Red Ridng (Closed)

[Erlind]

Rafe reveled in making his little girl squirm with fear. His grip left her throat as his tongue slowly worked its way there. He slid it once across Natalie’s warm throat before opening his mouth wider so he could close his teeth around the vulnerable flesh. He didn’t bite down and he only did it at all to make her think about how easily he could kill her.

Rafe whispered to his little girl as he jaws left her throat, “I wonder if you’d even know how to live without me anymore?”

Then his claws slipped under that last little cloth barrier and he slipped her panties off. Natalie offered no resistance at all and the little piece of fabric was tossed away. With her legs forced apart and her little body trembling, Rafe slammed his thick cock into her. Rafe began to fuck his little girl like he knew she needed.

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

For that one moment, Natalie was relieved when Rafe released his grip on her neck. She was afraid that at any second, he was going to snap her neck clean while she laid there.

The feeling did not last. It was too good to be true. Replacing the grip were Rafe's teeth. Sharp, pointy fangs grazed at her skin almost ready to bite in to her flesh. She could easily see it now: Rafe "accidentally" slips by biting off a chunk of her neck. Her blood seeping on to the outer layers of her skin while her flesh and blood gnashed between his teeth.

Natalie whimpered, truly believing that he was going to kill her. Rafe did say that she didn't have to do anything wrong and he could punish her if he felt up to it.

She could have sworn that she heard Rafe said something along the lines of how she couldn't live without him. She couldn't tell. Her mind was still reeling with fear of what Rafe was going to do to her next.

Right away, she felt his cock slam inside her pussy without warning. He squeezed her breasts while he thrust inside of her but when he saw her hands appearing to squirm as if to fight away, he grabbed both of her wrists and slammed them hard on to the floor. His grip on each hand was no harder than the other.

 

[Erlind]

Natalie fought against him the entire time. Rafe loved it and her futile struggling only drove him to take her again and again. The forest night was unusually quiet and once the sounds of lust were over, there was no sound to distract him from the beautiful sight of his little girl laid out on the rug before him. The marks were still clear from where he’d clamped down on her wrists. A light stream of his cum was leaking down her leg. She was battered, her hair was tossed and tangled, and her perfect skin was marked with shallow scratches.

The wolf curled up next to his prize and went to sleep.

Rafe woke and became a man again. The night had been very hard on Natalie and he wanted to let her rest. She shivered without him there to keep her warm so he found a soft heavy red blanket and pulled it over her. He made a small pot of coffee and had a cup before leaving for the day. He wanted to get back to his hunting. He left a folded piece of paper next to the coffee maker.

“You did very well last night. Make sure you clean up nicely, but otherwise relax today. I love you, my good little girl.”

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

She couldn't stop Rafe, even as her grip on his wrists began to unravel. There was a difference between Rafe fucking her in his human form and that of his beastly self. Both forms were capable of killing her right then and there, that was for sure. But Rafe as a wolf increased the chances of a slip up bound to kill her. The image of him as a wolf overpowering her naturally terrified regardless of how any times he had fucked her in that state. But unlike his human form, his wolf tendencies tend to slowly build up a carnal lust inside of her.

Something that Natalie was reluctant to expose to Rafe.

Natalie felt herself cumming but that did not stop Rafe. Soon enough, Rafe climaxed as well. Just when she thought it was over, Rafe continued to pound his cock inside of her again. Somehow, it seemed as if the world had swallowed the two of them whole as the only sounds that could be heard were of moaning, grunts, anything lustful echoing from the two of them.

Squirming away was useless as her power was indeed rendered so by his enormous frame. When Rafe climaxed again, Natalie feared that he would take her for the third time, regardless whether he came twice in a span of a long moment.

But he didn't. After it was over, she found herself covered in sweat and cum. Both hers and Rafe's cum trickled down her thighs. Exhaustion had put her to sleep, feeling Rafe beside her.

She was not aware when he had awaken. Nor was she aware of the smell of coffee. It was only when the sun had hit her form through the window that Natalie finally woken from her slumber. Slowly sitting up, she wondered where the red blanket came from. What she was aware up to this point was that Rafe was gone.

