Bane of Tenebris (Wolfgods Book 2) Blaise Ramsay (classic literature books txt) 📖

the moment, Kain could do nothing but return to his cabin. His instincts on high alert.

By moonrise, Kain had already turned in for the night, his body tired from his encounter with Tenebris the night before.

“Alexander,” came a gentle whisper in Kain’s ear.

Kain groaned in his sleep yet didn’t budge.

“Alexander,” the call came a bit louder.

He raised his head from his pillow to look around.

“Alexander,” the voice came again.

Kain’s eyes fell on the owl, stretching its wings on a branch outside his window. He left his bed, lumbering to the window to open it. “Forgive me, but do I know you?”

The owl flew into the room, coming to sit on the edge of the window sill. “Does a son not recognize his mother?”

Kain cursed under his breath. He held out his arm, allowing her to perch on it, raising her to feel the silky feathers on his cheek. "Forgive me, mother. I did not recognize you."

“It is alright, my dearest one. I worried for you. It has been too long since I have seen the handsome creature inside of you.”

Kain averted his eyes. “I can no longer change. It feels like the wolf inside of me is gone.”

“He is not gone, my love. Come. I know you can still run with me. I have something to show you,” Luna used her wingtip to brush a single strand of hair from Kain’s face.

She leapt from his arm and took flight out of the window.

Determined not to lose her, Kain rushed downstairs. Taking his jacket from the coat rack by the door, he threw open of the front door and looked around, trying to spot Luna.

The snowy owl fluttered above him, releasing a melodious cry before flying away.

Some time passed since Kain had the strength to run. He shook the stiffness from his body, his lycan blood heating his muscles against the cold.

Eager to feel the freedom running offered, Kain took off through the trees. As he did so, his body started to remember what it felt like to have the wind rushing through his hair. His spirit revived with each leap, each dodge of a tree branch.

At the end of the trail, Kain found Luna perched on a branch just outside a patch of thorny rose bushes. She almost appeared to smile when he greeted her.

“You ran beautifully. In time your body will remember. Walk forward. I will meet you on the other side,” she said prior to taking to the sky over the menacing thorns.

Kain pushed his way through the bush, wincing at each jab of the thorns against his skin. When he broke through, Kain’s eyes fell on a naked young woman lying on the ground.

In human form, Luna sat on her knees next to her, running slender fingers through the dark red strands of the woman’s long hair.

From the looks of the bruises and the scratches all over her body, it appeared the woman got attacked.

“What happened?” Kain asked, stopping just before the two women, “Who is she?”

“Her name is Tala. Take her with you, Alexander. Care for her. We will tell you more when the time comes.” Luna smiled, vanishing into a mist.

Luna’s instructions confused him, but he did as she ordered. He covered the woman with his jacket, picked her up and took her with him.

Chapter Three

Tala’s chest hurt from running. Unfamiliar screams filled her ears, shifting into angry snarls and growls. Something rammed her hard enough to knock her down, but she quickly recovered and continued to run. Black shapes surrounded her, lashing out with their claws, leaving painful bites across her skin.

Exhausted, Tala collapsed. As she lay on the ground, her vision blurred and faded from the dark images to one of an angelic-faced man with dirty blonde hair.

Tala opened her eyes, free from the fractured memories, finding she no longer lay on the ground in the woods. Groaning, she tried to push herself onto her elbows to take in her surroundings and her condition.

She looked down to find herself naked, half covered in thick blankets, and her wounds cleaned and wrapped.

Lifting her eyes to the rest of the room, she saw a round, black wood-burning stove in the corner. In its maw an orange fire glowed.

When the door opened, Tala jerked her attention towards the noise of the creaking hinges. The same man she thought she only dreamed of walked in carrying a plate of food and extra bandages.

Polished, sculpted muscles lay scarcely hidden beneath the white undershirt he wore. The faded, dark blue jeans sat low on his hips. Soft features, worn by time, defined his face.

She felt her cheeks heat the longer she stared. The only imperfections were the jagged scars covering the copper skin of his arms.

“Oh, you’re awake. I’m glad. I began to wonder if you would wake at all,” the strange man said as he set the plate on the table next to the bedside and grabbed the bandages.

Tala backed away so quickly she underestimated the distance and fell over the bed’s edge, landing to the floor with a THUD!

The man clenched one eye closed, hissing through his teeth. “I’m sorry. That looked rather unpleasant.”

The man strode around the other side of the bed and took a knee in front of her. His gentle eyes met hers. In a tender voice, he said. “I’m not going to hurt you. My name is Alexander Kain. May I ask your name?”

Kain held out his hand to help her up.

“Tala. My name is Tala,” Tala replied, taking Kain’s hand. “Where am I and how did I get here?

“You’re in my home. I found you injured in the woods not far from here. You’ve been unconscious for almost a week now,” Kain said. He took the food from the bedside table and set it down in front of her. He followed with his own question, “Do you know how you came to be in the woods?”

Tala rubbed her head, groaning. The images from the dream