Beasts and Beauties

by Lora Darc

  ***

  Days continued to pass and each day Mergoth grew stronger, healing quickly. In the day, Jaslene took to caring for him still, feeding him and cleaning him, making sure his wounds were healing perfectly. He healed far quicker than any human. He began to sit up most days and Jaslene knew soon he would be fit enough to stand completely and walk without any issue.

  She secretly feared when that day came for she assumed, once he was well enough, Mergoth would move on, returning to his army. Every day she got up and went to the barn, her heart raced a little thinking she would find it empty and Mergoth gone.

  But, to her relief, he was still there, waiting. She would go to him with a smile and he would then sit up eagerly waiting for her to come kneel beside him. She would talk as she worked and he would listen quietly, always watching.

  The night was when they came together. Jaslene wasn’t ashamed of her desire for him. After their first night together she could no longer fight what she felt, so she stopped fighting. And Mergoth too seemed more than willing to give in to her growing need for him. In fact, he was just as ready and eager as she when night came and she brought herself down to him. Even times when the sun was just going down he would pull her quickly to him, ready and wanting to give her any and all pleasure possible. He was ravenous for her and Jaslene could tell he was growing impatient with his want. He allowed her to find her pleasure with his body, to use him as she so pleased, but she could see he wanted to take her in his own way, to really take her, hard and fast, with an animalistic need so great it nearly frightened her.

  With his wounds still not fully healed, however, he had no choice but to wait. Still, that didn’t stop him from giving himself to her fully each night.

  “Oh, gods, Mergoth,” Jaslene moaned, panting and whimpering as she sat on his chest, his head between her legs, face buried into her wet center as he clutched her rear tightly, devouring and tasting her with his hot mouth. His thick tongue swirled and stroked against her core and Jaslene spread out her legs even more and arched her back. He ate her with such ferocity that it made her blush. Jaslene gritted her teeth as she watched him. Her center, aching and wet, spasmed and tightened and she gasped. “I’m coming... I’m coming.”

  Mergoth gripped her tighter as Jaslene let out a soft cry then his tongue slipped down and penetrated her, filling her, and Jaslene clenched around him, throbbing.

  Jaslene came again and again as his powerful tongue moved inside her; screaming until he finally released her and she collapsed on top of him.

  Breathless and sweating, Jaslene slipped from him. She eyed him and smiled. “I don’t think any man could ever compete with you, Mergoth,” she laughed softly.

  “Mergoth licked his lips and grinned, shaking his head. “Never.”

  Jaslene laughed again and moved to lay beside him. He brought his arm around her and held her close, nuzzling into her neck. Jaslene brushed her fingers along his skin. Her smile faded as she looked down at his clean bandages.

  “You’re nearly healed...” She wanted to ask him if he planned to leave right away. If she could be there to say goodbye. But she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

  He held her the whole night and she eventually dozed off. Some time in the middle of the night she thought she felt him stir, felt his hand stroke her lovingly and kiss her head, heard something being whispered in her ear, but she couldn’t make out the words.

  She fell into a deep sleep not long after until sunlight began to creep over the horizon. As rays of light penetrated the barn, Jaslene’s eyes fluttered open and she moaned softly, turning on her side. As she reached over, her hand only touched on bare ground. Frowning, she looked over and saw the ground was empty beside her. Mergoth was gone.

  ***

  Jaslene stood by her kitchen table, stirring a dark blue mix in a large iron pot vigorously, then she went by the fire and checked on another pot of red liquid and saw it still bubbling. Bottles and powders were strewn all over, on top of the table and on shelves. Herbs hung from the ceiling and books lay on the floor. Jaslene flew about the kitchen preparing the potions she had meant to make days ago to take to the village. She kept herself busy trying to keep her mind on her work and on nothing else; trying to keep her thoughts from wandering on days past and of her beastly lover now gone.

  Still, as much as she tried to escape from him, her heart ached. Tears pricked her eyes every so often, but she wiped them quickly away and tried to focus on her work.

