ZARAMANNI (BOOK ONE)

His firm hold around Laura’s neck maintained, his lips explored the skin around her shoulder area, and King Darren quickly wondered if Zaramanni made it to the manor and if she had already met Lord Elias.

He trusted that the librarian would explain things to the half-fairy.

For some reason, he was yet to bring himself to have a conversation with her. And he didn’t want to.

Ever since the vampire incident, the Alpha had been feeling spiteful. And, each time he recalled that incident and how tiny Zaramanni felt in his hold, a huge ball of resentment settled within him.

Darren wanted to believe that it was his raging wolf that was hating the girl.

But, he was aware of the feeling in a part of his heart. He started to feel disgust toward the girl even though he was aware that she did not deserve a pinch of such a reaction.

“My love… Hmm… Right there,” Laura moaned as she moved seductively over his growing hardness.

One of his hands now caressing her buttocks, Alpha Darren took his lips behind her right ear and teased her lobe the same way she provoked his manhood.

“It has been a while, Laura.” His voice wore a strain that showed that he could feel the growing pleasure of that moment. “I have missed you so much.” He planted a kiss on her lips. “So, so much.”

As Laura smiled, King Darren cupped the side of her face. His wife reached for the end of his shirt and managed to pull it off.

Then, with growing excitement, she glued her full breasts against his chest and made the desire between them grow even more.

His hardening shaft pulsed with more need and King Darren decided to take charge. Within a second, he changed their positions.

Hovering over her inviting body, his lips latched onto one of her nipples and the she-wolf dug her fingers into his broad shoulders in reaction.

Without leniency, Darren swirled his tongue over her tit and Laura’s body responded accordingly as it gently jerked off the bed.

“Darren…” Her feet felt ticklish and when he started to fondle her other breast, Laura released a small cry. Alpha Darren soon began to trail kisses to her belly button. Then, while she caressed his skin, Laura said, “I have something to say.”

“Weren’t you going to say it later?” he asked, his voice thick, seductive, and impatient.

“Umm,” her fingers got entangled with his hair, “I can’t wait anymore. It is important.”

King Darren put a stop to what he was doing. One of his elbows digging into the bed for support, the man stared into his wife’s eyes and asked, “Is it that important?”

Laura sighed as she sat up. Her eyes carried a certain sad look and her head tilted a bit. “I just can’t stop thinking about the attack and how it affected Zenrada.”

That was all it took for King Darren to spiral into reality. “Can we talk about this later?” he asked, his hand reaching out to pull her closer.

“I need to make my intentions known, Darren. I don’t ever want to look dubious in your presence.”

The king, with a small frown on his face, finally sat up. “Why would I ever think of you in such a way?”

Laura made her head dance slowly. “I have thought of a way to make sure the defense we are building doesn’t fail. This plan will also protect you.”

“Oh, really?” Darren was instantly interested. Ever since the attack, he learned a hard lesson. He realized listening to others could go a long way in solving problems. “What is it?”

“Well, now that you have gotten your wolf, it is a clear indication that we are meant to be.”

“My Luna,” Darren searched her sad eyes as he shifted closer to her, “even without my wolf, I know that we are meant to be. It is you I fell in love with, Laura.” Just like in the past, his words were assuring, and his long fingers didn’t stop combing her hair as he concernedly watched her.

“The goddess never blessed our union. You remember, don’t you? We didn’t get a bond because you were yet to get your wolf. So,” she smiled gently, “I am glad you are finally with a wolf.”

King Darren, who had been thinking of telling Laura about the source of his newly discovered self, saw how excited she was. He then quickly decided that he would only tell her about it if it was highly necessary.

“Laura,” he held her hands, “you are yet to tell me about your plan.”

“Well,” her shoulders swayed gently and she maintained her stare into her husband’s eyes, “I think we should continue trying for a child. If you have an heir, no matter what happens, you can be certain that your throne won’t end up in the wrong hands. And-”

“Laura, I am not against having a child or trying for one, but I won’t use my unborn pup as a means of securing the throne. That is not a reasonable plan. The battle we are dealing with is best faced by tactics developed in the present. Ensuring that the future is certain for my bloodline is not the solution. It can never be the solution.”

”Oh.” Laura’s eyes fell. “I just thought it would be-”

“Laura…” King Darren almost moaned her name as the sight of her nakedness was starting to rouse his needs again. His erection had fully grown. “Can we get down to the real business now?”

King Darren soon got rid of his trousers and he was naked, just like her.

Laura quickly dismissed her suggestion.

After she crawled into King Darren’s open arms, Laura reached for his standing manhood and wrapped her fingers over its pulsing warmth.

She introduced gentle strokes that made the Alpha contort his face with pleasure, and her thumb gently rubbed his tip at intervals.

While trying to keep a sane mind, King Darren returned Laura’s provocative touches.

As she fully settled on his thick thighs, he reached for her protruding clit, and his eyes stared deeply into hers.

His middle finger slowly moved against her sensitivity, and Laura’s hands managed to wrap around his shaft some more.

Then, she continued stroking him, her movements matching her mate’s whose touch was gradually driving her toward the path of ecstasy.

Their eyes not looking away, their lips slightly gaped as they failed to properly voice how good they were both feeling, Darren and Laura soon switched positions.

A quick kiss planted on both flaps of her inner labia, Darren positioned himself between her legs and began to use his girth to torture her in a good way, his ears enjoying the sounds that instantly erupted from her lips.

~

The clicking sound that came from Lord Elias’s feet reached Zaramanni’s ears once again.

Once in front of her, a loud sigh filled the air before he had a seat beside her.

Zaramanni, who was trying to keep calm after the things she had just heard, sat back, her arms folded.

“This is somewhat funny,” Zara began to talk, her eyes looking ahead at nothing even though there was a lot to look at. “All I wanted was a new beginning after the terrible fate I suffered in high school.” Zara knew the man-wolf wouldn’t understand what she was talking about but she didn’t care.

“I was so excited to be in a new environment and my happiness was genuine.”

A quick lick of her pinkish lower lip was followed by a little exhale.

“I remember the first day I stepped on campus to get my admission processed. People stared at me. I mean, yes, I looked different from them. But they didn’t stare in the way I expected them to.

Most of them stared with curiosity, not hatred. It seemed most of them were contemplating walking toward me to ask what my name was.”

A thin film of tears made it to Zara’s eyes and she tightened her folded arms.

“Unlike Gavin and the people that made my life a living hell, they didn’t judge me too much. They didn’t look spiteful because I...” a very deep breath filled the pause she took, “...I looked different. So yes, I was excited, very excited. But now?”

Her head was quick to turn, and her eyes pierced that of Lord Elias who had been sitting still, listening to her speak.

“I am in a foreign land. I was dragged here by a goddamn fairy who tricked me into luring King Darren into their trap. My blood was drawn by those bastards and...” A chuckle filled with disbelief came from Zara as she tried hard to keep the growing sadness within her limited.

“...I had to run miles upon miles with a man I barely knew.” Zaramanni loosened her folded arms and placed a hand on her chest. “I began to hear speculations about me being a half-fairy.”

She laughed out loud after that statement. It was a burst of short, sarcastic laughter.

Lord Elias still listened patiently.

“Despite that crazy journey, I found hope when I learned about Mount Hermos. So, I ended up here. But someone kept trying to end my life. And, the one time I had a chance to escape, I ended up at an orgy.”

She laughed again.

Zara sounded ridiculous to herself. It was as though she was narrating a movie script.

“Wow.” She nodded her head for no reason as she made small noises with her mouth. “So, after all of that, you are telling me that I am linked with a werewolf king in the worst way possible? If he dies, I die? What else? Do I get to feel what he feels?”

Lord Elias had a look on his face that made her frown.

“Zaramanni...”

“Don’t tell me...”

“If he’s hurt, you’ll feel his pain.”

