A Wizard's War

After dinner was over, Connor was led by his burning silver collar to a large open space on the second floor of the house. The room was clearly of custom design at the center of the house with no windows and large heavy doors. Madame Beech was there waiting with four of her serving staff and they presented goblets of mead to Malachi and all his guests. Connor was chained roughly to the wall and denied any of the sweet nectar.

“This is our sanctuary,” Malachi spoke pointedly to Connor, “Our changing room. It’s how we keep the town safe, by only sending a few out to hunt for us all.”

“Blood of my blood…” The older woman spoke raising her goblet.

“We are the cursed ones, we are the wolves of Graymere,” Malachi finished the toast, and they all drank deeply.

“Time for some introductions,” Malachi flourished as he relinquished his glass back to one of his servants. He placed his arms around the older woman and gently massaged her shoulders, “This lovely lady is my chosen mate, of house Finfgeld. Damaris and I became lovers after we tragically lost my previous mate, which was Constance’s mother.”

Malachi moved to the two huge, brutish men, “Damaris and I had two pups, strong young men, Boris…” he indicated the one with the beard, “…and Baldur.”

“The final proud house is that of house Corbett,” the frail woman spoke, and Malachi shot a reproachful glare at the sudden interruption.

“Yes,” Malachi’s wolfish smile returned as he indicated the frail woman, “Gladys Corbett and her two children, Wilhelm…” indicating the skinny boy, “…and Sarah,” the blonde woman.

“Shall we?” Sarah asked as she began to unfasten her stunning red dress. Connor’s wolf form could practically smell the change in pheromones and lust radiating from Boris as he watched Sarah undress. Her large breasts were perky and cream colored in the soft candlelight, with large dark pink areolas. Soon they were all undressing and handing their expensive clothes to the servants.

Madame Beech was reverently waiting on Malachi and taking his clothes as he passed them to her. When everyone was naked, it took three servants to seal the chamber’s heavy door and then it was latched shut from the outside. The shifting began and all the people present became wolves. They were all gray wolves except for the largest, Malachi’s great white wolf towered over the others and had the unnaturally red eyes of a trained predator.

The gathered wolf pack formed a semicircle around Malachi and lowered their heads in a gesture of deference and respect as he howled into the chamber.

“Kneel,” was the command Connor heard pronounced in his head. Connor rose from his seated position and held his wolf head up high in defiance.

“You don’t want to do this, boy,” Malachi audibly growled, but Connor could hear the words clear in his mind.

Connor growled and bared his teeth as his own response. Malachi was on him in a flash and the alpha’s powerful jaws were locked around Connor’s throat.

“I could end you now,” Malachi snarled, “One swift movement and you would be dead.”

“Fuck you,” Connor thought back as he remembered seeing Simon on the ground in a pool of his own vomit. They had tempted his wolf with meat and the promise of pleasures, but at the end of the day he was nothing like these monsters. They had no regard for human life. Connor closed his eyes accepting that the end may come, but then the great door banged open. Connor opened his eyes and saw Simon standing at the entrance. Connor’s heart leapt with joy and his tail may have been wagging!

Yidian rose from the ground and surveyed the cold dark space they had dumped Simon’s body. A cellar perhaps, certainly underground. They moved in jerky starts at first until the muscles and joints unstiffened from their previously poisoned state. Yidian looked lazily down and was amused to find they were aroused at the thought of all the death they planned to unleash. Simon’s cock was substantially larger than when they had first met, but Yidian did not care who noticed his raging erection when the slaughter would begin.

They passed out of the cellar through a long hall, where they discovered a series of barred doors set into one wall. Yidian was amused to find two wolves chained by silver collars in two of the cell doors. They snarled wildly at Yidian, but they posed no threat and they left them for now. Yidian ascended the steps and found themselves in the kitchen where a bloody human leg was sitting on a large butcher block.

Intrigued, Yidian pushed a finger through the blood and then licked it clean. The taste was not as sweet as they recalled while in this human body. How unfortunate.

