Chapter 3 Red Rose

Angelika "Red Rose" Ramirez POV

Feeling his finger move along my tongue, I tasted the depraved nectar caused by the mastery he had just performed on my body. It was so wrong and shameful, yet my pussy dripped even more.

"And because we are beasts. Though you may see us as men, trust me, we are as from from being men as any could be. Whether you like it or not, each one of us will claim you in all ways. The urge is too strong to deny."

"All ways?" I asked as he pulled his finger out of my mouth, rubbing the wetness along my lips.

"Yes. We will claim this hole"-he plunged his finger back into my mouth-"and we will claim this hole." He then moved his wet finger to the entrance of my anus. He pressed hard enough to apply pressure but didn't break the surface. "And then we will claim this pussy of yours. Each one of us."

Not giving me time to process his words and what they all meant, Glenn repositioned his member at my pussy and began to press inside. My traitorous body welcomed him but my mind screamed no.

"Don't hurt me," I said.

"Oh this will hurt, my sacrifice. This will most certainly hurt."

I tried to lunge forward, but Glenn held firmly onto my hips, and I knew there would be no stopping this act. Inch by inch, Glenn eased his way in. I was grateful it didn't all happen in one big thrust; the stretching of my hole was unbearable yet tantalizing at the same time. Pain and pleasure. Deep-rooted shame, but hidden desires emerging. The rest of the men stood at a distance and watched as Glenn stole my innocent grace. Moans of pleasure-both his and my own. And with a pop as a virginal wall collapsed, I wondered if my face would forever be stained with tears. Tears that I couldn't explain. Tears so full of passion and craving for more.

Tears of disgrace and contrition. Tears of allowing this darkness Glenn spoke of to enter my soul. I wanted to peel my skin to avoid his touch. Pierce my eyes to avoid watching the other men's stares. I wanted to sacrifice my outer being to save my soul. But at the same time, I also wanted to push my hips back to meet each thrust of his cock as he claimed my body under the moon. The red of my hair hung in my eyes, reminding me of the blood of a battlefield-my battlefield.

I watched the soil encrusting into my nail beds as I scraped at the dirt of the ground. Over and over, Glenn conquered my body, and I had no choice but to surrender. It wasn't Glenn who demanded it be so...it was my own body that did. My eyes closed and opened as Glenn drove into me. Each time my eyelids fluttered open, I would stare into one of the other men's eyes. I don't know why I did, but the hypnotizing act felt right. Each driving thrust from Glenn would rock my body back and forth, but I would maintain my locked stare until I closed my eyes only to open and stare at another.

Five men. Five sets of amber eyes.Five wolves. Me.

The cadence of Glenn's plunging in and out sped up until he was mating me as a dog would mate with another. Abandoned and wild as his nails dug into my hips, he drove in deeper and deeper. I was being fucked like an animal, by an animal. And with a final thrust, a deep, loud growl erupted from the sinister being behind me-so loud, so powerful, so dominating. Claimed. Claimed by the animal hidden in a man's skin. But something happened to me as Glenn pulled his cock from my still-quivering pussy. I didn't feel the need to run as all the men stared down at my naked and used body on the ground. I didn't feel shame. I didn't feel hatred. I felt the need to continue this sacrifice to the blood moon. To protect my village from what lay hidden in the dark woods.

Glenn was right. We all did what we must to keep the darkness away. Even if it meant allowing the darkness to swallow up our souls. But I would fight this darkness with the ultimate light-the commitment to not be broken. My strength would rise in cloaked silence. And I would be the fragile rose but with thorns so sharp that I would shred their inner beings without them ever seeing me coming. This would be my silent vow.I pulled my knees to my chest to try to retain some ounce of my dignity and waited to see who would come next. Would they all mount me one by one and take their turn in their claiming? How would I survive such an act? Fresh tears fell from my eyes in anticipation of a never-ending nightmare.

After they devoured my body with their cocks, would they then change back to the wolves they were supposed to be and devour me with their fangs and claws? calms before me put the gown over my head and dressed me as a father would a child. The amber in his eyes was now warm, his breathing calmed and no longer ragged, his touch gentle as he placed the red robe over my shoulders.

All terrifying signs of the animal were gone. Glenn was nothing more than a man kneeling before me. I shook in fear but also because the throbbing caused by the claiming hadn't quite left my body, and Glenn noticed. "I know you fear us. You should."

He reached for the strands of hair that hung in my face and softly brushed them away, tucking them behind my ears. "I can't promise you anything, or tell you the lies you want to hear to make yourself feel better. I can't make the darkness go away. But you still need to come with us."I had nothing to say. And he was right. I did have to go with them. I knew that. I knew I had no other options. Not yet.

"She dropped her basket when she ran," one of the men said as he approached us after fetching the basket and all the goods. "Tonight we feast."

"Oh yes," another man said, staring at me with the same hungry eyes that Glenn once had.

"Yes, tonight we will most definitely feast."

"Drink."

Stubbornly, I turned my head away as I burrowed further down into the pile of furs they had placed me on.

"It wasn't a request."

Returning the beastly man's glare, I snatched the bottle from his hand and took a long pull, immediately regretting it the moment the strong wine hit my empty stomach. Sputtering and coughing, I only had a moment to catch my breath before he tilted the bottom of the bottle, forcing me to drink again.

"Good girl."

Not sure if the warm feeling enveloping me was from his praise or the wine, I once more settled back into the furs. Lifted over the one they called Glenn's shoulder; I had been carried deep into the forest. There against the jagged rock face of a mountain, they had placed me at the entrance of a large cave. The floors were covered in thatch with large piles of furs in different shades of brown and gray stacked in haphazard piles. I watched in anxious silence as they built up a large fire, chasing away the cold darkness. Each was crouched down on their haunches, tearing through the contents of the basket, eating the pieces of sweetened cake with their hands as they passed the bottles of wine around. The only sound was their grunts of pleasure. The warm glow of the fire cast strange shadows over the men surrounding it. Deep-set eyes, lowered brows and strong jaws were made all the more fierce by the play of light.