“Wow. Just wow. How about you just lock me up in a room since it doesn’t seem like I will be leaving this place,” Zaramanni’s rants intensified.

“I think that’s for the best, no? If I go back to Earth, I might suddenly die because I am connected to someone in another universe. So, it sounds proper to lock me up here and wait for the worst to happen.”

“Your words are disappointing, Zaramanni.” Lord Elias spoke, his face wearing a blank look that made it impossible for Zaramanni to read him.

Her eyes narrowed as she tried not to get angry at his response. “Why would you say so?”

“Are you really going to give up the chance to live a fun life because you hate where you have found yourself?”

“There’s nothing fun about this place. Why do people keep telling me to have fun?” Zara’s voice went up a notch, and her eyes slightly bulged.

“Because amid terrible occurrences, embracing positivity keeps a person going. Zaramanni,” the man-wolf shifted in his seat and focused on her, “being a half-fairy is no joke. But, it can be an amazing journey. Think about it. You will be discovering things about yourself you never knew existed. You can become the most powerful in this universe and that version of Zaramanni you knew on earth will cease to exist.”

The thrill in his voice made Zaramanni delve into his words. And as he held her hands, she began to relate to his advice.

“Zaramanni, I am here to help you. But I will do more than that. I will make sure to continuously find a way to ruin the connection you have with Darren.”

“Really?” Zara asked with a low voice as her soul began to feel soothed.

“Yes. I believe there can be a way to ruin the effects of the ritual.” Lord Elias soon released her hands and, as a father would, he placed gentle pats on her head. “I know it all sounds scary. Don’t worry, I am here to hold your hands and walk with you. When you fall, I will help you up. And, I will make your stay in Zenrada a very fun one. So, trust me Zaramanni.”

Zara let out a dismissive scoff as she used the back of her hands to wipe off the tears that had found a way to roll down her cheeks.

Zaramanni lifted her head and she shared a blurred gaze with the older man.

Seconds later, Zaramanni closed her eyes and she listened as her mind whispered assuring words.

All she had to do was accept the situation she was in.

The way out of that place would come later on.

But till that time, she needed to stop hating and blaming herself.

All she had to do was fully embrace her half-fairy side, it did appear to have the ‘cool powers’ side to it.

“Who wants ice cream?” Clarissa’s voice pierced Zara’s ears and she opened her eyes.

Eyeing the bowls hugged to the woman’s chest, Zaramanni wondered if she heard any part of their conversation.

She hoped not.

After she was almost sold to the Vampire Overlord for being a half-fairy, Zara became more than aware that she needed to be careful about her identity.

But, Zara did wonder how the rogue vampire leader got to know about her special side.

“Is that my usual?” Lord Elias asked as he rushed toward Clarissa and reached for a bowl.

With a smile and a somewhat assured mind, Zara got up as well and grabbed the coloured bowl.

“What on earth is this?” Zara shrieked at the content of the container, a look of horror on her face.

“Did an insect jump into your ice cream?” Clarissa asked with a huge concern in her voice as she hurried to Zara’s side.

“No, Clarissa.” Zara looked at Clarissa who looked into the bowl and saw nothing wrong. “This is a mixture of glitter and confetti. How do you expect me to eat this?”

“Have you had a taste?” the woman asked, a relaxed look on her face.

“Why would I-” Clarissa pushed a filled spoon into Zara’s mouth and to her amusement, the glitter and confetti swiftly melted on her tongue to produce a sweet taste.

Zara’s eyes instantly widened, and she smacked her lips delightfully as she took another scoop of the strange-looking yet good-tasting ice cream.

“This is Zenrada, Zaramanni. There are so many things that will amaze you during your stay here.”

“That’s what I was trying to tell her,” Lord Elias contributed to Clarissa’s words, his mouth not staying still as he swallowed the ice cream, spoon after spoon.

A small smile planted on her lips, it occurred to Zara that she had found another thing that made Zenrada a nice place.

People or rather, werewolves, who could become her friends.

And, of course, sweet-tasting, glitter-and-confetti ice cream.