Natalie grabbed her clothes in the next room and made her way to the bathhouse. Lighting a few candles, she slipped in to the warm water and relaxed in silence. She sank her whole body in to the water including her head, lost in her thoughts.

The moment she came up for air, she was done with her bath. After drying and dressing herself, she blew out the candles and made her way back in the house, still a bit shaken from last night. As she entered the kitchen, she noticed a folded up piece of paper. Her eyes scanned the handwritten scribble before she placed the note back on the counter. Love? The definition of it was distorted completely since that day. It wasn't long ago that she and Rafe were at the motel. What they felt for each other then was possibly the closest she could get. But in a short amount of time, that changed in to a violent takeover. No, she was not abused. If she had been, Natalie knew she would have been killed since the restaurant incident.

Still, she didn't know the meaning of it anymore. Since that day, she felt her confidence diminish greatly. Once someone who was willing to fight the wolf on his first day, to a young woman lost and afraid that a slip up around him could cost her.

As Natalie drank her coffee, she thought over the situation. It wasn't something out of choice per say. More of the knowledge that whether in human or wolf form, she was scared that he would kill her when she least expect it.

She grabbed a carrot stick and a cup of water and went to feed the rabbit in her room. It was odd; the rabbit had been around for some time but she never thought much of giving it a name.

Making absolutely sure that Rafe was nowhere around, she went to the closet. She recovered and unlocked the hunter's journal that she kept hidden from Rafe. Rafe would most likely not care so much if the hunter talked badly about him and his memories of trying to kill him once long ago. It was the other secrets that she was afraid he would find out.

Sitting inside the closet, Natalie began skimming over passages. Some didn't concern her, especially of his hunting games that he took part of with other hunters. It was then she came across something that caught her attention. It was written three months before the hunter's death.

Dimitri swung by tonight asking for signatures for the lease. Young fellow he is who just hit thirty. Going back ten years doesn't sound too bad these days, if you ask me. It's easy when you know someone you've passed on hunting skills to for the past ten years, it's easy to trust him. Gentleman, probably would have been good for her. They're both still in their youth after all. Still, ever since I told him about the predicament regarding Natalie, he seemed more willing to help with setting up a house about a hundred miles from here.

Maybe too interested?

Must be my head messing with me. Still, Natalie is growing up fast and attracting the men here can get quite dangerous for someone like her. If only her grandmother knew. Her parents? Probably wouldn't care since after they assumed Natalie was dead, they fled town.

 

[Erlind]

The scent was back. It was so strangely familiar, but Rafe couldn’t remember why. He stalked through the trees in his lupine form tracking it. Like last night the forest was oddly quiet. It was like all of the birds had fled and the animals were all in hiding. True he was a much larger predator than was usual in these woods, but there were others. He had seen them. He shouldn’t have had this effect on the animals.

The line of thoughts broke as the smell strengthened. It was like catching the scent of a brother or old friend just around the corner, but he still could not identify who. It was there in his mind, but it was as if something was blocking it out. Rafe followed the trail into a ravine, sure he was on the verge of solving his mystery. He heard a noise up ahead and looked.

A man in a green hunting jacket with the hood up stepped into view. He carried a shotgun and cocky grin was flashed at Rafe. Rafe knew the man, but he could not say why. Before he could speak a word though, the man yanked a rope that had been in his other hand. The wolf turned just in time to see the log, which was more like a downed tree, swing down from its camouflaged place above and make contact with his face. The wolf’s hulking form was knocked into the air and flew gracelessly for a short time before hitting the ground with such force that rocks from the side of the ravine tumbled down after him.

The world was going dark for Rafe, but he saw the man standing over him. “Your time is over, Rafe. She’s all mine now.”

* * *

Dealing with Rafe had been much easier than he’d guessed. He’d always been more of a stupid beast than a man. Going almost feral several times rather than accept what he was. Still Rafe had survived and many of their kind hadn’t managed even that, so some small respect was due.

Dimitri pushed his hood back as he walked from where he left his jeep up to the cottage. He had stark clean features and piercing blue eyes. He seemed much younger than he really was, but his eyes always betrayed his age to those who would look into them. He kept his dark brown hair short and his face clean shaven. His clothes were those of a hunter, but seemed a little too clean and smooth for someone who’d been out in the woods.

