The sunlight from the open window slowly pulled me from my sleep. The blankets pooled around my bare legs where I had pushed them off throughout the night, and a dull ache settled between my temples. I stretched out on my large double bed when my wrist brushed against soft, warm skin beside me. I pushed myself up onto my elbows to take in the delicate body beside me. The light, pale skin, the long brown hair cascading down the woman's back, and the sensual curve of her ass made me grin from ear to ear. I'd almost forgotten all about last night. The alcohol and SwiftRA drugs rendered most of the night a blur. SwiftRA is my most preferred drug, a pure grade-A hallucinogen, with all the high and none of the hangover.

As I swung my legs from the bed, I accidentally stepped on another pair of elegantly painted nails. That's right. She brought her best friend along. This one was blonde with a sharp, curved jaw and piercings decorating her left ear. I studied the gentle curve of the second woman's ear for a few seconds. Humans. Reece is going to have that vein popping on his forehead when he finds out. I smirked at that and sidestepped the sleeping woman on my floor to rummage through the closet against the wall beside the window. A few knocks on the door came as soon as I tied the sash of my robe around my waist.

"Syl?" The familiar voice caused me to smirk. Looks like I'll be seeing that vein sooner than I thought. I purposely ignored him as I scoured the floor for the jeans and tank top I wore last night, only to find them resting on the armchair by the door. I carefully stepped over the blonde woman, making my way to the door when another set of knocks came from beyond. "Sylvia? Are you awake?" As he was still speaking, I opened the door, causing it to slam into a pair of naked legs. A man. How many did I bring home? I glanced down at the man by the door; he was also human. Also naked. His blond hair was cut short just above his ears, allowing the longer strands at the top to cover his forehead. "Fion's tits, Syl." I turned my attention back to my stepbrother, his face slackened with shock, and that vein on his forehead bulging as he decided whether to scold me or ignore the mess that is my room.

"What's up, Reece?" I mused, giving him a lazy smirk.

"So, this is where you disappeared to last night." His brow furrowed. "They're humans, Syl." His eyes trailed over the three still asleep on my bed and floor.

"Quite perceptive of you." I drawled before kicking the male's feet, causing him to sit up abruptly, blinking the sleep from his eyes. "Time to go, kiddies." I mused as the woman stirred awake as well. Reece quickly grabbed my elbow and pulled me out into the hallway as the humans started to get dressed.

"Syl, you know how Dad feels about you bringing humans here," he started, and I waved a hand in annoyance.

"Yeah. Yeah, I know. Humans and Fae are at war and all that. Stop worrying; they're from Brackenridge. The humans there still worship us like gods." I countered as one woman slipped out of my room and onto the mezzanine overlooking my spacious living room and foyer.

"It was an honor to spend time with you, Lady Sylvia." The woman praised, only half dressed as her friends filed out behind her and followed her down the stairs. I extended an arm towards their departing backs, giving my brother a sultry smirk.

"You see." I added, and he shot me an annoyed glare before sighing.

"Fine, but please try to minimize the number of human escorts from now on. And stay away from those drugs. The last thing I need is our top commander overdosing." I rolled my eyes at his usual barrage of demands before brushing past him towards the bathroom down the hall. "I mean it, Syl. SwiftRA can be dangerous." I know that. I've seen a few fae die from overdose and even more humans. Fae heal immensely faster than mortals, so for us to overdose, you'd basically have to bathe in the shit. I shouldered the door open and heard my brother come to stand against the doorframe. I eyed him through the mirror before flicking my hand to the side. The door closed as if shoved by a phantom wind, pulling a smirk to my lips when it slammed in his face. High Fae possess a considerable amount of magic that they can wield, some more so than others. Lesser Fae, on the other hand, were only blessed with our quick healing and immortal lifespan. Lesser Fae are born from human and Fae marriages, or even through coercion. Lesser fae started to appear hundereds of thousands of years ago, when High Fae entered this world. Only a few here and there, but to bolster our numbers, they slept with humans, until they noticed the decline in power from the half breeds, but that didn't stop them from creating more bastards throughout their immortal lives.

