Spirits of the Earth

For Spicy~
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After weeks - maybe months - of captivity, Nisha had physically flourished. Not only did she look healthier, she felt stronger. Regular meals had done wonders for her, and that weighed heavily on her mind as she huddled there by the stream they had camped next to. Physically she was doing better than since she'd left her brother's care – psychologically she was breaking down with each day. Her captor either didn't realize or didn't care about the damage he was doing to the poor girl's mind, although he'd hurt her physically too – still did when she angered him.

There were a lot of things she had thought long and hard about. Being as submissive as she was, Nisha had taken all the abuse with silence. Food could be a strong motivator, especially to one that had nearly starved. Ronan had saved her, in that regard. Still, the constant use was poisoning her emotions. She felt dirty all the time, no matter how much she bathed, and she could smell him all over her and it made her feel sick. Every time he touched her it made her skin crawl, and each look thrown in her direction had her cringing in fear.

When Ronan left that day, Nisha waited until she could be sure he was gone far enough to not notice her slip away. As quietly and stealthily as she could, she stumbled away. Her bare feet splashed softly in the water of the stream as she followed it, trying to conceal her scent so that he couldn't track her down. Running away was an act of defiance, one that Nisha hadn't actually thought she was capable of until her feet had begun moving, and now she couldn't bring herself to stop. Tears were running down her face, pure terror fueled her to keep hobbling along the creek bed, even as her lungs burned and her heart ached.

If he caught her she would be punished severely. What if he got so angry he killed her? She didn't want to die! Those thoughts were what lashed at her like a whip, keeping her driving on doggedly even when she desperately wanted to stop. Dusk was creeping across the highlands by the time she finally just stumbled up out of the water and collapsed in a gasping heap. Her limbs felt unbearably heavy, and her lungs burned with each breath, but she had made it this far, and no Ronan! There was also no more food.

Curling up into a ball Nisha sobbed herself to sleep.

Further down the river, another had taken refuge within it's cool waters. He had just dissolved back to human, after abandoning his form as a wolf. It was too dangerous to last too long in such a state, and sometimes, it just felt better to be human.

The waters felt good, and relieved him of the itching burn from the fleas that seemed to be unyielding. No matter how many times he bathed- they always seemed to come back. At least, for now, it seemed the fleas had been washed away.

Crawling out from the side of the river, he shook his hair dry and mops of curly brown hair settled over his face. But just as he had taken up a leisurely spot, sunning out on a nice warm, hot river rock in the sun- something... obviously female caught his nose. And from where he was, his eyes drifted down stream to where he saw a form laying on the river bank.

Had he his wolf ears, they would have swiveled about curiously, but instead, his green eyes just observed her from a distance. His keen sense of smell let him know she was alive, but curiosity drove him from his rock as she plodded through the waters and to the river bank at her side.

Forgetting he had abandoned his clothing, he stood nakedly over her sleeping form and tilted his head curiously. No, definitely this close to her he realized she was not dead-
but how one could sleep so soundly at this time of day was interesting.

Crouching down beside her, he got a better look and got closer to get a better smell of her- and a story was blossoming in his mind from it. It seemed she was taken by another wolf already- and that fact stung his nose, and made him frown a bit.

It seemed all of the cute ones were taken. But there was also something else about her that caught his nose-
and it wasn't the salted tears he sniffed that made him take in her sadness, and it was at this sensation that he turned more somber as he studied her sleeping face. It didn't take him long to figure out her story-
It was heart break- in one form or another.


And because of other certain emotions he could 'smell' from her, it begged him to stay; so he waited by her side for her to come around, even as the sun continued to move, now casting long rays that cut through and rained down upon them in glittering lines through the tall trees.

Yes, it was the scent of fear and lonliness that cemented him to this spot- and also that that kept him from running away, or taking advantage where others might- for he understood far too well some of the smells drifting off from her- for he had, at one point in his life, been so unhappy nad afraid-

but that was in a world so long ago.

Nisha remained unconscious for a long while, body too exhausted to do anything but sleep. Her mind only slowly awakened, regaining consciousness in stages. She'd had the strangest dream, she had dreamed that she had actually run away from Ronan. Wasn't that the stupidest thing? How could she ever run away from him? He was so much stronger and faster than her, and he would get so angry.

She was curled up on the ground, Nisha realized, she must have passed out at camp while Ronan was out hunting. Though her nose was catching the musky scent of a male wolf, so he must have returned while she slept. Odd, he hadn't woken her up. Usually when he returned from hunting he was eager to make her pleasure him. A cringe went through her at that thought. Not again, she didn't want to!

Body jerking up with a gasp she remembered that she hadn't dreamed it, she had run away, as far as she could force herself. Oh god, he'd found her already. Grey eyes were wild with terror as she cowered away from Sebastian.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, I won't run again, I swear. Please don't -" She choked on a gasping sob. Ronan was going to kill her for running! No - first he would make her wish she was dead, then make her beg for him to show mercy.

Her mind was too panicked to realize that the scent was all wrong, whoever this was, it was definitely not Ronan, and with her arms protectively thrown over her head and her face pressed to the dirt submissively she didn't see that the man before her was not at all who she was expecting - or the fact that he was naked!

Well, her reaction was most unexpected. She went rambling on to apologize to him for something that obvious triggered her to be eating the dirt now. He tilted his head to one side and idly scratched at a few fleas that remained in his hair.
Damn fleas. He thought the river had got them.

But he supposed the fleas were the least of his worries now as he peered down at the girl as she groveled.
"I'm no alpha, you don't have to bow to me. I found you at the river bank." He gave a light sniff her way before lowering himself down to her level and peering after her, one cheek on the dirt while green eyes looked back at her.

"Were you running away from someone?"
Because if it was poachers... he'd want to know so they could both escape them- one could never be too certain in this area, that was for sure. He gave another scratch to his hair.

Yeah- definitely fleas. Damn, pestilent things.

Nisha was still trembling like a leaf, but she blinked back tears as Sebastian spoke to her. Who? The relief that flooded through her was immense. Ronan hadn't found her. Not yet, at least. Of course that just led to another set of worries and fears. Who was this that had stumbled upon her? Most importantly - was he going to hurt her?

Lifting her head slowly, soft grey eyes filled with tears and fear met his green ones. He didn't look like Ronan at all, didn't smell like him either. Ronan had this commanding, threatening presence about him that terrified her. She didn't get that feeling looking at this male at all.

There was one thing about him that made her uneasy, though. He was stark naked, and realizing this her face heated and pale flesh turned crimson. Naked this guy was still better than a fully dressed Ronan.

Her hands reached out to lightly seize Sebastian's wrist as she looked at him imploringly. "Please, he can't find me. I can't go back, he's going to kill me for leaving him." A few tears rolled down her cheeks, there was desperation in her cracking voice.

Though she was crying and imploring many things from him- now that he got a good look at her- and smell, he realized something about her wolf scent was...
off.

Glancing down at her hand that touched him, he looked back up into her eyes.
"Have you run away from your mate?"
He wanted to swish his tail-and badly, it was a habit of his when he became anxious- but as a human, he simply gave his flea-infested hair another scratch.

Nisha honestly wasn't sure she was so much asking for help as she was trying to figure everything out in her own head. Ronan couldn't find her, she wouldn't go back, she wouldn't. Death was better, at least in death there was dignity. The humiliation she had been put through over the past unknown number of weeks was more than even she could bear.

When he asked her if she had run away from her mate, she convulsed and pulled back, in both fear and disgust. "No. No." She shook her head viciously in denial. Ronan was not her mate! She didn't care what the brute had done to her, that was one thing she would not bend on. Not that Ronan wanted a mate, he just wanted someone he could use to get his enjoyment from.

"I never wanted him. I- I didn't have a choice. He hurts me." She dropped her head back to the ground and let go of Sebastian, curling back up in a ball. Nisha knew she should get up and keeping running, but she didn't have anywhere to go. "I wish my brother was here." She said mournfully.

Sebastian hadn't assumed that- but after recalling the scents of a man all over- his lips flattened out into a frown.

"Then we should keep going," he told her as he rose to his feet. "Are you well enough to travel, or do I have to carry you?" He wasn't about to let her suffer all alone. Though he wasn't much of a hero, he understood far too much how alpha males reacted and always just took what they wanted- and his mark was all over her- his attempt at a claim. She was just lucky she was not with his children, but in her condition it would be a wonder if she could bear any man's child.

"I could help you get to a nearby village, get you something to eat?"

The first instinct Nisha had was to run, and she had, but there had never been a plan of what to do other than get away. Now she had curled into her little ball and wanted nothing more than to disappear. Staying still wasn't going to work, though. She was still far too close to Ronan for comfort.

Tiredly she looked up, blinking soft grey eyes as Sebastian said that they should keep going. What did he mean? Carry her? Confusion clouded her pretty face. Why would he help her? Why would anyone? The sickening thought that maybe he wanted to get something out of her too crossed her mind. He didn't seem like he wanted to hurt her, though.

Uncurling she slowly stood up, keeping her face and eyes downcast, only sneaking looks up at him timidly. "I don't know why you would, but yes, please...help me. I- I'll repay you...somehow." She said miserably. Owing people was awful, being a burden and useless was a horrible feeling, but then again, Ronan hadn't thought her completely useless. She wrung her hands and mumbled something softly. "You're...uhm...naked."

Seeing her cowering before him just felt so...
odd to him. And wrong. Normally he was the one doing the cowering. And by the way she strained her words, how those doe eyes were filled with tears- It pulled just too much on his heart strings for him to offer anything but his help.

"Repay me?" He tilted his head, as if unused to the phrasing. But it was only then she pointed out he was naked and he looked down at his hair body, then back to her with a shrug. "I left it somewhere. I can't become a wolf and keep my clothes." No- he had tried to too many times to realized- it was for not; and any attempts to keep clothing after the fact just left them in shreds.
He was used to traveling naked- though he was also used to traveling alone.

"I could go fetch them." he suggested, realizing and smelling how awkward and afraid she felt-a n this time, it was because of him. A strange thing, but he supposed wolves were dangerous- even to their own kind.

Well that was a logical reason for him being naked - Ronan had never worn clothes when he changed either. Of course, she hadn't been able to figure out how to wear clothing and transform from one form to the other and not make a mess of everything.

"If y-you want t-to." She stuttered softly. If he didn't want to put clothes on, well, it wasn't as if she could make him. Self-consciously Nisha picked at her ill-fitting tattered dress, her feet were bare, she hadn't any shoes. There were bruises on her arms, legs and neck that could be seen, and many more bites and claw marks where the ragged garment covered.

Sebastian nodded and didn't say a word as he turned from her and began to head towards the stream. He had left his clothes on the other side,a nd sloppily walked through the waters before resting at the bank of the opposing end of the river, where he shook off what water he could, but noted, curiously, the girl was following him.

He peered over at her as he began to dry off his face with his tattered clothing before he slipped them on and pulled out his tail from the loose collar of his shirt. He didn't care he and his clothing were damn; he was an animal and was used to waiting on his fur to dry anyways. At least as a human, he'd dry much quicker, eve with his clothes.

But it was only as he smoothed down his clothing that he realized, with some interest, they were both dressed alike.
"Seems we both are shoeless and have tattered clothes," he replied thoughtfully, and stared down for a moment at their mud soaked feet.

Nisha didn't know what else to do, so she followed him as the went to retrieve his clothing, and watched him dress, though that she did subtly. He hadn't seemed embarrassed at all by nakedness, but she still didn't want to stare, honestly she was afraid that he would disappear and prove to have been a figment of her imagination. Now that she thought of it, nakedness hadn't used to bother her so much, but that was probably just another thing that Ronan had destroyed in her.

Grey eyes blinked before looking over his attire, then down at her own. "Yeah, I guess we are." She said shy and nervous. She was anxious to get far away from here - it didn't matter where they went. It hardly mattered that Sebastian was a strange male that she didn't know, having him to follow for the moment was better than being alone with her fear.

"Let's find a town and get something to eat, maybe if I can slip in among so many people he won't find me again..." She mused softly to herself, wondering if that could really work. Having a lot of different people to cover her scent might keep him from tracking her down.