He approached the door. It had been a while since he’d seen her. Maybe he’d have to celebrate his new trophy a little before bring her home to be put with the others. Dimitri rapped quickly three times on the door.

“Is there anybody here? My car broke down and I could really use some help.”

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

Natalie was curious as to who Dimitri was. Looking over the name, she felt a strange sense of familiarity within those letters. But perhaps that name could simply be one of the hunter's acquaintances or hunting buddies so she didn't think much of it.

Her heart jumped when she heard someone knocking on the door and calling out to see if anyone was there. Was Rafe back already? Locking the journal and placing both the book and key away, her body trembled in fear as she headed for the main door. The man said something along the lines of having car trouble. She placed her hand on the doorknob, considering the possibility of opening the door.

But the memory came back to her all too well. An innocent conversation between herself and a waiter turned deadly when Rafe not only threw the waiter but also violently punished her that night in the woods.

Another knock. She quickly jerked her hand away and took a few steps back, afraid to open the door. Natalie peeked out through the window, keeping as much of her face hidden. He appeared to be around the same age as Rafe or a bit younger. She considered hiding, pretending to not be home at all. At this point, she was sure that he heard her footsteps.

What if Rafe found out she talked to another man? What if her punishment would be a lot worse than what happened the last time?

Unlocking just the doorknob and deadbolt, Natalie slowly opened the door, keeping the chain in tact. For a moment, she didn’t say anything, still concerned of the what-ifs. Most of the time, she would keep her gaze down or away from his own but she made some attempt to get a glance at him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I can’t fix your car. I…I don’t know how. I can't let anybody in or he'll...”

Natalie stopped herself. She didn't want to give Rafe a reason to kill this man nor did she want to scare him. She hoped that the fact that she can't fix cars was enough for this stranger.

 

[Erlind]

He didn’t need to take her by force. There’d be time for that when she was part of his collection. Besides, the brute, Rafe would be out for hours with the blow he’d struck. If Natalie left him without any signs of a struggle that would be so much the sweeter.

“I didn’t figure you could,” joked Dimitri trying to put her at ease. “I just wanted to see if you had a phone I could use or if I could at least stop to rest here for a little bit. It was a bit of a hike just getting here and there doesn’t seem to be anywhere else for miles around I could go. I don’t mean you any harm miss.”

Rafe had the poor thing terrified to open the door. She wouldn’t be scared of anything ever again once he was done with her.

“I promise not to stay long.”

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

The stranger sounded nice. The thought of it brought a small smile to Natalie’s face. If there wasn’t so much of a worry in the world, then she would have been more than happy to open the door for him just to help him out. It was true; the next house from where the cabin was situated was a fifteen minute walk. Twelve if one had the stamina to run up a hill.

But Natalie didn’t want to risk it. What if this man ends up being Rafe’s next victim after he picks up his scent?

She hid much of her body behind the door, still holding on to the doorknob. She could feel the painful sensation of her ass being ripped open by Rafe shoot up through her system. Natalie winced at the potential punishment that would come her way once Rafe returned home.

“I can’t,” she said in that same fearful, whispering tone. “Please, just go. If he finds out you’ve been here…”

What came out next wasn’t much of a sentence but more of a jumble of words that didn’t make any sense. Natalie struggled to keep her emotions in tact. Not to mention that she didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of this man. Natalie sat herself down beside the door frame, breathing heavily. She buried her face in her arms, which were saturating with her own tears.

“I didn’t let him. I’m a good girl, right? Please, I just don’t want to die. Get out of here before he kills you!”

The last sentence was more for the stranger than to what she imagined as Rafe being nearby. He could be watching her somewhere out of sight. She didn’t know. Right then and there, Natalie broke down in to sobs, babbling nonsense. Most of her words were unintelligible. In between her odd rambles were screams and cries.

 

[Erlind]

“Natalie? Natalie! Listen to me. I can get you out of here. He’ll never be able to hurt you again.”

Dimitri kneeled down next to the crack in the door. His brother in claws had really done a number on her. She was broken. If he couldn’t fix her she might honestly be worthless. Dimitri took a deep breath. It had taken him years to recognize that beautiful smell, but she was something special. There were not many like her, not many at all. If he could repair the damage Rafe had done Natalie would make an excellent trophy.

