Chapter |6|~The Dream of Fire ~
Unedited.
Embry POV.
There is a woman standing in front of a fire.
Her smile is forced, frozen, and numb.
Her hazel eyes are dull, sheltered, and reserved.
She is full of fear.
The wind softly blows around her.
She is not a dangerous woman.
She isn't the type of woman that has, fire burning in her veins.
She doesn't have a smoke on her lips.
Blood would never drip down her fist.
She would never place her hand close to a fire.
She refuses to play with fire.
She is too afraid to be burnt.
She doesn't want any scars that would be a constant reminder of what happens when you place your hands dangerously close to the flame.
She doesn't want to perish.
She doesn't want her legacy to be anything but a pile of ashes.
A man with a soul darker than coal comes and places the timid woman in chains.
He captures hers.
The wind around them is blowing strong.
The fire is no longer in front of her. No, it surrounds both of them whole.
She pushes and runs.
He chases and pulls.
They tangle around the flame with a passionate force.
He is her match.
He sparks the fire within her soul.
He makes her want to do things that she normally wouldn't.
Suddenly the smoke clouds her mind.
The flames of the fire are now in a line.
The wind picks up speed as she captures walk through the flame, leaving her behind...
She uses her own light that shines and burns with the brightness of the radiant moon.
She somehow manages to push through.
She was thrown into the fire and came out exhaling the smoke.
A new light burns bright inside of hazel eyes.
The same woman now stands in front of the fire.
The wind no longer blows.
She is a dangerous woman.
She is the type of woman that has, fire burning in her veins, smoke on her lips, and blood dripping down her fist.
She holds no fear.
Her smile is so bright it burns.
She places her hand close to the flame.
She plays with fire.
She isn't afraid of getting burnt.
She embraces her scars because they are a constant reminder of what she survived.
She stares at the flames and walks through the fire.
She goes in as a woman and comes out as a gray and white wolf.
The wolf howls and her capture drops down to his knees.
He bows before her feet.
She howls louder with golden glowing eyes that would make the dead feel like their alive.
My eyes shoot open. A thick cloud of heavy smoke invades my lungs.
Flames are devouring the cabin, sparking fear inside of my soul. My heart beats uncontrollably inside of my chest. Instantly, my eyes start to water, sting, and burn. Sweat drenches my entire body, I can't take the heat.
The cloud of smoke is so thick I start to choke. I cough, wheeze, and desperately gasp for air.
This only makes things worse. I can't breathe.
I feel like the hot and blazing sun has been placed inside of my throat. I feel like I'd been out in the desert for days, seconds away from having a heat stroke. I feel like I woke up in the burning fires pits of hell. This is it, I'm done. I'm going to die. There is a thick cloud of smoke, preventing me from locating a way to escape.
I can feel the intense heat increasing by the second, burning brighter than the morning sun all around me. My survival instincts kick in.
I force myself to roll out of the bed, landing down onto my hands. The wooded floor feels like acid as my hands accidentally touch a flame. At this moment, I can feel the stings and the burns marks will be a constant reminder of being trapped inside of this place.
I hiss loudly and roll over to my left side. At that same moment, a burning log falls from the ceiling, missing me by a second. It was inches away from my head, literally seconds away from claiming my life.
Thank My Goddess.
I lift up my head, only to come face to face with the fire roaring fiercer and burning brighter before my very eyes. The flames are whipping and spreading so fast. The smoke is thick and everything around me is engulfed in flames. Ignoring the sting inside of my lungs I take a deep breath, desperately searching for a single drift of fresh air. There is none.
Too much smoke has already invaded my lungs. I don't have the energy, and I am too weak to shift into my wolf.
Reality kicks in, I'm going to die. I start to panic. I'm not going to make it out of here, Luna my Goddess is coming to take me. My wolf is pacing within me, searching for a way to save me. Too save her. I can't breathe, see, or think. I try to pull myself up from off the ground, only to fall.
I roll over again, now lying on my back.