"I don't know- getting far away from this area would be the only way to keep your scent from him. As a wolf, you ought to know how well our noses worked." But at that statement, he tilted his head and studied her figure. "Though you're not just wolf..."
That much was evident from her smell.

Nisha should have known better, but she couldn't help but foster some feeble hope that this would be easier than all the horrible scenarios her mind had come up with. Just how far and for how long would Ronan pursue her? She wasn't even sure. He would be furious with her leaving him, but would he be angry enough to follow her as far as she intended to go?

"Oh." She mumbled softly. Of course he knew she wasn't a proper wolf. That fact had plagued her for as long as she could remember. Even her beloved brother had scorned the fact that she was impure. "Well, no, I'm not...I'm only half wolf. The other half is..." She sighed softly. "A cheetah. Please don't ask...everyone asks how that's possible...I don't really get it either."

Where most might be well versed in what such an animal is, Sebastian only stared at her as he blinked and asked," What's a cheetah?"

Well at least he didn't ask how it was possible. Nisha blinked, partially in disbelief, that no one had ever once asked her what a cheetah was before just now. She didn't know if it was lack of interest that had never given cause for someone to ask that before or if everyone else had simply known. "A cheetah is a predatory cat, very fast but lacking on power. They're tall and tan with black spots on them..."

She honestly didn't know how else to describe a cheetah other than that. "You're not...mad at me...are you? Some people don't like it when they realize..."

"Cat?" The very sound seemed to strike a nerve, even in the way he said it, but instead of growling, he lifted his nose her way and gave a sniff. "Ah, so that's what that was..."

But at her last statement, of him being mad, he just stared at her and tilted his head.
"Mad? Why would I be mad?" he started scratching, and the pace picked up as he worked a good, hard scratch at the back of his head, and when he finished, his hair was a bit frazzled from it.
"Why would I care? You were born the way you were born. If anything, you just smell funny."
And he found that itch again and made a face, and went back to scratching at his scalp. Damn fleas.

Nisha was honestly surprised that he didn't mind what she was. Gavin was a purist, and had often lamented about her muddied blood. It was repulsive for a werewolf to mingle with such filth as another were, let alone one of the feline variety. Of course it hadn't been Nisha's fault, it wasn't as if she'd asked to be born deformed. Gavin blamed her hybrid nature for her frailty, and said it was proof that blood should not be mixed.

"You...really don't mind?" He scratched an awful lot, she'd been noticing. Nisha saw the face he made and scowled softly as she watched him scratch at his head. Did...did he have fleas. She had never met a wolf with fleas. Gavin would have been horrified. "You poor thing, does it itch that bad?"

"Why would I mind? It's not like you're half bear and could eat me." Then peering back at her when her question was posed, he paused mid-scratch to blink.
"Er... I just seem to not be able to shake 'em," he said, peering away and lightly continuing to scratch again. "Damn human beds." Naturally, the smelly humans were to blame. First night he stayed in one he got fleas, and they never left since.

Nisha shrugged her shoulders helplessly at him. She didn't understand why people did half the things they did. Why did people look down on her for being a hybrid? Why did Gavin abandon her? Why was she born so weak? And most recently, why had Ronan wanted to hurt her?

"Well maybe I can help you..." She smiled tentatively at him. There had never been a flea problem that she could remember among her family, but she knew a lot of good things for preventing fleas, and hopefully for getting rid of them too. She sure didn't want to catch his little parasites! "First we should get out of here, though. I don't want him to find me, but I don't want him to catch you helping me either."

Sebastian gave a few more scratches to his hair.
"I wouldn't worry about me, but yeah- let's keep on moving. I've lived with these damn fleas for too long now. I think they've come to call my head their home. But come on then." He said, and gestured for her to follow. "Are you well enough to run? Or shall we shift?" And at that, he gave her a roguish grin. He was curious enough to see just what sort of thing she would change into, but he also knew that she was probably too weak to change. But, there was no sense in not asking! He was only werewolf after all, and dogs could be curious, too!

Nisha felt bad for him, she couldn't imagine itching like that all the time. Still, one problem at a time. Fleas could wait, getting away was a more urgent need. Had Ronan discovered she was gone yet? She wasn't sure and she blushed as she was asked if she could run or shift. "I haven't shifted in a long time, it is so hard sometimes, I don't know if I could." What kind of wolf was she? A pretty poor one, that was for sure.

"Very well, we can remain as humans. You up for another long walk?" he gestured towards the forests around them. "We could cross over there and travel North. THere's a small town there called Westin we could stay at for a time- though I'd have to steal some coin for a room."

Nisha felt a little relieved when he said they'd remain as humans. It would have been beyond embarrassing if he had insisted they shift and she fail. "I'll try to keep up, and I don't mind if you have to steal." Gavin had stolen things all the time, heck, her dress was stolen. Hopefully he was a good thief though, she didn't want him to get caught.

Sebastian nodded.
Sometimes girls got finicky over 'stolen goods'. Though he was glad she didn't seem to mind as he guided her through an unseen path. It was a similar one he had traveled to before, and every once in a while during their walk, he'd lift his nose to see what the winds would bring them- but as it turned out; they would be safe for now.

However, a distant rumble of thunder proved other wise as a coarse wind swept in low throw the trees. Sebastian bared his teeth through it and continued to move through the unseen trail.
"Seems like a storm is coming," he said, and lifted his eyes to the distant horizon, pausing just as the first few flashes of lightning lit the sky.

Nisha had been a 'scavenger' her entire life. Her father had taught Gavin how to steal things when they were still very young. Of course, her father didn't teach her much of anything - Gavin was the only child that Mingan had ever showed much interest, leaving his daughter by the wayside. She figured it had to do with her tainted blood and her weakness.

Following along, she tried to keep her steps light and to keep from showing her short-comings, which was difficult as she found herself winded within a short mile. Between her earlier flight and just plain poor health, it was hard for her to compete with a healthy wolf's stride - even walking.

When the wind picked up and thunder rumbled she paused beside Sebastian, looking on as lightning flashed across the sky. The pause was a welcome relief, but she shivered with the thought of the coming storm. Her pale skin was cold, and she was tired.

"What should we do? Are we going to walk in the rain?" Part of her wanted to keep going, to put more distance between herself and Ronan, but another part of her just wanted to hunker down somewhere and try not to freeze.

Sebastian gave a thoughtful scratch to his hair
"I don't know- can you weather a storm?" he sniffed in her direction and looked her over. "You look weak. Perhaps we should use the storm to rest a while, or we can press onward, though it's up to you." ANd he stared around, sniffing the air, but the scents were all muddled from the winds of the storm. At least for now, he couldn't smell another wolf for miles.

"Up to me?" Nisha blinked, nothing was ever up to her. Not with Ronan, and not even with Gavin. She was the follower, the one that obeyed decisions that other people made, not someone that made their own. Though she had made the choice to run away from Ronan, that had been about the bravest thing she thought she'd probably ever done in her entire life.

"Um...I don't mind if you want to keep going. I'll be okay." She honestly wasn't sure that was true, but she could try her best to tough it out. The girl was honestly getting sick and tired of being sick and tired and of her weakness. Also, her stomach hurt, she wished she had something to eat. Ronan would have fed her when he got back from hunting, but he'd have wanted something first...

Shaking her head Nisha stepped closer to Sebastian, trying to huddle near him and actually kind of use his body as a wind block.

With Nisha huddling close, he found himself staring down at her for a time. It was a strange sensation, to feel someone need him- though he supposed he vaguely had semblance of that feeling when he was with Karaya He had to wonder what the pup was up to now.

Turning away, he walked slower so she could huddle nearby as the winds grew wildly and whipped through his hair. The rains hadn't fully started yet, but just as they began to approach the crest of a wooded hill-t he entire heavens let loose and the entire earth was doused in rain.

For Nisha it was an all too familiar sensation to need someone. It was a bitter pill to swallow thinking that the only way she could possibly survive was on the charity of others. Of course she had proven that, when Ronan had found her she had been very nearly dead. At least she was away from that monster now, and this man was being so kind to her. That still left her questioning his motives, but for now she didn't voice her concerns.

The more the wind picked up, whipping her hair about wildly, the closer to Sebastian she huddled, until she was actually pressed against his side, trying to escape the constant buffeting. Within moments of the downpour beginning, Nisha was shivering violently. The droplets were cold on her skin, and the wind only chilled her more as her teeth began to chatter softly.

Moments like this never happened for a man like Sebastian and it was... strange. Like herself, even he was not clear of his motives as he guided her along- the rain soaking them through. But he realized too far into it they should have avoided the storms-a nd noting a tall cropping of pines, he moved towards it, keeping her close as he stepped in beneath them where the branches worked well as a shield and kept the soft needles  beneath it- warm and dry.

"Here, we can weather the storm here." he told her, wiping off the rain that had been dribbling down his nose from his hair. "Can't have you catching a cold." And at that, he gave her a wolfish grin.
He never thought he'd ever use that phrase in his life!

All things considered Nisha was more than happy to remain tucked close against him. Goosebumps covered every inch of her body, she was shivering with the cold, her teeth chattered softly, and her already pale lips and complexion had somehow been drained of even more color. With such poor weather conditions, she seemed to have picked a pretty bad time to run away, and was grateful for Sebastian's presence - motives be damned.

When he lead her into the stand of pine trees she reached trembling hands up to wring out her dark hair, they were both dripping water, completely drenched from the storm, but the dense covering of pine needles overhead did keep the rain at bay, and for that Nisha was thankful. She'd so wanted to be stronger, to not be a nuisance.

"I-I I'll try not to..." Getting sick on top of everything else would be awful. Exhaustedly she stumbled over to the base of a tree and dropped down to the ground, pulling her legs up and resting her chin on her knees, hugging her arms around her legs - after making sure she was decently covered, of course.

Sebastian moved to the other side of the tree and shook his hair out like a wet dog. Then once he was dry enough, he simply plopped down into the pineneedles nearby her and looked around, then outside through the canopy to the rain.

Nisha huddled silently for a little bit, just watching the rain come down outside of their little shelter. After a few minutes she realized something. How embarrassing that she would forget something so fundamental as introductions. "Oh, I forgot to ask you what your name was. I'm Nisha."

Sebastian's attentions perked up as he peered over at her, and gave a scratch to his scruffy cheek.
"The name's Sebastian, Sebastian Caft." And he gave another scratch before asking, "You from.. around here?" Though as soon as he asked it, he realize how silly it was. "Er, I mean these woods."
But even that was probably a stupid question.

Nisha smiled, not really looking at him. "Sebastian is a nice name."

Though when he asked if she was from around here, she tilted her head in slight confusion. She honestly wasn't sure she was from anywhere in particular. Gavin had never stopped moving them about. "I don't think so. I think I was born in Serendipity though. We're still in Serendipity, aren't we?"

Sebastian gave a shrug.
"I guess. I suppose I'm not from anywhere either. I move around a lot."

"You're all alone too?" She asked softly. For a while it had been her father, her brother, and her. A family, not a large pack, to be sure, but at least they did have each other. Then her father had left, and then Gavin had too. Nisha felt a sudden anger at her brother. If he hadn't left her then Ronan never would have been able to do those awful things to her. Tears welled up in her grey eyes, but she blinked them back, trying not to shed them.

Sebastian noted the tears but wasn't sure what to say. Comforting a lady was not his forte.
"Yeah, but being alone isn't so bad. Packs demand a lot from you," he said with a shrug and peered out into the forests, green eyes taking in the rain.

Nisha smiled and sniffled a little, reaching up to rub her eyes and rid them of the tears. Crying about Gavin wasn't going to do any good. What she needed to do was find him. Maybe he had left her, but if she could just find him again he'd take care of her, she just knew he would.

"Maybe they do, but you get stuff back from it. Packs take care of you, and keep you safe. That's why I need to find my brother. Gavin would never have let anything bad happen to me if he'd just been there."

"Keep you safe?" He could have laughed at that, but he didn't. Instead, he gave a cruel curled lipped smirk over it. Clearly her pack had been kinder to his types than the one he had been born into.