“You won’t ever have to be afraid again. Let me in Natalie. I know what he is.”

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

The crying gradually stopped, although Natalie was still shaken. It wasn't so much of the assurance of a new safe place away from Rafe that calmed her down but the fact that he knew her name. She should be okay, right? So why was the situation making her nervous? She didn't know who he was but he knew her name and, apparently, the situation she was in.

Natalie was extremely reluctant to let him in. What if this was going to be a reenactment of what happened the last time when she allowed Rafe in. She stood up, gripping on the doorknob for support. She kept the door open but wasn't ready to unchain the door just yet. When he stood up, Natalie looked over him and searched for any signs that he was lying to her. He seemed nice.

"Who are you?" She whispered. "How do you know my name?"

 

[Erlind]

Dimitri mustered all the faux sympathy he could. He didn’t truly understand being sympathetic, but he’d learned to mimic all those useful things over the years.

“The hunter knew me Natalie. I offered to help him, but he refused. My name is Dimitri. I know more about Rafe than the hunter ever did and I think that scared him, but trust me Natalie. Rafe is an animal that doesn’t deserve someone like you, and you deserve a life without fear.”

Dimitri doubted he’d killed Rafe with his trap. He could have afterwards, but the beast wasn’t of consequence. Natalie was. He’d take her by force if he was forced, but Dimitri wanted Rafe to know just how he’d lost the girl. The beast deserved nothing better.

Dimitri could take the form of a wolf, but he was not the beast that Rafe was.

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

Dimitri? The hunter's friend? Should she let him? But how did he know Rafe? She could very well just stand there and run off a litany of questions toward Dimitri. At the same time, if Dimitri knew Rafe, was he a wolf also? Would he end up treating her the same way, or worse?

Her hand reached for the chain ready to unlock it but she stopped herself. Second thoughts, doubt, she did want to trust him. After all, he and the hunter knew one another.

But what if he killed her? Maybe if that instinct hit Dimitri, it'll end things much quicker than facing the wrath and slow, severe punishment from Rafe when he finds out she spoke with Dimitri.

Natalie let out a small sigh, worried and unsure of what she should actually do. Slowly, she closed the door, unhooked the chain, then partly opened the door as a gesture for Dimitri to allow himself in. But once that door exposed her fully, her body tensed, afraid of what was to happen next.

 

[Erlind]

When she opened the door he could smell his kin throughout the house. Rafe had made this place his own and Dimitri couldn’t stand it. Placing a heavy arm on her light shoulders the man guided Natalie outside.

“You’ll never have to be afraid again,” he promised her. “Never have to fear death, being left alone, or the anger of a stupid animal like Rafe.”

Dimitri placed himself between her and the door wanting to preserve the illusion she’d left willingly. Then he looked deep into her eyes. “Rafe doesn’t understand the gift he’d been given and he let it turn him into a snarling beast ready to lash out at anything. I know Natalie, because … I’m a wolf too.”

His hand had moved down to her arm and now took a firm grip not wanting his trophy to slip away in the wave of panic that was sure to wash over her next. He’d teach her to lose that fear even in the face of the deepest rapture and pain.

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

Natalie stared at Dimitri as he spoke. Why was he saying all of this to her? She felt her body shudder as he guided her outside of the house. Maybe he had encountered Rafe at one point. Or he was, as the hunter put it, trying to protect her however he can.

The sudden revelation that he was a wolf put Natalie in to a state of panic. Her eyes wide open in fear and shock, her first instinct was to pull away and run. Dimitri was one of them. When he had that grip on her arm, her fear escalated. Screaming, she was desperate to pull her arm away from him. Images of his hand turning in to a wolf's own, hair and sharp claws included. The claws digging in to her skin ready to rip her hand away. Blood, skin and bone were exposed, the pain excruciating. All these images and the pain were all in her mind. And with that, she couldn't quite separate hallucinations and reality. In her mind, she could only see Dimitri as a similar entity of Rafe, ready to possibly kill her. She wasn't aware of her own scream and crying.