I've never met my parents, had no idea if they were even alive, but I was High Fae. Now nearing my 78th birthday, I am still considered young for our kind. Reece and his twin sister Ariel were closer to 200. Whereas our father was nearing 600. He was still young for our kind as well, who can live to be thousands of years old, if death doesn't find us in battle or war. The oldest fae I've met since moving here and being adopted by Jasper was our local priest, Samuel Snow, who is currently in his 1900s. By the age of 40, on the verge of adulthood, a new power starts to manifest in the high fae. Giving way to the gift bestowed upon the fae by our gods.

On the night of your 40th birthday, it is said that every bone in your body will break, causing you to writhe in agony. Morphing your body into that of the beast the gods have blessed you with. I don't remember the pain being that intense on my 40th birthday. I barely felt it, and even now, the lingering pain from shifting barely hindered me more than a needle prick. The continent was split up into four fae clans. On the north side, near the Strattham Mountains, lived the fae born with the form of an eagle, blessed by their god Dagda. The God of the earth, knowledge, magic, and treaties. They are massive beasts with large, feathered wings and a humanoid body. They reminded me of the harpies told in bedtime stories around town: talons capable of tearing a body to pieces, powerful wings that can topple trees, and the grace of an angel. The Mountain Fae. Only the High Fae in that clan can tap into the power to morph into an eagle, like all other clans. They valued intelligence and knowledge like a dragon treasures gold. Their cities and towns rested at the base of the mountains, some even carved into them, but on the summit of each mountain was a library filled with floor-to-ceiling shelves. Tomes, books, and history were displayed within the walls, but the buildings were sacred to the Mountain Fae. No outsider is allowed in without the approval of their High Lord, Usunaar Mortris, and a guarded escort. Damage or theft of anything within the walls of the library was punishable by death.

To the east lived the Ocean Fae. Born to morph into a water serpent that could stretch up to 35 feet in length, able to swallow cows and other livestock whole. They followed the Goddess Fionnuala. They valued peace, guidance, and fairness. Rarely taking part in wars or even sneering at another being. Within their cities and towns, no such thing as higher or lesser fae existed; all were welcomed and loved. I always found it boring how they smiled and cared for anyone willing to make the trek there. Even humans were welcomed there as equals. High Lady Ayda Ianwenys was kind, too kind. I've only ever met her once and hope to Cernunnos I'll never have to again. She embodied everything that irritated me about their clan: soft-spoken, humble, and caring. Even though she had poison in her fangs that could kill any beast within seconds. Wasted potential.

To the south, near the Pyronix Desert, lived the Ground Fae, who served as soldiers to the God Fachtua. The form of a scorpion lingered beneath their skin. They always creeped the shit out of me, with their dark-colored exoskeletons, making them almost impossible to kill with blades. They were known as grunts to our kind. The front line in any war, able to kill hundreds before a blade is able to penetrate that bone-like exterior. The Ground Fae hated humans even more than my own clan and often had conflicts with the humans living in the center of the continent. High Lord Wyn Inahorn made it a point to kill any human who dared to set foot within the desert.

The humans bred like rabbits, outnumbering us by tens of thousands. Fae couldn't conceive offspring easily. Most Fae were lucky to have two children over the span of 2000 years, which is why many settled for just one after trying for so long. Jasper was lucky. His late wife gave birth to twins 30 years after their marriage, but sadly died during childbirth. I never got to meet my stepmother, but Jasper told me enough about her to know she was the light of his life, the one that grounded him when life got hard and all that lovey-dovey stuff.