But at the comment about her brother, he shrugged.
"So you're looking for your brother then?"

Why had he said it like that? Wasn't that what packs did? Protect and take care of each other? Maybe she was more naive than she thought. Her only pack experience was with her father and brother. "Yes, keep me safe." She murmured, almost defensively.

"My brother Gavin, he always took care of me, since we were really little. Nothing bad could happen to me as long as Gavin was there. So I guess I am going to look for him again. I don't really have much else I can do." She was pretty sure her brother was her only hope. If she didn't find him she'd just end up right back where the mess with Ronan started.

Sebastian listened to her with a silent nod.
He never thought much to his parents and siblings? He wasn't sure if he ever had any. He probably did. Not that he thought much about it. He gave a shrug.
"Do you know what he smells like? Perhaps after the storm we could track him down."
Though the suggestion surprised him that he said it. Was he really offering to help? He must be desperate for company. He never helped unless he was lonely.

And maybe he was.

Nisha was just as surprised by his offer as he was. She'd been surprised when Sebastian had even been willing to help her reach the next town. The idea of him helping her track down her brother knocked the breath out of her. "I couldn't ask you to do that. I don't even know where to start looking."

That was true, and not true. Gavin had been taking her west, before leaving her behind because she slowed him down so much. If she wasn't so weak none of this would have happened.

Sebastian gave a shrug as he began to scratch at his hair.
"I'm looking for someone anyway. Who knows, maybe if we work together, we might find at least one of them."
It was a lie- well part of one. He was rather curious what had become of Kayala...
But figuring she was ok before he had entered into her life, he presumed the young girl was fine on her own, even still, it didn't stop him from thinking of such curious things from time to time.

Nisha tilted her head slightly. He was looking for someone too? She wondered who it could be. Well if he needed help finding someone, maybe she could repay his kindness by helping him do that. She might not be strong or exceptionally smart, but her nose worked just fine. "Um, well okay. I could help you find your person and we can keep a nose out for Gavin at the same time."

She was still shivering and sighing softly she eyed him a moment before scooting around the tree and nestling herself against his side, laying her head against his shoulder. "Thank you, Sebastian, you're really nice." She gave a sigh and closed her grey eyes lightly, huddling against him hoping for even a little warmth.

At the sudden closeness, Sebastian visibly bristled. The sensation that soon followed was a strange one as he blinked down into her grey eyes, but after a moment, he relaxed and rested an arm around her as he shrugged.

"I don't know if werewolves can be considered nice," he told her- though it was hard to say if he was smiling about that comment or not as he peered out from beneath their little canopy of pine trees and out into the rain, while not realizing he was leaning more closely into her for warmth.

Nisha felt him bristle and for a moment worried that he was going to punish her for doing something he didn't like. Ronan would have. Her fear seemed to be unfounded as he relaxed and put an arm around her. Smiling slightly she snuggled against him as he accepted her presence. She felt more comfortable, safe, and relaxed than she had since being separated from her brother.

"Well I think you're nice." She mumbled before yawning and nuzzling her head against his shoulder, eyes closed and ready to drop off in a light doze. Every breath she took filled her with the scent of the forest, fresh rain, and Sebastian's unique scent. All around she found it comforting and fell asleep not out of pure exhaustion for a change, but because she felt safe to do so.

Sebastian wasn't sure how to react to that. So he said nothing, and remained with her, listening to the sounds of the falling rains on the trees, while staring off into the world, his senses ever alert to the smells all around them- and to the woman under his arm. With a female nestled so close, he felt the natural burning in his groin to mate. But ignored it and just enjoyed a moment of peace with her until the rains had settled and the crickets began to chirp at the approaching night. THough she had a chance to doze, he remained awake, eyes peering off into the world and through it- thinking over many things but saying not a word.

Nisha slept lightly as long as the rain lasted, but when the soothing sound of rain ended, her eyes fluttered open as she turned her head to press her face against Sebastian before taking a deep breath, inhaling his scent before sighing. It was wonderful to wake up and not be assaulted with the scent of Ronan and the things he did to her. Though she did miss the smell of fresh meat. She was hungry, and still cold.

With a faint groan she wrapped her arms around herself and sat up a little stiffly. She knew she couldn't have been asleep for too long, she never slept for very long. Even with her brother close to protect her she'd had trouble sleeping. All of a sudden everything stopped, her breath hitched in her throat and she tried to swallow the knot that had seemed to form there. Her grey eyes had glanced over at Sebastian and realized that he was aroused.

Nisha had only meant to glance over at him, and certainly not at his crotch, but not that her grey eyes had found it, she couldn't tear them away as her expression moved from sheer terror to her grey eyes dulling softly and face falling into acceptance as tears formed at her eyes and softly rolled down her cheeks.

"How do you want me?" Her soft voice broke as she squeezed her eyes shut and began shaking softly.

Sebastian hadn't really been paying much attention to where Nisha's eyes had gone when she awoke, but silently, he watched her move and stretch before the sudden gasp came. And when her words came out, his eyes followed hers down to his pants.
And he stared-
and stared and stared.

Well, he guessed what his body wanted was more than obvious, though he was about to reply he liked to take her from behind (for he was fully willing and ready to mate with her-) those damn tears of hers got in the way, and he hesitated.

"I'd want you in any way I can," he told her honestly. "But I don't think that's what you want."
Damn.
Why'd he have to care that she was afraid? The scent of it, while thrilling, was not something even he wanted to take advantage of- for he knew fear far too well- and it was one reason he preferred to travel through life alone.

The tears came harder when Sebastian confessed that he'd like her any way he could, but then he kept talking and Nisha opened her grey eyes to peer up at him doubtfully. Wasn't what she wanted? Did it matter what she wanted? Ronin had never cared about her feelings. If she'd behaved good enough he would try not to hurt her excessively, but beyond that it hadn't been her choice at all.

"I..." She swallowed and looked up at him, grey eyes now wide, though still shimmering with tears. "...I can say no?"

If Sebastian thought he was floored with surprise before at her willingness to mate with him out of the premise his body needed it, he was even more floored now. And he found himself gaping at her and not knowing what to say. He wasn't a man who knew how to comfort another, for he himself, had never been comforted himself. But he was not ignorant either and blinked only after his brain finally caught up to him, and also, because her full fledged tears cemented him back into reality.

"You do." And he said it firmly, perhaps a bit gruffly. "Considering it is your body, and if we mate, the consequences could be that you'd carry a litter of my pups." And he had never really considered that side of it before now. "And to be honest, I'm not the litter and pack type."

But why did he care? Normally he was more than elated to be able to mate. But this moment, this girl- everything about it was different. And he wasn't even sure how he felt about it, except somehow, peculiar as it seemed, she reminded him of himself. And if he had a choice, he would not wish for someone to abuse him in the ways he had before, and so evidently, he would not wish that upon her- as she had so obviously had been abused herself.

Ronin had never given Nisha the option of saying no. Well, actually, that wasn't true. She could say no all she wanted, but he ignored her, and sometimes hurt her more for resisting. The idea that Sebastian would not only let her say no, but then honor that was enough to move her to tears - well more tears.

A moment later her eyes were widening though, because she realized what else he'd said. Between everything else, the pain and humiliation, she'd never thought about the possibility that she could have been forced to carry a litter for Ronin. Nisha's stomach turned sickeningly, and she scrambled away from Sebastian, trembling as she thought about that.

She was pretty sure she wasn't pregnant, but the very idea of having pups with that monster sent her into hysterics. "I need to bathe." She would never feel clean again - she was pretty sure of that. The idea of Ronin's scent clinging to her made her double up in pain as she wrapped her arms around herself with a soft whine.

Sebastian blinked. Well, shit. This was not expected, but then again, he never normally cared for the tears of others, though whose to say he cared now? Her tears made him frown and grit his teeth inwardly, but he didn't say anything and just watched her panic and shed more tears.

At the comment of the bath, he gave a scratch to his flea infested hair and shrugged.
"We could return to the river." He gave another scratch. "I'm sure I could use a bath as well."
Since well, these damn fleas were merciless.

Moving towards the edge of their tree canopy, he peered back towards her.
"Shall we be off then?"

Asking wasn't even really necessary. Nisha bolted past him, heading for the river she remembered from earlier - how much earlier? Was it still the same day? She didn't even care, all she could think about was scrubbing every inch of skin on her body until she couldn't feel Ronan's touch ghosting on her anymore.

Honestly Nisha didn't even know if Sebastian was following her, and at that moment didn't care about that either. He'd been nice to her, but he was still a male, and he'd still wanted her - even if he hadn't acted on that want. She still didn't know what to think about that.

The water was cold as she splashed waist deep into the river, she wished she had soap, but it hardly mattered as she pulled her dress over her head and began using the tattered fabric to scrub abrasively at her left arm.

Sebastian blinked as he watched her take off. Not used to such a quirky sort of response, he gave a shake of his head and a subtle smile and followed silently after her. He needed the distance, however, to help calm himself down, so by the time he made it to the river, he was dousing his head in the current and scrubbing as much as he could. But then something in his pocket reminded him of a means to help alleviate the damn fleas itch, though it also removed some of the smells he'd rather keep-

But the damn fleas were infuriating, so he went about lathering the soap into his hair when he noticed, in mid scratch, the  woman was without soap. So after a moment of watching her in the water, he shouted over, "Here, catch."
And tossed the bar of soap her way.

Nisha was scrubbing furiously at her skin, the normally pale flesh turning an aggravated pink, and parts even an inflamed red. Sebastian was momentarily forgotten in her fervent desperation to rid herself of not only any smell of Ronan, but the feel of him as well. She wanted to feel clean, but she wasn't sure that was even possible.

Her head jerked up as she was told to catch something, only just realizing that the male wolf had joined her. The girl fumbled with catching anything, but amazingly her shaking hands managed to grasp the little block of soap gratefully. Still using her dress like a wash cloth, she lathered the soap into it and began scrubbing again - a little more delicately this time. Her dress was soaked, but this was kind of like washing herself and her dress all at once. Not that it was really worth anything, what she wouldn't give for a dress that fit her and wasn't tattered and torn.

Stumbling out of the water finally she sank to the bank and set the soap aside to wring out her dress as best she could. Being naked around Sebastian made her a little uncomfortable, but it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as being naked in front of Ronan.

When Sebastian was more or less 'clean' (sans a solution to the fleas, for no matter how many times he dunked into the water..) they continued to cling mercilessly to his scalp. He swiped the water from his face and slicked back his hair when he resurfaced and took in fresh air before glancing over at Nisha. And.. despite knowing what she had gone through- part of him was incredibly turned on.


And... now he couldn't leave the water. Something was just a bit too eager- and he contemplated jerking off- but she'd probably wonder what the hell he was doing and well....

He decided, for her sake, he had to be a good wolf.
"Feel any better?" he asked, wading in the waist deep water and waiting for himself to calm down, though it might be harder than just biding his time- because his eyes kept instinctively rover over her.

"Not really." Nisha said sheepishly as she wrung the dress out again. She was going to have to wear it all wet like this, or just stay naked. Funny, before Ronan being naked wouldn't have really bothered her that much. A state of undress was just kind of natural for wolves, but after what she'd gone through...

Lifting her grey eyes to look at Sebastian, she wondered why he was just standing in the water. If he was done bathing why didn't he get out? Remembering his earlier problem she blushed and cast her eyes back down. Honestly she wasn't sure why he would have that problem. Nisha's wasn't attractive, and she felt rather disgusting - especially after Ronan had used her like that.

She'd offered to let him have her, because she thought that was what would be expected of her, but he'd turned her down. Obviously he wanted her, but he wasn't taking advantage of her weakness. It was confusing. Still, bless him for it.

"Uhm...you can, you know. I just...uh...won't watch." Nisha made a point to pick at her dress, avoiding looking even in his direction.

Sebastian blinked. Such a suggestion coming from a woman so frail hadn't quite sunk in on what she truly meant.
"Won't watch what?" he said, and gave a scratch again to those pesky fleas.

Nisha turned crimson when he asked what she wouldn't watch. Did he really expect her to say it? To her it was obvious, but maybe he really didn't know what she was talking about? Or maybe he just wanted to hear her say it. Then again, he seemed sweet and genuine about not wanting to use her, so maybe...

"I just thought...you know, since you didn't use me...Um, you know...nevermind. Sorry I said anything." Oh god, was she wrong?

It was then the werewolf put two and two together,a nd for the life of him, he couldn't stop his grin.
"You must think all men are after one thing." And here he gave a casual shrug at such a thing. "It's true. Most of us prefer a females company for one thing- though our instincts to mate aren't everything. Don't get me wrong, were this, perhaps another time, or us living through another story, I might consider seducing you but hey- even I have my limits- and I know you wouldn't be comfortable- watching or participating."
And he gav ea few furious scratches at his head before he sighed.
"Say, but what you could do for me is give me a good back scratch. And a good scratch at my head. These damn fleas.. I swear they're trying to eat me alive!"

The look Nisha gave Sebastian was hard to even describe, a mixture between 'are you serious?' and 'drop dead' might suffice. Given her recent, and only, experience with males, assuming they were only after one thing didn't seem like a stretch to her.

"Well I said I wouldn't watch." She grumbled almost inaudibly as she pulled her still drenched dress over her head, further muffling her words. The fabric clung to her body as she eyed him cautiously. "You want me to scratch your back?"

Sebastian was still scratching at his neck.
"Yeah. The damn fleas are persistent. I wouldn't mind a good scratch.." and he gave her a bit of a cocky grin. "That is,  if you wouldn't mind."

Nisha shook her head. Her brother would find it kind of disgraceful that a wolf was infested with fleas. Honestly, she kind of felt sorry for him. They obviously bothered him terribly, he seemed to be constantly scratching at himself. Still, that cocky grin he gave her made her scowl at him unhappily.

Males.

Rolling her eyes she stood up and adjusted her dress with fidgety hands before tentatively approaching him, eyes cast down and only peering up at him furtively. She'd have to get ahold of some flea repelling herbs and try to, if not cure him, at least curb the infestation to something more manageable. "I'll help as much as I can."

Sebastian moved to sit along the river bank, so she wouldn't have to climb into the cool waters again and get herself soaking wet a second time. And with his back to her, he gave a sigh. "You won't have to do this long. It just feels good sometimes to let someone else help me with the scratching..." Which was a rare thing. Most were disgusted by it. But then again, fleas weren't exactly all that attractive.

No, fleas weren't at all attractive, but Nisha sat behind Sebastian anyway. Softly she let her nails scrape across his back in little circular motions, being careful not to scratch too hard. She didn't want to hurt him, after all. When she did come across a flea that she could see, the little woman plucked it from his skin, deftly killed it, and discarded the tiny remains.

Sebastian released a wilting sigh as she scratched at him, taking on mannerisms similar to that of a dog- for one she found a particularly good feeling spot, his leg began to idly kick happily in thumps about in the water.
"Y-yeah.." he growled softly. "Right.. right there. That's a good spot."

Nisha couldn't help herself as his leg started kicking like a dog might, she giggled, making sure to give the "good spot" a little extra attention. She'd never seen a wolf act like that, certainly not in human form. "You're a funny wolf, Mr. Sebastian."

Sebastian let out a contented breath- nearly turning to putty in her hands.
"Funny?" he asked, through half lids. "Hrnn... yeah.. that spot- just keep scratching there."

"Yes, funny." Nisha said without elaboration, smiling at the way he seemed to melt at the way she scratched his back, it must have felt really good. The indicated spot got a vigorous, but still gentle going over with her nails. "We'll find a way to get rid of the fleas, or at least get them better under control, then you'll feel much better."

"Uh huh...." was all he said, and melted into her lap when all was said and done. And he was so content, he could have fallen asleep there- and it seemed as if he just might!

Nisha didn't stop moving her hands over his shoulders and back as he relaxed into her lap, seeming to be close to drifting to sleep. Instead she hummed softly and let her fingers gently kneed and tease across his muscles in a delicate massage.

Was she trying to make him turn into one big ball of complete useless goo? Because if so.. it was working,a nd as her fingers massaged and worked at his tense muscles, he moaned softly, his eye lids closed- and just about every aspect of him was about ready to melt-
well, except his raging erection, which was harder than diamond, or so it would seem- and he, none the wiser, or not really caring, as he was just too content to think of anything but the happy, melty place he was at.

The young woman giggled softly when Sebastian moaned from her gentle massage. "Feel good?"

Nisha smoothed her her palms over his shoulders, moving the massage to his neck. Her grey eyes peered over his shoulder to notice his arousal and blushed, feeling kind of guilty for making him like that. Well, she had offered to take care of it for him earlier, not that she really wanted to, but she hadn't known that he would let her refuse him. "Sorry, I don't mean to tease you."

Sebastian moaned, his mind feeling flighty from the very real pleasure of her touch, and oh so naturally, he groaned out the words, " Then why don't you get on? I can show you what good really feels like."

Nisha's entire body tensed at his words, even the fingers that had just been lightly stroking his neck had stilled. A soft tremor went through her and her gaze dropped as her voice whispered hoarsely. "Do I have to? Ronan said I'd come to like it, but I never did." She couldn't hold back a soft whine from the animal within her.

"Ronan?" he said the words as if coming out of a foggy dream, and perhaps he was, for the sudden whimper was sobering and it was only then, his expression melted away as he realized what he had said. Sitting up, he peered up at her through a mop of unruly hair.
"H-hey.. you don't have to. I told you I wouldn't force you I just..." he grit his teeth and stared down at his pants. "You kind of turn me on."
Though, that much was obvious.

OOC: And I can't recall if he ever got dressed XD >_> if not um.. whoops?

It hadn't occurred to her that she'd never told Sebastian the name of the wolf that had hurt her. Oh well, it wasn't as if it was some secret. The name really didn't mean anything, though, it was the way he peered up at her through his wet brown hair, the way it feel in his face. Nisha nodded stiffly, he had told her before she could refuse him, but she still had felt the need to ask. The young wolf still found it hard to believe that she had any voice in the matter.

"Why do I?" She asked with genuine confusion. "I'm disgusting." She dropped her face into her hands. "Weak, scrawny, pathetic." Even her brother had held a consensus on this matter. Nisha was a weak female, and because of her sickness, that left her undesirable. Maybe it was an alpha thing. It would make sense for an alpha-type male to desire an alpha-type female, right? Ronan had only used her because she was too weak to resist him or put up a fight. Definitely no real alpha, she thought.

Sebastian gave a curious tilt of his head.
"How are you weak? You're surviving now on your own, aren't you? And you were able to leave that man who abused you. I'm not sure many weak people, wolves or other wise, could do that." He gave a shrug. "If you follow me around long enough, you'll see what weak really is. I tend to stick to cowardly methods." And he gave another shrug about it, as if it weren't much of a thing.
"And well... if you were disgusting, I wouldn't be having this little problem."
One does not simply get an erection from an ugly wolf, after all.

Surviving on her own? That was a good one. When Ronan had found Nisha she'd been on death's door. Honestly she wasn't in that much better shape now, but it was an improvement. At least she'd been fed enough to keep her body functioning. Running from him had been a suicide mission. She couldn't hunt to feed herself, so if she did manage to escape recapture, then it was only a matter of time before she starved. Unless of course she managed to find someone willing to put up with her - Gavin preferably, but anyone would do.

"Well I do plan on following you around for a while." She said softly, then added. "If you'll let me, of course. I really don't have anywhere else to go, and at least you're nice to me." Nicer than Ronan for sure. Nisha didn't want to comment on his still obvious attraction towards her. He knew another male had been using her, and that didn't seem to bother him. What would bother him? That thought made her a little disgruntled.

Sebastian cocked his head curiously.
"Do you really think following me is a good idea?"
He wasn't even sure he was okay with it, but then again- she seemed to have no where else to go.

Nisha shrugged her shoulders uncomfortably. Was anything she did a good idea? It didn't feel like it. Might as well keep her record going for stupid decisions. "You said you knew how to get to a town. I have no idea where I am. Following you seems better than being lost."

Sebastian nodded at that.
"Sounds like a better idea than most," he admitted and gave a shake to his head to shake out the excess water after he had moved away from her. "Perhaps we ought to get a move on it. You said that wolf might be angry with you if he were to ever figure out you had left him. Though I don't rightly smell a wolf on our trail, something's been following us, so let's get going."

"Okay, lead the way." Nisha said quietly, she had no doubt that Ronan would be angry that she had managed to get away from him. All she needed to do was find a way to stay away from him. Sebastian was her best beat for now. Hopefully she wouldn't make him angry at her, so he would let her stay for at least a little while. "I'm sorry, if I cause you trouble. I'll try not to get in the way and to be useful."

Sebastian gave a shrug, thinking little into it as the pair continued to move throughout the forests. It took them nearly half a day, but eventually they would find themselves coming upon a beaten path, and though it was obvious what it was, Sebastian held back, and lifted his nose to the winds, and let his eyes graze across the horizon before he finally moved forward, deeming this empty road safe.

"This is the Northen Wooded Pass," Sebastian began to explain. "It's traveled more in better months, because of the forests, but because of that fact, banditry is seasonal." He glanced around again, double checking over his shoulder as the pair continued on their way. "But just half an hour down this road, we'll come across a small town." He now gave a scratch to his head, the fleas still being quite itchy- but at least for now, they were manageable.

As they walked throughout the day, Nisha remained silent and pensive, following behind Sebastian like a lost puppy. Deep in thought, when the wolf guiding her stopped she nearly ran into him. Realizing he was scenting for danger she did the same, taking in smells delicately, not really sure what she should be checking for, other than Ronan, but she didn't smell him.

"Bandits?" She squeaked, eyes widening and subconsciously stepping closer to Sebastian, seeking comfort and protection without realizing it. Well hopefully they wouldn't come across any of those! "Half an hour is good, maybe it will be a boring half hour."

Unfortunately, Sebastian never was the luckiest of men, and it seemed Nisha's luck probably wasn't much better, for barely ten minutes down the road of walking in silence, Sebastian felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. Peering over his shoulder, he began to scout the area for the source, but before he knew it, the new smells were already heading their way.

Sebastian held up a hand, gave another sniff before baring his teeth.
"Looks like those bandits are right on time. Come on." And before he knew what he was doing, he grabbed onto Nisha's hand and began to drag her away from the openess of the road and into the deeper wood.

"Just stay close," he told her in a low voice as the two continued to make their way up the hillside and into a nearby patch of thorns. "Just be careful not to scratch yourself. But this is the best place we got in order to hide." And once he was slipping inside, ignoring any blood and scratches he recieved, the man got on his haunches and peered down at the road below them.

"Six... seven... eight, nine..." Sebastian frowned as he counted off the men. "Nine men. Shit."

Nisha had followed Sebastian's lead in remaining quiet as she shuffled along behind him. They really didn't have anything to talk about, she thought glumly. Probably for the best, since they were trying to avoid detection until town.

Suddenly they were stopped, and before she really understood what was going on, he had grabbed her speaking of bandits and dragged her into the woods. Grey eyes were wide and terrified as she realized they were in danger. She nodded softly as they wiggled into a patch of thorns, the little needles scratched at her delicate skin, but she made no sound of protest. It wasn't as if she hadn't had worse.

"Can we sneak away?" She whispered softly. Nisha didn't want to know what those men would do to them if they were caught. Of course she could guess what they might do to her.

Hearing something coming from behind, his large hand suddenly came around Nisha's mouth to silence her. His own body bristled as he hesitated before turning around. Three more men had come up from behind them- how many more?

He waited, his hand growing sweaty around her mouth, before relaxing some time after the three new men showed up made their way towards the others. And it was here he released an anxious breath.

"I'm not sure if there are any others. It would be wise to wait here, just lay low." And he crouched down even lower, an dleaned forward, just enough to try to get a better look at the going's on below.

Nisha made a barely audible squeak as Sebastian's hand clamped over her mouth, and she began trembling slightly as she squeezed her eyes shut. If the poor thing had boots she'd be quaking in them. Still, she kept quiet, despite her fear and the overwhelming desire to whimper and whine pathetically.

