Temptations
Werewolves are all around us. Not just in the deep forest, but also in the city and the suburbs. They walk among us, hidden in plain sight. They live in their own societies, with their own rules and traditions. They fight for Gaia, Mother Earth, against a great evil spirit called the Wyrm. They do so directly against other werewolves who follow the Wyrm, but also through influencing humans and their society. Maira had learned to navigate both worlds, and she knew the risks of being a werewolf, a Garou, in human society. They had to keep their true nature a secret at all times or face the consequences.
Maira was born in a tribe called the Fianna, whose main group was living near the Tri-Spiral Caern in Ireland. She was born out of a love-match of two Garou. The children of such a union are known as metis, which means they have inherited both the strengths and weaknesses of their parents. But they also gain a flaw in their body or character that stays with them from birth. This is why many tribes in Garou society look down upon metis as impure and weak. Especially the Fianna are hard on their metis.
Maira’s flaw was her striking appearance-white hair, white skin, and red eyes. She was a beautiful creature, but her differences made her an outcast. She was a striking figure though, with her slender, graceful frame, her flowing movements and those striking looks. As others would get to know her better though, her most memorable feature was maybe, apart from her coloring, her voice. A beautiful, warm, deep voice, dripping with honey, both for speaking and singing.
As being a metis is a taboo amongst many tribes of the Garou, except maybe the Children of Gaia, they seldom get treated well. But amongst the Fianna, something worse is hardly thinkable. So, when her parents died while she was 12 and still growing up, the rest of her Fianna tribe decided they did not want to keep Maira on with the charity of the group, and threw her out. And she has lived alone ever since, never completely trusting anyone. She was what they call a ‘Lone Wolf’. However, Maira never let this break her spirit. She was determined to prove her worth to Garou society, no matter what they thought of her.
Maira wandered the forest alone, her heart heavy with bitterness and loneliness. She had tried so hard to be accepted by her own kind, but the Garou had rejected her again and again, because of her metis taint, and maybe also because she found it hard to trust anyone anymore, after all that had happened. Yet, she yearned for companionship, for someone to understand and share her struggles with. But as the days turned and passed, she found herself needing to focus on survival. She performed on the street regularly, and it wasn’t always equally safe.
One evening, as she sang her heart out in a dimly lit alleyway, a group of men approached her. They were rough-looking and smelled of alcohol. Maira tensed, ready to make a run for it if necessary. But to her surprise, they didn’t seem interested in causing her harm. One of the men, a tall, muscular figure with a thick beard and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward and held out a hand. “Hey there, beautiful,” he said with a grin. “We couldn’t help but hear your lovely voice from down the street. How would you like to come sing for us in our private club?”
Maira eyed the man suspiciously. She had been approached by men before, and it never ended well. But she couldn’t deny the temptation of singing in a private club. She glanced down at her mostly empty guitar case, the few coins she had collected earlier feeling like nothing in comparison to the offer the man gave. It could mean money, and that meant food and shelter. She cautiously nodded and let him lead her to their club. As they walked, Maira tried to sense if there was anything off about the men. But to her surprise, she didn’t pick up any feelings of malice or danger. Maybe they were just looking for some entertainment. She pushed the thought aside and focused on the task at hand. She needed to sing and make a good impression.
When they arrived at the club, Maira was taken aback. It was unlike what she had expected from a club of these rough-looking men. The lights were dim, but colorful, casting a warm glow on the room. The walls were adorned with artwork and posters, and the stage was set up in the center of the room. The man who had led her here introduced himself as Marco and guided her to the backstage area, where she saw the other musicians who were going to perform that night. They were all professional-looking and gave off an air of confidence. Maira felt slightly intimidated, but she was determined to make a good impression.
As she waited for her turn to perform, Maira couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement building up inside of her. This was her chance to prove herself as a singer and maybe even make a name for herself. She ran through the songs she knew, trying to decide which one would be the best to showcase her abilities. Finally, it was her turn to take the stage. Maira walked out to the center, immediately feeling the heat of the spotlight on her skin. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the nerves flutter in her stomach. But as soon as she opened her mouth to sing, everything else faded away. She poured her heart into the song, her voice raw and soulful as she belted out the lyrics. The crowd was silent, enraptured by her performance.
When Maira finished singing, the crowd erupted into applause, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over her. Marco approached her on stage and offered her a permanent position at the club, which would provide her with a steady income and a place to stay. Maira eagerly accepted, relieved that she had found a place where she could belong.