  When she had awakened that morning to find Mergoth gone she had searched for him but found no trace. His armor was gone as well. She waited by the door of her cottage, staring out into the woods, but eventually, she told herself he wasn’t returning and slipped back inside. She wished she had asked him to stay, or at least to come back eventually, but her chance was gone and so she tried to force herself to not dwell on it.

  Still, her heart wouldn’t let her forget. And no matter how busy she tried to make herself she couldn’t wash him from her.

  Jaslene took the iron pot with the dark blue mix and set it aside on a work desk covered in bottles. As she took a funnel and began to pour the liquid into each bottle, a loud rapping came at her door. Jumping, Jaslene turned toward the door.

  “Who’s there?” she called, heart fluttering. She moved to the door and stilled. Another set of raps came, but no one answered.

  Mergoth?

  Thinking it must be him, Jaslene flung open the door.

  Only to find herself face to face with two human soldiers.

  “Hello miss,” one said with a wide grin. “May we come in?”

  Jaslene frowned. “What for?”

  “You are a healer correct? My partner here needs a healer.”

  “Is he hurt?” Jaslene looked the other man over but didn’t see any wounds or cuts. The man only shifted a little, giving her a tight smile. His eyes fixed on her in a way that made her stomach turn.

  “Oh, yes, he’s hurting real bad. Needs a healer’s touch. So do I, in fact. From a pretty little maiden who can help relieve our pain.” He grabbed his groin and laughed.

  Jaslene went to slam the door in their faces but the first soldier, a small, ratty sort of man, blocked the door and pushed his way in. The second soldier, a taller man with a crooked nose, followed right behind.

  “Now, now sweetheart, none of that. We just need a little relief that’s all.”

  Jaslene threw bottles and books at them but they only moved closer. When one bottle smashed against the first soldier’s hand he yelped and growled. “Enough of this, come here you--”

  He took hold of her arm and Jaslene screamed. The second soldier grabbed her other arm and they began to pull her away. Jaslene cried out but before they could drag her outside a loud growl erupted from the doorway.

  Mergoth roared with rage and the soldiers cowered. They let go of Jaslene and backed away but were too slow to unsheathe their swords. Mergoth came charging at them. With an ax in hand, he swung for them. The soldiers shouted in terror and fled out the back door of the cottage and Mergoth went after them.

  Jaslene heard the soldiers’ screams and Mergoth’s roars echoing through the forest along with the clanging of steel. Only a few moments later, everything went silent.

  Jaslene stood at the back door searching the woods wildly. “Mergoth!” she called.

  Out from the forest Mergoth came, his ax blood-soaked. He stopped just a few feet from her, gazing at her.

  “You’re... all right?” he said gruffly.

  Jaslene stood in shock, then her lip trembled and tears began to sting her eyes. “You came back?”

  Mergoth raised his head. “Never... leave you.”

  Jaslene let out a soft cry and sprang for him. Mergoth dropped his ax in time to grab her as she fell into his arms, then he picked her up. As he carried her back into the cottage, Jaslene took in his scent of leather and earth and sighed.

  Once inside, Mergoth set her down. Standing before him, Jaslene took in his massi
ve size and shivered. He towered over her, so much bigger than what he seemed when only lying down.

  He drew closer to her, so close she could feel the heat radiating from him. She looked up at him in awe, her eyes taking in his armor. He looked powerful and savage, like a true orc general.

  He lifted his hand and grazed his fingers along the side of her face, then cupped her jaw, forcing her head back.

  “Mine,” he hissed.

  Jaslene parted her lips and nodded. “Yours.”

  He drew his face down to hers and kissed her deep. Jaslene felt his fangs graze her bottom lip and she quivered. He flicked his tongue against her lips as he backed her against the kitchen table.

  Mergoth lifted her with ease, setting her on top. His mouth tore away from hers in order to trail kisses down her neck, nipping her skin. Jaslene lifted her head and arched as he moved down her chest. He lifted his head away for a brief moment to grip her dress at the shoulders and tear it down her body. He ripped it from her upper torso to expose her breasts then ripped her hem up to her waist so that her pinkish center was uncovered for him to see.

