I won't be silenced.

The angel knew that tensions were high around the city, so finding himself with a hand around his neck wasn’t all that surprising. Maybe he should have been more worried, but the master had seen his share of wars and uprisings to know just how this one would end. As it was with everything else, they just had to find the head of the operation and cut it. Problem solved.  

“You can’t really blame me for wanting my hands on you, Amabilia.“ Just like Samael to try to lighten the tension in the worst way possible. She was lovely, that was for sure, but pointing that out when she had just seen him as an attacker, maybe not the best idea. Still, he couldn’t or would help himself 

“Can you?” the wolfish grin that follow an indication that he was only partly joking.   

Raj wasn’t as confident in the city’s future as she had been in the past. The continous screw ups on the councils part did not inspire confidence or reassurance and she was tempted to go to the city alpha when this was all over and done with to voice her concerns. The rumor was he was a pretty personable guy, someone most referred to as easy to talk to. 

Erik looked at her with concern in his eyes once she released her grip on his throat. He didn’t blame her for her reaction. “Hey. It’s okay. You were just protecting yourself. I shouldn’t have snuck up on you like that.” He said in a soft voice, rubbing his hands up and down her arms in a soothing manner. “Let me help you. So we can get out of here. The town is a chaos and I don’t wanna stick around. It’s too dangerous.” He said softly. He wanted to keep her safe, though he knew she could protect herself. 

Raj had to admit she was more anxious and worried this time around given how the last city wide crisis had gone over. It bothered her that these attacks and malfunctions of brands and such that the council had set up weren’t working as they should. It made her feel very uneasy and her trust and faith in the council itself was dwindling. “I’m just.. this whole situation is stressful as fuck.” she said with a grimace, though feeling a bit more grounded under the touch of his hands. “You know its not the first time either.. such a mess. But yeah. Just help me barricade the doors a bit? I’ve locked it all up with chains and bars at the windows but I’m not sure if its enough to keep someone out if they really want in.” 

Erik heard about the outbreak and his first instinct was to find Raj. He checked her apartment, when she wasn’t there he decided to check the bar. He released a sigh of relief when he found her there. He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her, relieved that he was found her. When she startled away from him, he held his hand up in the air and released her immediately. “I’m sorry. I was looking for you.” 

While she couldn’t exactly remove the feral look in her eyes, any animosity there disappeared when Raj realized it was Erik who had come up to her from behind. Her hand released his neck immediately as she swallowed hard, feeling a bit guilty for reacting so strongly. “No I am the one who should be sorry.. I didn’t notice it was you.” she said in an apologetic tone, uneasily shifting her stance. “Yeah? I just had to secure the bar.. last time something like this went down it was vandalized.” she tried to somewhat explain. 

Something was off with him, better yet, something was way off with this damn city. And it wasn’t just the riots outside. It was the fact that his powers were failing him left and right, leaving him just enough to defend himself. He had just blast a slave off a building when more came running his way. Knowing his limits he teleported himself, but once again he landed so far off his intended destiny that it made him lose his balance. 

Lucky for him, someone was close by, and he leaned in to avoid a nasty fall. Unlucky for him he found himself with him a hand wrapped around his neck. Slowly, his hands went up, showing the angel meant no harm to the girl. 

“Easy there girl… I’m not here to hurt you“.

Given the current climate she would say being on edge was justified. Especially if you had endured a few of these city wide screw ups. And while Raj might be on the lax side with the slaves that roamed around, she would not stand for being attacked by anyone, regardless of rank. Honestly she was no fan of violence, but had quickly learned how you often had no choice in whether or not to use it. If you were cornered you had to know how to defend yourself. 

Her eyebrows narrowed as she stared at the male she had in her grasp, though his response saved him from any further harm from her. For the time being at last. Slowly and carefully, given that her fingernails were suddenly ten inches longer than before, Raj released his neck. “Could have fooled me. Why the grabby hands then?” 

A willing victim was good. A wanting, needy victim - even better. And as Brandon watched Raj take off her clothes, he knew she was the former. Their former tryst wasn’t easily forgotten, not when Raj had been merely a co-business owner until that moment. He still remembered her covered in his cum with her shirt hiked up, kneeling before him. And now here she was, her beautiful lightly tanned body served up before him with only boots and underwear on.

There was a small smile as he admired her features, his lip quirking to the side, but a glint behind his eyes betrayed something else. Brandon had no intention of making this just another fun romp. When they had met before, he promised to show her things. This time around, he was out to ruin her thoroughly.

That smile faded from his face, replaced with a near-scowl as he strode towards her. Towering above her, his hands found her panties and immediately ripped them apart, sending their shreds down to the ground. His hands wrapped around her neck as his face pressed against hers. He took a deep breath as if he was savoring her scent before his fingers slowly began caressing her slit.

“I’m going to make sure you won’t be able to walk, baby,” he basically seethed, his hot breath against her face. “Is that what you want?” He licked her lips as his fingers increased their rhythm followed in suit by the tightening of his grip around her neck.

