A Werewolf Fantasy
Chapter 26

An emergency meeting was called by the Prime Alpha as soon as Chief Anamak and his warriors departed for their home in Quandagh. The meeting was held in one of the longhouses and only the warriors and Vak's sons were in attendance. To Erin's relief, Zanisck had perished the idea of going on a quest for vengeance alone after her talk with him. He had become quite upbeat and almost his usual self afterward.

It hurt her to see her new family going through such a difficult time and yet not being allowed to grieve for their dead properly because even their lives were under threat from a familiar enemy.

The emergency meeting ended by late afternoon and when Danshak emerged from the longhouse with a stern look on his face, Erin immediately knew that something was wrong.

"What is it?" she asked him when he joined her by the fireplace where the maids were preparing dinner near the open campfire reserved for cooking.

"Come with me," he whispered and led her away from the other women. He did not say a word to her until they reached a lone tree on the outskirts of the compound. "Father wants us to ride out tonight to hunt down Nikjin," he said tersely.

"What? Why?"

"Why else? He wants to be on the offensive this time around. According to him, he would rather take the battle to Nikjin than wait for his brother to come here and slaughter innocent souls just to get to him. We only have a few minutes to prepare before we leave."

"B-but this is insane! Why didn't any of you try to convince him not to do this? Wasn't this the same thing we discouraged Nikjin from doing this morning?"

Danshak sighed. "I understand how you feel, Edvana, but please do not get upset over this issue. Only the warriors are going with us. Everyone else, including you, is to remain here under the watchful eyes of the armed guards." "Bullshit!"

"What was that?"

"I am not staying back here while you and the rest of my family run off on a suicide mission. That is not going to happen."

"Listen, Edvana. It is happening whether you agree with it or not, and I will advise you to think twice before going against the Prime Alpha's orders," he said sternly. "Besides, Zorraya will be here too, so you will not be left behind with people you do not know."

"I barely know her," Erin argued.

"Then this is a good time to get to know her well. She is a very agreeable woman and quite accommodating too. Trust me, you will like her."

Erin had to physically restrain herself from lashing out at him by turning her back on him and taking a few steps away. She drew in a breath through her mouth, trying to calm herself. "Edvana - "

"Stop," she cut him off, turning to face him again. Her eyes were brimming with tears when she looked up at his handsome face which was now etched with lines of worry.

"I cannot believe how you are not even slightly heartbroken about the thought of leaving me behind like this, knowing that you may never return," she said before choking on a sob.

"How can you say that?" he asked sadly. "It is taking every ounce of self-control in me to remain this calm and level-headed. The decision was not mine and you know as well as I do that refusing to go is completely out of the question. And if we are being honest, whether we ride out or wait here, the war is not over yet and we will never know peace as long as Nikjin is alive."

"This is crazy," she said in frustration.

"I know," he agreed.

She covered the distance between them and laid her palms on his chest, her face merely inches away from his. "Let me go with you," she said softly. "I don't want us to be separated."

Even as she spoke, Danshak was already shaking his head slowly in refusal. "We have already spoken about this, Edvana. Do you remember? Two days ago, under the tree, moments after my mother died?"

"I remember and now I have changed my mind. Let me go with you, please. You promised you would never leave me, Danshak. Have you forgotten?"

"Edvana, please. Do not make this more difficult than it is," he pleaded. "I know you want to be beside me throughout this time but I will never be able to think straight if I know that you are in danger. However, if you remain here behind the guarded barricade of the guards where you are safe, I will have something to look forward to during the horrid battle that is surely about to happen. I will come back to you, I promise."

Erin didn't know what else to say, she bowed her head in defeat and cried. Danshak gathered her in his arms and consoled her as she wept. He was just as heartbroken as she was but the situation was way too dire for him to put her at risk by letting her ride with him into battle with such a formidable enemy.

"This will be over soon," said Danshak reassuringly. "Once Nikjin is eliminated, we will be able to go back to living our normal lives again, but until then, I need you to be strong for me."

"How can I be strong when you are abandoning me?"

"I am not abandoning you, my love. Let us not argue about this anymore, please."

She sniffled but said nothing.

"My only regret now is not having the opportunity to make love to you again before leaving,” he whispered against her hair.

Erin felt her body stir in that familiar way which meant she was gradually getting into the mood for a tumble between the sheets. She could also feel the hardness of his erection pressing against her stomach.

"We could do that here if you want," she suggested with a seductive smile.

"Out here in the open?" he asked wide-eyed, surprised by her boldness. "Someone could see us."

"Not if we stand behind the tree. Everyone is on the other side over there, and none of them can see us behind a wide tree bark except they have laser eyes."

"What are laser eyes?"

She chuckled. "That's ahead of your time, darling. Come here," she said and pulled him toward the other side of the large willow tree they had been standing beside. True to her calculation, the girth of the tree was wide enough to hide both of them partially.

"See?" she said triumphantly. "We are now hidden away from everyone's view."

"I like how your mind works," he said with a delighted grin before rewarding her with a passionate kiss.

He explored her mouth with his tongue, deepening the kiss as if he wanted to drink in the essence of her as their mouths remained locked together.

Erin reached up and untied the leather strap that was holding his hair in a half bun and his glossy tresses cascaded down, shrouding them like a blanket. She ran her hands through the strands, combing them out with her fingers.

Then she traced her fingers across his forehead before continuing her probe down his high cheekbones and straight nose. She traced around his lips, then continued to his jaw and down his neck. It was as if she was trying to memorize his features because she never wanted to forget what Danshak Smallchief looked and felt like.

They both knew they were running out of time, but Erin wanted to savor this moment as much as she can because she does not know if there will ever be another opportunity for her to be intimate with her mate like this again. She undid the sash holding the front of his breeches, letting his engorged shaft hang free in the open, then she turned around and lifted the skirt of her dress, exposing her naked bum.

"This is how I want you to take me," she said and braced her hands on the tree for support.

"You are the queen of seduction, my Edvana," he said hoarsely. "I am not sure I will ever get enough of you."

"Shh..." she whispered and arched her back, lifting her bum just enough to see how wet and ready she was for him. It was the green light Danshak needed as he took his position behind her and entered her with a strong thrust that took her by surprise and excited her at the same time.

As he jammed himself in and out of her, he took a fistful of her hair and tugged at it, sending waves of pleasure through her. This morning, she had ridden him like a stallion, now it was his turn to ride her and he did it with so much relish, pushing her to the edge and falling into a whirlpool of undiluted ecstasy with her.

They reached the climax together, rocking against each other as their bodies convulsed deliciously to the dying embers of their orgasm.