While in reality, Dimitri simply was standing there without changing in to his wolf form whereas Natalie looked more like a fish caught in a line.

Exhausted, she collapsed on to a sitting position with his grip still firm on her arm. How did the hunter not know about Dimitri's identity? Did he really not know? Or was there more to it that she was unaware of.

After a long time of being unable to say a complete sentence without blubbering, she finally spoke.

"If Rafe finds out I'm gone, he'll kill me. I'll be dead when he comes back. Were you sent to kill me in his place?"

In a way, she was looking for an escape from the uncertainty she was in now regarding Rafe. She stayed out of fear and perhaps of other things. But it seemed as if Rafe can only justify his dominance simply by converting in to his wolf form and telling her of his capability to kill her at will.

But then there was that small hope that she had where he did say he love her. Even so, the term love coming from him confused her.

 

[Erlind]

A wreck. Nearly unsalvageable. Would the others make her better or worse? Would he have to kill Rafe to calm her?

True he hated what an animal Rafe had become, but he still had trouble justifying killing kin when there were so few left. He’d rather let the beast wallow in his insanity than kill another wolf. The few primal parts left of Dimitri though demanded he have this girl, whatever it cost.

He knelt on the ground next to her and whispered tenderly to her.

“I am a wolf, but that is how you can know you are safe. Who else could keep you safe from him? I would never risk losing you and would never let him kill you. Trust me and I can keep you safe.”

Dimitri pulled Natalie to his chest and held her. Stroking her hair, trying to calm her like he would a skiddish horse. “I can take you away with me. Other girls like you live there. I keep them safe too. Don’t you want a real life, one with friends? Don’t you want to never be afraid again? How can I prove it to you?”

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

It was a contradiction on its own. Dimitri was a wolf, the same as Rafe was. But Dimitri claims that he would protect her and keep her safe from the situation she was in now. Still, he didn't answer her question on whether he was sent to kill her. Maybe he might, maybe he would not. Perhaps it was when he said that he would not risk losing her was the closest answer she got for him not killing her.

As Dimitri pulled her to him, Natalie was startled. For a moment, she thought he was going to strangle her. Take her by force, even. Ever since she lived with Rafe, her body adapted to the fear. She felt strange when he began stroking her hair and whispering gently in to her ear. While strange, the feeling of it all was unusually pleasant. A warm sensation she had not felt for so long, even with Rafe.

Her hands reached out, tempted to reciprocate his hug but she was reluctant to reach out to him. With Dimitri as a wolf, some part of her was afraid that he was deceiving her. Even if he promised her a better place, suppose if behind all that was another lie.

She recalled the story Rafe told her a while back: The first time he discovered who he was and how his family found out. When he became out of control and tensions in his own family were high. Or how he attacked his mother because of how she reacted to something he said. Natalie wondered if after all these years, it's gotten to the point where Rafe could no longer control himself in his wolf persona. There is a good possible chance that things could easily get out of control and that Rafe could kill her without warning and remorse.

Then again, there must be a reason why the hunter trusted him. She still didn't know if the hunter knew who or what Dimitri was. Or was it just all flowery words that Dimitri fed him all these years.

Slowly, Natalie returned the favor by wrapping her arms around him. At first, her hold was weak, still hesitant if she could really trust Dimitri. A few moments passed when she held on to him a little more firmly. Somewhere down the line, she heard him ask something along the lines of how he can prove to her that she could trust him.

"I guess all and all, I just want to be loved," she meekly replied. She then forced out a brief, bitter chuckle. "Who the hell am I kidding? What kind of stupid request is that, right?"

 

[Erlind]

All they ever want is love. Dimitri had never told any of them that he loved them. He did it once when he was very young and realized what a mistake it had been. Somehow those words created an attachment, one that had made him sick and stupid. He’d avoided those cursed words ever since.

He smiled gently at her. “Maybe in time,” he told her, “I promise to take care of you in the meantime though. I’ve saved a couple of girls from monsters like Rafe. I think you’ll find they’ll become like sisters to you.”