Over the next few weeks, Maira settled into her new life at the club. She performed every night, honing her skills and building up a fanbase. She even started to form friendships with the other musicians, finding a sense of camaraderie she had never experienced before now. It was so unlike the life of a werewolf. But these were not shifters, they were humans. Normal people. Despite enjoying her life at the club, Maira still longed for the connection that only a werewolf could provide. She knew that she couldn’t give up on her search for her own kind even though she now had a safe place to play and money in her pocket.
One night, after a particularly emotional performance, she was approached by a man who introduced himself as Alejandro. Maira could tell immediately that he was a garou, a werewolf, though he had worked hard to hide it. But other werewolves can usually tell. Maira’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. Finally, she had found someone like her. Alejandro’s eyes sparkled with recognition as he looked at her. “You have the scent of our kind,” he said softly. “I can tell that you are one of us.” Maira felt tears prick her eyes and wondered if for once, just this once, she had found a kindred spirit, a friendly soul. She didn’t believe it was possible anymore, really. But she smiled at him, quietly.
“Are things going well for our kind here?” she asked carefully, never wanting to reveal too much about herself too soon. Alejandro nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, we have a small pack here. We keep to ourselves mostly, but we look out for each other. We have a den not too far from here. Would you be interested in joining us?” he asked, his voice soft and inviting. Maira wondered if this was too good to be true. Yet, her heart swelled with hope as she listened to Alejandro’s words. Finally, she had found a place where she might belong. For years, she had been searching for a pack, for a family to call her own. And now, here it was, offered to her on a silver platter.
She hesitated for a moment, studying Alejandro’s face. Something seemed off to her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Was he really as friendly and genuine as he seemed? Or was there something more sinister lurking beneath the surface? Despite her reservations, Maira couldn’t resist the lure of belonging to a pack and having a sense of community with her own kind. “I would love to join your pack,” Maira said, a small smile creeping onto her face. She could feel the excitement bubbling up inside her, like a fizzy drink that had been shaken too hard. Alejandro’s smile broadened, and he held out his hand to Maira. She took it, and he led her towards their den. As they walked, Maira couldn’t help but feel a twinge of unease. The woods seemed to grow darker, the trees closer and more sinister. It was almost as if the forest itself was warning her not to go any further. But Maira pushed those thoughts aside, reminding herself that she was finally going to be a part of a pack.
When they arrived at the den, an old cabin in the woods, Maira was greeted warmly by the other shifters. They introduced themselves and welcomed her with open arms, seeming genuinely happy to have her there. Maira felt herself relaxing, feeling more at ease in the presence of her own kind than ever before. They offered her a place to sleep and some food, which Maira gratefully accepted. As she ate, Maira listened to the other shifters talk about their experiences in the woods, sharing stories and laughing. For a moment, Maira felt like she had found her true home.
But as the night wore on, Maira noticed something strange happening. The mood in the den began to shift, becoming darker and more sinister. The shifters’ laughter grew manic, and their eyes seemed to glint with something other than Garou emotion. Maira felt her nerves kick in, wondering if she had made a mistake joining this pack. Suddenly, everything came crashing down when Alejandro turned to her with a strange smile, revealing sharp teeth that she had not noticed before. “You see, Maira,” he said, his voice deeper and more menacing than before. “You have stumbled into something much bigger than yourself. We are not just any ordinary pack of Garou. We are a pack that revels in the darkness of the woods.”
Maira’s heart began to race as she looked around the room at the faces of the other shifters. They were no longer smiling; instead, they looked hungry and predatory. She realized that she was in grave danger. The excitement she had felt earlier was long gone, replaced by a sense of dread. She tried to get up from her seat, hoping to make a run for it, but before she could stand up, Alejandro’s hand shot out and grasped her wrist in a vice-like grip. Maira’s heart sank as she looked into Alejandro’s dark, intense eyes. She knew she had made a terrible mistake in accepting his offer to visit his pack. She had sensed that something was off about those shifters, but she had hoped it was just her own fear and paranoia. Now she saw that she was right to be afraid.
Alejandro’s smile had transformed into a sneer, and he looked at her with such malice that it made her skin crawl. “Welcome to our pack, Maira,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “We’ve been waiting for you.” Maira wanted to scream, to run, but as she tried to make a run for it, the other shifters blocked her way, their faces twisted with an animalistic hunger that made Maira’s blood run cold. One of them lunged at her, but Alejandro caught him with ease, throwing him against the wall with a sickening crash. Maira realized she was trapped, surrounded by these twisted and corrupted shifters. She tried to summon her own shifting abilities, but her fear had paralyzed her, and she remained frozen in place.
Alejandro approached her slowly, his eyes flashing with a dangerous intensity. “You see, Maira,” he said, his voice low and menacing, “we are not like other shifters. We are Wyrm-tainted, changed by darkness and evil. And now, you will join us in our mission.” Maira’s eyes widened in horror as Alejandro revealed their true intentions. They were not a pack of shifters seeking companionship and protection, but a pack of killers seeking to spread the corruption of the Wyrm. Her heart sank as she realized the extent of her mistake in trusting these monsters.
Alejandro stepped closer, and Maira could smell the stench of rotting flesh emanating from his body. It was then that she noticed the mark on his forehead, a twisted symbol of the Wyrm’s corruption. She shuddered, feeling sick to her stomach. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out a way to escape. She had to get out of there and warn the other shifters before they fell prey to Alejandro and his twisted pack. But before she could even take a step, Alejandro grabbed her by the wrist, his grip like a vice. “You’re not going anywhere, Maira,” he growled. “You belong to us now.”
Maira struggled against Alejandro’s hold, but it was like trying to fight against a brick wall. She knew she had to come up with a plan quickly if she wanted to make it out alive. She took a deep breath and focused on her surroundings. The cramped room was dimly lit by a few flickering candles, the shadows dancing on the walls. She could hear the other members of the pack circling around her, their ragged breathing filling the silence.
Maira’s heart hammered in her chest as she searched for a way out. She remembered the stories her grandmother used to tell her about the Wyrm. Stories of a great dragon, born of darkness and destruction, who sought to consume the world. The only way to defeat it was with purity of heart and the strength of a true warrior. Maira knew she had neither. Her heart was filled with bitterness and resentment towards the Garou society that rejected her and the wyrm pack that had ensnared her. And as for being a warrior, she was one of the ones who preferred to solve things through talking and negotiation.
But as she looked around at the twisted faces of the wyrm pack, she realized that she had something they didn’t. She had hope. Hope that there was still goodness in the world, that there were still shifters who fought for what was right and just. She took another deep breath, this one filled with determination. Maira closed her eyes and focused on the wolf within her, channeling its strength and resilience. She opened her eyes and faced Alejandro, her voice steady and unwavering. “I do not belong to you or this pack,” she said. “I am my own person, and I will not let you or anyone else control me.” Alejandro’s eyes glinted with fury as Maira’s words echoed through the room. “You think you have a choice?” he snarled. “You either belong to us or you die.”
Maira’s heart thundered in her chest as she felt the wyrm pack closing in around her. But she refused to back down. She let out a ferocious howl, feeling the wolf within her rise to the surface. With an acrobatic grace, she nimbly evaded the first group of attackers. The putrid stench of their corruption hung heavy in the air, but Maira was driven by her singular mission to reclaim her freedom. The relentless wyrm pack were unstoppable in their onslaught. Maira felt sharp claws digging into her skin and was met with the stinging sensation of multiple teeth sinking into her flesh. Some of them leapt forward, their claws creating a dizzying flurry as they tried to overwhelm her in their attack. The others circled around her, eyes blazing in the night, attempting to encircle and corner her while she fought for survival. She could see each individual member of the pack, their eyes reflecting the light of the moon, all viciously intent on taking down their prey.
Yet she refused to yield. She fought back with a primal rage, driving each punch harder than before as she gave no quarter. Her strength seemed almost supernatural as she exacted punishment on the beasts that had sought to enslave her. But Maira knew she could not win against such overwhelming odds. Desperately, she searched for anything to exploit. A crack in the floorboard caught her eye and gave her a glimmer of hope. She waited for an opportunity and then leaped forward with all her might, kicking it fiercely. The floorboard splintered beneath her foot as one of the wyrm pack members tumbled to the ground in a heap. Taking advantage of their brief distraction, Maira rolled away from their claws and darted towards the door. But before she could make it through, they set upon her again, slashing at her with razor-sharp talons that grazed her skin as she evaded each attack, narrowly avoiding death as she ran out of the room.
But just as she thought she was in the clear, a deep mist started to surround her. As Maira sprinted away from her attackers, she was suddenly engulfed by a strange and eerie mist. It rolled in from all directions, quickly forming an impenetrable wall between her and freedom. She tried to move faster, but the wyrm pack were quickly gaining on her. She knew she had to find some way out of this supernatural fog, or else she would be captured. With no other choice, Maira called upon all of her strength and will power to keep running. She ran until she could no longer feel the air against her skin and heard nothing but the rapid pounding of her heart. Then she heard distorted voices in the mist “Maira, Maira!” It sounded so much like her parents.
Paralyzed with fear and confusion, Maira’s feet stumbled and she fell to the ground. Her chest heaved as she gasped for breath, and she clutched her head tightly, closing her eyes in a desperate attempt to block out the voices. But the mist seemed to seep into her mind, whispering twisted, corrupted versions of her parents’ words. They promised her things that were too good to be true, things that would only come with a price. The thoughts became louder and more insistent until they felt like they were crowding out everything else in her mind. Maira screamed, trying to shake off the tendrils of the Wyrm’s mist that had taken hold of her mind. She knew she couldn’t give in to these temptations, that it was just another trick of the wyrm pack. But the whispers only grew stronger, the promises sweeter, until Maira felt like she was drowning in them.
Suddenly, a sharp pain pulled her out of her trance. Maira opened her eyes to see a Wyrm creature, its long and sharp claws dug into her flesh. It was covered in scales, its baleful red eyes, so unlike and yet so much like her own, stared at her. Maira tried to scream, but the creature’s grip was too tight. She fought for all she was worth, wildly flailing her arms and legs, trying to break free. The creature bared its sharp teeth, ready to finish her off, but then something incredible happened.
She screamed as she tried to pull away, but its grip was too strong. Just as she thought, sadly, how hard she fought to show the Fianna that they had thrown her out of the tribe in error, she felt a strange spirit enter her. This was not a spirit of the Wyrm, the spirit arrived with a whisper in a familiar tongue, a bringing a fresh breath of green grass with it. The presence felt Fianna, but this spirit didn’t demean or criticize her, this spirit was here to help her, it whispered in her mind. Her wolf-form suddenly grew stronger, her mind clearer, her body more agile. With a fierce growl, Maira twisted out of the Wyrm’s grip and spun around, her sharp fangs bared. The creature snarled, lunging towards her once more, but Maira was ready. She dodged its attack with a quick sidestep.
With a fierce growl, she launched herself at the creature, her claws extended. They clashed in a fierce battle, their forms a blur of fur, scales and muscle as they fought tooth and nail. The Wyrm creature was skilled, but Maira was driven by a fierce determination to survive and escape, as well as the skill and quiet, deadly grace of her Fianna ancestor. She fought with every ounce of her being, her wolf form surging with power and adrenaline. As they grappled, Maira could feel the spray of blood and saliva on her coat, the metallic scent only fueling her rage. The wyrm creature was cunning, and it launched a barrage of attacks that Maira barely managed to block. Their claws raked against each other’s bodies, leaving gaping wounds that only seemed to fuel their desire to fight harder.
Maira could hear the whispers of the Wyrm in the back of her mind, urging her to give in and join their pack. But she knew that was not an option. She had seen the true nature of the Wyrm and could never align herself with such darkness. With a final burst of energy, Maira lunged forward, her jaws clamping down on the Wyrm creature’s neck. She felt her teeth sink into its flesh, the satisfying crunch of bone echoing in her ears as she delivered the killing blow. The Wyrm creature fell limp beneath her, its lifeless body slumping to the ground.
Maira stood panting over the dead body, her heart racing with triumph and relief. She had won the battle, but the war was far from over. The Wyrm pack would not take kindly to the loss of one of their own, and Maira knew that they would come for her. As she felt the Fianna spirit leave her once again, with a quiet <goodbye but not for ever> she knew she needed to leave the territory as soon as possible. She needed to find a place where she could be safe and find her own kind. As Maira loomed over the dead form of the Wyrm creature, she couldn’t help but feel as if something was still not right. The pack that it worked for had been twisted and corrupt from the very start, and Maira couldn’t shake the feeling that she had only experienced the very tip of their evil deeds. As she turned to make her way out of the territory, Maira couldn’t help but feel watched. She couldn’t see anyone around her, but the hairs on the back of her neck stood up in warning. The whispers of the Wyrm continued to echo in her mind, urging her to join them once more. Maira shook her head vigorously, trying to dispel the insidious thoughts that had infiltrated her consciousness.
As she took her first steps out of the Wyrm pack’s territory, Maira couldn’t shake the feeling that an invisible force was pulling her back towards the pack. Every step felt like it took more effort than the last, and Maira couldn’t help but wonder if the Wyrm had somehow cursed her. She looked back over her shoulder, half-expecting to see a horde of Wyrm shifters hot on her heels. But to her surprise, the only thing she saw was a lone figure standing at the edge of the pack’s territory, watching her with an intensity that made Maira uneasy.