Yidian sensed the surroundings, the house, the ground. The earth was tainted by something, it was beneath the earth perhaps buried in the foundation of the house or in a crypt nearby. It was ancient and had the distinct, unpleasant taint of the gods. Yidian disliked this place and could not wait to leave it behind, but there was some business yet to tend to. These cowardly wolves had used poison on their vessel and there was a price to pay for such an offense.

As Yidian departed the kitchen, he collided with a frantic servant boy who bounced off Simon’s muscular frame and cowered on the floor before them.

“Where?” was all Yidian asked.

“Upstairs,” the boy stammered as he wet himself, “The big… door. Can’t miss… it.”

As Yidian neared the top of the stairs they heard a great howl echo through the house, and as the boy had promised, the large, barricaded door was hard to miss. Other servants fled in terror in all directions, one even threw himself over the landing to reach the first floor faster. Yidian paid them no mind as he focused his attention on the battle ahead.

With a quick turn of the latch and a brutal kick, Yidian was inside the large chamber where nine wolves were gathered. The great white wolf had his teeth around another wolf that was chained to the wall. Such bravery, to have to poison and chain your prey first, Yidian considered with disgust.

“It’s the wolf fucker!” One of the wolves snarled and Yidian quickly recognized this bitch as Constance. She bounded and lunged forward. Yidian raised their arm just in time and she bit down hard into the flesh. Yidian used their own forward momentum to take her to the ground, and as their weight landed on her open mouth, they heard the jaw snap and break. Yidian rose as Constance limped away in pain, the wolf’s jaw hanging uselessly open.

“Nooooo!” Malachi howled as he let go of Connor’s throat and faced the new threat to his pack. He issued a single order, “Kill him!”

Four of the great gray wolves did not hesitate and they attacked Yidian at once attempting to overwhelm their prey with the sheer force of numbers. Yidian deftly dodged a few of the snapping maws and instead focused on a single attacker. Yidian plunged their fist into a wolf’s chest as it leapt through the air at them. The others paused a moment in surprise as Yidian flung the lifeless wolf off their now blood-drenched arm. Yidian used the momentary distraction to kick one hard in the side and heard several ribs crack.

While Yidian’s attention was on the two remaining wolves, Malachi had stalked up behind and now lunged at the exposed flesh at the back of the neck. Yidian crashed to the ground at the sudden and cowardly attack and was even more enraged by such a maneuver. Before Malachi could rend the flesh and break the neck, Yidian gouged a finger into the wolf’s eye and left the orb dangling from its socket. Malachi yelped in pain and released his grip, but the other two wolves were on top of Yidian, attempting to tear into the exposed organs while they were prone.

Yidian grasped each wolf by the throat and lifted them off. Yidian used brute strength to crush their windpipes, leaving them gurgling and coughing blood on the ground. Yidian got up off the ground and looked at the mayhem, their cock was throbbing and they were smiling like a maniac. Two thin wolves had retreated and sat near Connor, they bowed their heads in surrender. The wolf with the cracked ribs had retreated to a corner where it cowered in fear. That left only Constance and Malachi…

Constance had no bite left, but she raked her claws across Yidian’s back tearing deep into the flesh. Yidian rounded and battered her across the head with their bloody fist. While she was dazed, they raised both hands and brought them down hard on her spine where bones cracked and she fell instantly limp as some part of her nervous system was severed. The white wolf was nowhere to be found.

“Fucking COWAAARRRD!!!” Yidian roared in frustration as he looked toward the open door to the chamber. Yidian longed to wipe Malachi’s pathetic stain from existence. They stalked out the door in pursuit.

Connor was in stunned horror as he watched Simon brutally murdering the attacking wolves. It was as if he were no longer human, but some spirit that had come back to take revenge. Simon was standing there with an erection and Connor was disgusted to see such arousal at the brutal onslaught. What was this…demon? As the word crossed his mind, Connor suddenly realized that he was seeing the demon within for the first time.

Simon was leaving the room now in pursuit of Malachi, Connor tried to go forward, but was quickly scalded by the collar around his neck. Gladys Corbett’s wolf was suddenly there next to him, and her amber wolf eyes seemed to display some sort of apology as she pawed at the chains. Gladys and Wilhelm had refused to fight when Malachi had made his command, instead they had watched to see who would walk away, triumphant. Now that most of the pack was dead, it seemed they had chosen a side.