  Mergoth growled and clamped his hands on her thighs, spreading her. He drew his face back down and nipped at her breasts, then traced over her stomach with his tongue until he reached her core and he flicked her clit. Jaslene gasped and shuddered. She pushed away whatever items were behind her and lay back on the table. As she lay flat, Mergoth lifted her legs up, bending them so that they were almost beside her head.

  Keeping her legs bent with his hands, Mergoth went down on her and Jaslene let out a little cry when she felt his slick hot tongue graze along her whole center, licking her from her bottom up to her top. She felt him curl and circle her puckered hole and she blushed fiercely, then he slid up and swirled and suckled at her clit. Jaslene mewled and bucked against him but he gripped her firmly, making it hard for her to move. Her center ached painfully as he consumed her and tiny spasms sparked her insides with each stroke of his thick tongue.

  “Mergoth... Mergoth, please,” Jaslene begged. She could feel her center tightening.

  Mergoth quickened and deepened his pace until the heat exploded Jaslene’s center and she screamed as she shattered against his mouth, her body shaking violently.

  As she came, Mergoth lifted his head, licked his lips and, with a feral growl, unbuckled his pants. His cock sprung out as he loosened the ties and, keeping her legs up, he pushed the head of his thick length against her center and slowly slid inside.

  Jaslene let out a short burst of cries as Mergoth pushed inside her. He was so thick and she was so tight she feared he might tear her insides.

  “Oh! Oh! Mergoth!” Jaslene called. Her center constricted around him as he filled her.

  He thrust his hips a little to slide himself deeper until he could go no further and Jaslene felt full completely.

  He didn’t move right away, seeming to savor just being inside her. Jaslene put a hand on his chest as he brought himself down on top of her, nearly crushing her to him. He used his shoulders to keep her legs in place then gripped the side of the table. Jaslene tensed, bracing herself.

  When he moved, he rolled his hips and, in quick bursts, thrust hard into her. Jaslene trembled under him, stunned by the fierce beat against her body. If he hadn’t pinned her down, she was almost sure she would have nearly slid from the table.

  The table groaned at the weight of his thrusts, but Mergoth didn’t stop. He slid in and out of her, his pace quickening with each pump. Jaslene heard the table crack from Mergoth’s tight grip and she whimpered softly.

  His growls turned into grunts as he pounded into her and Jaslene’s moans grew louder. She was so hot she felt sweat dripping down her back, and so wet that when Mergoth stroked inside her Jaslene could feel herself gushing and dripping.

  “I want to feel you come, Mergoth,” Jaslene said, mindlessly. “I want you to come inside me.”

  Mergoth growled low and began to beat on her so hard and quick that the table began to shake. The bangs of the table filled her ears and Jaslene felt his balls smacking into her bottom.

  Thrusting into her a final time, Mergoth arched up, threw back his head and hissed. He closed his eyes and the hiss turned into a roar as his cock pulsed inside her. Jaslene felt his hot seed filling her, so thick she felt she might burst.

  He came and came until his seed burst from within her and began to pour out on to the table and floor. Jaslene’s inner thighs and bottom were covered in the thick sticky ropes of Mergoth’s need. The feel of it all caused Jaslene to come once more and she screamed, crying out his name.

  ***

  Feeling Jaslene’s body shake under him as he came was enough to send Mergoth over the edge with ecstasy. His heavy heart thumped wildly as he pressed himself against her, his body beginning to relax. When he felt her squirm under him, Mergoth lifted himself up and carefully slid his cock from her unbelievably wet center. He saw she was covered in his seed, noticed it dripping down her thighs and it made him shiver with pleasure.

  He brought her legs back down and he could see, as Jaslene lay limp on the table, that she was spent. Too exhausted to lift herself.