The man stood up and stretched his hand down to Natalie to help her up. “We’d better go now though. It could still be dangerous here and I don’t want to lose you. My car isn’t broken like I told you, so we can use it. Sorry for lying, but I didn’t know what Rafe had done to you before I found out you were out here alone. I needed to make sure I could get you away from him.” The expression of warmth evaporated quickly and Dimitri settled back into his normal distant and slightly impatient demeanor. The girl was scared to death of Rafe. She would come with him.

“We need to leave before he comes back.”

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

Natalie stood to her feet, still a bit hesitant on whether she could truly trust him. Or what Dimitri had in store for her. Dusting off the grass and leaves that clung on to her clothes, her gaze didn't quite meet his despite that they were facing at his direction. Cautiously, she took a few steps back away from him. The breeze picked up in to a small gust of wind, blowing her hair in all sorts of directions.

"I...I want to go. But can I pack up a few things first?"

 

[Erlind]

Dimitri hesitated. He didn’t want her to have the chance to decide she was somehow better off with the brute and he wanted her to leave of her own will. Taking her by force and would make convincing her to accept her new lifestyle difficult. Besides, he wanted Rafe to think she had just left him.

“Go ahead, but Rafe may still be out there. Don’t take anything you don’t need. I’ll go get my car.”

The black jeep had somehow barely gotten dirty on these back roads. Dimitri didn’t like letting the girl out of his sight, but he had a feeling she’d cling to him as long as he kept her safe from her personal nightmare. She was strangely intoxicating, more so than any of his other girls. Maybe it was how broken she already was, and the thought of what exactly he could form her into. Whatever it was, the cold man smiled when he saw Natalie’s slender form reemerge from the cottage.

“Get in.”

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

When Dimitri left to get his car, Natalie made her way inside the cabin and proceeded to pack the necessities: Several clothes, the hunter's journal complete with its key, and the hidden stash of money that she and the hunter kept in the bathhouse.

From the window, she could see the wind picking up. She tied a cloak around her so the wind wouldn't mess up her hair too badly. Natalie got the rabbit out of its cage, frowning at the creature. Not that she hated it but the fact that it reminded her of Rafe's rare act of kindness. He did go out of his way to get her a bunny when he could have killed her at that time.

But things were out of control.

She knew she couldn't take the rabbit with her. Opening the window, Natalie placed the furry creature outside. The rabbit looked up at her for a moment, then hopped away in to the forest.

As Natalie wheeled the small luggage out of the room, she passed the kitchen only to see the slip of paper that Rafe left her saying how much he loved her.

"How much?" She said to no one in particular.

Finding a pen, she flipped the paper over and scribbled the following sentence in cursive:

I know you'll end up finding me
And for that, I'm sorry.

-Natalie

She reread his note one more time before she placed it back where he put it earlier with her side of the note exposed. Natalie pulled her luggage along with her out of the cabin when she saw Dimitri drove by with his jeep. She pointed one finger, mouthing the words "one moment" as she passed his jeep.

Natalie stopped by the hunter's grave, staring at the makeshift headstone which was nothing more than a collection of rocks placed in a way that would mark his grave. Natalie patted her hand on the grave site and closed her eyes. Hopefully through the hunter's written word in his book, she'll find out what she needed to know.

She made her way toward the jeep and placed her luggage on the floor of the back seat. As she made her way to the front, she glanced at the cabin, then back at the hunter's grave. Letting out a small sigh, she climbed on to the passenger seat and closed the door.

 

[Erlind]

Dimitri said little on the return ride. He had Natalie now, so he felt no strong urge to speak with her. There would be plenty of time to indoctrinate her, and pushing her too hard now could serve to cause more damage. Instead, old rock songs quietly filled the silence of the ride back. They were nearly out of the forest when a howl faintly rose over the music in the car.

* * *

Rafe awoke to an unsteady world and a pulsing pain in his skull. The beast rose up unsteadily, ready to fall over again at any moment. Slowly he took in what was around him.

Gulley.
Forest.
A suspended log? He’d been attacked here. The familiar scent had led him here. He’d found a familiar man. Then, darkness.

Natalie! As he ran his head began to swim, but he didn’t care. Natalie. When Rafe made it back to his home he slowed down again. The change of speed made his view of the world unstable again, and the wolf was reduced to clutching the doorframe until it evened out again. Nothing made sense. He couldn’t think. Couldn’t remember.

