we are the blood wolves, we live in the kingdom of winter.

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Cue the tug of war between hormones and the calibers that makes you inhumane.

I feel the fertility burying into the crevices of skin wallowing inside the pits of womanhood, under my lover's eyes do I simmer.

Or purge the desire, test tasting his ichor to be acquaintances with ivory heat and love-making.

I hid myself deeper into the mounds of greenery engulfing in many scents. A delicious Lavender invaded my nose, along came rosemary, and then sages. They all somehow beckoned me to submit, and lay pure in obsolete. To allow this male to have his way with me.

God, if only I knew how...

I knew the various studies of prejudice, I'm familiarized with many fields in the department of love-making, however I'll never fully know if I'm ready.

I'll never really know if I'm truly his.

"You're close," I can hear the darkness and everything wrong escaping his voice that seems to float in the distance. Arriving to me in the plow of feathers and kisses, "I am almost certain I can feel you,my love." Out of nervousness I couldn't help but to fidget in my position, all I can do is sigh and cover myself with leaves filled with fluster. My hair shielded my perky breast and nubs that grew shy along with my reddening cheeks.

Why do I hate this game of chase but grow weary in the knees in the battle of love and war? To feel his teeth biting into my rear as I leap over rocks and tree stubble. As I come to my senses, his smell alone could arouse sensory and swell my heart to the pulp.

By the end of the night he will be accustomed to every kink and complexity of myself, as he would plunge deeper with my walls caving around him tightly. Then would I reassured if we were really one.

The woods and the very grass we lay upon will orbit us like we were gods or perhaps the sun. Every living thing will hear his entity spur something unraveling, the oppressing growl of a true alpha male. The universe I'm sure of, would have every crease and fold memorized that outlined his back.

We'd known love but in this very moment... Love would know us.

"You don't see me." I tease but the question outweighed my confidence. I flip over face down but being exposed only worsened my fear.

Swimming in overzealous, had suddenly came loud intakes of breathing to fan my neck, making the hairs raise anxiously. "You won't find me this time, my love." I return the play on the words like he had, causing a giggle to erupt from between my lips,

I wanted to sigh so hard at how quiet and tantalizing he was, because I knew the longer it took for him to find me; the more punishing it would be when he would mark my skin and plow his very length into my stomach. My skin sizzles at just the thought of the heat we made in such close proximity.

"On the contrary," I attempted to reel my head around while instantaneously, two heavy weights began to captivate my small waist.

I'm hoisted and shoved against the nearest tree before I could blink and push away the caveman that launched his assault on me, "I have already found you." More animalistic than human, his voice is ragged and husky.

"I-" Before i could protest my mate releases the most horrific growl I'd ever heard, his irises shifted to utter blackness that could consume me.

I'm held even higher against sapling, and with no remorse or a second to spare, he'd shoved open my legs with his knee. Twisting me around, His chest presses against my back as he begins penetration.

•••

The bus rocked side to side bringing about Vera's displacement off the edge of her seat.

Cold sweat spilled from her forehead as she slept, upon her consciousness, all she could do was look around, swiping with her sleeve across her face filled with haste.

She got the overwhelming sensation to cry squeezing her legs shut but instead she stands; rushing over towards the bus's exit.

"I see someone is excited." Mrs Hart doesn't hold back in her chuckle as she watches Vera brush over her warm jacket with her hands where they met her pockets. It was mid winter in which the snow piled for miles, and here she was sweating like a pig.

Her skin was scorching and all she could blame was the heated dreams she had almost regularly, lately each and everyday she started to hate these recurrences and what came after into the real world.

Mavis followed beside Vera once all the other students made way by their teachers. She too knew Vera was eager to explore the castle. Whether it was the last thing she'd do.

Secretly despite being flustered, Vera plotted a plan in her head to wander the castle alone once Mrs Hart began taking role and account of everyone present. Meanwhile all Vera could think about was how she absolutely needed to meet this Prince.

Somehow a relentless picture of him whined in her head soon after she had these dreams which she found weird but also kind of heart warming, "Mrs Hart, I have to use the restroom." Vera says not before raising her hand.

