Page 8 of Simon

“Did you hear that?” I heard a male say out loud.

I grunted in my throat. I could already feel my muscles loosening. My body didn’t stay frozen for long, and I felt my fingertips and limbs coming back to life as I heard footsteps approaching. I scrambled up when my body began functioning again, and I took light, hooved steps deeper into the Wood. My heart raced, but I didn’t let it reach high levels. I calmed myself and let the Wood guide where I should go.

The wind pushed at my back, the branches bent for me as I was led further away, and the voices became distant.

That was close, too close, but her voice was so strong within my mind that it was as if she was whispering in my ear.

She had taken over my body, and I had not even come close to her.

What did this mean?

As I continued deeper into the wood, I couldn’t shake the feeling that seeing her was no accident. This was far from over. The Wood around me seemed alive, and I couldn’t help but feel drawn back to her. My mind returned to the human. My thoughts were consumed by the image of her face, her voice echoing in my ears, and the unmistakable sensation that our paths were destined to cross again.

The familiar stream that ran across the Wood came across my path. I came closer, my mouth parched. The closer I got to the water, the idea of drinking its waters was not as appealing as drinking in her presence. I felt an undeniable pull towards the female surrounded by shifters. It was as if an unseen force was drawing me towards her, and I found myself resisting the urge to turn back and confront her once more.

I leaned over the clear stream to drink, hoping that its cool water would quench both my thirst and my confusion. As I bent over the water, I caught my reflection on the still surface. My sharp fangs glinted in the dim light, and I couldn’t help but think of how they might have looked to her - a terrifying sight for a defenseless human.

The human I once looked after did not see me as a threat. She was different and did not find many creatures terrifying. Her orc mate was a testimony to that. Calliope was different, though.

She found beauty in everything.

Even after I transformed, she sought me out. Now, I was afraid of what this female may see me as. A monster?

My fingers trailed along my mouth, touching my fangs, then I felt the ears that dangled on the side of my head. Even the orcs looked somewhat like a human. I was different, half goat, half human, and when the female gazed at the orcs, she looked at them in fear.

What would she do if she saw me?

A lump formed in my throat, and I slapped the water in front of me.

Would she find me hideous?

Was I worse than an orc? Orcs were repulsive to look at.

They were large, loud, annoying, and they smelled of rotten moss. They believed they owned the Wood. No one owned the Wood; the Wood owned itself.

The wind blew, and the gentle caress of the leaves fanned my back. What should I do about the female?

I huffed, feeling the heat of my breath on my lip.

Her smell came to me tenfold, and I knew what the Wood wanted me to do without having to say a word.

It wanted me to follow her, to ignore my thoughts, find the female and take her as my own.

I felt the bulge in my pouch that held my shaft. It’s heavy, and I could feel my cock’s head poke out of its safe compartment. It was hard and tight, and my body reacted to just the thought of her smell and the way she looked in my direction.

I hummed, taking in the fresh scent of her, as the Wood continued to bring in her smell.

The Wood silently tortured me. It would not let me retreat into its safe embrace. I would have to seek out the female once again. Perhaps next time, I would take her and bring her to my home.

Chapter Four

Lucy

Durz’thickthighsrubbedagainst each other when he stepped forward. His loincloth moved in a way that kept his private parts covered, but my face went red at the thought of a brisk breeze.

My head snapped up, and I looked his way when realization hit me.

Did he just say he was going to smell me?

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