Forging inside only took effort, because of the toll the blow to his head was still taking. Stalking through the small house he found his little girl gone. The rabbit’s cage was open and empty. Her things were missing. The last thing he found was the note he’d left her, now reversed.

I know you'll end up finding me
And for that, I'm sorry.

-Natalie

A sorrowful howl tore through the forest. She was gone. She’d left him. … Or was it the man’s fault? What was his name?

Dimitri.

Dimitri would pay.

* * *

They passed through the town and past its borders as well. Just as the city started to give way to the wild again Dimitri turned off the main road. It didn’t take long for them to be moving up the long driveway of his estate.

His home was a huge brick manor built in a late Victorian style. Dimitri had earned this place through creative investing and the use of his darker half to encourage business partners and enemies alike to act in ways lucrative for him. The home was more than mere opulence though, he needed a place like this for all of the trophies he’d collected.

“Welcome home.” He doubted the girl had ever seen a place like this in person, the way that hunter had always kept her cooped up. Dimitri parked in front of the main doors, leaving the keys for one of the girls, and went around to open Natalie’s door for her.

“Leave your bag,” the imposing man instructed her, “one of my girls will deliver it to your room when she puts away the jeep.” He held his hand out to Natalie, eager to bring her into his world.

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

As they were driving away from the forest, Natalie could have sworn she heard howling. It was faint, but there was no doubt in her mind that it was howling. What if Rafe found out that she was gone? She was about to voice her concern when Dimitri massaged her shoulder to calm her down.

Free. Was she finally free? Maybe she was to the point where she no longer had to face Rafe's wrath.

As he drove through the nearest town, Natalie felt sleepy. She rested her head up against the window and allowed slumber to take over.

When she woke up, she was half asleep as Dimitri helped her out of the vehicle. She heard him say something along the lines of "Welcome home" when she finally woke up.

Natalie was surprised at the house alone. She had seen the Victorian manor style homes before but they were usually in magazines and books. To her, these kinds of houses were usually found in high class neighborhoods.

She was about to grab her things when Dimitri stopped her, informing her that one of the girls will bring it up to her room later on. At first, she was uncomfortable at others handling her things, particularly at the contents inside. What if they rummaged through it and took those items? From the corner of her eye, she noticed one of the women taking her bag without inspecting.

Dimitri caught her attention again by reaching out his hand to her. Slowly, she reached out her hand to his and followed him up to the house.

 

[Erlind]

One of his girls quietly and obediently stepped in to fetch Natalie’s bags. Dimitri expected nothing less and in fact he would have had an issue to address if it had not happened with expediency he expected. Taking his new prize by the hand he led her into her new home. He let her marvel at his modest home and he took her through the grand hall and up the winding stairs to the second floor.

They passed the first hall unmolested save for an open door to Miranda’s room. She had kept it neat at least, but he should have never seen the purple lace and figurines she decorated her room with. He’d have to speak with the girl.

They turned down the next hall to the room he had picked out for Natalie and Dimitri produced an old brass key. He unlocked the door and pushed it open with a light touch. Inside the girls had done their job, cleaning and decorating it without leaving any of their personal touches. The drapes were drawn leaving it a bit dark, but that complimented the maroon and gold of the sheets, drapes, and wallpaper. A light blue vase with roses in it sat on a small table near the window.

“I hope you like it, but if you don’t you can change anything about the room. It is yours after all.” The confident man held out the key between two fingers, offering it to her. If she was ever to learn her place in his house she’d have to understand how much she had to lose.

 

[Lyssa_Marie]

Natalie wished Dimitri would slow down while he led her inside the manor. Even in her slightly sleepy state, she was in awe of the interior and the nice furnishings. She caught a glimpse of wall decoration or the room they passed by. The room he led her to was modest but simply beautiful at the same time. Stepping inside, she appreciated the curtains having been drawn closed. With the long sleep she may or may not have, she was not up for waking up to the sunlight greeting her. The color of the vase seemed out of place in the room but she said nothing about it. As she was looking at the curtains, she was unaware of her things being delivered in to the room, placed neatly against the side of the dresser. How could he afford all of this? She didn't have the time to ask when Dimitri gave her the keys to his room.

