I tore with greedy abandon into the rabbit. Of course, I have eaten well of late, all my family and any of those who have chosen to hold allegiance to myself have not gone without. My children are young and strong, capable of travelling the miles needed to assure they found decent and unspoiled prey not yet tainted by the jaws of another. I was not a scavenger and I never would be and indeed my capture of the bloodied creature between my jaws was proof that I still held the ability to fend for myself without my army of children if such a requirement was made. I grinned to myself, lips pulling into a bloody smile as scarlet stained my pelt and my thoughts drifted once more. Of some of my children I could not be sure, Calista, Sinopa and Seraphiel remained undeclared in this life, unsure of their chosen path save for their continued existence. Calista had grown into a wolfess of the most exquisite form I had seen on a female in some time, whereas Sinopa had shown herself to possess a mind of untouchable proportions and Seraphiel, my second youngest son had remained aloof, silent and reserved and yet to see him stride across the plain was to see an Angel fly. The boy was perfection, all my children where and yet some more than others had begun to test the boundaries of this life. Amaterasu and Zildjian had chosen to carve a life for themselves, to live as every wolf should, to raise a family and grow old. Let them. Aaliyah was still convinced her purpose in this life was chained to Jaidah’s demonic child, that some way and some-how she could bring him back from whatever ledge he seemed to be standing on. Letum was as Letum had always been, skulking about, grinning at girls and yet the boy had mastered his training, he would be great in this world. Ferox had decided to journey further, my sword-tipped son determined to see what lay over the next mountain before he returned and I had given my blessing accordingly. That left only two.

Isola and Azrael.

They were perhaps the strongest willed of my children, with Lucifer and Kael gone that is (and I had no desire to think of that now). Isola had taken Kane for her mate and indeed I am told that the white male who strides beside her is her imprint, a Finley, once of Scotavia. I am content to believe however that my daughter will remain true to her mate, I did not raise her to be anything less and indeed though perhaps it is cruel of me to say- I will anyway, Finley is not from any bloodline I care to have mingled with my own. Kane, well, Kane was designed for her, he is perfect. I trust she will make the right choice and I trust Kane will make good on his promise to give her a home. Isola seeks only to lead, as she had from the days in which she stood as a small child by my side. I had seen wolves declare for her when she was barely grown, proclaiming they would follow her anyway where. To Isola I wished all the luck in this world and already I had decided, that should the time come in which I must make a choice between my son and daughter...it will be for Isola that I declare my support.

Such thoughts, so many and yet to think of these things is to keep images of my Eris away, to keep back the memories of Zeivah and force Kael and Lucifer to stay distant. If I kept my mind busy, I kept the darkness away and yet it would seem that another kind of darkness had found me that day, the pretty black girl sliding between the trees as I lifted the perfection of my head, violet eyes resting against her own as my bloody lips pulled into a grin at the sight of a wolfess I had once known well. My Zen. It was one of the last memories I held of my old home, the day Zen and I had travelled into the loner lands together for a ‘day off’ from our duties. I had only wanted the girl to smile, she was so serious sometimes, her mind filled with worries that should have been my own to think about and yet truly I did it for myself to (I do a lot of things for myself). I needed a break and so I took one and brought Zen along. One more. Yes, she was one more who had returned to me along with Arkell and Ruvindra and Belinda and Brooke. I sighed softly at her approach, both eyes lifting as a teasing grin touched my lip, head dipping in greeting.

“Ah, my Zen. As perfect as I remember you to be. Come, share my throne and my meal with me.”

I shuffled sideways on my smooth rocky seat to offer her a place beside me. I was her King no longer in all technicality although most others seem content to refer to me as that still. I won’t lie, I do rather enjoy being referred to as King and yet I am not so filled with thoughts of my own grandeur that I cannot find a space beside me for a loyal wolf....and a friend. I waited for her to take her place next to me before I bit into the rabbit once more, tearing free a chunk of meat before sliding it towards her with the casual sweep of my old paw. Thoughts still danced and teased within my mind. Azrael. He was the problem and the answer all in one. When had existing been this hard and yet, what was Zen if not a chance to her another’s opinions. I have no Queen to share these thoughts with, I am yet to here on Devil’s survival and I see no need not to share a stray thought with the pretty black-pelted girl. Violet eyes met the grin of her own once more, head tilting slightly.

“I find myself in need of another opinion Zen and truly, seeing as there is little else to be done with the day, I am inclined to ask you what you think. Do you believe I am capable of leading again, or is it time to allow one of my children to lead and keep the last years of myself...well, to myself?”

I grinned, a devastating look of utter perfection as I forced my mind to stay on this topic, not to linger and drift. Perhaps it was time I lived for me, did as I pleased instead of pleasing others. Then again, could I ever truly abandon those who followed. No, never- but perhaps I could take a less involved role, allow Isola- or god forbid- Azrael to take control.



h e y e l
15 Years ~ Lover forever of Zeivah ~ Stalker of Cat Eye ~ Father to 12 ~ King of Everything