My brain is telling me that I'm done for it, but my heart refuses to accept it. "Help," I attempt to scream, only causing my throat to further sting. "Ruq," I use my last bit of energy to mind-link with my brother.
"Embry, I'm coming from you. I'm coming," I hear his voice inside of my head for a brief second, and then it's shut off. I start to cough again. The increase in heat is unbearable, officially cutting off all of my wolf sense. My throat feels swollen and dry as I constantly breathe in hot air. I can taste the smoke inside of my mouth as the potent fumes of fire and anticipated death is the primary source of the throbbing inside of my head.
My heart is still pounding, tears roll freely down my face, and this time when my hand touches the flame. I'm too close to death to feel the sting.
My eyes are halfway shut and my mind wanders to another place.
When I would sit on the beach, enjoy the wind, and inhaling the sweet smell of the sea. My father would watch me for afar, sitting on the porch of our house.
Ruq and I would play chase the wolf in the sand. My sister would braid my hair in a long braid. That's my most treasured memory. That was the time when I wasn't burdened by the responsibility of being The Wilde Wolf. I was young and free.
The blissful memory is so close I can reach out and touch it.
King Cyrus POV.
I walk to the center of the hill where my soldiers are patiently waiting. My eyes roam over the village filled with sleeping wolves.
The flame from their bonfire has been distinguished, almost nonexistent.
Marko hands me a sparked match at the same time that the fresh winter air blows in the smell of gasoline.
Eager to unleash the beast I drop the lighted match down onto the snow. The flame flares, trails down the gasoline covered hill and flares around the shit-hole town only to create a Big Boom!
I laugh out loud and watch the scene unfold before my very eyes.
Just like that, each and every hut goes up into flames. Just like that, the sound of crying and dying wolves fills the air. Just like that, their night of hell has officially begun.
The once dark town is haunted by another burning amber flame and this time I am the only one laughing and enjoying this hell of life is me.
Ravana flashes a dazzling smile and I officially declare war. "No mercy," I scream to the top of my lungs.
My security detail spread out in a protective circle around me as my other men run down the hill to have some fun. Seconds, later the sound of screaming and fierce growling fills the air.
My men snatch wolves from all ages out of their huts, shoot, and then rip out their hearts. The snow is now stained with their blood, brains, and guts. They show no mercy. There is none.
The raid has fully broken out and it's deadly and extremely satisfying to my inner monster. We watch with cruel anticipation from afar. Lifeless bodies of wolf children, women, and men lie all around this shit-hole Northern Town within a second. My laugh roars louder. They aren't given a chance.
They had no warning. It's such a pity really if you think about it, not. Just kidding I think to myself while cracking the hell up. The white blanket of snow is soaked in blood and more bodies of dead wolves' litters the ground.
The mutts aren't putting up much of a fight. I expected more. They could at least attempt to defend their waste of existence. It would be pointless, but entertaining. In fact, I'm almost bored with the lack of action.
Until the wind blows in the foul stench of Lycan. From the smell of things, it's at least two of them. My inner monster claws within me, impatiently waiting for their arrival.
"Lycans," Ravana hisses with glowing violet eyes, and as expected two vicious beasts are running to the aid of the pack of mutts.
However, I didn't expect the two fairly large grey mutts trailing behind them. Now, I must admit the mutts are moving at the same pace if not faster than the Lycans, which is strange. Lycans are typically better versions of werewolves due to them being stronger, faster, and better looking. Blah! Blah! Blah!
Lycans are nothing but better-trained dogs if you ask me. However, as my aunt would say two each is own.
I've only met one wolf that was able to dance with a Lycan, and it happens to be the werewolf bitch Mecca Mate. I learned a long time ago that his family of mutts is known to be special wolves. They are considered to be privileged wolves in the dog communities.
"Wilde Wolves," Ravana voices my thoughts out loud.
"Yes, Wilde Wolves," I agree, placing my attention onto the wannabe celebrity wolves. Ravana loads her AK-47 with silver bullets, unlocks, and aims the gun in their direction. I hold my hand up, "Not yet! I want to see what all the hype is about."