As she drew closer, Maira realized with a start that it was Alejandro, the shifter who had invited her to join the pack in the first place. His eyes glinted dangerously in the moonlight, and Maira couldn’t help but feel a chill run down her spine. She quickly took a step back, ready to defend herself if needed. “You shouldn’t have done that, Maira,” Alejandro spoke in a low, menacing voice, “You made a grave mistake by taking the life of one of the Wyrm.” Maira stood her ground, her back straight and her eyes locked onto his. “I did what I had to do to survive,” she replied, her voice steady despite the fear that was gnawing at her insides. “I won’t apologize for defending myself.”
Alejandro’s expression darkened, and Maira noticed for the first time that his hands were curled into fists at his sides. “Defending yourself? Is that what you call it?” he spat, taking a step towards her. “You’re nothing but a coward. A weakling who couldn’t handle our way of life anyways.” Maira could feel her pulse quickening in anger. After all she had been through, being called a weakling? “You know nothing about me,” she retorted, her own fists clenching at her sides. “I am not weak, and I will not be intimidated by you or anyone else.”
Alejandro’s lip curled in a sneer. “Is that so? Then why did you run away like a frightened rabbit as soon as you realized what we were?” he taunted. Maira gritted her teeth, refusing to let him get the best of her. “I may have fled, but I didn’t cower. I faced your challenges and won, fair and square.” Alejandro chuckled darkly. “Oh, you think that’s all there is to it? Winning a few childish games? You have no idea what it means to truly belong to a pack, to be a part of something greater than yourself.” Maira felt a pang of longing deep in her chest. He was right; she had been searching for a sense of belonging her whole life, but a Wyrm pack was not worth belonging to. She would have given anything if they would have been normal Shifters, but they weren’t, and she couldn’t follow her people’s biggest enemy.
As she stood there, tangled emotions brewing inside her, Alejandro stepped even closer. His breath was hot against her cheek, and Maira resisted the urge to back away. “You know what I think?” he growled, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous, predatory light. “I think you want to belong to us. I think you want to fight by our side, to prove that you can be the strongest of all. I think you know that there is no other way to gain the power and respect that you so desperately crave.” Maira’s heart pounded in her chest as she looked into his eyes. He seemed to see into the very depths of her soul, reading her desires and fears like an open book. She bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. Part of her wanted to scream at him, to deny every word he uttered, but another part of her couldn’t help but feel drawn to the dark allure of his words.
Alejandro was right, she did crave power and respect, but not through violence and destruction. She wanted to belong to a pack that valued loyalty, honor, and the protection of others, not one that worshipped the Wyrm. Maira took a step back, breaking the intensity of Alejandro’s gaze. “You’re wrong,” she whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger. “I don’t want to belong to your pack. I don’t want to be a part of the Wyrm’s army. I want to find my own path, one that doesn’t involve destruction and chaos.”
Alejandro laughed, the sound low and menacing. “You may think that now, but you will soon change your mind,” he said, his eyes glinting with smug satisfaction. “You will come to learn the true power of the Wyrm, and you will embrace it with open arms.” Maira felt a chill run down her spine as Alejandro’s words sent a shiver of fear through her. He was obviously trying to manipulate her into joining his pack, and although she wanted to deny it, deep down she knew he was right. She could feel the darkness calling to her, the power just waiting to be unleashed. But Maira was determined to resist, no matter how enticing it may seem.
She straightened her posture and met Alejandro’s gaze head on. “I will never be a part of your pack,” she declared with conviction. “I’ll find my own way, and it won’t involve hurting innocent people or worshipping the Wyrm.” She just mentioned the one thing she was most unhappy about in Garou society, as well as mentioning she wouldn’t worship the Wyrm. She basically just said she was planning to remain a Lone Wolf forever.. Alejandro cocked his head to the side, studying Maira with a look of faint amusement. “We’ll see about that,” he said with a grin before turning on his heel and walking away, leaving Maira alone in the clearing.
As she watched Alejandro’s retreating figure, Maira couldn’t shake off the feeling that she had made a grave mistake. She had just antagonized a powerful shifter who was willing to go to great lengths to recruit her into his pack. But at the same time, it felt like the right thing to do. She couldn’t betray her own beliefs for the sake of fitting in somewhere. She had to find her own way, no matter how difficult it would be. And she knew that, it was certainly going to be difficult, but at least she would follow her own ideals.