Chapter 4 just posted!

Hi everyone,

I've just submitted Chapter 4, so it should be out within 3 days. I apologise that this one is a little shorter but I felt I should submit it first rather than drag it out till I manage to get a longer submission.

Am busy with work but I'm excited to see how the story unfolds- both in my mind and when I write it.

So hope you guys enjoy the next instalment!

Wolf's Call to the Moon Chapter 3 [Updates & sneak preview]

Hi all,

I've been so busy lately with work that I haven't had the time to sit down and type decently. Between flights and bus rides, I've only managed to scribble a few more sections of Chapter 3. Hopefully I'll be able to type them all out this weekend and post it by Monday!

So meanwhile, here's just a short snippet of the upcoming chapter! It's an unedited version, so pardon the errors ;)

***

Mallory was sure she was in a dream – one where she was a third-party observer; understanding everything despite the incredulity of the situation.

Yes, she just witnessed a man changing into a wolf – she had clutched at his fur while riding on his back and she had seen the wolf change back into a man.

How dare he say that werewolves didn’t exist!

There was no mistaking those eyes. She knew them – man and wolf. They were the same piercing blue that had first stolen her breath back on the slopes of the Sleeping Giant. Mallory wasn’t a historian archaeologist if she didn’t have an eye for detail.

And she had noted that the five seemingly normal wolves who had appeared a while ago were of the changeling kind like him –but different. Not only where they smaller, they also had an air about them that denoted a lower rank in hierarchy.

The only thing she couldn’t understand was why he had followed them and left her alone in the foliage. He had even taken the assailant who was after them!

Fumbling around her for support, Mallory tried to get on her feet but her muscles were under the attack of pins and needles after having crouched behind a bush for so long.

“Goddamn it Mallory!”

Cursing to herself, she managed to rummage for a thick broken stick and used it as a form of lever to hoist herself up. “Who says I love you and then disappear?” she grumbled. The fear that had consumed her earlier was replaced by annoyance and a tinge of worry.

Emotions aside, she had understood that something sinister was happening under her nose. Why had the man come after them? Was it Clay that he was after? Or was it her? And those wolves…

One of them – the black one –had looked straight at her before leaving, the warning in his eyes clear.

“Clay…” she whispered, her eyes following the direction where she last saw him. She didn’t want to admit it but it hurt.

It hurt that she had allowed herself to let him in only to have him abandon her. Hadn’t she already had enough of that while growing up?

Each time shipped from house to house after her foster parents could no longer tolerate her or control her. And finally, at 18, when the system could no longer support her, she was thrown out on the streets to defend herself.

It wasn’t that she resented being left behind for Mallory had no parents, no family, nothing –she never had a bond to anyone that mattered.  At every stage of her life, relationships were temporary – foster home to foster home.

That shouldn’t have changed.

***

Even with his arrogant face plastered on, Clay bore the slight note of worry in his eyes – something that Sophie had picked up, despite his insistence that Mallory meant nothing to him. She was merely a human he saved from an attacking Risen, so he said.

Although Mallory was off-limits to them for the moment, Jean-Pierre had still ordered three of them to continue keeping watch over her. Sophie couldn’t disagree. Human or not, Mallory Roux was a piece of the bigger puzzle and they needed to figure out what part she played.

As for herself, the senior tracker had requested that she accompanied him back to Notre Dame, in a bid to coax some answers out of the two prisoners.

Pursing her lips, Sophie crossed her arms as Jean-Pierre tried to discuss his interrogation strategy. There were times when she really hated how he used her looks as a tool to acquiesce men, especially when the specimen in front of her was anything but attracted to her. Clay had not once looked at her nor acknowledged her presence.

“Jean-Pierre, please. You know as well as I do that he is not going to speak to us.”

“Doesn’t mean we stop trying,” he replied curtly before turning his attention to the captured Risen in front of him. They weren’t any more successful with him either.

Yuli was sat back in his seat, eyes wary and watchful. Though they had bound his hands and feet, he knew he could escape if he wanted to –merely disappearing in a puff of smoke.

By the looks of it, the captured Light Walker knew it too.

Their eyes crossed for a split second and Yuli caught the murderous edge in those sky-blue irises.

Finally, after a long period of silence, the two trackers stood up.

“It won’t be long before we reach Paris,” announced Jean-Pierre, looking intently at his two captives. “I do so wish that you would tell us something useful so we could help you out. The Shadow Lords can be merciful.”