To the east was my clan. The Forest Fae. Born with the ability to transform into a wolf, we were so large that we towered over horses and other fae. We followed the god Cernunnos, the God of virility and forests. Blessed with the power to hunt in the forests like any other beast. Within our forest, there were multiple cities and towns separated by border lines. However, High Lord Xander Fenren ruled over the Forest Fae. He was known to be one of the strongest Fae to have lived in over 10,000 years. His wolf was pitch black, dripping with night and power. I've only seen him from afar, when the Barons gathered for their annual meeting with the High Lord. Since Jasper was the Baron of Greenhollow, the town where I now lived in, my siblings and I used to accompany him to the meetings, but we never entered the meeting hall. We spent most of our time exploring the great city of Heartgrove, the capital of the Forest Fae where High Lord Xander ruled. Our Lord was strict about the border lines, granting each Baron the right to kill whom ever dared to cross the border without an invitation. High Lord Xander was a ruthless ruler, infamous for massacring thousands of humans during the last uprising over a millennium ago. One of the longest-living High Lords in history. Nothing seemed to faze him. Nothing was too cruel for him, and no one dared to challenge him, especially when he kills with a smile on his face. I respected that. He was a man true to his nature, and even I sometimes take pleasure in killing anyone who dared to threaten me. I've done it countless times and never once regretted it.

I sighed at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The upturned green eyes, the full pink lips, the pointed ears and sun-kissed skin. I smiled at the silver nose ring in my right nostril, and at the massive amount of earrings. I had two silver rings in each lobe with dangling silver daggers at the front of both lobes, a long snake-like bar across the cartilage tip of my left ear, and a few more smaller rings in between. Jasper only sighed in disbelief when I came home with it years ago, but never made me take them out. I finally stripped off the robe and turned the knobs of the shower on. Tapping my foot impatiently against the white tiled floor, I turned back to the mirror. My build was lean and strong, with muscles rippling along my arms, thighs, back, and stomach. Full-sleeve tattoos adorned each arm. On the left showcasing a woman dressed in a cloak with daggers outstretched at her sides, black mist swirling around her and only the hair that peeked out from beneath the hood was red, while the rest of the image was in shades of gray and black. The Red Bandit. The right arm was covered with a massive forest that stretched across my forearm, while the upper arm featured a wolf baring its fangs with the moon behind it and bats scattered in between. A dedication to my clan. Only the wolf's eyes were set with color, a green so deep that even the forest would envy it. Steam started to fill the room as I glanced at the dragon tattoo on my left hip. The front claws were positioned near my stomach, the body snaking down my side, the head twisted just under my ribs, baring fangs as if poised to strike. The hind legs were nestled in the bend of my waist, the tail coiled around my thigh, with the tip ending just below my left ass cheek. Once the water was near boiling, I finally stepped into the shower to wash away the sweat and sex from the night before.

By the time I left the bathroom with a towel wrapped tightly around my still-wet body, Reece had made himself comfortable on the couch in my living room, sipping from a mug with steam drifting up towards the ceiling. The ass made himself at home. I leaned against the railing of the mezzanine, shooting him a playful glare.

"You know. You could have asked." I mused, and his gaze met mine before a smirk tugged at his lips.

"Dad pays for everything, I don't have to ask for shit. Just because you moved out of the estate, it doesn't mean the family doesn't own this house." Reece cooed, and I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. It's true. Jasper paid for this house merely because I asked. It was a beautiful house on the outskirts of town, with the forest behind it. It was built out of stone and wood, with large floor-to-ceiling windows, two bedrooms, one bathroom large enough to fit three people, and an open-plan kitchen and lounge area. Both bedrooms were stationed on the second floor, with a mezzanine overlooking the first floor. The kitchen was well stocked with appliances and necessities. It had an island with bar stools on one side where I spent most mornings drinking my coffee and reading the scout reports for the week before heading out to the training grounds. The lounge area featured a massive L-shaped couch in coal color, small end tables on both sides with elegant curved lamps, and a large bean bag in the corner by the nook overlooking the town in front of the house. I spent most nights on the bean bag, either with Ariel or Jasmine, my second-in-command, drinking and laughing. Unless I had night watch duty, prowling the forest in my wolf form to ensure no humans or trespassing fae ventured too close to Greenhollow. The interior was decorated with muted colors, such as grays, soft ambers, and whites. I lived in the estate with my family for most of my life, but when I turned 70, I decided I wanted my own space. Mainly, I got tired of the questioning looks and judgmental remarks whenever a random human or fae sneaked out of my bedroom the next morning, but also because I wasn't truly part of the Aeraviel family. I was merely adopted, but they didn't treat me any differently. To them, I was family, but deep down, I knew I wasn't.