Raj had never considered herself to be overly adventurous. Her life had been one of rapid change, a kind of journey as many would describe it, but sexually she truly hadn’t done much in terms of too much exploration. Perhaps because she liked things to be neat and simple. As long as she was in charge and felt secure, that had for the longest time been all that really mattered to her. The fact that Brandon had been able to expand her horizons had been purely coincidental yet awfully alluring. He’d given her a good taste, and damn it if she didn’t need more, finding herself unsatiated. 

While she could tell that he approved and liked what he saw, that glint in his eye did come off as a small warning perhaps, of events unfolding that she couldn’t imagine on her own. 

While she tried to hold her composure as he neared, and as she felt the small piece of cloth between her legs being ripped to shreds, Raj was aware that her jaw slacked and her eyes widened. Yet she was soon too preoccupied with adjusting to a bit of a limited airflow, but moreover the all too simulating and tingling sensations created by his deft fingers. 

Erik smiled at Raj when she shot him a smile as well. He loved spending time with her. The past couple of days have felt so domestic and so easy, ever since they went bowling. He definitely loved the direction they were going, and it gave him back a little bit of hope. Seeing the club Raj has build up, made him feel proud. She has done an excellent job and he was incredibly happy for her. He was surprised at her words, but he quickly recovered and walked over to her. He smirked down at her. “You got yourself a deal.” He said softly, happy at the prospect that he might get to kiss her.

Raj liked how she felt lighter around Erik now. After they had really talked over the last few times they’d been together, she was finally able to leave the past more behind and live in the present with him. Then again, the thought that this wasn’t the part they’d struggled with before either did rest in the back of her mind. Though unlike before it did not dictate how she felt or continued to spread uncertainty between them. Having him here at the bar was nice as well. It gave her the opportunity to paint a picture where he was with her in her present and belonged in her every day life. It wasn’t too hard to spot the surprise briefly flitting across his face. It was kind of expected, given that she hadn’t really made any advances on a physical level before now. “Alright then. Here I go.” She was very sure of herself, given all the hours she had spent playing pool just for fun, both here and on the road. Her cue hit the ball with precision, sinking it at quite a pace. “Well?” she playfully asked, turning to him. 

Brandon watched as Rajani made her way inside. The sound of the lock clicking was music to his ears. He pushed off against the desk and crossed his arms. “It’s good to see you out and about and not behind a bar for a change.” It would also be good to see you on your knees and covered in cum again, he thought. He knew it was only a matter of time.

A sly smile appeared on his lips as he tilted his head at the brunette and played coy. “Remind me again?” He started walking towards her. “I can’t seem to remember.” He walked until he stood right in front of her and gazed down at her. “I’m sure you can refresh my memory.”

After captivity and distress, turmoil and being hunted, life in Thorn Haven tended to get quiet quickly. Quiet and sometimes uneventful, not to mention repetetive in many ways. So whenever something out of pattern happened, you tended to remember it better than other far more fleeting events. Running a successful business, Raj could never claim her life was boring, but it was simulating in the usual areas. Challenging her intellect, her compassion, her leadership skills. And while she didn’t consider herself an awfully sexual being, it was moot to claim that she didn’t crave that kind of simulation in her life. “Yeah? You think I should get out more, do you?” she asked, mostly being curious. While Brandon always had the serious business man look down pat, it was kind of strange to imagine him behind a desk, pouring over papers. “I have to admit, its somewhat odd to see you behind a desk.” 

The fact that he was toying with her was not lost on the shewolf, nor did she find it all that surprising. She had learned last time how fond he was of hearing salacious thoughts spoken out loud. Seeing as dirty talk had never been a strength of hers, she once again found herself lightly blushing as she tried to find the right words. “If I have to, I’m not entirely sure the time we spent together was as enjoyable for you as it was for me.” she said, a playful glint in her eye. Though if he needed to be reminded.. With ease, though in a slow and deliberate manner, Rajani slipped out of her black skirt, then slid her arms out of her leather jacket and lastly wrung her top over her head. Leaving her in her underwear and knee high boots. “How about now?” 

“I’ve been peachy keen.” She laughed at herself and took another big sip of her coffee. “What a weird saying, peachy keen. Like.. I don’t get it, but I do like peaches. OH!” She slammed her palm against the table, dark eyes widening at the woman opposite her. “DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE PEACHES HERE?!” Clearing her throat after taking not of the people that had turned to her, sharp looks sent in her direction, she gave a slight giggle and grabbed the coffee. “Sorry, I haven’t had peaches in forever either.”

