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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Guardian - 24. Just a big headache
It was going exceptionally well, more-so than Seren normally would have thought. Gabriel was a fast learner, and with only one day of major headaches as he’d warned him, the following day had no side effects. The teen still struggled to say ‘Master’ at times to Scott but tried to make up with frequent kisses and sly touches. It seemed to work as Scott now would leave for longer periods of time and Gabriel would be by himself in the large room. During daylight hours, Gabriel would stand next to the window, remembering what Seren would tell him. Gather his strength from the sun. He felt a new growth in his system when he would stand there and the sun would shine on him. Was he playing his role too well though? At one point during the third day, Scott had rushed in and Gabriel swore he was paranoid as he proceeded to demand Gabriel tell him what he was up to. Gabriel was more fearful than ever and didn’t need to playact to get past Scott’s anger. After the blow up, Gabriel was almost in panic mode and it took Seren several hours to calm him, until Scott came back acting as if nothing had happened. Gabriel was afraid at that moment and didn’t dare get near him. He watched the man strip his shirt off and walk into the bathroom. He sighed in relief.
He seems to have issues. You must tread lightly.
Gabriel snorted. I wish I could read his mind, he thought back to the older Jarkla. Seren only chuckled at the boy. Gabriel got up from the bed, tired of sitting in it. He needed to walk around, to stretch, to do something. He heard the shower head turn on and he paused. He had seen Orion naked, and hell he’d seen Scott naked once. He took a breath but only ended up turning away from the door. I can’t do it; he thought again, I can’t make myself join him. Gabriel couldn’t even muster the will to do it with Orion. What made him think that he could do it with Scott? For the entire time Scott was in the shower, the teen paced in the room. He swore he could make tracks in that room based on how long and how often he walked the same path. He wanted out, needed out. Sure, food was brought to him, and he occasionally spoke to Tank and Heather. But he needed to get out. At times the older Jarkla would leave him to his thoughts, and he enjoyed those moments. They had been practicing a lot and when the threat of a headache was close, they would stop. Gabriel had gotten to the point where he could barely hear soft whispers of scattered thoughts. He wondered if they were of the weaker minded pack members in the house.
I should have watched you instead of relying on others for information.
Gabriel had begun to pace when he stopped to hear Seren murmur in his mind. What to you mean exactly, he asked without speaking, afraid that Scott would listen.
Just of what and how you got to this situation. When he sleeps, come to me in the abyss and speak to me.
Easier said than done, Gabriel thought. Seren didn’t bother responding back. Gabriel went back to pacing and stopped to look at the bathroom door when the shower head turned off. It was like he was waiting for the boogie man to come out and get him as he stood there waiting for him. Scott walked out in a towel and it was then Gabriel really took the time to stare at the man. Scott had many scars on his body; all of them ranging from what looked like bite marks to deep scratches to even stab wounds. The man moved past him and began to dry and dress. Gabriel didn’t look but he listened. After he heard the shuffling of pants, he turned to look at him. Scott hadn't said a word, and Gabriel’s lips pressed into a thin line. He dared himself as he walked closer, seeing the scars in better light. Gabriel’s movement in the mirror caused Scott to look up, gazing into the mirror and staring at the teen. He could tell the boy was staring at his back and didn’t notice Scott watching him through the mirror. He wanted to smile but found he couldn't Instead he stared and watched the teen. Gabriel just stood casually behind him, his eyes taking in everything. He began to reach out, to dare to touch him. Scott turned at that moment, staring down at him.
At once Gabriel retracted his hand and stood rigidly before him. Scott raised a brow at the teen as his head tipped down and his hair fell in front of his face. Did this teen feel what he felt? The remorse, the hatred that burned deep inside his soul. His eyes narrowed and he stared at the boy. To say Gabriel didn’t feel it was wrong. He felt Scott’s emotions like crashing waves against the sandy beaches. Wave after wave of full-fledged raw emotion hit him. Anger, hatred, remorse. What caught him off guard was the loneliness.
Cute. He’s lonely. That explains his attitude.
Hardly, Gabriel thought back to Seren. However, Gabriel could understand it. He remembered what Orion had said, how their father had given him the position of alpha and not Scott because of what he saw. What had the man seen in his son? What if it was his fault that Scott ended up the way he was? Was the reason behind Amaya’s death not just because Scott killed Warvick, but because the man himself was so lonely his emotions raged as if he had an illness? Suddenly Gabriel felt pity for the man.
“I’m sorry.” He found himself saying. Scott looked at him, slightly surprised by the sudden words. He snorted.
“For what puppy?” he muttered. Gabriel wasn’t sure how he was going to approach his response. Sorry that he was lonely? Sorry that he suffered? He remembered in his school teachings, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Had several events tumbled down to cause how Scott acted now? Gabriel didn’t know. He wasn’t stopping himself either as he moved forward and wrapped his arms around the man’s waist and hugged him. Part of him screamed at himself, telling him to let go. The other part, the Jarkla inside him, craved to give this wolf the affection he needed. He felt the man tense but otherwise, he received no other reaction. Silence grew and Gabriel became uncomfortable. He slowly let Scott go and stepped back. He was expecting to be hit, to be shoved, yelled at, or thrown. Anything. But when the man simply walked by him and put a shirt on, Gabriel stood dumbfounded. He turned quickly to look at him, to stare at this man. He opened his mouth to say something but the sudden growl that echoed in the room stilled him.
“Never apologize for something you don’t understand kid.” Scott’s voice made Gabriel swallow a thick lump in his throat. He’d never heard it so dry before. Did he want to understand it?
Stop pushing it. Seren called out to him quickly, the urgency of his tone flooding Gabriel’s ears. The teen ignored it. He had to know. He had to know everything if he was to survive this.
“Then tell me,” Gabriel said. Scott turned, glaring at him and Gabriel quickly added, “Master.” As he locked eyes with him. Scott once again studied him hard.
“Why should I? My brother can’t do anything with you and his son in my possession. He knows what I’m capable of and you should be shaking in your skin, but yet you hugged me as if something came over you. Guess you’re just as fucked up as I am.” His words were barely finished and Gabriel felt himself standing straighter than he had before.
“You’re right, I should be. I should be terrified of you, for what you do, what you’ve done. But you know as well as I do that your emotions pour on me. Is that why you leave me here so much? I can feel the fear from your own members. Was this why your father didn’t trust you?” He found his voice reaching higher levels as he all but screamed the last question. He should have never done it.
The next thing he knew, Scott grabbed him again by his neck and dragged him back to the enclosed area and threw him through the door. He knew it; he knew he would hit a nerve. He stumbled when the light ceased but he ran to the door and continued to scream.
“If you are insane just admit it! You know Orion’s coming for me! You want to save your furry hide, you’d trust me! You’re a coward Scott! A COWARD!” He was panting, resting his head on the cold door that separated the two. Scott was resting his back against the door, listening to the Jarkla scream at him. A coward. He scoffed at that. The kid knew nothing. He moved away and walked downstairs, deep in his own thoughts, his own memories.
“You said I could lead the hunt!” Scott exclaimed at his father who had saidt that Orion was to lead the night hunt. The two were behind closed doors.
“Orion is more than capable of leading it.” his father insisted but Scott snarled at him.
“I have yet to lead any hunt and you are allowing him to lead before me? I am the alpha in training here, Father, not him.”
“You are not ready, your form is lacking.” Scott looked surprised, staring at him with his mouth open.
“Lacking? But Father!”
“Enough! Orion is to lead the hunt.” He didn’t let Scott speak anymore as the older man left him alone. He was filled with anger, anger that he would not lead because his form lacked. Was it because he was small? He stormed out of the room and turned to find his little brother being patted on the back. Even now, Orion was bigger than him, a perfect pure werewolf specimen. Scott on the other hand, was small, thin and hardly fitted the expression of ‘pure’. His eyes narrowed at his brother, and flustered with everything he left.
That night he didn’t join the hunt, instead Scott went on his own hunt. He wasn’t able to capture anything, but in the middle of the woods, he stopped by Lake Eerie and stared across the waters. He morphed back and sat there along the banks, tears welling up in his eyes. It wasn’t fair. He was pure but lacked in everything. Even his wolf form was pathetic. He was supposed to be a born alpha but he looked like a loner, nothing more. He struggled to hold in his soft cries.
“It’s not fair! Why can’t I look like everyone else?” Enraged, he grabbed whatever he could and threw it in the water, the moon gazing down at him. The Jarkla was somewhere out there, and never would he touch it. He doubted he would ever have one claim him because of how he looked. He glared at the moon in spite.
“I hate you!”
Scott’s hand slammed into the wall, breaking through the plaster. He felt a single tear streaking down his cheek and roughly wiped it away.
“You did this to me. Made me look weak. Well how do you like me now, Miss Moon? How do you like me now that I have your precious child locked away and in my possession? He’ll never live outside these walls. I’ll kill him and every single Jarkla afterward when they run. No matter where they are. I’ll capture that bitch’s child and kill it myself if it resists. Two can play this game Mother. And it looks like I’m the one dealing the cards.” He drew his hand back out of the wall and continued on down the stairs. He could lick the fear off his pack mates as they saw him come down. He continued onward, ignoring them all and going outside where Tank was with his nephew. He stared at the boy who resembled his brother and that woman he mated with. He thought back to when he ran into them, how Jake resembled Orion while Jason, in his submission, resembled himself almost. Scott was nothing close to being submissive but the way Jason was, his stature even in his wolf form reminded him of himself.
He questioned how Tasha raised them. Orion hardly spent time with them; he knew that from rumors he’s heard over the years. He watched his nephew speak to his beta as a she-wolf came close to him in her human form. He looked over at her as she held a glass of water for him to take. He took it without uttering a sound as she moved away. How long would he keep Gabriel in the room now? He didn’t want the Jarkla to get to him. His eyes narrowed.
“Heather!” The young looking woman almost dropped her tray full of drinks as Scott’s voice rang out. Nervously she went to her alpha and bowed.
“Y-yes Alpha?” She whispered.
“You’ll be taking food to the cell in my room three times a day. Take a bucket as well and don’t ask questions when you leave it there. You are not to speak to the Jarkla at all. Understand?” The woman gave a whimper and refused to gaze up at the man.
“I understand Alpha.”
“Then start now. If he tries to overpower you, you are to overpower him. Got it?” He snarled the last bit as he took a glass for himself from her tray. She frowned deeply and nodded. “Go.” She bowed again and took her leave. Scott looked back at Jake and Tank, seeing his nephew’s eyes on him. He wouldn’t let him near, either. Jake was too old to manipulate, and too head strong. He walked back inside, drinking the water as he moved to one of his gammas. He walked straight up to the man.
“Keith, I have a mission for you and three others.” At once the gamma stood. The man looked like a normal middle aged man, his hair buzzed to a fade giving him a military feel.
“Yes Alpha?”
“I want a pup. A certain pup in my brother’s pack. Look for the one with lavender eyes. Get him at any cost.” Keith dared to raise his brows at his alpha, tilting his head.
“You mean Amaya’s child?”
“Yes, her child you idiot,” he growled. Keith swallowed.
“Alive sir?”
“Alive. I want it here. For my own purposes, of course. Now, don’t make me wait. You know I hate waiting,” he sneered. Keith quickly bowed, shouted out names and moved out with the others. Scott watched them leave, feeling some eyes on him. He didn’t have puppies in his pack. The females were terrified to birth, afraid he would destroy them. He enjoyed the fear they gave him, he used it all the time. Times though were changing, and he needed something to keep him busy. Neil would be part of Orion’s fall. He would have it all. Everything. Every pack will bow to him.
“It makes sense though! It had to have been something in his past that caused this!” I couldn’t help but pace and exclaim to Seren as once again he watched me in his dragon form.
“I get why you say that but still. Look where you landed now? Or did you forget.” He scoffed at me, I could hear it. I groaned and moved to join him, sitting up higher so his head was even with my own.
“Yes I know. My comment landed me in the hole. But still, that just proves that I hit something.”
“A brick wall.”
“Very funny,” I muttered at him as he chuckled.
“It is true though. Scott’s defenses seem practically impenetrable. If you want to get to the bottom, you better be ready to take every punishment he might throw at you to lose your spirit in finding out.”
“Then I’ll take it. Maybe it’s just a big misunderstanding.”
“You are stubborn. I realize this now.” He looked away from me and I reached over to smack his curved horn on his head.
“Stubborn can be good. Besides, you won’t let him break me.” I saw the small smile on his muzzle when I mentioned it. He turned back and rested his large scaled head on my lap.
“Oh so true. Some would believe I’m the one keeping you sane,” he murmured. I laughed at this and rubbed his scales with the palm of my hand.
“Maybe.” I mused. The silence was bothersome when we both stopped talking and my eyes danced across his scaled features. “How old are you exactly?” I couldn’t help but ask, wanting to now get off the subject of Scott’s mysterious past.
“Old enough.” Not the answer I wanted. I leaned over to look into his large eyes, frowning at him.
“Come on, answer it.” I whined. He sighed; I could feel his throat expand on my lap.
“I suppose. I was the tenth one since the beginning. I was alive during the times when the tales of King Author were just coming to pass.” I stared at him, leaning back as his head still rested in my lap.
“So that’s why you’re a dragon?” I mused. He laughed.
“Pretty much. The time of dragons, of true monsters that roamed the lands. Wolves at the time were so bountiful that the life of a Jarkla was marvelous. I was able to protect everyone, to keep hunters away, to scare the tormentors. But it all came with a price. Had I known that taking this form would create the extinction for the beautiful species, I would have picked something else” He sounded sad. It tore at my emotions to see such sadness in his eyes and slump of his body.
“Amaya said I would be able to take a form. Can I take multiple like her?” He lifted his head to gaze out of the cave.
“It’s possible, yes. Most Jarklas only took the form of one animal or creature. It was more-so a defensive reflex used when we felt threatened or the others around us felt threatened. I was about 19 when I first took this form because my guardian’s pack was being threatened by a large group of village hunters. In my blinding rage to defend them, the transformation came upon me like a beacon. Following that, it’s how you first trans-form. Amaya was similar to a few others,” he paused in his words to rest his head again on my lap, my fingers rubbing the harden scales on his nose. “They could take several forms depending on how they felt at the time. Most are rather emotional. As you’ve seen, she rotates between a wolf, a doe, and birds of various species. Each animal is a part of her personality.” I thought about my first meeting with Amaya, how she would change her shape so easily. Was it more comfortable for her to be in those states than as a human? I felt more like myself when I was this way. Part of me didn’t want to change.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t noticed that Seren had transformed back to his human form and was staring at me. I blinked and looked at him.
“What?” I couldn’t help but say. He continued to stare at me until he smiled. His hand moved to cradle my neck, his fingers expanding to hold me there while his thumb rested on my cheek bone. His touch was cold. I stared at him. He hadn’t said anything yet. His eyes were searching mine and I wanted to know what he was thinking
.
“If I’m right, and I’m hardly ever wrong; your first transformation will be something majestic and very powerful.”
“Like a dragon?” I couldn’t help but wonder, a smile curving my lips. He gave a laugh, not removing his hand yet as his thumb brushed against my skin.
“No.” He removed his hand. “Something much more dangerous.”My brow rose at him but he pulled away and jumped off the ledge. “So how do you plan on getting through his barriers?” I climbed down to join him as he began to walk.
“Well I was hoping we could practice more. Maybe I could read his thoughts.” Seren turned to me with a questionable look.
“That will take time. You still haven’t grasped the concept of hearing an individual. You hear many and it’s all at once.” I ran my hand through my hair.
“Well yeah, but practice makes perfect right?” I smiled. He studied me again before turning and walking off again.
“Correct but it’s still a good bit away. For now try to focus on the voices you hear. Pin point them and try to hear only one. Once you get that down, you’ll be able to at least read the stronger ones.” He raised his hand. “Only if you are looking at them. You’ll need to get out of this predicament in order to gain ‘subjects’ to practice on.” Great, now I had to stare at people. Like that didn’t draw attention. I sighed and caught up to walk side by side with him.
“So how long do you think?” I murmured.
“A few weeks, possibly months before you’re ready to even think about reading Scott’s mind.”
“Months?” I exclaimed. “But I don’t have enough time.” I whined. The look he gave me showed he was about to scold me for even whining to him.