"Just wash that out when you're done." I finally sighed before stepping into my room. I found my clothes on the armchair and tossed them onto the bed before stripping my towel and selecting a matching pair of black underwear from the closet. I barely wore that outfit yesterday. I spent most of the day lounging at the estate because I wasn't allowed at the training grounds until tomorrow. By the time night rolled around, I was so pent up and annoyed with the lack of training that I threw on the outfit and prowled over to Brackenridge in search of a distraction. The town where I lived for the first 15 years of my life was only an hour's walk away, 30 minutes in wolf form, but we never allowed humans to see us shift. So, I stopped on the outskirts of town to shift out of my wolf form and found myself at the Moonshine Lounge. A nightclub I frequented many nights in the past. The humans of Brackenridge still worshipped our kind. Most small towns on the outskirts of the human lands still did, but some whispered about rebelling again. Bringing the fae down to prove that humans were superior. Fanatics, all of them, but most of the rebel humans came from the larger cities deeper into the continent and rarely caused us trouble. I found those three humans gawking at me the moment I stepped into the crowded club, eager to be a small part of my immortal life, and I was more than happy to oblige them. Humans still believed that having sex with a fae would bring them good luck, but that was a bunch of bullshit. We might be immortals, but we were far from the Gods they worshipped us as.

I quickly got dressed, smiling at the tight fit of the jeans that hugged my hips and ass in all the right places. The black tank top had a low cut, showcasing the curve of my chest and revealing the open span of my muscular stomach, along with a glimpse of the tattoo on my side. I sighed at the unmade bed and decided to leave it as it was before leaving the room. Reece was still firmly planted on the couch, staring at the ceiling as I made my way down the stairs.

"You're still here. Goodie." I teased as I entered the kitchen and found a mug in the cupboard above the coffee maker.

"Well, just like every day for the last 3 months, it's my job to remind you of your community services." Right. That. At least today is the last day.

"Still think it's stupid." I grumbled as I waited for the coffee to fill the mug at an annoyingly slow pace.

"You should be grateful. Most people would have been exiled from the forest for the stunt you pulled." Reece added, downing the last bit of his coffee. It was true. I only received a suspension from the training grounds and three months of community service because I'm Jasper's daughter. I was one of the top, most ruthless commanders under Jasper. Tasked with training and refining our soldiers. Until Leon showed up. A pompous high fae male, barely over 40. His father worked closely with Jasper, and I've known the older male for years. However, when he handpicked his son to train with me, it grated on my nerves. I couldn't stand Leon; I never could. He always carried himself like royalty and committed unforgivable acts against several young women from Brackenridge, under the delusion that they should worship him. I've found him at the Moonshine Lounge a few times in the past and always kicked him to the curb when he became too touchy with either me, Jasmine or the humans. On the third day of his training, he still didn't listen to my commands, ignoring my warnings about fighting dirty or trying to pursue some of the female warriors, until he tried it with Jasmine. I only saw red after that. Forced him into the fighting ring with me and ended up breaking his arms and shattering his left leg, without a single scratch on me. I broke a sacred rule of the fighting ring - never break, maim, or kill your opponent. Thankfully, his father wasn't too angry, but I still got an hour-long tongue-lashing from the male. Leon will heal in time. Three months would be enough for the young male to return to training, but he will no longer be under my supervision. One of the other commanders will take him in. Jasper convinced the others that I will receive suspension and community service until Leon can return to training. Which finally ends tomorrow.

"Fine, fine. Give me the order." I waved a hand over my shoulder before taking the mug once the machine stopped pouring. I took a long sip, savoring the earthy taste and feeling the heat burning down my throat.