Mrs Hart narrowed her eyes at her.

"If you go now you'll miss the grand theatre which is first on our list, you think you could wait once we enter the corridor?" Mrs Hart questions.

Vera turns to her right to see Mavis who has her eyes resting on Vera as well, sporting a sly smile she encouraged Vera with a nod. Vera knew that Mavis also knew of her plan.

"Uh no..." Vera stutters which she usually did when she grew nervous. "I just really have to pee." She lies.

The entire class breaks out into fits of laughter causing Vera to internally facepalm herself. She shouldn't have said that.

"I don't think she wanted to know that little sis." Andy came up underneath Jason's arm with a slight smirk playing on her lips.

Vera turns to Mrs Hart, giving her a pleading look not wanting to say anything to this disgrace of a she wolf. Andy had no right to talk about her having a crush on the Prince when she hadn't even saved herself for her true mate.

disgusting. Vera thought.

"You must wait until your tour guide arrives." Mrs Hart sighs giving in, "Her name is Clarity." Vera's mouth stumbles to a gap as she widens her eyes at the mention of the name. Thee Clarity, in fact.

"Clarity?" Vera asks in disbelief. She doesn't know why she stood so shocked. She'd have to meet her anyway. "As in, Princess Clarity?" Vera did yet to hide the excitement she felt, somewhat overwhelmed.

Mrs Hart sighs and nods while pointing over to the emerging faerie like princess named Clarity.

"Everyone. This is Princess Clarity. As you've probably figured it out. Yes Clarity as in the King's second daughter to the Queen. She'll be our tour guide and escort."

With swirling irises and a dress that hugged her hips, a woman came beside Ms.Hart to place her hands over her shoulders, giving them a polite squeeze. "I thank you Ms. Hart for that pleasant introduction." She shiny smiles towards the class not before her eyes turned towards the fretting Vera.

Gorgeous. Vera seemed to think.

Vera could see the spark of amusement shone in Clarity's dark pools of cerulean and how they complimented her blush. Vera usually didn't press in the bold manners of direct eye contact. Especially with her superiors but in this case she felt the need to hold her gaze.

How her eyes stayed in how they would appear if she shifted into her wolf, the whole time they'd remained in a staring competition.

"Well then." Clarity clasps her hands together breaking the gaze away. "Is this her?" Out of her own self entitlement, she pointed towards me while Ms. Hart sent her a hard pleading expression. "Let's just get inside, it's so cold out here I wouldn't be surprised if hell froze over." Ms. Hart jokes,dodging the question.

Vera's head began to swarm as soon as her feet stepped through the castle doors with knowing not to far the Prince laid his head.

Her feet bounced with every step she took, the smile never wavered from her lips. This wasn't something she did often. She knew that. She always frowned or never shown her teeth when she did smile but now, surprising she was.

Maybe it was the frostbite she felt all the way from her head to the end of her toes. Or the chill that only decreased by a minimum once they entered the King's library. It could've been the way Clarity never seemed to stop peaking at Vera with every chance she got.

"Take your seats." Clarity starts caressing a brown olden book in her palms. Vera took the farthest seat from the jocks which this time was in the back.

"Let me tell you a story. Oh this is one of my favorite stories, called 'Lycan Tale'," She flips threw the pages randomly before sighing and going back to the beginning.

"Vera you love books don't you?" Mavis slightly touches Vera's arm to get her attention, but Vera was too busy thinking about a new escape plan. "Mmhm." Vera mumbles back while slumping in her seat.

She was undergoing a splitting headache but she grew stubborn to say anything. Ever sense they entered the castle Ms. Hart seemed to have disappeared — leaving the class under Clarity's watch.

"Something is off putting." Vera proposed with her eyes following Clarity's movement sharply, which seemed stalled. "About what?" Mavis pushes her fingers threw her dark brown hair not before taking it out of its top knot.

"This whole thing," Vera snaps. "Like where the hell is Ms. Hart and why did she feel all too comfortable to leave us with the princess? Why are they so familiar with each other when Ms. Hart is just a school teacher? It doesn't make any sense." Mavis widens her eyes at Vera in realization.