When the hand over her lips finally relaxed she opened her grey eyes and peered ahead, trying to see what her companion was seeing. Subconsciously she also leaned closer to him, looking for comfort in his presence. If Gavin were there he'd tear all those bandits apart if they so much as looked at him funny! It was both a satisfying and frightening thought. Her brother could be so savage and brutal, but he was her protector at the same time.

"I'm scared." Nisha finally breathed softly, licking her dry lips anxiously.

"Don't be," he whispered. "If we have to, we can transform and run out of here," he assured her, for animals, naturally, could out run a human any day.

"What if I can't transform or I move too slowly?" Nisha asked as quietly as she could, though there was an edge of panic to her strained voice. Maybe she could push herself through the transformation, but what if they had bows or crossbows? Thoughts of what they would be put through if caught had her near ready to faint with the stress of it.

Sebastian frowned. He had not considered her weaknesses and grew quiet as he set his gaze upon the men. "For now all we can do is wait. No sense is becoming alarmed. For all we know, these men will pass."

Nisha nodded her head slowly, trying to fight down her fears and to stop thinking of all the things that could happen or that could go wrong. Panicking or fainting now would only make things harder on Sebastian, and he had already done so much for her. Slow tears formed in her eyes as she thought of how burdensome she was and how much everyone must dislike her.

It took some time, but eventually, the last three men took their leave. And half an hour after those ones had gone, the final nine began to depart. Releasing a breath, Sebastian gave a nod.
"See? They're leaving now." But when he turned to look at her, he regarded her tears with a frown.

The wait was nearly unbearable and Nisha didn't breathe easily until Sebastian said the men were leaving, and she could only nod her head in response. Her bottom lip was quivering slightly until she bit it to stop the uncontrollable tremor. Grey eyes regarded him cautiously, he was frowning at her, why was he frowning? Had she done something wrong?

"I'm sorry." She didn't know what she was apologizing for but it hardly mattered.

"Don't worry about it." But worry about what? Even he didn't know. His frown only deepened as he looked away, watching the men before his eyes flicked around to survey the land.
"I say we wait here, just a bit longer, then make our way forward again."

Nisha nodded slowly, hunching down in the brush more and looking rather small and pitiful. She just wanted the bandits to go away so they could be on their way. The sooner they reached town the sooner she could unburden Sebastian. She was sure he was eager to be rid of her and probably regretted letting her tag along with him this far.

All this time she had so desperately wanted to find Gavin, but she was beginning to realize that even if she did find her brother, she would just be slowing him down. Again. Did it somehow make it more acceptable to put a burden on Gavin just because he was her brother? Or did it make it less acceptable. She was going to cause trouble for her own family for selfish reasons. Maybe her father and brother had been right to leave her behind.

She did her best to wipe away silent tears and to keep from shedding more. Sebastian didn't seem to like it when she cried. Probably thought it was an annoying sign of weakness.

"Man, when we get into town, I'm going to steal myself a steak," he said, patting himself on his hungrily growling belly. "I'm starving." Peering over at Nisha he inquired, "What about you? You hungry?"

"Steak sounds so good." Nisha mumbled softly, peeking up at him with grey eyes nervously. Was he going to steal some for her to? She shouldn't let him do that. As soon as they got to town she should try to get away. He didn't need to put up with her and her issues.

"Then make that two steaks," he said with a broadening grin. "Or three? I know you might be small, but I've seen wolves about your size eat three steaks whole."

Nisha's mouth was already starting to water at the idea of a nice, juicy slab of steak, but she blushed when he grinned at her like that. Why would he steal more on her account? Her pale cheeks flushed as she cast her gaze down. "I'm so hungry I feel like I could eat a whole cow myself, but you don't have to go through all that trouble for me."

"Hey, don't worry about it. I enjoy it," he told her, smiling impishly. "Come on.." he gave a sniff at the air and a lick to his lips. "I can smell the food cooking already." Then another sniff had him cocking his head left as the small city appeared before them. "There's a butcher's shop over there... and I don't smell any humans about." His eyes danced at the idea. "You up for some really fresh cuts of meat?" he inquired, and just about every bone in his body was ready to go. But he had to hold back, not fall prey to those animals instincts and wait for his new 'partner in crime' as it were, to approve. If she'd rather not tag along, he could really just get it for them himself. But hey, she seemed to like being near him and well..
He wasn't about to complain. He kind of liked it too.

"You really don't mind?" The words were accompanied by a shy smile and hopeful eyes. It really was too much for her to really hope that Sebastian would put up with having to take care of someone as useless as her for very long. Still, if she could get one good meal out of him...

Trying to not get in the way, the young hybrid followed along after her flea-bitten savior. When he asked if she was up for fresh meat she nodded enthusiastically. "Are you sure you want me to go with you? I-I don't want to mess it up."

Gavin would have left her lying low somewhere. Her brother never had much faith in her not to screw everything up all the time.

"You'll be fine. You're too scrawny to look threatening, so if you were hanging about, no one would think anything of it. Besides, if we're lucky, we can simply feast on whatever we want inside the butchers shop then be away well before he gets there. If my nose is right, it's his dinner I was smelling cooking, meaning we have plenty of time to get some of our own. Come on," And he took her by the hand and coaxed her along, weaving swiftly through some of the back streets before eventually coming up to an alley way, his mouth salivating as he noticed the butcher's shop.

"Gods.. can you smell all of that meat in there?" he said, licking at his lips. "I bet there's all of the choice pieces of all kinds of animals in there. COme on. Let's check around back. There might be a window or something we can crawl through. Come on."

But when they got to the back, there was, in fact a window. A very small window,a nd no matter how hard Sebastian pushed on it, the damn window wouldn't budge any higher.
"Damn. Doesn't look like we'll be getting in this way."

This was the first time Nisha would actually get to go on one of these little food ventures. Her brother had always left her behind and made her wait to be brought whatever he managed to hunt or steal. It was actually kind of exciting and she felt a little giddy as he led her by the hand. A huge grin was plastered on her face as they moved stealthily to the butcher's shop.

"How could anyone not smell it? I can't wait to sink my teeth into some of it." She said, licking her lips and peeking around furtively. Good thing nobody seemed to be out and about as they shuffled around to the back of the building.

She watched as he tried without success to push open a small window enough to slip through. It would be an extremely tight squeeze for a man, like Sebastian, but she wondered if maybe...

"Well maybe not you, but I think maybe I could wiggle through..." Nisha said quietly, already moving to grip the window sill and trying to work herself through the rather tight fit, but once her chest was through the rest was easy enough. Turning back to the window she grinned through at Sebastian. "Keep a look out. I'll get enough for both of us."

Sebastian couldn't help himself for the triumphant smile he know wore. Seeing the once timid little thing wriggle her way into the butcher's shop had him mesmerized, and proud!

"And here you kept wondering why I'd keep you around," he teased. Pressing his hands against the sill, he peeked through the window. "Just be sure to get me a few big slabs of meat. I'll keep a look out. Just focus on cuts. I like mine with a good bit of fat on it." Humans, he figured, sometimes did not. But that was where all of the flavor was. In the fat and blood.

Nisha didn't think being able to crawl through a window was grounds for putting up with her, but she managed a shy smile for Sebastian anyway. She listened carefully to his instructions before nodding eagerly and sneaking carefully through the dim building. Mostly she followed her nose, but she stayed alert to sounds too, just in case someone was still lurking in the building.

A few minutes later she scrambled back to the window with a large wrapped package dripping a little blood and containing several large, thick steaks veined thickly with fat. Her grey eyes were still looking around nervously, she'd never actually helped steal anything before. Her brother had always done it himself. Grinning a little she pushed the meat through first then squeezed herself back through, dropping rather unceremoniously to the ground below the window with a nervous laugh.

"I did it!"

Sebastian was salivating over the food, but pushed that aside momentarily when Nisha voiced her enthusiasm for her success. A smile cracked across his lips.
"Yeah, I guess you did."

But a sudden booming, "HEY!" Came from inside, and heavy foot falls were storming their way.
"Looks like we ain't got much time to celebrate, come on!" And he grabbed onto Nisha's hand, and dragged her out into the streets as he began to run.

Nisha was grinning happily as her accomplishment was acknowledged. Though the shout from inside the shop caused her to visibly jump, grey eyes going wide with fright. Someone had been inside somewhere while she was in there! Her already pale skin paled further as she realized how lucky she was that she'd gotten back out before the owner of that angry voice had noticed something was wrong.

Sebastian was dragging her along before she could really start fretting over that and she focused on trying not to slow him down as she ran alongside of him. It occurred to her that he could have left her there too stunned and afraid to move, while he took all of the prize and escaped.

"Sorry!" She gasped as she stumbled slightly, heart beating wildly at the exertion.

"What are you apologizing for?" he called over to her as they ran. "You did great. And isn't this part of the hunt? The chase?" He smirked and continued to pull her along. "Come on. Just keep running. We've got an advantage over that man anyway as we've got a head start." And as he lead Nisha away, he lead them through a weaving set of alleyways in the streets, and when the angered foot falls and calls had all btu faded away, he pause at the end of the ally and turned to Nisha with a grin.
"I think we lost 'em." AN dhe dropped down to rest, leaning against a nearby building. "And now it's time we feast. Let's see what you got." And he felt his mouth salivating already.

Nisha was gasping for air as Sebastian dragged her along after him. If not for his hold on her she was pretty sure she'd have stumbled and collapsed. "Y-yes, b-but usually the w-wolves do the c-chasing!"

As soon as he stopped in the alley, Nisha collapsed all the way to the ground, face pressed to the cool dirt, her chest heaving as she panted and groaned. The way her heart raced in her chest worried her, but how could she spoil their victory with her own problems? Her stomach reminded her there were several large, fat-laden steaks for her to share with Sebastian.

"I hope it's enough." She panted before finally shakily sitting back up.

A wolfish grin spread across his lips, which he quickly licked as it grew wider, an dhis eyes, larger.

"Any food is better than no food." And he wasn't one to complain. He'd gone for a good while without eating much, but this- this was truly a feast!

Grinning over to her, he gestured down to the food.
"Go ahead. You eat first."

Still in the process of catching her breath, Nisha paused, eyes widening as she trembled slightly. She was certain she must have heard him wrong. Her eat first? How absurd!

"M-me? N-no. You should go first. Once you've had enough I can take what's left." Gavin never let her eat first. The more dominant, stronger wolf ate first. Sebastian was far from an alpha, true, but he was certainly stronger than her.

Sure, even Sebastian knew he was more of an alpha than this little woman, but part of him just couldn't eat first. Maybe it was habit, or perhaps it was some bad habit he picked up when he was observing humans as he traveled, but either way he gave her a look.

"You were half starved when I found you. I think you need the food a bit more than I."

"It isn't about who needs it more." Nisha said in a quavering voice. Her head was down, eyes looking to the ground and away from Sebastian. "Please eat first. Even if you just take the first bite. I-I don't have to wait for you to finish, but please...just start eating."

Sebastian blinked and simply stared at her. And here he always thought of himself as the lowest member of the pack. But instead of obliging, he held out some of the food to her.

"Eat. You are more worthy to start than I."

Grey eyes moved to stare at the offered slab of steak longingly, but stare was all she did for several moments before her eyes flickered up to Sebastian's face meekly. Finally Nisha edged towards him and took the bloody piece of meat timidly.

Feeling shy, nervous, and self-conscious she slowly brought it to her lips and sunk her teeth into her steak. Blood immediately dripped down her chin and was already coating her fingers, but she didn't care about that at all as she made a muffled sound of delight at her first taste of fresh meat in days.

As Sebastian watched her, he found he couldn't look away. Perhaps it was hunger, a hunger he never knew, that kept him focused and only focused on her, but he said and did nothing. Just watched her eat quietly and wishing he could help her lick off that sweet, salty red blood.