“Where do they say that? I have never heard that saying before. But I agree its weird. Though the phrase ‘I’m peachy’ might have something to do with it. Can’t say I’ve ever used that either.” Raj couldn’t help but jump a little at Phaedra’s sudden motion, her hearing finding it quite a bit louder than all the other sounds in the cafe which she had learned to tune to a nice background static. “Easy there girl. I don’t know, they might have like peach pie or juice or something? If you want we can wave a waitress over and ask.” While she noticed how the people around them reacted, Rajani didn’t pay them much mind. She thought Phaedra was cute and sure, a bit odd but still in a sweet kind of way. “No need to apologize, its all good. Is there anything else you haven’t had in forever which you really crave?” Admittedly it might be such a question arose a plentiful answer, but Raj was prepared to hear it all. 

“Thanks.” Addie snatched the wallet from the girl and looked in at the picture, rolling her eyes at the fact that she’d been forced into getting a drivers license, as if she’d ever fucking need it in the woods. “You’re a wolf.” She stated, the scent having caught her long before the woman approached her. “You should wear your human skin with as much pride as your wolf would proudly wear its fur.” She looked the woman up and down, quite unabashedly. “You’ve got lots to be proud of no doubt.”

Raj’s hand fell as the girl took back her wallet, though she neatly tucked it into her back pocket, nodding a little in response to the thanks. It wasn’t a big deal, at least not to her. Small gestures of kindness were what made the world go round a little easier. Besides, she had been raised to show hospitality and compassion to her fellow man. No matter what she might be or who she might end up as, her core values taught from her somewhat strict indian immigrant parents were ingrained into her. “Yeah.” She said in confirmation to the strangers statement. “I guess.. I was made, not born, so I sort of missed the whole wolf pride chapter.” she shrugged a little, before smiling a little. “Ahm thanks, thats kind of you to say.” 

Busy days weren’t too common for Brandon but unfortunately, it was one of those days. Bambi was right, he should have done more paperwork and also actually let Bambi do her work rather than just have fun here in the office. Could he really be blamed when she was her assistant and Coco was the manager and more often than not they found themselves just going at it?

Still, a business had to be run so Brandon was filing through the files and papers when he heard a knock on the door. He figured it was probably one of the staff and he called them in, only to be surprised to see Raj standing in the doorway. 

“If it isn’t my favorite barkeep,” Brandon said with a cordial grin though his thoughts went somewhere filthier. How could he not remember the sight of a disheveled Raj with cum all over her and her white top hiked up to reveal those supple tits? On top of that, Brandon knew exactly why she was here. Fuck it, the paperwork could wait - again.

“Sure, come in,” he said as he got up from his desk, went in front of it, and leaned against the edge. “And… lock the door.” A mischievous smile tugged at his lips.

Raj couldn’t quite settle on one emotion or one reason for being here. Part of her was ashamed, feeling as if she was coming crawling back for more. Another was trying to reconcile her desires as a sort of guilty pleasure. She didn’t allow most, men nor females, to dominate her and the fact that Brandon had been allowed behind the curtain still puzzled her a bit. Somehow it was important to her to keep that between them and make sure no one else knew. Perhaps especially Erik as she had no plans on letting him know who she might be sleeping with. 

“The one and only.” She replied jokingly. Sure she might be memorable to him, or at least she hoped that she was, but she doubted there weren’t others he would name as favorites in more than one sense. When he told her to come in, she crossed the threshold and pulled the door shut behind her. Being told to lock it, a small smirk danced on her lips as she used her thumb and forefinger to twist the lock, hearing it securely slip into place. “I’m pretty sure you can guess why I’m here..” 

While she wasn’t made for this earth, she did enjoy it here. The years she had been wandering, she spent most of the time outdoors. From the beaches to the forests, it was a beautiful world that seemed wasted when people locked away cities made of concrete. She smiled softly, unable to disagree but her eyes drifted back to the sky again. “That leaves me with the conundrum of how to find that head space when locked in here.” A concrete cell was about as far away from freedom that Mercy could get. Even when she was so far from home, at least the forests gave her a sense of comfort similar to heaven even if she was still so far away. “That sounds nice. What type of food did he cook?” she asked, curious to hear about it. “This city seems surrounded by nature. It must be nice out there,” she mused. It was a shame that they were left stuck inside concrete walls. 

When life was rough, it was easy to forget to appreciate the good things this world had to offer. More than once Raj had been subtly or unsubtly reminded to look at the world that most would insinuate was at her feet, and she always found it to be beautiful. Sure, humans and supernaturals alike had left their mark on it, at times ruining its beauty, but more often than not it was a place she wished to keep explore. “Well, seeing as you can venture outside and around the place, even explore a little with a lenient rental, it shouldn’t be entirely impossible. When I found myself locked up it was in a dark basement. No windows, no yard to run in, no escape at all really. So you’re not as locked in as you might think.” It wasn’t her intention to be unfeeling towards the girl, rather hoping she might see that her cage wasn’t as set and dark as she might view it at this very moment. “A lot of Indian. We mixed Indian and American cuisine quite often and most seemed to like it. “It is. I can take you if you’d like.” She calmly offered. 

“I’m Joanna Thayne, what’s yours?” she asked, stepping toward the bars.  Her brow raised.  “Come home with you?  That sounds fun!  We could warm each other up reall good, I think.”