The Moonblood mansion sparkled beneath the glow of colorful lanterns and the sweet serenade of soft, string music. The building was adorned with flags and streamers, banners flicked in the breeze, welcoming the residents of senior centres and old-age homes across the city. Tables lined with lace runners, and fresh cut flowers were littered all across the estate's expansive garden.
Elderly guests all dressed-up in their Sunday best mingled and danced with nurses, caretakers and local volunteers as they sipped on wine and indulged in a delectable selection of cocktails, snacks and fruit-filled tarts. Laughter rose along with smells of roasted meats and vegetables as an army of catering staff presented mouth-watering dishes for those present.
Vaela herself moved gracefully among the crowds, slipping in and out of conversations to welcome her guests before moving to the top of marble steps that lined the entrance to her mansion, formally starting the proceedings with a speech.
Glowing with ethereal beauty as she stood before the crowd like a descended goddess. Draped in sunlight, she radiated, its light sparkling off her green gown that seemed to hug her curves in impossible ways.
"And with this," Vaela concludes. "Moonblood Mercies has completed the first phase of our improvement drive across the city's elder-care and infrastructure and orphanages, focusing on the most vulnerable in society. Only possible with the hardwork and dedication of so many. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for making this possible. For bringing dignity and hope to those that are so often forgotten."
Cameras flash as the audience erupts in rapturous cheers and applause. Vaela smiles proudly as she descends the steps with a regal grace and leads the crowd back to the garden's festivities.
She spots Lucien among the guests, who congratulates her on Moonblood Mercies' first major accomplishment and reiterates his commitment to help her achieve her philanthropic goals.
They part with a warm hug as Lucien leaves the banquet early to attend to personal obligations.
Hours faded away as she danced and frolicked with retirees and staff. Wine flowed freely and wild laughter tore through the garden as the elderly began indulging in ancient games of skill and stamina, much to the bemusement of the younger guests.
As Vaela dropped into a chair, struggling to catch her breath between hearty chuckles, she felt the cold, penetrating stare of an alpha wolf tingle on her spine.
She flicks back her head and sees him. Leaning against a tree at the edge of the garden, half hidden and brandishing a dangerous smile.
Staring at him, she licks her lips and lifts from her seat. As seductively as her legs would allow, she moves across the garden toward him, her movement so soft and graceful, she looked as if she were floating.
His heart jumps and he quickly swallows it back down his throat as his breathing grew heavy. Her movements, sleek and deliberate, send a shiver up his spine. Like watching a panther stalking up to its cornered prey.
He rips off his tie and flicks open his collar, tugging at it as he begins to heat up with animalistic urges.
"You clean up pretty nicely." Vaela smirked as she drew close. He stood erect, his body somehow squeezed into a black, formal suit. His tie hung sloppily from a pants pocket while scars and tattoos peek out at her from the loose v of his dress-shirt. "Didn't think you'd make it.."
"Didn't think I deserved to come," he admits.
"I'm glad you did." she assured him, moving closer, her face now inches away as her breath tickle tiny hairs on his chest.
"Look…a-about what you said." he stutters as she eyes him intently, trickles of amber sunlight brushing across her face and lighting up the ice-blue spirals in her eyes. "You were right. I've been hiding behind claw and fangs, using pain and fear to protect what I care about."
"So stop hiding..." she breathes.
"I'm trying." he says, his voice firm as he shifts even closer. "The drugs. The violence. The excuses. I want to stop. I'm want to make them proud—"
"You already are." she purrs, slipping her hand between his shirt. Her warm, delicate fingers tenderly trace along the claw marks across his chest.
He tensed, searching her face as she pressed herself against him. Every fibre in his being pulses with the urge to grab her into his embrace.
But she acts first. Lifting to her toes, she wraps her hand around his neck and pulls him close as her eyes fall close and soft, pink lips reach out to him.
He lowers his posture, wraps a thick arm around her waist and leans into her embrace, pressing her firmly against him as he lifts her off the ground.