Clay resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He knew all about their mercy alright. Like how they mercilessly butchered his entire family.

So screw them.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Clay endured the slow descend to Charles de Gaulle Airport. He hated the place – the rank scent of decay and filth was always heavy in the air, choking him.

He longed for the vast countryside, where the air smelled of ripened grapes and wheat and fields of sunflowers.

Coming home had a bittersweet taste to it.

The journey to the grand cathedral was wordless. The captives found no reason to speak and the captors knew there was nothing more they could gleam from the two.

Clay kept his eyes on the road, noting how despite the passing of time, every building was still recognisable, the streets littered with the same type of people and the air of melancholy still permeated the city.

Even the river Seine held the same charm and serenity as before. Now that the car was crossing the bridge over her, he knew the time had come. He was finally home, in the land of his forefathers and back here he was after a century.

When Jean-Pierre tried to guide them towards the main entrance of the cathedral, Clay simply pulled away and headed up the path that he had memorised by heart. He knew the tracker was going to bring them through all the memorials and grandeur as a farce of intimidation but Clay was not one to waste time.

At the side of the spiral staircase at the back entrance was a secret door that led to another set of stairs at the end of a corridor. It was there that he had seen his family for the last time before they were all herded to the main courtyard like sheep to slaughter.

Clenching his teeth at the memory, Clay continued down the path; aware that Sophie was following him. Jean-Pierre must have set her on him while he tended to the captured Risen.

When they finally reached the end of the corridor, Clay pushed the door open and welcomed the flood of light from the open-air cloister.

But it was the chapter-house at the east side of the cloister that had his attention.

A soft hand on his shoulder. “Wait, please.”

He gave her a momentary glance. “I know they are aware of my presence. There is no need to chaperon me.”

“I don’t understand.” The tone of resignation and innocence had him stopping in his tracks.

“What?”

“You. This.”

Clay continued walking. There was no need to explain anything. His business was not with her. 

Wolf's Call to the Moon Ch 2 Sneak Preview

Hi everyone!

I'm tweaking the chapter a little more and adding a couple more scenes to make it longer (for you!), so while waiting for the chapter to be up on the website -hopefully by this Sunday- here's a sneak peek at our trio once again. 

***

When Mallory finally got back to her temporary lodging that evening, she was not surprised to see Jamie leaning against her door waiting for her.

“I have not been able to catch you at all the whole day,” he said in a flat tone.

Unsure if he was accusing her or simply being matter-of-fact, Mallory shrugged. “I’ve been busy Jamie.”

The Risen did not appreciate that the human felt it her right to ignore or challenge him. She belonged to him and if it took drawing her blood to make her understand that, then so be it.

Closing the gap between them, he pressed his knuckles gently on her cheekbones.

“You should stop resisting me Mallory,” he whispered in her ears, his teeth scraping her earlobe as a warning. Her body stiffened in shock at the contact. “I could give you so much pleasure… if only you’d stop denying me.”

Soft lips were slowly kissing down the column of her neck.

It would only take one bite…

“Jamie… please…” Hands pressed against his chest, Mallory tried to push him away but he was too strong; overpowering her body and mind.

Incisors lengthening so precariously close to the tender flesh…

A blur of darkness caught Jamie’s attention and he retracted his fangs and spun Mallory behind him so quickly that she almost fell.

“Get indoors and stay there!” he instructed, using a blast of power on her mind to ensure she’d comply immediately.

With Mallory behind closed doors, Jamie began to scan the forested area in front of him. He didn’t sense anybody but that never meant no one was watching.

Then out of the shadows, a blur of white jumped at him so fast that Jamie was unable to block the attack, gaining a deep gash in his abdomen. Although the gash was aimed to maim and not kill, it was still deep enough that Jamie had to clench his hands over the wound to stop him from bleeding out.

“Fuck!” When it came to healing, Jamie had no inert abilities. Though Risen wounds heal faster than humans, it would not be fast enough for him to recover to launch a physical counterattack.

Hidden in the darkness provided by the trees, Clay remained low and at a distance safe enough to prevent the Risen from using his abilities to render him defenceless. He continued watching as the Risen – whom Mallory had addressed as Jamie – kept searching for his attacker in vain until he could no longer stay in the open and retreated to heal his wounds.