"Come on, follow me." Mavis retorts.

"I've had enough of this history lesson. Besides, we get enough of that during regular school hours." Mavis scoffs, taking Vera by the hand.

Suddenly Mavis pulled Vera by the arm behind a bookshelf. "Mavis what are you doing?" Vera scolds in a yelp. "Sneaking us out of here. Gosh Vera for you to be smart you're a little bit... slow at times." Rolling her eyes, Vera says nothing while following Mavis idly.

Vera pushes the distraught feeling back along with the mushy headache.

"How did you know there was a backdoor here?" Mavis doesn't respond, but only tugs on Vera's arm some more by the sleeve.

They enter the long, wide hallways that shined by just the light of a chandelier bouncing off the walls. Statues of lions... no wolves they were, standing tall at just the center beside the door.

Wow that looks so far from where I'm standing. Vera squints her eyes at the twin statues.

"To love well would be unwise." Vera reads, starting to slide her hand over the writing carved into what she could only assume was, resin and marble. "What could that mean?" Vera turns to look at a disheveled Mavis, whose already running up the long antagonizing stairs.

Every time Mavis took a further step up, Vera only blinked at her. There was no way neither of them would make it to the top. "Who knows Vera! Come on before we get caught." Mavis shouts in a whisper, causing for Vera's lip to upturn.

Vera sighs coming to Mavis's side whose already up halve the stairs at this point. "Where do you think you are going? Do you realize we've never been in a castle before." Vera was afraid out of her mind, and she couldn't mask it.

Just before she could say anything else her eyes widens as they reach the top of the stairs.

Room by room were lined up side by side taking up the entire first floor. "Exactly how many royals are there?" Vera questions more to herself meanwhile — Mavis takes off running down the hall like a child.

Suddenly Mavis nearly trips over a rug. "Ouch." She winces causing Vera to double over in laughter. "Even the royal rugs have benefits here." Vera's laugh fills the hallway, causing an echo.

"Are you okay?" Vera asks helping Mavis to her feet — and as soon as she stands Mavis falls back on her ass from Vera letting her arm go, "Thanks for the help." Mavis snaps for Vera to shush her. "Oh whatever, just look under there."

Both of their set of eyes lock on a steel door just at the beginning of the hallway, where the rooming began to split. "This has got to be apart of their packhouse." Vera hears Mavis snort.

It looked to be a chamber almost with the way it was stained with what Vera knew too well to guess at, but nevertheless she refused to let her mind wander.

It looked to be blood, but on the other hand she hoped it was smeared strawberry juice. She chose to believe in the latter.

Mavis takes a daunting step closer only for Vera to shove her back. "Don't. I'm not going in there." Subconsciously, Mavis decides on lingering there before letting her hand rest on the door a little longer, "I don't even wanna think what could be inside." Mavis darkly chuckles, with not even a hint of humor.

Vera turns away from the door and decides on taking another stairwell, before she turns Mavis asks where she is going even though she already had assumed. "I wanna go to his room." Vera only responds, "I have a feeling his room is going to be at the top of these stairs too." She says.

"What? I don't want to go. What if he's in there?" Mavis stands rooted in the same stance, but suddenly on cue — she hears voices coming behind where her and Vera stood just moments before. "Doesn't look like you have much of a choice now do you?" Vera boldly states giving Mavis a pointed look, which she shrugs off.

It felt like almost forever once they made to the third floor of the castle. Vera's knees tiredly wobbled with each landing step she takes.

Did these people not believe in elevators?

Mavis is nearly panting, "Come on. See look, this floor is empty and just by the way the walls change colors I can tell this is the family's preserved hall." She collapses on the carpet out of energy, while Vera is staring at a crimson double doored entrance.

She couldn't fight the squeal any longer as she grasps the handle - feeling it in her tiny hand. "This is his room." Vera mumbles to no one in particular.

Mavis lets her do her victory dance before pushing her in. "No shit, now hurry. You're running out of time."

