her head about, searching for any life. The other three wolves spread out across the village, poking and sniffing for any threat. Anahid changed course, away from the fire she trotted, to her family's small hut.
Further from the smoke she now caught the other scent in the air. The metallic tang was harsh on her nose. She transformed as she came to her family home. The door was thrown open. She stepped inside. The scent of blood was obvious to even her human nose. There was a dark splatter across the floor. The table in the center of the room was turned on its side. She turned in the room. Tried to imagine the last moments of her family. Her father would have raced out hearing sounds of an attack on the village. Her brother...would Dymion have raced out with him, or stayed behind to protect their mother?
Anahid righted the table. Bent to pick up the scattered earthenware plates.
Kaev found her carefully arranging the plates around the table. He loomed in the doorway. Blocked the sun like the monster he was. She continued tidying, refusing to look up to him.
"Anahid. We should go. It's dangerous to linger too long."