  Wanting to extend the service that she had given him so many days past, Mergoth searched around until he found a clean rag and carefully wiped away the thick mess he had left on her. When she was thoroughly cleaned, he picked her up and held her close then placed her on the bed nearby. When he went to turn away, however, she reached for him.

  “Where are you going?” Jaslene asked, gripping his arm. She was afraid of him leaving her again, not knowing he had fully meant to return. The gesture moved him. He knew what he would do.

  Mergoth knelt beside her and placed his hand to the side of her face where she then placed her hand against his.

  He only needed to say one word—one phrase—to make her understand.

  “Mate. My Mate.”

  Jaslene stilled, her eyes growing wide. Then her lips trembled and she nodded.

  “Yes,” she said, smiling.

  Mergoth smiled too. He grabbed hold of her and wrapped his arms around her, picking her up. He kissed her firmly then set her back down.

  “Wait... here,” he said.

  She did and Mergoth strode outside toward the barn.

  In less than an hour, he had the horse readied. Jaslene had dressed and packed her own supplies and tied them to the saddle. When she had everything she needed, Mergoth mounted the horse and brought Jaslene to sit in front of him. She looked on the cottage one last time and then nodded. “Let’s go.”

  With that Mergoth took hold of the reigns and tapped the horse into a light canter. With the setting sun, they rode off into the woods in the direction of where his army camped, waiting for his return.

  Red and the Alphas

  Red should have known better than to walk the woods alone at night. Especially through the territory now said to be claimed by a pack of vicious wolves. She didn’t have much choice since, while she visited at her grandmother’s, a nasty storm had blown through, ripping trees from their roots and flooding half the valley with cold muddied water, turning it to almost a swamp. The path she usually took was now washed away and so she had been forced onto a different route.

  If Red had been more prepared, she would have left earlier, possibly making it back to town before sundown. But now that would not be possible.

  Granny had told her to stay but Red wouldn’t listen. Her father was prone to fits of rage, especially when he drank, and she had been told if she weren’t back home by the next day he would make for an unpleasant homecoming. It was bad enough trying to do housework when one was sore around the rear.

  Part of her wished she had stayed though. A light punishment seemed a better choice than being eaten by wolves. As she clambered over broken rocks and weaved through twisted vines, carrying a small lantern raised in one hand barely penetrating the dark path, Red tried to pick up her pace without tripping over herself. Lightning flashed in the di
stance but every so often the clouds parted and the moon appeared, full and bright.

  Every time moonlight brightened the woods around her for that brief moment, Red would stop and looked around with a wild stare, searching into the darkness. Then, when the moon disappeared again, she would continue onward.

  Someone or something was following her.

  In fact, she had a terrible feeling that there was more than one. She feared it was the pack whose land she had been forced to pass through in order to find her way back home.

  Her fears were answered when she heard the first howl echoing through the forest. Followed closely by a second.

  Red’s heart raced, but she forced herself not to bolt just yet. She had to keep her wits about her or she might lose the path and become lost. Soft tendrils of mist were beginning to seep over the ground making it even more difficult to see her way. If she lost her bearings, she wouldn’t make it out of the forest until the sun came up and if she fell and sprained her ankle she would be in doubly more trouble.

  Though, really, she had worse problems than the possibility of a night in the woods and a hurt ankle. The wolves had likely picked up her scent and were hunting her.

  She didn’t like to think about what would happen if they caught her. She had heard enough tales from the townsfolk and from her own grandmother.

  They came in the spring or so the traders said. They saw the wolves‘ tracks and immediately informed the town. Hunters were then assigned. They readied themselves with rifles and hunting knives and traps, excited for the new trophies they’d display on their walls. They went into the woods. They never came back out. More men went in and a few came back badly wounded.

  “Demon wolves!” they had cried. “Monsters! Fiends! Humans who grew wolf’s skin!”

  The townsfolk were close-minded to the world around them but they didn’t always decide to remain ignorant. When they had done their proper research, flooding the library and searching wildly through books for any description of what they had encountered, they finally came to one conclusion: