The Cursed Homeland

new instinct

We ate and the whole time I kept catching her looking over at me. “What, Nadean?” I asked with a huff as I sat up straight. She shook her head and looked at me once more. “The scar is healing nicely.” I ran my finger over the slightly scabbed over gash her bullet left in my eyebrow and groaned as I felt it sting. “Well you shot me with silver. It's not going to heal great. I lit a cigarette, taking a drag. She looks down and sighs. “I am sorry that I shot you…” My body tensed. Was she actually being nice? I didn't think she was capable of that. My amazement got even worse when she continued. “You are actually quite pretty. Even the scar you had to begin with adds to it. I'm sorry I may have messed it up.” I let out some smoke and studied her. She was looking down, and her face was as red as could be. I know she felt the mate bond. She didn't know what it meant, though. I put my cigarette out and stretched. “You're good, Nadean. I didn't think I was pretty to begin with.” She looked at me with wide eyes like she wanted to say something but it seemed that she decided against it, growing a brighter red. I smiled. “Thank you Nadean.” I couldn't help but feel warm when she gave me a small smile. I got up and pointed toward the creek. “Get cleaned up, you'll feel better.”

I decided to go lay down seeing that I would be here for a few days. I relaxed laying there on my sleeping bag. I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up it was to pressure. Someone was on me. My eyes shot open to see Nadean. She was straddling my hips, looking down at me. Her eyes seemed to shine a bit in the low lighting in the tent. I propped myself up on my elbows and groaned. “Nadean what are you doing?” She tilted her head in a way that was very telling of her ‘newborn’ status. “I'm hungry. I don't know how to hunt…” I heard her but I couldn't get my mind off of how magnificent her change was so far. She was still human but she was getting small things at this point, like her eyeshine and movements. I felt her body shift and before I knew it she was inches from my face. “Is there a reason you're looking at me like a piece of meat?” I felt her breath against my skin and her scent was flooding my senses. Before I knew it I had dug my grave. “You look better than a piece of meat. And probably taste mouth watering. I quickly realized what I said and went to apologize but she pressed her lips on mine.

I knew it was wrong, I had someone. But nature doesn't lie. And I have found her… but do I accept this. I felt her tongue slip into my mouth. I let out what I thought was a groan but my body twisted it into a throaty moan. My senses kicked into autopilot and I pressed her to me, kissing her back. The session grew more heated, kisses shorter and more fevered, less air between us. I clawed up her side and she kissed with a grin before biting down on my neck in return. I shot up, gripping her hips as I did. My mind felt like it was clouded. I ran my tongue up the side of her neck and let out a throaty growl, earning a pleased hum from her “isn't it good to think about something other than work, Hallows?” Her sweet voice seemed to clear my head. But then I could remember one thing… my morals.

I stopped, looking her up and down as stuttered, no real words forming. Eventually my head caught up with the rest of my body. I gripped her sides and put her beside me with ease. She looked at me, sad and confused but all I could do was huff and fix my hair.

She went to speak but I shot her a glare. She tensed up and I shook my head. I tried my best to ignore the hurt look on her face as I turned over, pulling my sleeping bag over me again. She didn't understand what was going on. She was acting on new instincts that were new for her and they would only get worse for the both of us. But I've strived to live with human beliefs and I didn't plan to hurt Brandon.

I laid there that night watching her groan and toss in her sleep. I let out a sigh and turned onto my back. There was a murder picking monsters and humans off, heat season, my pack issues, now I'm having to deal with her newborn issues. I huffed, sitting up and grabbing the file. I flipped through it trying to figure out anything, since I've heard nothing since I got there. I read to myself quietly for a moment, trying to be mindful of Nadean. My brows shot up when I found it.

The murders may have taken place in different areas of the region but at least one thing was consistent, the time between the killings. Two murders happen consistently then there is about a three week gap before the next two. I picked up the crime scene photos and shuffled through them, studying each one carefully. The murders were clean and thought through, but at the same time the body's were put on display in very demeaning ways for their respective races. Whoever was doing this wanted law enforcement to be running in circles between the monsters and humans. They probably enjoyed seeing us confused and panicked. We would have to visit the older crime scenes after meeting with the pack.

There was a whine from beside me, it sounded more animal than human so I closed the file and looked over. Nadean was clutching her sleeping bag, her skin rippling. Her body didn't know what to do. I didn't want to get close to her… but I was the only one she had to help her with the change. I put the file away and went over to her, laying beside her. I ran my hand over her arm, trying to calm her. She woke up in a panic, sucking in a sharp breath. I grabbed her gently. “Calm down Nadean… your body is just going through things right now.” She pressed herself to me. She was absolutely shaking as she hid her face in the crook of my neck. “I'm scared, Hallows…it feels like I'm dieing…” Her voice was soft and frail. I didn't expect to ever hear that come out of her. I wasn't sure what to do. I wrapped my arms around her, it feeling too right to me and spoke in a soft tone. “Your not dieing, your evolving. And I'm here to help you. Everything is going to be fine. I felt her nod against my neck and I let out a sigh. This was going to be difficult.