Satisfied that Mallory was no longer in immediate danger of being marked by a Risen, Clay decided to return to his temporary accommodations to get ready for his date with Mallory that night. He wasn’t intending on allowing her to stay in that wretched hell-hole aside the Risen so he was going to do all he could to make her stay in his – even if that meant seducing and pampering her all night…

With his mind occupied with thoughts of Mallory, Clay almost missed the scent of another Light Walker in his midst.

Retreating back into the shadows, Clay kept his eyes on the lone brown wolf padding her way through the foliage.

Clay was sure that he hadn’t betrayed his scent ever since stepping foot in Europe but when a Light Walker scout was out hunting, there would be no mistaking the wolf prints and marks he had left behind.

And while the tracker was tracking his tracks, Clay knew he would soon have to follow the tracks that the wolf left behind in an attempt to understand who was following him and why.

But first he needed to get dressed for his date.

Show, not Tell

Borrowed a book from the library last night on 'how to write better' and one of the major take aways from the book was the skill of showing not telling the readers whatever it is that's on your character's mind.

Believe me, it was a difficult exercise because I started looking at my drafts and re-writing everything. A few things that I noted:

1) Whenever you use the words 'were/was' it is likely that it's a telling sentence. For example:

He was angry at her for not telling him about her affair.

To re-write this in a showing manner requires trusting the audience to fill in the gaps and induce that the character was angry for themselves. Therefore, an attempt to show his anger would look something like this:

"Where have you been? I've waited all night for you." He could feel his blood pressure slowly rising; the strange perfume a hot slap across his face.

2) Avoid using words that end with -ly to describe emotions. Eg: He told her angrily.
Again, show and not tell.

So, voila! Let's hope this small training will help me improve my writing and make it more captivating. It will take time but with practice, hopefully this will make me a better writer :)

The wolf's call to the moon - New Story and Updates!

Hi everyone,

My writer's block is slowly lifting so I've begun writing again. I wrote lots of drafts during the time I was missing in action but none satisfied me enough until early this year when I started continuing a draft of this story I had abandoned in 2011.

Chapter 1 is already submitted on Literotica so hopefully it will be up within 72 hours!

An extract of the first chapter is below. I've chosen not to use the traditional labels of Vampires and Werewolves but have called them Risen and LightWalkers respectively. Also in the storyline, there may be some reference to words from the game 'World of Darkness' which I've been playing these last few years and it's influenced my world-building quite a lot!

Hope you'll enjoy the story once it's out!

***

The moon was at its brightest and fullest tonight and Mallory knew that she had to hurry if she wanted to catch a glimpse of him –even for the briefest second. Her life, her work and her sanity depended on it and there was no way she was going to miss it.

Not that she had, for the past six months.

As she gathered her books, a knock came on her office door and in strolled Jamie, the archaeologist who hired her, his broad frame blocking her only way out of the room.

“Mallory, I wasn’t sure if you received my email…” he started, moving forward to box her behind her desk.

“Oh, umm email… yeah, I did.” Mallory started to straighten her skirt awkwardly before muttering apologetically, “I’m sorry Jamie, I have to go.”

“It’s just dinner.”

She hated the guilt-trip in his tone. Yeah, sure she had been avoiding his unabashed advances since the start of the project but there was no such thing as just dinner. Why hadn’t he asked her out for lunch instead? At least that would have been more neutral ground and she could give the excuse of needing to head back to the dig site to work.

Mallory knew that the only way out was to lie through her perfectly straight teeth.

“I’m having a girl’s night out with Odessa and the others… I’m sorry Jamie. Maybe next time.”

With that, she pushed her way through, aware that he made no effort to step aside but allowed their bodies to slide, albeit seductively against each others. Having held her breath the whole time, Mallory finally exhaled dramatically the moment she stepped out of her door.

It wasn’t that Jamie Record wasn’t handsome or charming or perfect –in fact, he was all that and more but still, Mallory didn’t find herself attracted to the man.

Shaking herself slightly, Mallory headed down the corridor towards Odessa’s office to seek refuge. Thankfully, the cheerful woman was still there.

“Oh! Mallory, what a surprise!”

“I’m here to hide,” admitted Mal unashamedly. At Odessa’s raised eyebrow, Mallory explained, “It’s Jamie… he asked me out again.”

