The Journey Continues

Their journey continued, tracing the edge of the forest along the coastline. They could have traveled faster, much faster, but Lilitha was still in the process of healing. Plus, having little Silus meant that the two alphas had to shoulder more than their fair share of supplies.

Lilitha tried not to feel guilty about it, but it was a burden on her mind.

“Why can’t I heal as quickly as you?” she asked them both during a rest break. She could feel her pulse throbbing in her veins. Her chest ached and she was panting after the strenuous climb.

“You just had a baby, Lila. Give yourself a break,” Carmella said, handing over a fussing Silus.

As soon as he latched onto Lilitha’s breast, he began to suckle vigorously.

“Ouch! Why are you always so hungry?”

Carmella chuckled, sitting next to them and resting her hand on Silus’s head.

“He’s strong, that’s why. He’s our son.” She stroked the ridge above his ear.

Lilitha could feel his tail wriggling against her hand as she held him. It was like a tiny pink worm, no longer than her pinky finger. Adorable and harmless. The sharp tip wouldn’t appear until his early teenage years.

Lilitha enjoyed playing with it, twirling her finger around it as it curled around her finger like a tiny appendage.

As always, her heart swelled with intense love as she gazed down at his face. His eyes were open, black and hungry as he looked up at her, his tiny hand gripping her breast, leaving behind tiny red marks.

Carmella leaned over to kiss his head.

Damon and Mateus watched quietly, their tails swaying behind them.

Soon, Silus had his fill, smacking his lips and sagging in Lilitha’s arms, his eyes wide and staring into the treetops.

Carmella held out her arms.

“Hold on,” Lilitha said. “Come over here, Mateus. You hold him.”

“Me?”

“Of course, you.”

Mateus rose heavily to his feet and knelt beside her.

“Hold out your arms like that,” Carmella instructed. “Remember how I showed you?”

Lilitha grinned at the look on his face.

“He’s too small. I’m going to drop him,” he said.

“You’re not going to drop him! You didn’t last time, did you?” Carmella countered.

Carefully, Lilitha transferred Silus into Mateus’s massive arms.

Mateus froze, staring down at his son’s face. His muscular biceps were like protective mountains around the baby. Silus stared up at him, his face alternating between smiles and frowns, his eyes wide and milk-drunk. His tiny hands were clenched into fists. A dribble of milk ran down his chin.

“See, he likes you,” Lilitha said, her voice choked with emotion.

Mateus smiled.

Silus stared up at his horns with his black eyes, more milk dribbling out of his mouth as he hiccupped.

“Hold him up,” Carmella instructed.

“What?” Mateus said, as if it was the most terrifying thing in the world.

Lilitha watched as Carmella helped Mateus prop Silus up against his broad shoulder.

There, the baby drooled onto him.

“Rub his back,” Carmella directed.

Mateus did so, his large hand almost twice the size of Silus’s entire back.

Silus hiccupped several times, then let out a mighty burp.

Mateus grinned.

Lilitha laughed. “See! You’re a natural!”

Mateus fell back onto his rear as he held Silus tight.

Turning his face, he gave Silus a scratchy kiss on his cheek, making Lilitha’s heart flutter.

Damon was leaning against a tree, arms folded, watching them all. He pushed away from the tree and began to patrol the perimeter, his gaze scanning the darkness warily, pausing to listen for any unusual sounds.

“Do you want to hold him, Damon?”

Damon shook his head. “Maybe later.”

“We’re alone, Damon,” Carmella said. “There’s no need to worry.”

“I’m not worried. Just cautious.” He disappeared into the trees.

Lilitha looked at Carmella.

Carmella shrugged.

Silus let out another burp.

Carmella chuckled.

Lilitha gazed into the trees where Damon had vanished. She rose and followed.

“Damon?” she called.

Footsteps crunched through the ground litter.

“Don’t stray from the others,” he warned her, his eyes reflecting the moonlight.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Lilitha tried to approach him, but he stepped back.

She frowned. “You’re trembling.” She reached out to take his large hand. He didn’t resist as she placed her other hand against his chest. “You’re panting. Are you scared? Are you sick?”

“No.” He licked his lips and looked away. Then he stepped forward and pulled her hard into his arms.