The biggest gray wolf that I suspect is a male is the first one to attack some of my men. He charges with no fear, forcing two of my men to lose their footing. One minute they are attempting to scramble to their feet and the next minute their heads are being snatched off their necks, leaving nothing but two decapitated bodies.
The presence of The Lycans and the Wilde Wolf sparks motivation into the other mutt's hearts. They start to defend their selves, about fucking time. They even have the audacity to cheer them on.
Out of nowhere the other grey wolf who I suspect is a female based upon her size, jumps over the top of the male wolf and lands onto one of my men back. Before, he has a chance to remove her. She removes his head, and then another one of my men heads seconds later. I watch the grey dogs takedown about ten of my men down within two minutes. I'll give it to the mutts they have skills. Alone they have taken down more of my men than the two Lycans have done together.
"What are we waiting for," Ravana hisses, through clench teeth. She is losing patience. "We are losing men."
"My order," I remind her.
"Your, order," her temperature rises as yet another one of her men is decapitated by one of the Wilde wolves. She starts to pace back and forth. "They are knocking down our numbers. We need to stop them now."
"Patience is a virtual, my love," I advise while loading up my pistol. One of my men is creeping up on the male Wilde wolf. The other Wilde howls in his direction, warning him.
He turns around just in time, pounces on top of my man, plunges his canines, and decapitates another one of my men.
"Enough, Cyrus," Ravana spits with bright violet eyes.
"Let it loose," I order, instantly silver bullets are flying in their direction, putting many dogs down. Ravana immediately rushes into action, charges in their direction and starts to empty out her entire clip in the beast's direction. The Wilde wolves and Lycans pick up speed, dodging bullets.
Ravana monster takes over as she picks up speed as well.
Within a blur, she is in front of one of the Lycans. He is completely oblivious to the upcoming threat. Without warning, she pounces onto his back, grabs onto his neck, and then squeezes down. He falls to the ground instantly and before he could react she sends a silver bullet straight into his heart.
Before a second could end, she claimed her first kill.
The other Lycan roars in Ravana direction, and charges only to be intercepted by the male Wilde Wolf. The Lycan growls fiercely at the Wilde Wolf and I'm almost certain that they are arguing about who shall attempt to take their revenge.
Keyword, Attempt! Neither one of them will lay a hand on her.
The Lycan rushes off in another direction, gaining my undivided attention. "After him," I order two of my men from my personal security details, with a snap of my fingers. Then, I place my attention back onto Ravana.
She is now being circled by the both of the Wilde Wolves and the battle continues on around them.
"Should I intervene, Sire," Marko questions, while aiming his gun in their direction.
"No," I spit, pointing the pistol directly at the male Wilde wolf. "My Kill,"
Suddenly, the wind blows in an intoxicating smell of earth and wildflowers, shifting my focus. The scent brings my monster to life. It spreads through my body, making me shiver with nothing but pure blood lust.
Fifty shades of red completely take over my vision and my monster takes over my body completely, enhancing all six of my senses.
He takes a deep sniff of the air, savoring every whiff, dying to taste the primary source of that mouthwatering flavor. A deep rumble flows through my chest, followed by a threatening growl releasing from my throat, alerting any and every one of my presence. All eyes travel to the top of the hill, including the Wilde wolf, and both of their eyes flash golden.
The potent scent invades again, blowing in heavily with the wind. My monster goes crazy, "No more games kill them all," I order Marko, as I take off in the direction of the scent to track down the primary source.
Embry POV.
"Embry you have to wake up now," someone says, I believe the voice belongs to the hunter, Forrest maybe. "We need to go now," the floral blend of peach, watermelon, and jasmine invades my senses, definitely Forrest. The next thing I know is my body being lifted off the ground, followed by the wind rushing around me.
The chill of the midnight air seeps into my pores. I'm being cradled and rocked as the wind breezes through my hair. My head rolls freely, into it settles onto his rock hard surface. My mind starts to drift.
