The Healer and The Hunter

Sage It was dusk as we walked through the forest towards the fading sun. ‘This is where I leave you’ a deep gruff voice said softly. His thick Eastern European accent seemed to hang in the air. We stopped walking and I turned to face him. I took him all in knowing I wouldn’t see him again for some time. He wore tight, ripped black jeans, a back fitted t shirt and black boots. His long, dirty blonde hair was pulled back into a bun and his full beard was trimmed and well kept. His icy grey eyes seemed to stare into my soul. I wrapped my arms around his waist and he pulled me quickly against his muscular torso. The sudden contact with his cool body made me shiver even after all this time. ‘My little pet’ he purred in my ear. I looked up at him, ran my hands along his jaw line and grabbed two fist fulls of his facial hair and pulled him down so his lips met mine. The kiss was slow and sensual. Just like him. We pulled apart and I sighed resting my head against his torso again. He ran his hands through my thick wavy blonde hair twirling it around his fingers. ‘Your not making this any easier Alek’ I said ‘Maybe that was my intention..’ he twisted my hair into his hands and gently pulled my head to the side exposing my neck. He dipped his head and gently kissed the space below my ear lobe. I could feel myself start to melt even further into him, ready to surrender to him completely when I took a deep, head clearing breath. ‘You have had me here for almost a month Alek, you know the deal my love, if I don’t return to my pack before the month is out they will come find me and I will never be allowed to come alone again. You know how important this is to me Alek, I can’t screw up again.’ His eyes flashed and I felt his emotions start to rise. ‘Maybe it’s time we came back together and we told you pack once and for all’ he said with more venom then I was expecting. ‘Sshh love’ I ran my nails gently up and down his back I peeked up to his stony face and after a few second I saw him release the breath he was holding and his face softened again. ‘Goodbyes are not easy for me either Alek, but you know that isn’t an option. You know my pack is very progressive but wolves and vampires remain taboo, even for my family’ ‘My clan welcomed you…eventually’ he smiled slyly knowing full well the amount of time and work it took for his clan to even look in my direction without wanting to snap my neck and drink my blood. Now, after a couple of years they were still not exactly accepting but more..indifferent towards me. My presence in their home no longer starts violent family feuds. I shudder at the memory. The thing is, historically vampires and wolves are sworn enemies. Both sides are passionate, proud, vengeful and blood thirsty (in more ways than one for some). Throughout history there has been many epic wars between vampires and wolves and also between themselves. My ancestors were not excluded from the blood shed until the moon goddess came to my great great great grandfather, William, in a vision and bestowed upon him a new purpose. Our lineage was to be the one to bring peace. The moon goddess would bless every child born into our family with a special gift to help fulfil this purpose. William soon realised he had a way with words and persuasion and was able to convince both the wolves and the vampires to a truce. Ever since then they no longer bothered one another, the hatred was still there but they no longer sought each other out. There was still interspecies fighting but Rome wasn’t built in a day and William had done his part. The Moon Goddess was happy and blessed the Harwood family. Over time The Harvest Moon pack grew and grew and the legend of the blessing spread far and wide, leading to many attacks on the pack. Eventually William, now an ageing wolf made the decision to move his pack and live in secret, away from the egotistical, violent new Alphas with a point to prove. Soon, without the Harwoods and The Harvest Moon pack around to keep the peace and the packs in line, the wolves descended into chaos. After many moons and too many lives lost the Alpha council called on William and his family to help. William accepted on a couple of conditions. His family was to be kept safe and left alone, there was to be no more attacks on anyone belonging to The Harvest Moon pack and that he and all future Harvest Moon alphas were to keep their seat at the council but only to be called upon when their particular set of skills were required. The Alpha Council agreed and there was peace once more. Since then The Harvest Moon pack has lived a calm and quiet existence. Our way of life was very different to any other pack. We lived as a community built on trust, respect, and peaceful living. It was a place where like minded folk, of any species could come together without judgement or fear and be their most authentic self. This meant that the ‘pack’ was open to almost everyone, not just wolves but witches, vampires, bears and anyone else, as long as they shared the same values and beliefs. And while technically we had the traditional pack hierarchy system in place we pay little attention to it. Alpha and Luna’s were in the fields planting crops, cooking food and cleaning. Everyone pitched in for the greater good. As I breathed in Alek’s scent I knew this was why he could never come to Harvest Moon, he was one of the most feared, violent and power hungry vampires around. That didn’t exactly blend well with Peace and love. plus, I worried he would see my pack as weak. Our affair was a strange one. My gift from the Moon Goddess was the ability to create and bring calm to myself, others and my surroundings. My family and I soon realised how handy my gift was. I was able to diffuse many people and situations helping to keep our promise to the Moon Goddess. I was soon accompanying my father to meetings with the Alpha Council and with packs on the brink of war. We kept my gift a secret though, for my safety. Being able to travel with my father from a young age and experience different ways of life instilled a strong sense of adventure and curiosity in me. By the time I was 16 I had proven to my family that I was able to take care of myself and they allowed to leave my pack by myself on all sorts of adventures. I would leave without any sort of plan or destination in place, letting the wind guide me. I found myself spending a lot of time with some pretty shady characters of all species doing what I could to help calm hostile environments. I have quite a knack for it and knew that this was what the moon goddess had planned for me. Due to