Was he serious? If this was Rafe instead of Dimitri, Rafe will never hand her the keys to her room. He would want full access whenever the desire occurred. She looked at the key, then back at Dimitri, wondering if this was all a trick question and that there was something more. She took the bedroom key from his hand.

"To be honest, I'm just surprised." She said in a quiet, nervous tone, trying to choose her words carefully. "I don't know what to say."

Natalie thought it over for a moment, nervous on how Dimitri would react. Removing her red cloak, she approached closer to the wolf before she wrapped around his waist, hugging him.

----


Miranda emerged from the bathroom to wash off a paper cut she had gotten earlier. As she passed the hallway, she overheard Dimitri having a conversation with another woman. Someone from the house? No she did not recognize the voice. Visitor?

Given the words the new girl had uttered, she couldn't help but roll her eyes as she made her way back to her bedroom. Another poor girl Dimitri managed to snatch up amongst his travels. Some have been taken in under the impression that they were going to be protected.

But Miranda knew the truth. At the same time, the more the girls "vanished," the less worry she had of them stealing Dimitri away from her. To her, he never got over her even after he broke off the relationship. Why else would he allow her to stay in his house? She could have been another statistic.

She liked to think that she had more privileges than most girls have in the manor. Privileges that could be used to her advantage. Most of all, the sex, especially in the old days, mmm...thinking about how passionate and how hard Dimitri took her when they were dating. The nights that they would spend in the den as he showed her ways that would both satisfy the both of them. Sometimes he would wake her up randomly in the middle of the night at the right time on the times that she had a sexual dream. His fingers finding his way inside her pussy, sometimes his cock, and he would whisper dirty things in her ear that wouldn't be considered a gentleman thing to do.

The thought of it made Miranda cream her panties. She let out a sigh of the nostalgia factor.

The new girl sounded almost child-like: Nervous, unsure, quiet. She sneered at the characteristics. Why would Dimitri snatch up someone like her? It was like that story he used to tell her about the hunter he was acquainted and how he managed to befriend the hunter's adopted kid. Why waste his time? The hunter and the kid may have moved out of town at this point when she was attacked by a wolf.

She was curling the ends of her hair with a round brush when she heard the footsteps of Dimitri and his silhouette from the mirror heading to her room.

 

[Erlind]

“My dear, it is no less than you deserve after everything you’ve been through. I want you to feel like you belong here and there’s not another place you’d be happier. Take the afternoon to unpack and settle into your room. Dinner is at seven. It’s an important part of our day in this house, so please be on time. I’ll send someone by to see how you’re doing in a little bit.”

When she looked up at him Dimitri kissed Natalie gently on the forehead. Rather than the act of a lover it was almost fatherly. Each trophy needed something different from him. Some could never be satisfied and were lost …, but what Natalie needed was a protector. Someone she could feel safe with and imagine love even if it was never there for her.

Dimitri left Natalie to arrange her room and explore the house some if she wished. She would find certain doors locked if she tried, but he doubted it would worry her. As the wolven lord of the manor worked his way back towards his study he heard Miranda back in her room. He rapped sharply on the door.
Before she could open it he gave he told her, “Miranda, I want to see you in my study to address an issue we have.” His voice was stern and reflected little patience. With his warning issued he went downstairs and entered the dark study he used to relax. Old books lined his shelves detailing everything from history he’d gathered on the wolves, to favorite stories, to works more focused on darker subjects, ones closer to his heart.

He sat in the dark hard wood chair that was designed more for appearance than for comfort. The dark green carpet, antique desk, and leather chairs in the center of the room all screamed of a civilized man, but the wolf saw a different picture. Dimitri saw every conquest he had ever made in this room. Every business deal he’d made that had sealed another company’s fate along with the hopes and dreams of those that had supported it was laid out in phantom images across his desk. The room sang with the screams of pain and ecstasy of every woman he’d ever dominated right down to their bitter ends. He could see their limp bodies across the room, some simply exhausted while others were splattered with blood had breathed their last. The men he’d killed in this room too roamed across his vision. The lord of the manor had these visions dispelled by a light knock at the heavy wooden door.

“Enter.”