She could not remove the collar in her wolf form, but she managed to free the chain from the wall. Connor immediately bounded after Simon, following the scent as it went down the stairs and out of the open front door. The rain was still heavy, and the smells became diluted and weak. Every step the collar seared his flesh and made him wince with discomfort.

He moved this way and that trying to pick up the trail, but he could not determine which direction they had gone. Then he heard growling and snarling from behind the house. He turned as lightning flashed, revealing two forms locked in a struggle on the bluff. Connor ran as fast as his weakened body would allow until he came upon Simon who managed to throw Malachi back, but the white wolf was coming again to take another bite out of him.

As the thunder rolled and the white wolf lunged through the air, Connor collided with his uncle and the powerful momentum sent both wolves hurdling over the cliff edge. Connor had a moment of slow motion as he felt weightless over the huge drop. The roaring sound of the falls echoed below, and every drop of rain seemed to hang suspended in the air as time stopped. Connor was afraid, but he felt content knowing he was about to die for a good reason.

Then time sped up all at once, and the silver collar around Connor’s neck seemed to grip him like a noose before slamming him hard into the cliff face. Connor watched the white fur of his uncle plunge into the darkness below.

Then Connor was being hoisted up by his neck and the pain was excruciating, every muscle in his body ached, but he was alive. Simon had grabbed his chain and managed to save him from a deadly plunge to the rocks below. Once Connor had his paws on the solid ground, Simon unclasped the collar and freed him from the burning metal.

“We need you,” Simon spoke over the crash of the falls, “Badly wounded!”

Connor was confused as Simon began to pull off his clothes and then submit himself on all fours. Connor was disturbed by this behavior and was in no mood to have sex after what had just happened. Connor took a step back away from the man and shook his wolf head in distaste.

“We need the seed!” Simon slapped at his muscular ass eagerly. As lightning flashed, Connor realized Simon was still very aroused and his hard cock was swinging between his legs as he knelt on all fours. This was not Simon requesting this sudden, urgent sexual encounter.

“We need the energy to heal!” the demon explained further, but Connor was still not in any mood to become aroused. His own body was battered, and he had just witnessed the source of so many future nightmares.

Connor huffed in disapproval again and sauntered away from the cliff edge, leaving Simon crouched there on all fours.

“How dare you walk away from us?” the demon roared, “We just saved you!”

Connor kept walking, returning to the house to wait out the night until his transformation was ended. And hopefully, Simon’s transformation as well.

Yidian stalked through the night, their rain-soaked body, completely naked. They came upon the tavern and banged on the door with one hand and then two. They finally heard movement on the far side and the soft glow of a lantern illuminated the lower windows.

“No travelers are admitted after sundown!” Siggi called from inside.

“We met earlier!” Yidian spoke, “We…I was traveling with a wolf, seems we’ve run into a deadly problem and could desperately use some help!”

A long moment of indecision passed by, and then Yidian overheard the sound of a barricade being moved aside as Siggi opened the door. The gangly barkeep gasped when he saw Simon’s naked body and the massive erection greeting him. There were few words after that as Siggi let the muscular stranger inside.

Yidian enjoyed as Siggi knelt before them as if in worship, swallowing the long shaft. It reminded them of days long past when they had walked the earth before. All the humans respected and feared them back then. Knelt, and served them like gods. Siggi was serving well, desperate to do a good job.

But after a time, Yidian was reminded by the cuts on their arm and the wounds on their body, that they needed something more from the man. He exposed his eager hole to Siggi and asked if the man would fill him with seed. Siggi eagerly agreed as he fumbled to quickly unclasped his trousers. His erection freed, Siggi penetrated with his small cock. Yidian was immediately bored, but they needed the seed, so they milked that dick with their ample muscular hole until Siggi was nearly in tears of joy.

Then Yidian laid Siggi on the ground and continued to ride him until the cum flowed and flowed. Siggi had the best sex of his life and unleashed countless orgasms in intense succession. When the man was drained, Yidian consumed his soul and filled their body with the healing and restorative essence. Yidian smiled knowing that they had found the most powerful and incredible host to ever exist.

