Alliance of Shadows: NEIL

Afterthoughts in the Dark

Admittedly, I was screwed.

The hour I spent in her room alone with her, was one of the most satisfying hours of my life. I had cleaned up as much as I could in the short amount of time I had once I heard Dad’s truck pulling into the garage. The few precious moments between laying in her arms and scrambling to hide the fact that I’d stolen something irreplaceable from her were mind-numbing. She’d been so willing, so soft and supple beneath my hands that I’d lost myself in the pleasure.

My wolf was there, just under the surface, craving and aching for his True Mate. The minute she let me take it further than a kiss, both he and I were lost.

Clara, as was her usual routine, came to talk to Izaria before retiring for the night. Curious, I snuck out of my room to listen in.

“Good evening, darling,” Clara said, her voice chippy, even through the door. She was probably thinking about nailing my father later. Then, as if something gave away everything, she asked, “Was there someone in here?”

“Um, yeah, Neil dropped in to tell me happy birthday and to, um, to apologize.” Izaria’s voice, soft enough to melt even my ice cold demeanour, drifted through the door.

Clara snorted a laugh, “Did he now? He’s something else, that young man. A little hard headed, but he has a good heart.”

Great, now I felt like crap for treating her poorly these last three years.

Suddenly, Izaria’s calm seemed to shatter. Her voice cracked as she began to recount a story. Not of our time alone, but of her past with her mother. There was an underlay of things being left out, things I was determined to find out as time progressed.

It was already too late as I realized I should never have gone into her room. I should have pushed her away after that kiss she gave me. But who was the adult here? That’s right. Me.

Had I thought things through, I wouldn't be feeling like the worst person in the world right now. Though I think her mother and step-father hold that title, to be honest. Her obviously watered-down version of the historic truths of how they treated her like a servant wasn’t lost on me. It gave me a view of the reasoning behind the way she moved, the way she found peace in the small things like helping out, reading, and gardening.

If she decided to tell my father, I could possibly be stripped of my pack status and sent packing in a heartbeat.

What was I thinking? Laughing at the irony, I shook my head. I hadn’t been. There were other things I could blame, but, in the end, it was all on me.

Dazed, I walked across the hall to my bedroom, closing the door behind me before collapsing on the bed. I rethought everything I'd done after hearing all she had gone through before moving in. What does she think of me now, I wondered as I ran my hands through my dark hair. Did she think I was like Human men, thinking only with my brainless head?

Groaning, I pulled the duvet over my head, wanting the beckoning darkness of sleep to take me. It wasn't long before it claimed it’s willing victim.

Being jarred awake with the feeling of someone curled up at my back wasn’t new for me. it brought me back to when I was a terrified eight year old. back to when I first shifted – brought on by a catalyst of watching Rogues destroy my dream life and the savagely raw pain of losing my mother. Back to when my best friend tried to be there for me, to when we both awakened something too early for others to understand.

Dre and I had always been the resilient ones, the ones no one could level with because we were in a league of our own. Even after I’d lost control, shifted, and attacked him, after he’d unwittingly unlocked magic that he should not have been able to use until he turned thirteen, we slept back-to-back in his room. I had been scared of his reaction, angry that I wasn’t strong enough to save my people. Yet, he persevered, proving that our friendship was airtight to everyone around us.

I digress.

Confused, I sleepily raised my head to look at the clock on my nightstand and read the time. The bright red digits stared back at me, reading 3:38 AM. Turning my head, I saw that the unexpected visitor was none other than Izaria. My little mouse.

Had I been so out of it that I never felt her climb into bed with me? When had she even come in? I could have sworn that I locked the door. Either I didn’t or this girl had some mad lock-picking skills I needed to know about.

Glancing over, I realized that my jacket, carelessly thrown on the edge of the door, had prevented it from closing fully the first time around. Heh, it really was my fault, then.

I shifted my weight, brushing a strand of hair out of her face as she slept. She moaned, shivering slightly. Pulling her closer and covering her with my thick comforter, I wrapped an arm around her waist, lightly touching her shoulder with my lips as she sighed contently. It was like she subconsciously knew we were meant to be together. That the Goddess, in her infinite wisdom, had paired two broken souls, possibly in hopes we would heal each other.

Where she was dressed in only a t-shirt and a pair of snug-fitting booty shorts, I knew she was cold. I kept my thermostat set at ten degrees Celsius and slept with the window open, so her shivering was a given. I’ll have you know that Werewolves had increased body temperatures that prevented us from getting “cold”.

Despite the faint, barely-there scars that marked her skin in places that could easily be hidden by her clothes, she was gorgeous. In every sense of the word.

Shit, nope. Down boy! Damn it, Neil, think!

My mind raced, conjuring thoughts of strict Nuns, my father’s angry fists… yup, that did it. Phew! Bye-bye, erection. Goddess, I did not need that causing me even more trouble. Not when I was already in enough hot water.

Pulling myself under control, I reined in my desires, savouring the feeling of her back pressed flush to my chiselled chest. My thoughts drifted for a while, letting me reflect on how she seemed so vulnerably strong. I imagined what had been going through her head when she came to me in the dead of night. How safe she must have felt with me for her to make the decision to crawl into my bed.

Things didn’t happen without reason. That was one Human notion we supernaturals actually agreed with. You see, we believed in the Gods that created our kin. We believed in their strength, cunning, and in their senses. We understood that greater, far superior forces were at work in our lives, and we did our best to abide by the laws set down by Them. Artemis, Goddess of the Moon and our revered Matron of the Hunt, gave us wolves the gift of strength, speed, and heightened senses.

The entirety of the Gods in the Old World sense of the term, were celebrated with each Solstice. Each change of the Lunar calendar, big or small, was marked by a massive, all-inclusive party hosted by each of the Alliance members in a revolving manner. For example, this year, Shadow Storm would be hosting All Hallows.

Like I said before, the Alliance comprises three distinct groups, each with their unique abilities, traditions, and cultural heritage passed through generations of legends and stories. Now, while sleep eludes me for the time being, let me explain a little more about the factions that made up our united front.

The first one I’ll touch on is the Starlight Witch and Sorcerer coven. Consisting of powerful Witches and Sorcerers, their people drew strength from celestial energies and mystical forces only they could command. Each of them was skilled in various forms of magic, including spellcasting, potion-making, and divination, known best for the apparently unlimited wisdom they could provide.

Next, we have the Sacred Heart Druid coven. Dre’s coven. Though just as powerful as their Witch and Sorcerer counterparts, they mastered the more… earthly elements. Possessing charms and profound knowledge of herbalism, healing, and ancient rituals, they were the ones often found in leading community roles, such as psychology and law enforcement. The sweeter their temperament, the stronger the Druid (that’s especially true for Dre. I mean, dudes brother could piss anyone off, but he’s never gotten under Dreson’s skin). The coven itself was situated on a knell that was a magic crossroads, greatly increasing their abilities.

Lastly, there’s the Shadow Storm wolf pack. Mine and my father’s people. Shifters with the ability to transform into Artemis’s most favoured hunting companion. Fiercely loyal with a strong sense of kinship and unity within the ranks, we fought to protect the foundation of the Alliance itself. We were the hunters, those who were the nominal front-line defence against threats to the safety and sanctity of the combined powers that be. The strongest of the strong that protected the weak. Our enemies, once they heard our howls, never survived long enough to make a lasting impression.

Finally, as the numbers flipped to four o’clock, sleep finally came. With a sigh, I let myself succumb to its call. My dreams offering a foretelling of the future as a mahogany-haired woman in white danced in the flames of a new sunrise.