“Wait, let me get this straight… Jamie, the most accomplished archaeologist of the century, asked you out even when you’re looking like that?” she laughed, pointing to Mallory’s haphazard getup. “Surely you didn’t think he was planning for a romantic dinner to sweep you off your feet!”

Mallory shrugged nervously.

“Goodness girl! Half the expedition team is in love with him and here you are hiding from him, under what pretence exactly?”

“Uh, I said we’re having a girl’s night out.”

“Fabulous! Because that’s where we’re going!” Odessa’s laugh brought out her cute dimples. Mallory pouted. Why hadn’t Jamie been attracted to her? Not only was she an amazing Project Manager but Odessa was also stunning with her honey-green eyes and midnight black hair.

As the stepped out of the office, Mallory checked out the corridor to make sure that Jamie was nowhere in sight.

“Not tonight Odessa. I’ve got something important to do.”

“Come on Mal, it’s TGIF. You’ve got to come with us! Stop working already girlfriend! You’re starting to resemble Ugly Betty!” whined her co-worker, Odessa, as she tugged purposefully at Mallory’s long and oversized t-shirt.

“I can’t. Not tonight. I’m sorry Dessa, I really have to go.” Mallory gave her the best pitiful look she could muster –even pouting her plump lips for effect.

Not that Odessa would fall for it.

“Tell me, is it a man? Ooo… it is, isn’t it? That’s why you brushed Jamie off! Is he tall? Sexy?” she clapped her hands gleefully before peering closer. “Yummy?”

At the sight of Mallory widening her eyes in embarrassment and shock, Odessa broke out in giggles and simply gave her colleague and friend a hug.

“Alright, I shan’t keep you any longer from your dream date. Just make sure you take off those awful glasses. You know you don’t need them.”

Before she could protest, Odessa had walked off to join their other colleagues who were heading off to the nearest club for drinks.  Mallory stood rooted in her spot as she watched the trim little brunette clicking away in her high heeled shoes.

Looking down at her own feet, Mallory nodded in approval of her sneakers. It wasn’t like she didn’t own a pair of heels, it was just… somewhere. As for her hair, it had none of the shine and volume as Odessa’s but Mallory’s soft auburn head had earned her quite a few glances over the years.

Well… maybe not in this getup at least.

Sighing, she tucked a stray strand behind her ear and started towards her SUV, keys jangling in her hand. Mallory tried not to acknowledge her sudden increase in heartbeat nor the feeling of exhilaration and anticipation of driving up to the Sleeping Giant.

Even the name itself brought great pleasure to her senses. Who would have thought that the sleepy little town she had landed herself in would house such a magnificent summit?

Smiling to herself, Mallory turned the key into the ignition and reversed out from her driveway. Technically, she didn’t need to drive when the Sleeping Giant was literally beside the excavation site but Mallory had her sketchbook, haversack, a camcorder and a regular DSLR as well as her tripods with her and she had less than an hour before midnight to prepare herself for her moon-watching.

Her colleagues thought her mad; trekking in the middle of the night with such bulky items, simply in the hopes of documenting what she called The Wolf’s Call to the Moon.

Mallory’s was an Assyrian Historian but her expertise was in the study of the region’s ancient languages, some of which were now extinct. As with many languages, oral traditions precede writing and in her research and documentation, she had collected thousands of folkloric songs and poetry recalling legends and myths – of which her favourite was that of wolves and the full moon.

***

She remembered the first time she had seen him –the silvery light of the moon cast upon his sleek pearl coat; angelic and breathtaking as he stood atop the cliff, simply looking at the moon in all its fullness and grandeur.

He had stood there, completely still; not a single sound –though one would have expected echoing howls –his head tilted upwards, eyelids closed and nostrils flaring now and then as he took in the fresh mountainous air around him.

Mallory had remembered watching him and thinking that he seemed to be talking to the moon or perhaps pining for something that was so distant and unreachable.

The thought always made her sad.

Almost as sad as when the lone wolf took his eyes away from the moon to gaze directly at her; his sharp sky blue eyes lingering just for a moment before he turned and disappeared into the darkness.

In fact, the only reason why she was trekking up the mountain with a fistful of filming and digital equipment was in the hopes of capturing that single moment –when he’d look right into her soul and steal her breath.

This was her last chance, for in a fortnight she’d be leaving Lycia, Anatolia to return to London to further complete her work. She wanted… a memory; a living proof that she had witnessed such a magical sight.

