an Everlasting Pursuit

twenty four

Ah.

I see it now.

Why everyone shut up.

It was big.

And I mean, like I see it. It was just dangling there for all to stare at. Its length and girth were as impressive as the rest of him. Nobody else seemed to care, too focused on the moon or the atmosphere. Just me. I seemed to be the only one mesmerised.

I didn't need to stare at Asra's groin for much longer when he let out a low whistle and everyone looked at the moon. I kept my eyes on him, taking in his bare skin; covered in dark tattoos. I have seen an elder back in Evermore have similar markings; claiming they had earned them for their strength. Asra's were lines and swirls of black ink, slinking around his shoulders and down his back like wings, carving into his pectoral muscles before branching out down his sides and curving over his hips. Few flooded down his thighs like tree branches, none daring to go close to the monster between his legs.

I mean...

Come on.

Was the tattooist intimidated? Because I would be.

"He's going to try the ritual," Mya whispered.

I stayed silent, much like everyone else, when the alpha descended into the water. The usual comforting warmth of the water grew stronger, like a direct buzz of heat directly into my abdomen. I grew unusually warm at that moment, but brushed it off as nerves. No need to overthink my bodily functions and cause an anxiety moment...

Asra's eyes scanned the various bobbing heads of his pack before inevitably landing on me. I felt the direct touch of his gaze, zapping me right down to the soul. His dark blue eyes burned into me, a string attaching us both taught as he walked deeper. I wanted to go over to him, to embrace him and loosen the tight hold.

It grew harder to breathe the further into the water he swam. My chest constricted with every step, his eyes never leaving mine, only seemed to make it feel worse. What was this? I felt like I was suffocating, like every weight was holding me down.

Warm hands landed on my shoulders, and I jumped, looking at the culprit.

"You need to take your clothes off. It won't work if you are dressed." Eve murmured.

I frowned. Now I was to be a part of this weird cult?

Looking around, everyone was staring at their Alpha as he neared the centre of the lake. I was trapped amid various wolves and knew if I tried to escape, I would disrupt this. Giving Eve a brief nod, she helped me out of my bikini. A struggle to do when one is treading water. She pushed the scraps of bra into my hands, her hands clenching around mine before she helped me out of the bottoms.

It was weird. I had never felt affected by my nudity before, but as soon as the security of those pants was gone, I felt the intrusion of vulnerability hit me. The water brushed my most intimate areas, my body on display, scars and all for everyone to see. The bikini had covered some of my worse markings, the ones along my hips and under my breasts, and left me exposed. It was weird.

I gripped onto the slippery clothes with vigour when the last of the invisible string's slack grew taut and Asra looked away. My heart thumped loudly in my ears, my lungs straining against my ribs. I felt so hot, so unusual, as the rushing of blood in my ears fuelled my adrenaline.

It was silent when Asra stopped in the centre. His eyes flickered back to me briefly, taking in my pained expression. Nothing passed through his eyes as he broke the eye contact again, closing them as he tilted his head back. He fell backwards like a starfish, submerging into the water. The buzzing grew, running along my bare skin and warming my stomach.