Connor peeled a slimy bit of gunk from his shoulder and then tried to lay down the wild hair of his beard. His hairy body was naked as he stood in the room that he and Simon had planned to share the night before. He was so focused, he jumped a bit when he saw Simon standing in the door. Simon was dressed in someone else’s clothes and they hugged his muscular form very tight.

“Is it you?” he asked nervously.

“The soul you cared for is gone. We are all that remain.”

Connor felt the sting of tears in his eyes, but he refused to let the demon see how much he was hurt. He moved to the washing basin and turned his back while he cleaned off the blood from his transformation. When he was finished and had his emotions in check he looked back at the demon, seeing Simon’s handsome boyish face watching him.

“What now?” Connor asked.

“We have somewhere we must go,” Yidian answered.

“Just come to say goodbye?” Connor was surprised.

“We came to get the bag Simon was travelling with, but you do have our thanks,” Yidian nodded, “you supplied several delicious offerings.”

“It sounds gross when you say it. Simon was sweet.”

“He was,” Yidian looked down uncertainly, “Perhaps too innocent.”

“Perhaps,” Connor felt partially responsible for Simon’s untimely end. If only they’d never met, maybe he would be dead instead and Simon would still be alive. There was no way of knowing for sure. But things had a way of taking a terrible turn lately, especially for poor Simon.

“Stay strong,” Yidian offered as he collected the bag from the floor then he hesitated and reached inside, “Can you read?”

“Yes, I can,” Connor spoke curiously, “the common tongue.”

“Here,” Yidian handed Connor the Tales of Meridiah, “it was Simon’s favorite.”

Connor took the extended volume and looked down at it reverently. It looked like a children’s book. Yidian turned and left the house, heading east out of Graymere Falls.

Connor finally came to tears after he knew the demon had left and Simon was no longer in sight. He could not believe his brief relationship with the warlock was ended so tragically and he could not believe how much it hurt after such a short time. When his tears dried, he dressed himself and made his way down to the main hall. He followed the smell of cooking food to the dining room.

After most of the servants had fled, Gladys was reduced to serving breakfast to her son on her own. The thin boy looked ravenously at the poached quail eggs and crispy bacon she had placed before him.

“I may have lost a daughter,” Gladys spoke gravely as she moved around the table, “but that warlock did us a favor. Malachi was the most blood-thirsty alpha in our history.”

“I feel lost,” Connor confessed mostly to himself.

“I always thought Sarah was his pup anyway. He took me many times, right in front of my husband.”

“My gods, that’s terrible!”

“Indeed,” Gladys leaned closer, “He was a ruthless, cowardly beast. It was no wonder your father tried to get away and start a new life. I missed Marcus’ level head.”

“My father?” Connor wondered, “Did he really just run off?”

“In a way,” Gladys spoke, “When he nearly killed his wife, he came back home to suppress his urges. Malachi had him poisoned with wolfsbane and chained in the basement. He’s been a wolf so long, he’s probably more animal than man now. Just like my husband.”

“You mean…?” Connor was shocked.

“Yes, your father is alive,” Gladys nodded, and she disappeared into the kitchen. Connor followed her anxiously. She popped a quail’s egg into her own mouth and savored the silky yoke within, then led Connor to the cellar steps. They descended together and she showed him the two wolves locked in cages.

“We have to help them!” Connor was eager to get inside and free them.

“We will,” Gladys placed a reassuring hand on his arm, “In time. They will need to be eased back into human life. It will be a difficult journey, but this cage will be the safest place for them and us, for the moment.”

Connor looked uncertainly through the bars at his father and knew he had come to the right place for answers. He would learn how to help his father and he would learn how to be a better wolf.

“I hope you will heed my advice,” Gladys was almost pleading, “And I hope you are a better alpha than your uncle.”

Connor rounded in surprise, “I don’t intend to be the alpha.”

“It doesn’t matter what you intended,” Gladys shrugged, “It is meant to be. You are the only one who can carry on as the leader of the wolves of Graymere. Wilhelm is certainly not capable. We follow you now.”