The afternoon sun cast dappled shadows through the thick foliage as Ethan ventured deep into the heart of Blackwood Forest. The earth beneath his boots was a mosaic of fallen leaves and ancient secrets, but today, his senses were attuned to a different mystery—the scent of Taran's friends lingering in the air.
Following the distinct trails, Ethan navigated the labyrinthine pathways, the forest canopy above casting an intricate dance of light and shadows. The closer he got, the more intense the scent became, a subtle forewarning that danger lurked ahead. Unbeknownst to him, a trap had been meticulously set, waiting to ensnare the unsuspecting Lupus Dei.
Before Ethan could decipher the impending threat, an invisible force coiled around his legs. In an instant, he found himself unceremoniously sprawled on the forest floor, a rope seemingly materializing from nowhere. Confusion clouded his senses when Mara, a force of fury, descended upon him, pinning him to the ground with a ferocity that echoed her anger.
"So you want to finish what you started? You want to take all of us," Mara spat, her words dripping with bitterness and a frown settled on her pretty face. As she rained blows upon him in her enraged frenzy, two shadowy figures emerged from the forest's depths. Their wary eyes scanned the surroundings, ensuring Ethan hadn't brought reinforcements.
Once satisfied, their attention shifted to Ethan, still held captive by Mara's wrath, she yelled at him "where is my brother?" In a calculated move, they separated her from him, revealing a sight that left them dumbfounded. Ethan's bloodied face, a canvas of injuries inflicted moments ago, rapidly healed before their incredulous eyes. A collective gasp escaped their lips, their astonishment etched in the lines of their faces.
"In the Moon god's name, what are you?" they demanded in unison, the question hanging in the air. Despite Ethan's own curiosity about his identity, he brushed off their inquiry, realizing it wasn't the opportune moment. He cryptically replied, "What I am isn't important right now." The trio, still captivated by the inexplicable display of rapid healing, they themselves heal fast, but not this fast, they awaited answers that even Ethan isn't privy to.
"I must begin with an apology for yesterday's events. On behalf of my father and brother, I express regret for their actions. My intention was merely to hunt deer and, perhaps, a wild pig. However, my father had different plans," Ethan paused, assessing their reactions before continuing. "I beg for your help in rescuing Taran before it's too late. My father's plans for him are inhumane, they are just very bad, I heard him saying that he would make an example of him to scare other werewolves away from Blackwood, so please help me, help me right this wrong," he pleaded, his gaze shifting between the trio, searching for a glimpse of understanding or empathy.Mara, snapping out of her fixation on his healing abilities, voiced the skepticism lingering in the air. "Why should we trust you? You might just be sent by your father to grab us all."
Understanding her wariness, Ethan sought to assure her of his intentions. As the trio untied him from the rope trap, introductions ensued. Ethan, revealing his identity, saw recognition dawn upon their faces—this was the boy that Gabriel hired them to kidnap or rescue, depending on the perspective; with a shared look the trio decided to keep this information to themselves.
Amidst the forest's hushed whispers, Ethan unfolded his plan for Taran's rescue.
As one of the men voiced his apprehension about the plan's riskiness, Mara swiftly interjected, her impatience radiating palpably. "I don't care how risky it is; it's the only solid plan we've got," she declared, her eyes ablaze with unwavering determination. Ethan found himself intrigued by her confidence and assertiveness, qualities that defied her petite frame, which might lead one to underestimate her power, particularly when she stood amidst two towering men.
As Ethan navigated the intricacies of his unfolding plan, an insatiable curiosity tugged at him. Succumbing to the persistent query lingering in the air, he couldn't resist posing the burning question, "Why are you really here in Blackwood?" Before one of the men could respond, Mara, her assertiveness undiminished, interjected. She urged Ethan to redirect the question to Taran upon his return home. With a steely resolve, she added, "Tell my brother we're alright, and we're coming to rescue him. Tomorrow night, we'll be at your house. Pray he's still there, Ethan, for if he isn't, you'll wish you'd never been born by the time I'm through with you." The ominous promise hung in the air, leaving Ethan to grapple with the weight of impending consequences if things should go wrong.
—----
In the hushed hours of the afternoon, Marcus, somewhat reluctant, and Darius, exuding confidence, found themselves enclosed within the privacy of a room with Carol.The air was thick with anticipation as they knew they were about to embark on an unforgettable experience. Carol, with a mischievous smile on her lips, wasted no time in demonstrating her expertise. She kissed Marcus passionately, her lips moving from his to Darius's without hesitation. It was evident that she had done something like this before, her confidence radiating through every touch.
As the three of them stood there, desire burning in their eyes, the clothes began to fall away one by one. Darius couldn't help but gaze lustfully at Marcus, his desire for him evident in his hungry stare. Marcus, now topless, revealed a body that Darius had always yearned to touch. His biceps, his bulky chest, his flat six-pack stomach—all of it was a feast for Darius's eyes. But he restrained himself. He didn't want to freak Marcus out by revealing the extent of his desires for him.
Without any further hesitation, Darius shed his own clothes, catching Marcus stealing glances at him. The tension between them was palpable as they joined Carol, who was fully naked and waiting for them. Their hands began to explore each other's bodies, caressing and tracing every curve and crevice. Soft moans escaped their lips as their lips met in passionate kisses, their bodies pressed tightly against each other.
The room pulsed with raw desire as they indulged in a short but intense foreplay. Their hands and mouths roamed freely, igniting sparks of pleasure with every touch. The atmosphere was electric, filled with the intoxicating scent of sex and the symphony of their moans and gasps.
Unable to resist the magnetic pull any longer, they finally gave in to their desires. Bodies intertwined, they moved together in a dance of ecstasy, their passion driving them to new heights. Pleasure flooded the room, drowning out any other thoughts or worries. They surrendered themselves completely to the moment, lost in a world of sensation and pleasure.
In the midst of their passionate lovemaking, Marcus surprised Darius with a kiss. It was unexpected, but Darius found himself welcoming it, the taste of Marcus's lips adding another layer of intensity to their encounter. But just as quickly as it happened, Marcus's realization of what he had done hit him like a tidal wave. In a sudden burst of panic, he hastily gathered his clothes and fled from the room, leaving Darius calling after him in vain.
Alone in the room, Darius was left bewildered and longing for Marcus's touch once more.
A twinge of guilt tugged at him, acknowledging that this encounter had been orchestrated from the start. The moment Carol entered the scene, a scheme unfolded in his mind. He deftly manipulated her thoughts, steering them towards a passionate rendezvous and even suggesting a threesome. The outcome thrilled him, yet a lingering question surfaced—why did Marcus succumb so readily? Though Marcus fled from him, one undeniable truth remained—Marcus was irrevocably his, he continued giving Carol a good time.
As Marcus dressed himself and left Charlene's Quarters, his mind was consumed by thoughts of Darius. Conflicting emotions tugged at him, torn between the part of him that reveled in their intimate connection and the part that despised it with a burning passion. Yet, try as he might, he couldn't escape the allure of Darius and the magnetic pull that drew him back to those stolen moments of pleasure.
Marcus retraces his steps to the place where he initially encountered Darius earlier that day. Upon rejoining his friends, cheers erupted in celebration of his triumph in the poker games, with subtle expectations for him to extend the revelry by treating them to more drinks. Succumbing to their unspoken wishes, Marcus acquiesces, driven not only by his friends' desires but also by his own need to drown out the unsettling events that transpired at Charlene's Quarters.