Vera's smile deepens as she opens the door to instantly get hit in the face with absolute musk. The aroma wanting to flare her nose so that she could engulf more of its sweetness. She knew it belonged to him.

Behind her she hears Mavis close the door which she preferred opened but didn't say anything. She only took in the sight of his silk satin black bed sheets, and crimson curtains that welcomed little to no light in — it had to have been ten times bigger, than the one her and Andy shared.

The only thing that seemed to have made the room glow, giving it a luminous gleam was the fireplace that did more than Vera's fuzzy coat, so she shrugs it off onto the bed that she still gawked at.

Vera takes a step closer towards his dresser that awaited her patiently, along with a large black desk chair. She takes it hurriedly once spotting the few portraits and journal.

"I knew he liked writing. So the fanfics were accurate. Vera picks up the journal flipping to the first page.

November  01, 1989

For all things golden at the peak of a summer's solstice.
How the bridge between Autumn's Lovers bled at dawn.
The wild behead's the Night.
This is the embellished Feral Eclipse .

"What?" Vera whispers as she's hunched over into the desk chair wanting to read word for word exactly, of the Prince's journal. She admired his hand writing that advanced, in the years of him owning it.

Vera sighs coming to find the next few pages were blank only to see more writing. The only thing different were the age gap between the date before and this one.

"Magnificent." Vera chimes.

She was so far enveloped inside the journal that it seemed time had a funny way of vanishing. Though no one in sight was stopping her, the tour would not be over until another hour or two.

Getting carried a way, Vera immediately falls onto the floor when abruptly the door is being slammed open, splitting from its hinges. The door came down so hard against the wall, that even the items on top the desk rattled and vibrated.

"Prince, think about this first before you do anything stupid." A masculine voice shouts as two men barge into the room, with estimation the same aroma began to cause Vera to feel suffocated. They still haven't noticed her yet as she is scattering underneath the bed.

She places her hand over her mouth to slow her breathing and thumping heart beat. For sure any moment now she felt to have a heart attack by how fast the beating drum pounded against her rib cage.

"No!" The other voice growls out. "You don't get to make that decision whether I do something stupid. It is I who make the high demands around here, Hector!"

A desperate sigh is heard as Vera is eavesdropping on the conversation. She didn't know which one belonged to the Prince. She hoped it was the soft and less frustrated one.

"My apologies Alpha." said softer voice breathing out, "All that I am suggesting is you need to calm down." The tension is relieved from the room, as Vera lays her head into her hands.

"She wasn't there today Hector. Like Heidi had promised," The aggressive voice barks out again. "Do you know how much fury reigned inside of me? For a living fuck, Clarity has said she might've seen one that could've been her." Vera couldn't help but feel sorry for this poor man who seemed to be on the brick of giving up.

She felt the need to help him but debated against it when she didn't even know what he needed help with, and aside her current predicament. Surely, what this man is experiencing is far more troubling,

Something about finding someone.

"There has to be a mistake." The soft voice Vera could now assume was Hector, called out. "And-

"Do you smell that?" Verá felt someone taking bashful steps closer towards the side of the bed she laid under, her mouth falling into a gap. "What is it Hector," the grouchy voice follows beside Hector while Vera could see their shoes on the side of her head.

"I swear to you brother. Not one single... pathetic she wolf has stepped foot into this room before my mate could."

"No not that Bane. It's human kind of."

The room fell short of silence when Vera's heart began to speed up again like before.

"Step back Hector," The grouchy one releases a throaty sound causing the hairs on the back of Vera's neck to raise. The hammering in her ears did yet to subside.

Without another thought coursing threw her head, Vera's screams infiltrate in the entire room once The Prince had his arms wrapped around her securely. "This little one belongs to me." He growls out once Vera's hollering is settled, leaving her out of breath.

His eyes looked nothing like the pictures.

Instead Of receiving the hard greasy grey ones she read about in stories Vera's eyes met orbs the color of wine. Fully dilated.

She holds the gaze of Bane until suddenly his growling faded out. He was no longer looking into her eyes but instead into her neck, almost as if he could see straight threw her into bones and fleshy tissue.

"Mine."

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