Once the taste had hit her tongue, well it was hard for Nisha to stop herself from simply inhaling the steak. She was starving, after all. Several bites had been torn from the meat and scarfed down before she realized that Sebastian hadn't started eating yet. Actually, he was staring at her. Feeling self-conscious she stopped eating, swallowing the bite she'd been chewing before looking down and shifting her weight nervously.

"Is something wrong? You're not eating. They're big steaks, plenty for both of us. You don't have to wait. You should have gone first."

It was only then he realized what he was doing and shrugged as he simply told her, "Sorry, you just look good with thatjuice and blood on your face." And he used a thumb to wipe some away, and took it to his mouth to clean his fingeroff.

Nisha blinked slowly as he brought his thumb up, after he smeared some blood across her cheek in his quest, she made a slight face. "I'm not so sure I look good anytime, and the steak will be better than a little lick of blood off my face. Eat. Please?"

Sebastian almost purred. He was thinking of eating in a whole other dimension, but instead, simply nodded and moved to help wipe the rest of the blood from her face and then, again, licking it from his own fingers.
"If you say so," and he moved to casually pick up a steak and sunk his teeth into it and his eyes rolled back into his head. By the forests.. he was in heaven.

Nisha continued to make faces when Sebastian wiped her face clean, but didn't seem bothered by his insistence of licking it off his fingers. Of course she was rather innocent in thought and didn't think much of it other than wolves liking the taste of blood.

Once Sebastian took his first bite she started back into her stolen dinner, promptly making a bloody mess of her lips and chin again.

Sebastian ate, and ate, until they were down to the last steak. And though he reached for it, he paused and looked up at her face, and stared at the blood and juices staining her face, his own not fairing any better.

Two steaks later, and Nisha was settled back against the alley wall, licking the blood and juices off her fingers as she eyed the last steak as Sebastian reached for it. She knew she looked a mess, what with blood and juice having run down her chin and throat as she ate without a care for table manners. Since there was no table, no plates, no silverware, well, they were wolves, who cared?

She noticed that her male companion had paused in his quest for the last steak. Grey eyes raised from the food to his face and she paused her licking to laugh softly. "You're as messy of an eater as me."

He offered her a crooked grin, his tongue licking it up some.
"Care to share the last steak?"

"S-share it? That's okay, you don't have to share the last steak with me. You already shared so much." She looked shyly away from him, going back to licking and sucking on her fingers to get the last bits of flavor from her meal.

Sebastian simply watched her. There was something about her that was just so damn attractive to him. And instead ofsharing, he simply placed the steak infront of her.
"You deserve to eat the last steak, even if you don't want to share."

Soft grey eyes blinked owlishly up at Sebastian as he set the last steak in front of her. Nisha blushed a little and let her eyes drop. "I don't deserve it any more than you do. I couldn't possibly eat the whole thing! Y-you're bigger and and...you need more food than I do."

Sebastian smirked.
"Well, I'm not going to eat it," he assured her. "So if you don't, it will just go to waste."

Grey doe eyes widened further at that declaration. You did not waste food. "Oh no, you have to at least share it, I can't eat the whole last steak by myself! That's just bad manners."

"Manners?" He made a face, then smiled. "Manners don't apply when you're an animal. Just eat the steak. You're too skinny. You need some more meat on you."

Nisha wasn't sure how she could possibly eat the steak now, but also not sure how she could not eat it. She'd feel horribly self-conscious eating it in front of him, especially if he was watching, but not nobody eating it would be a waste, which was bad.

Nervously she picked up the steak, a small amount of blood dripping off it as she brought it up to her mouth and nibbled on it tentatively, all the while her grey eyes darting over at Sebastian, watching him as if still expecting him to do...something.

And of course he did something,.for he was smiling as he watched her, and simply waited for her to eat.

Barely more than a few bites and Nisha couldn't take the staring anymore. It was unnerving to have someone just stare and smile while she tried to eat. Especially considering she'd tried very hard to get him to eat it instead. Keeping her head down she thrust the steak at him imploringly.

"Please just eat it. I can't. I don't want anymore, please."

Seeing how this 'stand still' against eating the last bit wasn't going anywhere,Sebastian simply took the meat and devoured it. Licking the blood off his fingers, he observed her in silence before looking away to scan the area.

"We should keep traveling. Just to get ourselves as far away from those we stole from."
Sometimes they came hunting after thieves with guns, and guns kinda hurt! You know... if you got hit by one.

It was a relief when he took the steak and finished it off, even as Nisha worked again to lick blood from her lips and fingers. Of course she stopped when he mentioned they should get away from the scene of their thievery. She agreed with him on that count. An angry butcher coming after them didn't sound like a good time.

"Yeah, we should definitely move from here. I don't know where to go, but I'll follow you." Nisha was comfortable with following, although if she was necessarily good at it was questionable. She supposed it really depended on how fast they had t move.

"I can't say I'm all all familiar with this place either, but any where would be better than here."
He looked around and lifted his chin, taking in the scents from the wind.

"East.. we should head east," he proposed, and looked over at her form, and found himself staring at the way she licked those fingers and....
Great, now was probably not the time to get horny.

"Okay, then let's go east. When it starts to get dark we should think about finding shelter for the night too. In case it rains again so we won't get soaked." Nisha remembered their threadbare shelter beneath the trees during the earlier rains. Something a little more water-tight might be nice if they could find it, she was already cold, maybe he would let her curl against him again. Of course that brought problems of its own.

Speaking of, she jerked her hands away from her mouth, eyeing Sebastian shyly. It made her feel bad to constantly by provoking him needlessly. She still was glad that he hadn't retaliated against her for it. "We should hurry."

Sebastian nodded.
"It might be quicker if we shift."

Nisha looked up and down the alley they were hiding in, before looking back at Sebastian sheepishly. "Should we shift here or wait until we're out of town?"

He frowned. He had nearly forgotten how humans weren't exactly so found of shifters, or animals for that matter.
"Yeah.." he went on, feeling awkward. "Perhaps when we get out of town would be best."
He peered over at her before glancing out into the road, and gave a subtle sniff.
"I don't smell anyone coming. I think we can keep moving now." He just hoped it'd stay that way.

Nisha nodded her head, peaking around the corners and looking both ways before grabbing Sebastian's hand and stepping out of the alley and into the street. They would just get out of town and shift so they could travel easier. If they could just find a place to hunker down for the night, somewhere warm, without having anymore angry butchers or bandits...

Winding through the streets, the pair eventually found the bridge that would lead them out of town. For now, it seemed no one was following them- and Sebastian's pace slowed as they stepped across the crest of the bridge. He caught sight of a windmill off on the distance, and lifted his head to smell the wind. There was only one person that way, a young man- couldn't be older than twelve, probably tending the sheep he could also smell.

He wasn't sure heading back towards any semblance of civilization was wise, but further down the river he could pick up the scent of a few men and fish. He figured to try his luck heading towards the windmill.

"This way." He gestured with a lean of his head.

Nisha held fast to Sebastian's hand as she struggled to keep up with his longer stride and quick pace. She made no complaint and simply tried to keep close to him while looking this way and that timidly as they made their way out of town.

She was grateful as they crossed the bridge and he slowed their pace. Without knowing where they were, she truly was relying on him as he looked around before deciding on a direction. Nisha nodded and squeezed his hand tighter. "Okay."

The windmill greeted them with a steady creaking. There was no person in sight, and none that he could smell within their near vicinity. The boy he could smell appeared to be moving away, as were the sheep. The boy must've been herding them into a pen for the night.

Peering up at the wind mill, he could smell a few nice smells coming from within. And without much thought, he began to head in that direction, sniffing all the while. However, when he got to the mill door, it was locked. Nothing a werewolf couldn't handle. So with a few gruff grunts, the lock fell off and Sebastian was pushing open the door.

Nisha followed nervously, grey eyes darting around to make sure they were still alone as they approached the windmill. Her eyes grew very large when he broke the lock and opened the door to the creaking structure.

"Should we really go in there?" She could smell something nice coming from inside, but they'd already had some large steaks for supper. Breaking in to a second building in a day seemed really risky. They'd almost gotten caught by the butcher. Not to mention they were supposed to be moving away from people so they could shift and...not know where they were really going anyway.

"Relax. Judging by the scents, a human isn't due back here until the morning. With their mill work done for the day, we can rest here for the night." And he turned back to her. "Come on. It's going to rain." He could smell that too. "Maybe storm. Winds are picking up. I'd rather take advantage of this while I can."
And to him, nothing smelled out of place or dangerous. Even if caught, he didn't think the owners could be half as dangerous as the butcher had been.

Relax he said! Nisha wrung her hands slightly, unable to contain her nervous nature completely, but losing some of her reluctance when he mentioned rain and a possible storm. She was already cold, if it was going to be wet and windy it would be freezing to her.

"Alright. If you really think it is safe." And dry. And warm. Nisha might not have been big on taking any risks, but she couldn't resist the thought of shelter as she grabbed onto Sebastian's arm, shuffling closer to him for mental fortitude.

He peered down at her when she held onto his arm, but didn't shrug her away. He continued to lead her forward, realizing how strange it was for him to be the alpha in any situation. But as pack animals, this was how it was.

Alpha. What did that even mean to him?

At the top most floor was a room dusted over with flour that turned the walls a paler shade. There were also supplies and other such devices Sebastian had never seen, and though he looked at them curiously, what really got his attention was a nice sack of flour and grains resting in one corner.

He gave her a gentle nudge.
"I think we found our bed."
And did he offer her a smile? Yep. Although it was a small one.

Nisha followed along, it was really all she was good for, as Sebastian guided her to the top floor. the room was covered in flour, causing her to sneeze a couple times.

With guarded grey eyes she looked around the room curiously, beginning to relax when it was apparent they were alone and there didn't seem to be anything dangerous about the place. She blinked up at him when he nudged her before looking at the sack he'd called their bed.

"Okay." It couldn't be worse than on the ground being beaten by the elements. Nisha finally let go of him and shambled over to the corner before flopping down on their temporary bed.

He sat down near to her and looked around. Still, he couldn't smell any danger and felt the weight of the day taking it's toll. So he simply let himself lay back on the flour sacks before closing his eyes.
"Try to sleep if you can. We're still humans so the worst these people could do to us if they find us is chase us off their property. But I'll be able to smell them before they come."

He moved to scratch at his belly.
"Goodnight."

Grey eyes peeked out to watch Sebastian's every move, but Nisha didn't move again until he seemed to have settled for the night and wished her a good night. Hesitantly she shuffled on the sack to be closer to him until she was snuggled against his side.

Feeling his warmth next to her caused her to close her eyes and sigh contently. "Goodnight, Sebastian."

But while she was content, Sebsastian felt himself getting aroused. He was rarely close enough to a woman where he wasn't going to mate her, and so he opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling, hoping his excitement might calm down .

With her eyes still closed as she lay nestled against his side, Nisha had no idea the effect she was having on him. Again. She still didn't understand how such a weak, scrawny female could be desirable to any male.

For a long while Sebastian lay there, trying to sleep. But the bulge in his pants wasn't going anywhere, and frankly, he knew that was the problem. After a moment, he sighed through his nose and adjusted himself in a way that forced Nisha to sleep near him, but not to touch him, before turning so his back was to her. He supposed her cuddling him in that direction, if she stilll desired to be close, would be a safer bet than how they were just a moment ago.

Closing his eyes, he tried once again, to go to sleep, giving the fleas in his scalp a good scratch before settling in once again.

By now she really probably should have known. It would have bothered her to know her presence was being so bothersome to him again. Nisha really didn't mean to do it.

Exhausted and full for the first time in a long time, she fell asleep quickly, oblivious to his discomfort and troubles finding sleep. When he moved away from her, she'd soon cuddle herself against his back, unconsciously seeking his body heat and the comfort of just having someone there with her - someone that wasn't hurting her.

It wasn't working. Nothing was working, and his sex drive was beginning to put his mind into a frenzy. He had nearly half fallen asleep, however, when he turned to her, putting his arms around her before growling softly and nipping at her neck.

The drowzy-lull of being drawn from the sleeping world hampered his better judgement, as he continued to bite softly at her neck, while fingers crept down and felt all along her body, while he began to grind his erection against her soft form, panting and pulling at their uncomfortable clothes.