my special gift people were usually quite welcoming and open to me. Once they realised I posed no threat and only wanted to help, I was in. I never had any real trouble or was ever really worried for my safety until I decided to try and find the vampire clan that had been carrying out some particularly violent attacks. After calling on some favours from my friends I had helped in the past, I managed to track down the elusive Romanov clan, and so, found Alek. I was captured as soon as I stepped foot onto their land. They lived deep in the Alaskan wilderness in total seclusion. To make it to their border was dangerous enough. If the elements and terrain hadn’t killed anyone who got close enough to them the clan soon would. I wasn’t caught off guard when I was captured. I had been expecting it. What did i think would happen? They would open the door with a smile and a hand shake? This is the way my introductions usually go. Creatures are always wary of strangers. I was quickly blindfolded and hands bound. Luckily not with wolfsbane laced cuffs as I don’t think the guards gave it enough time to assess me properly. My scent would have given it away in an instant if they could focus on anything other than their blood thirst. I try not to use my gift straight away in these situations so I don’t expose myself before necessary and so I can make a proper judgement on the creature in front of me. I was taken into their dungeon and bound to a chair. It was absolutely freezing. My blind fold was removed and my eyes adjusted to the dark. ‘He will be here soon’ I could barely understand them their accent was so thick. A few minutes later the huge wooden door opened and he walked into the room. My breath stopped. He was mesmerising from the very beginning with the strongest aura I had ever come across. I was under his spell instantly. During this first meeting I somehow managed to convince him not to slit my throat. But I remained his prisoner for days. When I began to realise I wasn’t getting out of this situation anytime soon I began to use my gift to my advantage. Once I was able to break through his tough exterior and calm his anger we were drawn to one another. His visits to my cell became more frequent and longer in length. I looked forward to his visits, and I could feel he enjoyed it too. One night while I was asleep he came in, scooped me up and moved me into a bedroom in the house. I stayed there in secret from the rest of the clan for weeks and our relationship developed. Alek would spend the nights with me and we would talk about everything. He would open up to me about everything. I told him about my travels and how I felt it was my life’s purpose to help find, restore and maintain peace among the species and that was why I was found on the Romanov clans land. I was able to sway him from a few attacks he was planning and eventually he brought me out of hiding into his living quarters and let me meet the rest of his family. It seemed like even though Alek’s father Vladislav was the leader Alek held a lot of power in the clan. I was not to be touched whenever I was present. Months had gone by since I left my pack. So much had happened and I had made some great progress with the vampires. I had honestly lost track of the days. Before long Vladislav told Alek that an Alpha’s daughter had gone missing and the wolves were restless. it must have been bad if word had made it to the vampire clans. I couldn’t believe I had been so careless. My parents must have thought I was captured and killed. I pleaded with Alek to let me return home to let my family know I was safe. I swore I would return to him. After hours and hours of arguing he finally agreed. I shifted right there in his bedroom and ran home without looking back. When I returned to Harvest Moon my family couldn’t believe I was alive. Months had passed without any word from me. My father banned me from leaving unaccompanied again. I was devastated. My mind went to Alek. What would he do when he realised I wasn’t coming back? Would he try find me? I needed to get back to him somehow and explain. After telling my father about the progress I had made with the vampires and the innocent lives I had saved he agreed to let me travel again, but not longer than a month at a time. I had to return before the next full moon. And so I was able to return to Alek. I told him that I was not able to stay longer than a month. That my travels were too important to stay in one place and I needed him to understand. Reluctantly he agreed. After a couple of years and many visits to the Romanov’s to try and talk sense into them regarding their constant violent behaviour Alek and my relationship began to change. The intensity began to lessen even as the s****l desire heightened. we both had strong feelings for each other, but we knew we were not each other’s fate it was a very fun itch that only the other could scratch for now. It made my coming and going easier. I raised my eye brow at his last remark. ‘Are you being sassy?’ He growled and pushed me back against a tree before lifting My legs around his waist and hitching my dress up. ‘Don’t forget who is in charge here’ I looked deep into his eyes. He was getting agitated easily. ‘Do you really think you could keep control right now? You haven’t fed for a long time, love.’ Alek knew how much I hated the thought of him hunting and killing and decided to abstain whenever I was visiting. Another reason why I never stayed too long, he was strong but he couldn’t last forever. He put me down. I ducked underneath is arm freeing myself. I started to undo the tie of the floor length navy blue wrap dress I was wearing. I had nothing on underneath. I threw it at Alek. ‘Hold this please’ I said with a sly grin ‘And don’t let anyone else where it while I’m gone, it absolutely stunk last time’ He laughed from deep in his belly. ‘You expect me to lay around pining for you until you decide to return to me? I have needs my pet’ he was only half joking. ‘I would expect you to at least wait until your housekeeper changed the sheets’ I laughed, I knew of his reputation in more ways than one he was no angel. I gave him one last kiss and he grabbed my bare ass. I squealed. ‘Try and behave while I’m gone’ I said ‘Can’t make any promises. Besides I only get to see you when I DONT behave, not much incentive huh?’ He said I roll my eyes and shift. A blonde wolf with white paws and white ear tips stands in my place. With one last look at him I begin to run towards the setting sun. After a few minutes my wolf ears pick up the feint sound of screams and I know that Alek is satisfied. For now.