Forrest holds me close to his chest. Why is he holding me, again? I don't know everything is still a haze.
I don't have that much time to think much about it because cool moisture trails down my throat. Not expecting that, my reflexes kick in and I start to choke and spit out the cool liquid. "Easy there," he says, giving me time to catch my breath.
My body shoots up desperately, releases a fit of rough coughs, and then I start to gasp for air. I open my eyes to come in contact with Forrest unnatural glowing Irish green eyes.
He places his rough hand onto my back and taps lightly. Everything feels like a blur, for a second as my mind attempts to wrap around what is going on. I take a look at my surroundings. We are in the middle of nowhere. The forest surrounding the Northern Village, I suppose.
The winter wind carries in various unfamiliar scents and three of them stand out. Blood, fire, and death... Then it hits me, the fire! The hut! Ruq and Farrah... I tap into our bond and thankfully I can feel them. They are alive, but one of them is hurt.
Without a second thought, I jump to my feet and turn in the direction of the burning village. "Embry," Forrest says, catching me by arm, preventing me from running away. "You can't go back there,"
"My siblings," I scream, trying to break free. He is stronger than he looks.
"Can handle their selves," He advises, refusing to let me go.
"Please, I must get to them. Please, let me go." I plead, still attempting to remove his hand off of me. I'm having no such luck.
Forrest doesn't respond. Instead, he looks around and a relief expression crosses his face. "Do you smell that?"
Suddenly, the wind blows in the strong scent of Lycan. Thank the Goddess! Never in a million and one years would I think the scent of Lycan would bring me so much joy.
"Embry, Thank the Goddess your safe," I can hear the relief, as Ruq voice suddenly appears inside of my head.
"Ruq, I'm here. I'm safe," I explain in a rush. "I'm with..."
"Listen," Ruq cuts me off, "Farrah is hurt." My heart drops.
"Is she?"
"I said listen, Embry," he snaps. "I need to know exactly where you are. I need you to confirm that you're a safe distance away from the village."
"I'm in the forest," I explain quickly. "One of the Lycan guards is heading in my direction."
"Good," the relief in his voice can once again be heard. My wolf can feel his uneasiness through our bond. "I need you to hide into he gets there. Tell him to meet us at the safe location. He will know what to do."
Safe location?! "Ruq what's going on?"
"There is no time to explain." He answers in a rush. "Are you alone," his question catches me off guard.
My eyes travel to Forrest who is shaking his head like he can hear our conversation and then he mouths a "Don't," he couldn't possibly be serious.
"No," I tell the truth. "I'm with the hunter."
I can feel my brother uneasiness turn into full-blown fury throughout our bond.
Our connection is cut short when Forrest suddenly slams me down onto the ground. I start to panic. Oh, no! He didn't save me just to kill me. Did he? "Let me go," I shout, wiggling underneath his stone wall frame.
"Shhhhhh..." Forrest shushes me, placing his hand over my mouth. "I'm not going to hurt you, just trust me."
I scream into his hands and in an attempt to muffle my scream his grip around my mouth becomes harder. He must be crazy. He wants me to trust him after he knocks me down onto the ground and smother me to death. For all I know, he could have set the village on fire, just to kidnap me. He was extremely interested in getting close to me. Was this his plan all along? Oh, my god!
"Use your sense, Embry," He whispers. Yeah, I'll use my sense alright, the twenty-second window sense that my father implanted into my brain. With all my strength, I bite into his hand and bring my knee up to hit him where the sun doesn't shine. Instantly, I feel bad but my wolf survivor instincts refuse to allow my human nature to get in the way of making it to safety.
He scrabbles up in pain and I take my twenty-second window to make a run for it. "No, Embry," I hear him call after me but it's too late. I'm gone.
The wind blows harder and the smell of Lycan becomes stronger. I run in the direction of his scent, placing my entire focus on making it to my family and that's where I go wrong. Out of nowhere, the foul stench of vampire invades my senses, making my heart literally dropped, and before I could run in the other direction the monstrous growl of a predator hits my sensitive ears.