"It's the butcher's turn to give you a job today. He needs a decent-sized deer for a wedding taking place in a few days. Turns out he didn't have enough steaks for the order." Reece said as he got up to put his mug in the sink, and I gave him a pointed glare. He sighed heavily before reaching for the soap and sponge beside the sink and proceeded to clean his mug. So, hunting then. Quite a tame job for my last day, but I don't mind. Most of the jobs I had to do involved running errands or help people in their homes. A few needed me to make trips to some small human towns just outside our forest for deliveries or pickups, and occasionally finding a human willing to entertain a high fae here and there. Boring, really.

"I'll finish my coffee and fulfill the old man's request." I said as I took another sip and sat down at one of the bar stools by the island.

"Training will start in a few. I should head out." Reece admitted as he placed the clean mug on the drying rack and started towards the door. He then pivoted to look at me, his hand grasping the door handle. "Oh, that reminds me. Dad wants to have dinner with all of us tonight." He left without waiting for a reply.

I sighed into my mug and downed the rest before grabbing my keys from the table by the door, where they rested in a small bowl, and stepped out into the brisk morning air. It was barely past 7:30, but I usually wake up at 6 to stretch and go for a run before training begins at 8. I made my way to the forest behind my house, rolling my neck and shoulders before reaching for the beast that prowled beneath my skin. I could feel the fur brushing just beneath the surface as bones began to snap and reform. It took seconds. For every bone to break, lengthen, and reshape itself. My legs snapped in multiple places to accommodate the bending hind legs, my spine lengthened to give way to a long, fur-coated tail, my jaw dislodged, and my skull stretched to give way to a muzzle. Fur pushed through my skin, revealing a beautiful red coat with soft cream fur covering my stomach and paws. Seconds and I was nothing but pure power, a beast. My eyes are sharper, my hearing is clearer, and my sense of smell is intensified. Fae already have heightened senses, but in my wolf form, they are magnified. I can smell the freshly baked bread from the middle of town, the sweat coating the soldiers who arrived early to warm up for training, and the smoke drifting from the chimneys throughout the town. I could hear the footsteps on the cobblestone behind me, the chatter of a few people close by, the chirping of the birds high up in the trees, and the rustle of leaves as small creatures ran around throughout the forest.

My claws dug into the dirt as I shook my fur, purring with delight. I loved this form, the freedom it offered, the power it held. My wolf form was massive, larger than most, except for Reece and Felix. My brother's best friend and a close friend of mine, he is also a commander, particularly skilled with broadswords. I excelled in hand-to-hand combat and daggers. Capable of impaling a bird from over 10 meters away with a single dagger. I was skilled with swords, but it wasn't where I shined.

I took a deep breath, filtering through the scents drifting in from the town and the masses of small creatures within the woods until I found what I was looking for. A stag. A young one, just old enough to participate in the upcoming mating season. We had more stags than does this year, so taking him out won't be a loss. I dug my claws into the dirt one last time before pushing off into the forest. My paws pounded on the ground, twigs and roots snapping under my weight as I followed the scent deeper and deeper. Small creatures veered out of my path as I thundered past, with the wind whipping at my fur.