Nisha awoke with a start, a fearful whimper escaping her as panic seized her. For a moment she forgot where she was and who she was with. It took a few moments, but she became aware that her tormentor and abuser was not the one growling and biting at her skin.

Although that didn't stop her from trembling in trepidation. She knew what Sebastian wanted, but why he would want it from her was beyond her understanding. Why hardly mattered with his teeth against her throat and hands moving down her body. Since he'd come across her she had been a burden and inconvenience to him. Not to mention a source of frustration and tension.

With a soft, submissive whimper she tilted her head back, exposing her neck to him. Submitting to Ronin had been far worse. He had liked hurting her. Sebastian just wanted to feel better. If that was how she could remain worth keeping around, then it couldn't be so bad, could it?

"Please be gentle, Sebastian."

It wasn't until he heard her voice that he opened his eyes, pausing to realize just what he was doing as he pushed himself off of her. He still lingered, however, feeling and hearing his heart pounding in his ears as a dizzy rush over came him.

Did he just try to....
He grimaced, and tried to adjust his pants. His dick was so hard, it hurt.

He stopped?

Nisha popped her eyes open, the grey irises dilated and looking up at him with an almost glazed look to them. "What's wrong?"

"Er... I shouldn't be doing this to you." He blushed. By the spirits, that sounded like a foolish reply, didn't it. He could smell her fear, her confusion. He licked his dry lips.
"You don't want it." And he sat back, hoping to cool down by giving the pair some distance. Too bad it did little for his dick, which still ached for her warm, wet sex. And he knew it was warm and wet- he could smell it. He licked his lips again.

"I don't understand." She really didn't. "You want it. I know you want it. It's never been something for me to want."

Given her only experience had been horrible with a cruel wolf that enjoyed making it hurt it made sense that sex just wasn't something she wanted, because it had never been something you would want. Who wanted to be hurt or mocked?

"It's okay, Sebastian. Won't it make you feel better? I know you don't want to hurt me like him, and I know that just being around me has been a bother. If this is how I can repay you for your help and kindness..." It made sense to her. Even if she wasn't anticipating enjoyment, well, even with Ronin it hadn't actually hurt too much after the first several times - except when he went out of his way to make it hurt.

Sebastian grit his teeth. His hormones were raging and he felt his wolfish parts prickle beneath his skin.

"Are you sure?" He licked his lips and looked her over. It had been too long since he had someone but...
Somehow it didn't feel entirely right.

Was she sure? Well, no, not entirely. How could anyone be sure about something like this? Was offering her body to him really the right thing? Nisha didn't know, but her body had been abused already, it wasn't as if she had some virtue to preserve for someone special.

"You won't hurt me." Gathering up what courage she had, Nisha stood up and pulled her tattered dress off, revealing her malnourished form and feeling a little self-conscious about it. She knew she didn't look healthy, but if Sebastian's raging hard on was any indication, that didn't stop him from wanting to use her body for his pleasure.

He had little reason to second guess her, and without her dress, hungry eyes roamed over her form. She was a skinny thing,s he needed to eat. He licked his lips nad moved overtop of her.

"I'll pleasure us both," he told her, need blaring inside his brains. "And I'll take care of you." A strange notion, he was no alpha. "Let's mate.." he leaned over her, the rest of his clothing already shed and his hair on hoovered just over her body as hands moved down her hips and onto her thighs. "Let me be your mate." And his lips moved to capture her's, his sex, rubbing at her's lightly, but not yet making entry as he moaned softly through a kiss.
"Mate with me."

He was so dizzy with need.

Nisha couldn't stop her body from tensing a little as he positioned his body over hers, but quickly forced herself to relax again. This wasn't him, it was Sebastian. A wolf she barely knew, true, but he was nice to her and right then he was making her feel needed for something, which she rarely ever had felt before. Nobody needed her for anything. Even if that need was sex, well, it was something.

She wasn't sure at all about her own pleasure. Of course, her rapist hadn't tried to bring her pleasure. The next thing he said was far more interesting to her brain. He would take care of her? Yes, that she wanted. Someone to take care of her. His hands were on her thighs and she spread them wider for him, her sex already hot and wet in preparation for what it knew was coming. After the first couple times it had started doing that, and while she didn't know why, she knew it hurt less.

"My mate...?" What a funny way to phrase that. Mating as an action, sex, the act of fucking or rutting, that she understood he wanted. Let me be your mate. That seemed an unusual way to ask for her to give him sex. Not that she could ask what he meant, because his lips were on hers and she made a sound of surprise. Ronin hadn't really kissed her.

She felt his sex touch her, the hardness rubbing softly against her and made another sound against his lips. Instead of answering verbally, uncertain and shy, Nisha tried to kiss him back. It seemed like the right thing to do as she lightly wrapped her legs around him, her fingers moving up to tease and tangle lightly in his hair as she tried to fully embrace what they were about to do together. If this was happening, then she knew simply laying there and letting Sebastian do it would never work.

Sebastian moaned at her touches and the way she shifted her body. Sure, she didn't verbally say it, but her body was speaking volumes. His dick continued to lap her entry, her noises making his shiver as his kisses deepened.

"We're going to mate," he growled, tongue lapping at her cheek then neck, before he sunk his teeth into her shoulder, adjusted the angle of his hips and moved a hand down, and soon his sex filled her, and he moaned with need.

It was all strange and new and a little frightening. Even knowing it was going to be different than with Ronin, just knowing Sebastian wasn't going to hurt her, didn't completely wash away the anxiety. The feel of his sex just rubbing against hers instead of plunging into her without any warning, well, it was strange, but a good kind of strange that caused her to whimper and moan softly.

"Yes." Nisha whispered with a shiver as his tongue began sliding across her cheek and neck. Of course they were going to mate, that was the whole point, wasn't it? She tilted her head aside so that he could more freely caress her with the warm, wet appendage enjoying the sensation.

Her body jerked slightly and she let out a strangled, surprised cry as his teeth sank into her shoulder unexpectedly. It hurt just a little bit, but no more than any other bite would have, and a moment later she was giving a breathless, gasping moan as his sex stretched her, filling her as her heat gripped him tightly.

He could have came at the mere sensation of their bodies connecting. Instead, he wanted the sensation to last longer than a few seconds, so he paused, with himself clean into her near to the hilt, before he released his biting hold of her neck and moved to look her in the eyes. Was she enjoying this? He was curious enough, and he could still smell some fear on her- but her pheromones were overwhelming.

He began to move, just a little bit at first- but he was a wolf. And soon he moving like it, burying his face into her shoulder as he began to buck inside her like a dog.

As they lay there together, connected but not moving, Nisha kept her eyes closed as her breaths came out in soft pants. It was so different from what she was used to. Sebastian stretched and filled her tight sex, but while there was pressure there wasn't any pain.

Her eyes fluttered open as he let go of her neck, looking up at him with a very jumbled mix of emotions pouring from her eyes. Then he moved and her eyes snapped back shut, but there was no pain on her face or in the soft, breathy sounds that escaped her. She'd been a little afraid it might start hurting when he began moving, but all she felt was him filling her and the building pressure in her belly, even as he began to buck in earnest.

He felt somewhat frenzied, and the werewolf half of him breaking through, just a little as more hair seemed to grow on him, and fangs elongated from his mouth. He even produced a partial tail, and his muscles bulging in strange places not meant to be shaped for a man.

And something down there soon happened, for the moment he took her down to his hilt, his sex swelled strangley, and soon she'd feel his knot keep him inside her, releasing some cum, but by no means was that all he had.

The hilt of his dick ballooned greatly and stretched out near her opening and was hitting all of her sensitive sweet spots, all the while his length was hitting her deeply as he growled with pleasure. Teeth found her neck again, and roughly bit her, as if claiming her- for he was, as he pawed the ground and continued to buck, unable to stop now until he emptied inside her, made her take so much of his seed and his knot only then would loosen and separate them but for now? For now they were connected inevitably and he howled knowing theyd be at this for a good while.

Nisha's eyes grew round as saucers, gasping before biting her lip almost to the point of drawing blood as Sebastian partially shifted forms while on top of her. It was startling and a little frightening. Ronin had never shifted like that while mating her.

His sex had never done that either. Nisha wiggled her hips as he swelled impossibly large inside of her, stretching and rubbing her in entirely new ways that drew out mewls of both confusion and pleasure. She didn't know exactly what was happening, only that moving her hips caused a tugging sensation inside her as she was incapable of pulling herself off his swollen sex.

"S-sebastian?" She whimpered questioningly, gasping and whining as his teeth sank into her neck, drawing out small amounts of blood. Her fingers clawed softly at his back, clinging to her new mate as he continued bucking into her.

Still moving like a dog, he did so until he was near his peak, pausing only to toss his head back in an impassioned howl as she'd feel his hot seed burst inside her, and more than once. He had built up so much that he was trembling. His teeth had long since released it's hold on her as he paused a moment to peer down at her and realized, his knot was still secured to her body and he turned a moment, rolling off of her but remaining connected to her form.

"I... do you... you want to try it out?" he wanted to hear more than just mewls of pleasure from her. "As a wolf... we'll be stuck this way," he told her, growling softly as his knotted dick quivered inside her.

"You can mate me now..."

It was only fair- after all.. If her other mate hadn't impregnated her...
He kinda was.

She had no idea what to think or how to feel. It seemed wrong to enjoy the building pressure coiling in her belly with each jab and tug that consumed even the deepest reaches of her sex. Their coupling had taken a strange and unexpected turn. Nisha had only thought that Sebastian would use her for his pleasure and that it would be over quickly and be little different from her previous horrible experience minus the pain and awfulness.

Everything was different.

That pressure had become a dull, needy ache in her core, demanding a satisfaction she didn't understand and couldn't even begin to know how to sate. Sebastian knew how to, though. It was like a dam bursting inside her and she cried out as he pumped wave after wave of hot seed into her depths until she thought she couldn't possibly hold more inside her.

Nisha collapsed back onto their bed, panting and more than a little dazed. She literally had no clue what had just happened. "Try?" Did she want to try what? "Mate you? I...don't...understand..."

Some of his wolfish features seemed to soften as he looked at her.
"You..." he pointed at her. "Mate me." He pointed at himself. "Meaning you control how your body feels." He gave a curious tilt of his head. "You've never...?"
Damn. She hadn't. He moved to grab her gently by her arm.

"Come... sit ontop of me... and just... move to your own pleasure, like how I just did."
Was he really teaching her how to have sex with him?

"You mean...there's more?" Nisha thought she had just mated with him and that was all there was to it. Her eyes widened as she realized that he meant there was more and that they weren't necessarily done. It took very little encouragement, the gently touch on her arm was enough to get the timid female straddling his lap. She gave a soft moan as the shift in position had his still swollen sex prodding gently inside her and sloshing about the warm pool of his seed soaking her womb.

Being impregnated had never crossed her mind, it still didn't. Nisha thought she was too sickly to even become pregnant.

Shyly she rested her hands on his chest, looking at him with uncertainty. Their bodies were still firmly locked together and she was unsure of what to do. An experimental little movement of her hips caused her to gasp softly, face flushing deeply. There was just enough wiggle room for some grinding, and every small motion had him rubbing deep inside of her. "O-oh..."

His gaze was hazy as she moved, each small gesture and trial by her only making him harder within her. He bit his lip, and moaned as well, closing his eyes and stroking her leg.
"Y-yes.. Just.. just like that."
He paused, holding a breath before releasing a softer moan.
"How does it feel?" He licked his lips and afforded her an awkward smile. "I.. I hope those are good sounds you're making." They were cute. He liked them, and she'd feel his dick quiver as his smile grew.

Honestly once Nisha had begun undulating her hips gently against his it was nearly impossible for her to stop. The rubbing and pulling inside her was coiling that pressure tightly within her core again. She didn't know what it was or what it meant, but she knew she wanted it as soft moans were drawn from her.

Her face flushed even more as she dropped her eyes at his words, too shy to look into his face in that moment. Instead she increased her movements as much as she could with them locked together, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her chest against his. Her breath was hot as she panted against his ear and cheek.

"It feels strange and good. I knew you wouldn't hurt me but..." Nisha's voice was soft and breathy, she had no idea what a huge difference there would really be between what had been done to her and what they were doing now.

She put herself close to him.. so close to him it made his heart flutter and ache. Arms wrapped around her as he held her to him, watching her in awe as she moved, seeming in a trance. He moved a hand to brush her hair from her face.

"I like the noises you make," he told her, giving her a lopsided smile as his eye lids hung low. He moved to kiss and nibble softly at her neck.

"Keep it up... you're.. you're making me feel good, too," he told her through a soft growl.

A low purr rumbled through Nisha unconsciously as his arms circled around her. Grey eyes peered at him shyly, her bottom lip was caught in her teeth as he brushed the hair from her face. Strangely that felt like even more of an intimate gesture than any grinding of their hips. She tried to suppress a moaning squeak as he nibbled and kissed at her neck.

Her hands moved up to run through his hair as she turned her head to place soft kisses upon his cheek before nibbling lightly at his ear. "I like the noises you make too..."

Especially the growls, they were primal sounds that made her shudder gently. They weren't angry growls like most she'd heard before. Her hips jerked a bit as she let out a soft, whining moan as she clutched him a little tighter and rocked her hips faster. "Sebastian, it feels like I'm going to explode if I don't stop, but I can't stop..."

He shivered at her words, at her touch and just let her do what she wanted. And then he felt her, she was moving so fast. His eyes rolled back, and his hands gripped her hips.

"Just keep... keep moving, let yourself go. Rock and move your hips until... until.." he grunted, feeling his own heat and need rising. "G-Gods... Don't stop." And soon his own hips were rolling in tune with hers as fingernails grazed down from her hips to her ass where he gripped her firmly and panted and whined with need as he kept her pressed close to him, their bodies so close, so intimate...
"Sp..spirits above..." She'd feel him tense and quite suddenly, he tossed his head back, howling out his pleasure as he began to gush his hot seed inside her again.

"O-okay." She didn't think she could have stopped if she wanted to. Not that she wanted to. Instinct had taken over and her hips eagerly met his every movement, driving them both closer and closer to the edge. His nails grazing along her pale skin caused her to let out a soft, throaty growl of pleasure that surprised her.

Nisha was so frustratingly close to the edge, but it wasn't until his voice rose into a howl, until she felt him flooding her again with heat that she let out her own howling cry. Her body snapped taut, sex spasming and clamping around his thick knot, milking it for as much of his seed as it could greedily soak up. Her mind was blinded by the intensity of the pleasure that coursed through her in that heated moment.

Eventually she would slump against him, panting heavily as she trembled with aftershocks.

He couldn't stop gushing, his dick so painfully erect he swore he just had two orgasms. Eventually, he too was in a shuddering heap as he wrapped his arms around her, breathing heavy.

"By the full moon..." he moaned, trying to catch his breath. He held her closer, nestling in, and not caring they were sweaty and hot. "You... you howled.... for me." And at such a reminder of such bliss, she'd feel his sex swell again. His  sex drive was insatiable.

He moved to roll her over so they were on their sides, sexes still locked as he brushed a hand through her hair. HIs eyes searched her's, but he said nothing, and slowly, gently, moved his sex inside her and slowly he began to smile.

"My body still wants to mate yours," he told her, his smile a bit more sheepish.

Nisha was simply too dazed for words at first. She nestled herself into his arms as he held her, simply trying to catch her breath. His arms around her felt good; warm, safe, comfortable. Her cheeks held a heavy flush from exertion, but they darkened even more at his reminder that he'd caused her to howl, her grey eyes fluttering as she looked away shyly.

"You made...make...me feel very good." It felt like a lame explanation, but she realized he probably didn't need one. Sebastian had encouraged her to reach that point, so he must have known those feelings were in there somewhere.

She purred softly as he rolled them to their sides, and her hips adjusted automatically, pressing against him, instinctively seeking to keep him deep within her, even though he was still securely locked, especially as he swelled again. While far from losing her feelings of shyness and self-consciousness, Nisha looked up into his face curiously, giving a soft moan as he started moving gently inside her again.

"I can tell." She smiled softly and moved her hand down between them to gently feel around where they were joined by his knot. "Did...did you know it would do this? Does it usually do this?"

He felt her touch and shivered. He gave her a toothy smile, hips still moving and shook his head.
"No... I er.." At that realization he blushed. "I don't...t his.. is strange for me too. Normally I'm either full wolf... or full human."

"Oh..." Nisha moved her hand away, letting it slide up his stomach and chest. "Did...I do something wrong?"

Well if it wasn't normal for him, then that was obviously the first assumption she would make - that it was somehow her fault. At least he didn't seem mad about it. Far from it! She squirmed a little as his hips continued to gently move against her. Her body was still very sensitive from her first climax and it wasn't hard for him to have her breathing heavily again, making soft, needy sounds.

He looked at her, raking her hair back and kept one arm to keep him propped up as they mated on their sides.

"No... you did nothing wrong," he told her, his voice beginning to sound more feral and raspy as his heat was raised. "You... just make me feel.... different." He closed his eyes. Different... So very good, and different.

He moved to be ontop of her, spreading her legs open more and pinning her down beneath him. He felt so... so dominant. It was strange, and he began to move a little faster, and then faster still as she'd begin to feel his balls slapping against her with each thrust.

"You make me feel different too." She breathed softly, looking at him with dancing silver eyes. Being with him made her feel very different, not only because he was genuinely kind to her in ways not even her brother was, but once he had climbed on top of her to begin mating with her there was something else.

Those thoughts were pushed from her mind as Sebastian rolled her back onto her back once more. Her legs spread readily for him, her sex throbbing gently with each thrust and soft, primal moans escaping as he pinned her to the bed with his quick thrusts. She ran her hands along his chest and then around to his back, digging her nails gently into him as she tried to urge him to keep his body pressed close.

"Oh Sebastian..." Her head fell back, exposing her throat to him submissively and invitingly. "...please...bite me again."

He couldn't deny her if he wanted to. He felt possessed, fevered and opened his jaws and clenched her neck between strong teeth as he pounded into her with need.

Logically it seemed absurd to her, wanting to feel his teeth at her neck, but Nisha was being driven by passion and instinct, not logic. His jaws put her in an even more submissive position, but the pressure on her throat felt possessive, not threatening. It caused her sex to clench, gripping at him even more feverishly as she built towards another high peak of ecstasy.

He growled and huffed and moved with such need that all he could see was the heat and taste the saltiness of her skin. And then some copper, too, as his teeth pricked her, just a little, but enough to make her bleed. His eyes rolled back at the sensation, and soon he tossed his head back, and howled-
Howling in pleasure, howling in need, howling in the wild possession a werewolf was known to do- a sweet, almost sad sound when he claimed himself as alpha, when he triumphed over a beta, and when he took his mate for life, with seed.

The increased pressure on her throat caused Nisha to whimper and moan, knowing that her blood was coating his tongue, sent shudders through the small female as her body tensed. Her insides felt battered by the mating, but she didn't want him to ever stop.

As he released her neck and threw back his head to howl his possession, Nisha growled softly and leaned up quickly to sink her teeth into his shoulder until she too tasted blood, letting the tiny trickle cover her tongue in the copper taste of Sebastian. The bite was swift, over in seconds as she tossed her head back to howl in pleasure with him, her mate.

She was full so much of his seed that, after all his gushing, some of it began to leak out from her sex as he settled over top of her, shuddering as he came down from his ecstasy, his high. He was sweating, dark hair clinging to his face and the extra hair on his body doing much the same. But it seemed his wolfish features were beginning to wane, his fangs softening a little as he lay in a heap beside her.

She'd feel his knot deflating, and more of his seed ebgan to spill out between the pair. But he didn't care.  Gods... he really needed that, and for a time, he just couldn't move while he revealed in the after math of all that mating.

It felt like her entire world had been completely shattered into millions of little pieces and then forced to fit back together again in a different shape. All Nisha could do was lay there in an exhausted heap, panting and trying to wrap her mind around the experience. Not an easy thing to do.

She groaned softly when his knot shrank enough to finally slip out of her sex, and she unconsciously rubbed her thighs together. It felt empty and cold without him joined to her any longer.

Nisha tried to think of something, anything, to say. Nothing came to her. Eventually she simply rolled over and curled up into as tight of a ball as she could with her back to him. Well, she had offered to make him feel better, and as much of his seed as he had emptied into her, she supposed it was safe to assume that her goal had been achieved.

Now maybe they could both sleep and he wouldn't be as bothered by her being there.

For a while, Sebastian lay there in contentment, a large hand draped across his belly. He had just about fallen asleep, when he felt an itching- pesky fleas, and turned to spoon against Nisha's form. With a soft growl, he nuzzled his face into her neck, then shoulder and sighed as his arms draped across her form and he was pressed against her backside.

She smelled good, and his tail thumped a little before he felt himself drifting back to sleep.

When there was only silence, Nisha let herself drift to sleep, only stirring slightly when Sebastian rolled over to spoon against her. Unconsciously she cuddled back into his warmth, giving a soft sigh of contentment. Feeling warm and safe, she found deep, peaceful sleep came much easier than usual.

He hadn't slept that good in ages. Hell, had someone came by to slit their throats- they would have without consequence. He slept like the dead. And come morning, to awaken to her smells and the memory of what transpired...

He found himself whimpering and nuzzling his neck into her's. sighing contentedly as he found his arms clinging tightly around her form.

"Please tell me it wasn't a dream," came his voice, croaky from all his howling the night before.

Nisha had likewise slept soundly, in part from sheer physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. When morning came she didn't begin to wake until Sebastian began nuzzling against her neck. She grumbled softly, snuggling herself back against him more as he clung to her. He was so warm. The scents of him and sex filled her nose as she breathed deeply.

Her body ached all over, but not in an entirely unpleasant way. "I don't think it was."

No, the smells and way her body felt definitely suggested that it wasn't a dream. Although Nisha still felt conflicted about the whole thing. Sebastian had made her feel things she'd never thought possible, but now that he had satisfied himself with her, well, what now? She was still sure that he would find her burdensome and eventually tire of her cumbersome presence.

Except perhaps his reaction might have instantly quelled any doubt of him appreciating her presence, cause his arms moved to cling around her, face burying against her shoulder and throat as he growled out a sigh.

"Then maybe we can just sleep here all day," came a lazy reply through a yawn. He scratched idly at a few fleas. "We did work out a lot last night."
The idea tickled a smile across his lips as his head remained now resting across her chest, his eyes still closed.

"All day?" While rest was always an appealing thought, she wasn't sure that was the best idea at the moment. "What about the people that work here? We don't really want to be found by them."

No, she didn't like the idea of being found by people here like this. She was a little surprised nobody had come to investigate all of the howling that had been going on the previous night. Her pale cheeks blushed darkly at the reminder of it.

"I don't care," he growled, sleepily. "If they try to move us, I'll bite them."

Nisha gave a tiny little whine at the threat of him biting people. Violence wasn't what she wanted at all. She wasn't exactly suited to such situations. What if they had weapons? Sebastian could get hurt and then where would they be?

He was holding her too tightly for her to even get up. She gave a soft little huff, but snuggled closer to his chest. At least he was keeping her warm.

He gave a yawn and opened one eye to look at her.
"You're anxious."

"I'm always anxious." Nisha responded truthfully, nuzzling her head under his chin and against his chest.

"Do we need to mate again to calm you down?" he joked, his smile playful, if not sleepy.

Nisha shivered softly against him as she was reminded of their rather eventful night of...mating. Her pale skin flushed heavily. "I don't think I can take anymore mating right now."

He snuggled into her and closed his eyes, sighing contently.
"Then are you hungry?" He idly scratched at a flea.

"Yes, but I don't think we can steal from the butcher again today." Probably not a good idea to go back into that town for a long, long time. She snuggled in as close as she possibly could. Now that it seemed apparent Sebastian wasn't in a hurry to get up, well, she figured she'd just have to enjoy it while she could. "You're really warm."