Her lips meet his, and as he contends with the taste of indefinable sweetness that radiates from her skin, she slips him her tongue, sending tingles of pleasure across his flesh.
He holds on even tighter, gripping at her waist like he might lose her. And as his lungs scream for breath and his body verges on the edge of self-control, Vaela reveals the true strength of her erotic touch.
"Ooooh, yummy." Lilith purrs as she lounges on a nearby branch, watching on with gleaming eyes as she licks at the sexual tension that permeates the air.
Vaela's power surges from deep within, bursting through every cell in her lips. It weaves through his body and into his mind, like a lightning strike of dopamine, the sensation erupts across his brain with a cacophony of howling neurons, sending sensual waves of overwhelming pleasure coursing through every muscle and vein and vibrating into every bone.
She unlatches from his face with an audible pop. Wiping at split and drool as she looks at him salaciously.
"W-what was that?" He gasps, staring at her in a daze. Quivering, confused and yearning for another go.
"A taste…" she smirked.
He grunts, eyes blazing as he moves in for more, but a firm hand against his chest quickly curtails his carnal ambitions.
"Gotta earn the rest, big boy." she quips with a sly grin.
Dominic bites at his lip, a glint of frustration in his eyes.
"As you wish, Vanessa Moonblood." he reluctantly smiles as he straightens his suit jacket. "I'll be a good boy… for now."
"Stick around." she says, turning to leave. "I might let you buy a drink when this is over."
Vaela saunters back to the garden as Dominic looks on, entranced by the fluid motion of her flawless figure.
Later that night, she meets him outside The Crooked Claw, a dive bar tucked between crumbling factories on the western outskirts of Veruna. It was owned by the Lost Brotherhood, and Dominic's favourite drinking spot. Dark, quiet and away from the pressures of the city.
They walk in, arm-in-arm, where dim-lights blurred between a haze of stale smoke and sweaty bodies. The air felt warm, damp and the lingering musk of hounds in heat burned at her nostrils. She liked it.
Dominic leads her deeper into the bar where they settle into a small private booth half-hidden away under soft, amber light.
Vaela slowly sips on a whiskey while he fiddles with his beer.
"Ever wonder what you'd be doing if you weren't dragged into this life?" she asked, swirling her glass.
"Mechanic, probably." he replies with a semi-shrug. "Maybe carpentry. Construction. I guess I'm good with my hands."
"I bet you are." she adds with a provocative smirk.
"Nothing compared to those lips." he responds, before sipping on his beer. "So what's next for Vanessa Moonblood. You've practically saved half the city."
"Guess I'll aim for the other half." she scoffs, a hint of boastful pride flaring in her voice.
"And there he is!" A voice barked from across the room. "And of course… he's brought his furless little bitch along."
A young rival, high on quicksilver, stood in the middle of the bar. Bare chested, nostril flared and growling and like an angered beast.
Dominic slammed his beer into the table and stood slowly. Vaela lowered herself deeper into her seat as she watched the man beside her begin to seethe with rage.
"Best you leave… pup." he sneers.
"Or what?" The man laughs. "Instead of running this shit, our fearless alpha is making moon-eyes with some rich bitch."
"Last warning, boy." Dominic snarled.
"Bet she's the one that's got him talking about shutting down half our operations. This bitch has him on a collar."
Dominic moved like a blur. Tables flew, glasses shattered and chairs snapped over heads. Vaela ducked beneath the table, while Lilith peeked from behind a curtain of smoke, relishing the feral entertainment.
Dominic tore through them like a raging storm of claws and pain. Hair fluttered and fists flew as he roared and snapped, tearing down man after man.
One body flies through a window, another crashes into the bar. Another tries to attack with a broken bottle, but Dominic swiftly snaps his arm like a dried twig. He settles the fight with a punch that lifts his challenger through the air and sends him crashing through a table. Leaving the bar in an awkward silence as he stood over a pile of broken bodies.
Panting hard and bleeding from his brow, Dominic turns to Vaela wielding a reassuring grin.
"Let's go."