With a determined huff, Mallory slung her haversack behind her back and started trekking towards her secret spot just a few meters from the cliff’s edge. It was a quiet little enclave that seemed like it was naturally chiselled out by the wind currents and was partly shielded by a shrub, allowing her to burrow deep within the crevice.

Satisfied that she was comfortable, Mallory checked her watch before setting up her equipment. There was still fifteen minutes left and all she had to do was to set up the camcorder over the tripod; sit and wait.

It didn’t take long before the lustrous white coated wolf came into the frame; his proud snout tilted upwards as he moves forward, one muscular limb at a time as though he was royalty walking up to his pedestal.

He was oblivious to everything but the call of the moon; its luring sirens singing a song only meant for his ears. His expression was one of rapture, longing and desire…

Mallory was feeling no different. Her hand held the DSLR, intending to take as many shots of the wolf as possible but her fingers were uncooperative. She had no idea why she was enchanted beyond logical reasoning each time she looked at him basked in moonlight.

She knew it was a ‘him’ but it was not enough to explain the inexplicable reaction she had to an animal no less. Of course, she could argue he was a werewolf and she was actually attracted to the human within the beast. However, she, of all people, should know that myths and legends were simply oral traditions. They were meant to convey particular morals, historical retelling and a mode of passing on one’s culture and language to the next generation.

In short –they weren’t real.

“Werewolves don’t exist,” she whispered to herself, willing her forefinger to move, to resist the ridiculous lull and snap a picture.

Mallory regretted it almost instantly.

She had forgotten that the shutters created an unbelievable crack in the wind sound and the flash –oh god –she had turned in on instead of switching it off! Swivelling her head, Mallory quickly tried to salvage the situation, praying that the wolf hadn’t heard her interruptions.

Her heart sank.

He was no longer standing on the edge of the cliff. In fact, she couldn’t see him anywhere! The flash must have scared the wolf away.

Mallory wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or sad but she knew it was useless to sit around and wait any longer. She had caught a decent few minutes of him on the camcorder –that would have to suffice. It was her fault for screwing it up anyway.

Frustrated with herself, Mallory started dismantling the equipment and stuffing them back into her haversack. Consumed by annoyance for herself, she wasn’t aware that she was being watched; every jerk of her arm, every hitch in her breath and every mumble of her self-cursing.

“Damn it! Why don’t you get in already, you stubborn old cam…” Mallory let out a low growl as she finally shoved the bulky camera into her bag. “I knew this was a bad idea… I shouldn’t have…”

Whatever she intended to say was forgotten the moment she crawled out of her hiding spot. Sitting down on its hind legs was the wolf; his blue eyes staring straight at her, yielding her to come closer.

And yet, Mallory didn’t move for her feet felt glued to the pebbled ground. Her heart was racing; her mind deciding between fight or flight. She was aware of how vulnerable she looked in her oversized shirt, muddy jeans and sneakers –hardly presentable in front of such a magnificent creature.

Unsure of what to do, Mallory lowered her gaze. She didn’t think she could outrun a wolf so she remained in her place, simply waiting for the wolf to make its first move, lethal or otherwise.

***

Clayton had scented her down with the intention of scaring her off –oh, he had known about her monthly voyeurs; watching him as he paid respects to the full moon. He had gauged her as harmless and had allowed her to watch him because… it felt right.

But tonight was different. He might have made no show of it, but he noticed a slight change in her scent and it had intrigued and annoyed him.

For the past six months, he had tried his absolute best to ignore her, only giving her one look before leaving the clearing. It was enough, he told himself for there was no need to be attracted to a human. But Clayton wasn’t sure right then as he watched her trembling right before him. Her lush figure was hidden underneath an obnoxious and oversized piece of cloth. He wouldn’t have known if the breeze hadn’t caused the material to hug her curves like a snug blanket.

And her face… what the hell was she wearing over her eyes? They looked awfully like the eyelets from the early 20^th century but there were two and it made her look old and tired. He didn’t like that. Maybe he should tell her to take it off.

Clayton took a tentative step forward, aware that the woman had gasped in surprise at his bold move. She ought to be scared but why wasn’t she?

Strange little human.

When she made no move to step back, Clayton took a few more steps forward until his snout was in line with her hip.

He shouldn’t do this really, but he looked up into her piercing green eyes anyway.

Hi

The moment she widened her eyes in shock, he knew.

Oh boy…