The heavily muscled brawn of their bodies was on full display as each wolf-like man wore only the barest of animal skins and fur to cover his frame. I shifted my hips and winced from the soreness between my legs. Certain I had made only the barest breath of sound, I was startled to see five pairs of eyes trained on me, alert and still.

One broke from the pack and approached me."What are you called?" he asked. His voice was low and hoarse. His words are halting and stilted as if he were not accustomed to speaking.

Licking my lips, I answered, "My birth name is Angelika Rose, but I am called Red Rose."

"Red Rose?"

I could only nod, feeling foolish for imparting even the sparest personal detail to these men. My mind and body were too bruised and worn to comprehend what was happening. I felt a distant numbness as if all that was occurring was happening to some other poor girl, not me. No. I was still under my favorite tree reading my favorite fairy tale. Perhaps I had fallen asleep and at any moment would awaken from this strange nightmare.

"Drink." This time, I didn't hesitate. I took the offered bottle from his hand and drained what was left, welcoming the hazy feeling flowing over me."I tell you it is a sign," said one of the men.

"You don't know that," said another.

"In close to five hundred years they have never sent a woman to appease us, and now they send us one with hair the color of the blood moon. Who can see us in our true form. It's a sign."

"It is remarkable that she sees us in our human form and not as wolves. Is it possible the village has finally learned a way to break the curse?" The others snorted in derision."Perhaps Elias is right. This may be the sign we have been waiting for."

"They don't care about you," I called out, the wine freeing my tongue. Rising on unsteady feet, I kicked away the pelts and walked toward the fire. Swinging my arm in an arch, the bottle held loosely in my grasp, I began to laugh. "They don't care about you, and they really, really hate me. Especially my grandmother. You think you're cursed?" I asked as I hiccupped loudly. "I'm the one who is cursed. Cursed from birth."

"What the hell, Darius! How much did you give the lass to drink?"

"I don't know. The dregs of one bottle and half the other."

"You should know a woman her size can't handle that much wine."

"Ease up. It's been centuries since I've been around one," complained Darius.

"You're sup...sup.... Wolves! You're supposed to be wolves!" I slurred as I desperately tried to focus. Glenn rose to his full height, towering over me as he placed his hands on my shoulders to steady my swaying frame. "You! You!" I accused as I pounded the tip of my finger into his chest. "You're the one who hurt me...who made me...made me...feel...feel those things."

Everything tilted and pitched as Glenn swung me up into his arms. Another of the men approached me and pried the wine bottle from my grasp."Don't think you will be needing this anymore."

I could only nod, feeling foolish for imparting even the sparest personal detail to these men. My mind and body were too bruised and worn to comprehend what was happening. I felt a distant numbness as if all that was occurring was happening to some other poor girl, not me. No. I was still under my favorite tree reading my favorite fairy tale. Perhaps I had fallen asleep and at any moment would awaken from this strange nightmare.

A protest died on my lips as the warm strength of Glenn's arms seeped into my bones. Without thought, I rested my head against his shoulder as he carried me deeper into the cave. Lowering me to the ground, he once more placed me on a bed of furs. Softness caressed my cheek as I snuggled in deeper. I felt a hand pet my hair.

"Sleep, little one. I fear tomorrow will not be any easier for you."

I closed my eyes and let the sweet oblivion of sleep carry me away.

"She stinks."

"Glenn."

"What? She reeks of the humans."

"We are still human."

"My brother. I accepted my fate long ago. You should do the same. We are cursed to roam this Earth as wolves, and wolves we will stay."

"I am not resolved. There must be some reason why this lass has been sent to us. Some explanation as to why she can see our true form."

"While you ponder the mysteries of the fates, I am taking the lass to the hot springs. She stinks."

As I listened to their hushed conversation, I couldn't help but lift the collar of my tattered gown and inhale. True, I smelled a bit like stale wine, but I would hardly say I stunk, I thought indignantly.

"Lass. It is time to arise."

"My name is Red Rose," I grumbled.

"Your name is whatever I call you. Now arise and serve us."

Leaving the comforting warmth of my fur cocoon, I wrapped my red cloak more firmly about me and followed the disgruntled man-wolf out of the cave. As the night before, the fire still burned brightly in the hazy morning light. The rest of the men were crouched around its welcoming flames. The one who woke me gestured to a large copper pot nestled above the fire.

"Serve."

Casting him a peevish look, I knelt before the makeshift hearth. There was a stack of wooden bowls and carved spoons on a straw mat. Giving the porridge in the pot a stir, I began to slowly ladle out portions into the bowls. My mouth watered as the sweet, nutty scent of the cooked oats wafted over me.

Handing each man a bowl, I took my portion and settled close to the fire but slightly away from the intimidating men. Scooping a steaming bite onto my spoon, I stopped just as I raised it to my mouth, startled to see all five men digging into the hot porridge with their bare hands. Once again they were grunting in pleasure as they had done with the cakes the night before. Noticing my regard, one of them stopped and elbowed the one next to him who nudged the one next to him and so forth. Each man slowly stopped eating. All that could be heard was the crackling of the fire and the morning birdsong from the trees.

With a sigh, Glenn leaned forward and picked up a spoon. Casting a meaningful glance at the others, they did the same. Then all eyes turned to me. Slowly, I lifted the spoon and sampled the porridge, watching as they awkwardly mimicked my actions. There was a strange companionable silence as we all broke our fast.

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