“This isn’t going to just happen. It takes time. You’re a quick learner. For others it might take years. Be happy with what you have been able to do so far.” He had scolded me. Just his tone alone said that. I frowned and he ruffed my hair and then kept his arm looped around my shoulders. “You wanted to see the others right?” he said. He was changing the subject. I looked at him evenly.
“The others yeah. We can do that right?” He nodded and I became excited.
“We can see at least what Tristan is up to and who he’s around since you two are still attached in a way.” That was reassuring. I wanted to see them. I just wished I could communicate with them. He led me down to the lake and we sat at the rocks, peering into the water. It rippled a bit before I saw them. My heart went out to the faces I saw. Tristan was with Neil, thank god he was still safe. I watched him play with Neil, and behind them I saw his face. Orion. Beside him was Jason and I felt a pang in my chest. Their faces tried to hide the pain but I could see past their pretend faces. Was it me they missed or Jake? A secret part of me hoped it was Jake. I guess I hadn’t realized when Seren left my side. I was too busy staring into the water, leaning to see more of their faces. It hurt a bit, to feel a pull more toward Orion and his pack. Even as I stared at Tristan and his smiling features, I could only remember him as the wolf I knew back when we first met. My hand rubbed my cheeks. I hadn’t known I was frowning until I felt them. I finally sighed and looked away. I’d had enough. Staring at them just made it worse. I stood and looked around for Seren but didn’t see him.
Walking a bit into the forest, I made my way through its small trail. I stopped when I saw Seren in his dragon form. Before him was a man, petting his snout and speaking to him by the looks of his lips moving. Had that been his guardian? I stood there watching them, leaning against a tree. Seren must have seen me when his head turned in my direction. I didn’t move but saw him change back and begin to walk toward me. The man fol-lowed behind him.
“Little angel. This was my Guardian, Merrick.” I looked at the man beside him. He was pale with beautiful blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He defiantly looked European.
“Hi.” His smile made my stomach drop. Damn did he have a handsome smile. He laughed softly and I couldn’t help but blush deep
.
“No need to blush little one.” Damn even his voice was hot! I swallowed and still held the blush on my cheeks. Seren was smiling at me.
“I know right? Drop dead gorgeous.” Seren commented to me as if Merrick had not been standing there. I was still blushing, hell my whole face was probably red but they just laughed at me.
“I hate you,” I murmured jokingly, not able to fight the smile that twitched at the cor-ner of my lips. Merrick’s heavy hand came and rested on my shoulder.
“Your society judges you now, no need to worry about us. Hell, in our day it was pretty common for lovers.” I figured that. Even in school I did research on how in the old days when the soldiers were away they would lay with each other yet still have wives and all.
“Yeah they do. I kind of wish I lived back when it was simple.” I couldn’t help but say it. It was true. Life probably would have been better. Seren looked as if he was thinking, rubbing his chin.
“We had a lot of hunters in our time though. So that was the only down side.” Merrick almost laughed and I watched him wrap his arm around Seren’s waist and shake his other hand in the air.
“Damn those hunters!” I didn’t stop my laugh. These two looked not only like lovers, but also good friends. Maybe that’s what I needed. A friend. Someone to look up to. My guardian didn’t just have to be my lover.
“So Gabriel, I was talking to Merrick here, he’s willing to teach you some fighting moves if you want. It can benefit you in the long run.” I glanced up at him when he spoke and tilted my head.
“Like sword play?” I couldn’t help but inquire. Merrick shrugged his shoulders.
“Not really. Just simple antics if someone comes at you with a knife or something. I can’t save you from guns but it can help with survival in a close combat fight.”
“Like martial arts?”I couldn’t shut up could I? Merrick laughed.
“No. This is old type fighting. But we won’t be fighting with swords. You look more like a staff holder.” Did that mean I was weak? I looked at him with furrowed brows. Another laugh. “A staff is a good weapon. We can start later. I hear from Seren that you two have practicing to do.”
“Oh yeah. We do…sorry Seren.” The pool had interrupted our supposed training time. Seren waved his hand dismissing the apology.
“It’s fine. Let’s get started before something interrupts you.” Interrupts me. Yeah, that would be bad. Waking up to Scott punching me or something. I gave a much needed sigh and followed Seren back to the cave. Merrick followed too, which I didn’t mind one bit.
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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