“Oh!” His arousal was like a steel rod pressed against her pelvis. He was burning hot. He began to kiss her cheek, then down her neck. He grabbed her breasts so hard Lilitha pushed him away, stumbling backward.

“What’s wrong with you?”

He grabbed her and pulled her into him, crushing her against his body. He kissed her so fiercely Lilitha couldn’t breathe. She tried to pull her head away, but he forced his tongue into her mouth.

“Damon!” Lilitha managed to cry out, wrenching her head away.

He held her tighter against him, his kisses growing more intense. He was growling now. Snarling. He clawed at her top. Lilitha pulled back, tripping over her feet as he ripped it completely away. Then his hands were on her swollen breasts, his lips on her neck. He bit her—hard.

Lilitha cried out.

“Lilitha?” Mateus called through the trees.

Lilitha pushed away from him. His eyes were wild, his hands clenched at his sides. He looked feral. He looked terrifying. He didn’t look like Damon at all.

“What’s gotten into you?” Lilitha whispered, clutching her neck. When she pulled her hand away, it was slick with blood. More trickled down the side of her breast.

“Lilitha?” Mateus called again, his voice more urgent.

His heavy footsteps pounded the earth.

He appeared amid the trees, his eyes glinting suspiciously as they darted between Lilitha and Damon. His eyes widened at the sight of her torn shirt. He grabbed Lilitha’s hand, pulling it away from her neck. He growled at what he saw, then turned to Damon with a roar. “What the hell are you doing?!”

Damon’s gaze was intense, his tail whipping back and forth with agitation. He lowered his head, his eyes locked on Mateus, a deep growl rumbling in his throat. His face was flushed with anger, his horns gleaming menacingly in the light.

“Step back, Lilitha,” Mateus instructed, gently nudging her behind him. “Carmella!” he shouted out.

The soft patter of Carmella’s footsteps could be heard approaching. With Silus cradled in one arm, she assessed the situation between the two alphas. She seemed to grasp something that Lilitha didn’t, then reached out to take Lilitha’s hand.

“Let’s go,” she said.

Lilitha allowed herself to be led away, confusion etched on her face as she gingerly touched the bite mark on her neck. “It was an accident,” she murmured. “What’s gotten into him? They’re just squabbling.”

Carmella’s expression was stern. “It’s more than just a squabble.”

A roar that seemed to shake the very forest startled Lilitha. It was different, unfamiliar. She couldn’t even identify who it came from. Another roar echoed the first, their footfalls resonating like thunder, their tails cracking like whips.

“Carmella?” Lilitha asked, her voice shaky.

The trees trembled. The roars, snarls, and bellows continued. She couldn’t see through the dense foliage, but she could hear the destruction, the pain in their snarls, the heavy thud of their bodies as they tumbled and wrestled. A pained roar made Lilitha’s heart drop.

“They’re killing each other!” she exclaimed.

Another roar of pain tore through the air, and it felt like her insides were being ripped apart. Lilitha covered her ears. This wasn’t normal. Something was terribly wrong. Silus began to cry, his wails barely audible over the cacophony.

There was a foreboding thud, more tail cracking, rustling bushes, heavy footfalls. A tree toppled over. An entire tree!

“We have to do something!” Lilitha cried.

“There’s nothing we can do,” Carmella retorted, grabbing Lilitha’s wrist to prevent any rash actions. “Let them sort it out.”

“Sort what out?” Lilitha asked, her voice filled with confusion.

The sounds of their battle began to recede. One of them was fleeing, the other in pursuit. Their roars echoed from a distance as the trees quivered and branches fell. The noise gradually faded.

“Where are they going?” Lilitha asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“They’re keeping us safe, Lilitha. They’ll be back,” Carmella assured her, cradling Silus close to her chest as he whimpered and fussed.

Lilitha touched her neck again, wincing. “This isn’t a love bite,” she stated. She looked at Carmella, then down at her own bare chest. She glanced back at the trees, a conversation with Mateus suddenly coming to mind.

~I am an alpha. I have needs. When Carmella gets what she wants and Silus leaves, there will only be you.~

Lilitha bit her lip, her gaze shifting to Carmella, who was preoccupied with soothing Silus.

At the sound of another distant roar, Lilitha hugged herself tightly.