I ran for a while, savoring the smell of earth and wildflowers before slowing to a crawl when the scent became stronger. It was close. I lowered my massive frame to the floor, hugging the tree trunks as I inched closer. Just ahead was a clearing where I have lounged many times in the past, relishing the sun warming my fur. My eyes sharpened as I noticed the horns peeking out behind a bush across the clearing. The color of my fur was often a dead giveaway amidst the green of the forest. Only in autumn could I blend in with the foliage, but in spring, I stood out like a sore thumb. I learned to keep to the shadows, to hunt silently, to hide my scent with magic, but one look in my direction and the deer will spot me. I made no sound as I moved among the trees, being careful not to step into the clearing to avoid being spotted. I was a few feet from the stag, its head low to the ground as it grazed on the plump, green grass. Easy. This will be an easy kill. I crouched even lower, feeling my belly fur brush against the forest floor as I watched the stag carefully. My ears perked for any sound, and my tail was kept low to the ground for balance. I readied myself. Flashing my fangs and teeth in a silent snarl as booming paws sounded in the distance. The stag froze, its head shooting up, and its gaze darting along the trees. Fuck. Yips and snarls mixed with the sound of paws hitting the dirt as a few wolves passed the clearing across from the stag. A unit out on an endurance run. Dammit. Why this side of the woods? I refocused on the deer just in time to see it swing its head in my direction. By the way its tail flicked and its gaze stilled, I knew it saw me. The deer broke into a sprint, and I immediately followed suit. My ears pinned back against my head, and my head lowered to align with my spine to increase my speed. I might be massive, but I was fast. Faster than anyone in Greenhollow. It took me seconds to reach the stag; its tail was mere inches from my snout when it swerved to the right. Sadly, turns were my downfall. I might be fast, but my size made it difficult to weave and turn quickly. I slammed my paws into the dirt, my side hitting a tree trunk before I was moving again. I was losing precious ground on the stag, but I kept running. Quickly closing in again when it swerved to the left and I slammed into another tree before it made a quick right turn, causing me to slide to a stop. I watched it for a heartbeat, noticing its tail flick to the right. A telltale sign that it would turn left, so I started moving again, pushing myself faster. I didn't chase after it, but bounded to the left, running up the small hill of the forest as the stag veered left, just like I thought it would. Barreling straight my way. I kept moving until the stag came running out of a bush to my right, my fangs bared as I snapped at it while passing by. Fangs tearing into the soft flesh of the stag's side. Blood and fur coated my muzzle in seconds, but the stag still flailed. Now trapped beneath my massive cream-colored paw. I dislodged my fangs from its side, snapping them down on the stag's neck with a satisfying crunch of bone, and the body stilled. The eyes widened with fear as life left them. Maybe not an easy kill, but a good one. I barely damaged any of the meat; only small puncture wounds adorned the sides and neck, oozing with blood, but not a single tear in the delicate flesh. I let out a grumble of approval, licking the blood along the stag's throat, and purred at the taste. When I'm in my fae form, blood tastes odd, but like this; it's a sweet nectar.

Run. The hair on my spine stood on end within seconds of hearing the voice. My intuition had grown stronger over the years, but so did my will. I was able to ignore it more often now, but I rarely did, especially when it had saved my life so many times. I lifted my gaze from the carcass at my feet to scan the forest around me. My eyes sharpened, my nostrils flared, and my ears perked up, but I sensed nothing.

RUN. The voice shouted, and my tail whipped behind me, eager to obey. I lowered my head again to grab the deer, my eyes still fixed on the forest ahead of me when two silver eyes caught my attention in the shadows behind a tree. I immediately bared my fangs, my claws digging into the dirt, blood still coating my muzzle. The eyes shifted as if the shadows stood up when the body came into view. It was a wolf. A massive black wolf, dripping with the essence of night and danger. Even from here, I could see that it was almost a head taller than my own red wolf, but the beast didn't bare its teeth or move. It just watched with a glint of amusement in its eyes.

Run, run, run. Every muscle ached to move, but I stood my ground. I won't run from a fight. Not when the beast is trespassing in our territory. I didn't know the wolf, nor could I smell it. I inhaled sharply, and warning bells sounded off in my mind. I risked a glance behind me, and a sudden realization shook my body. I'd crossed the border line. Unknown smells assaulted my lungs in seconds, and a barely visible glittering barrier shimmered a few feet behind me. Fuck! I whipped my gaze back at the black wolf. It still hasn't moved. It had free rein to kill me, but it only watched. I was in their territory. His territory. The High Lord's territory. I need to move, but I couldn't take my eyes off the black beast in the distance; it would be a death sentence. I slowly lowered my head to the carcass again, locking my jaw around its neck before retreating one step. The black wolf shook its fur once, twice, and suddenly turned around. Lazily walking deeper into the woods. It's letting me live? I didn't give myself time to think. I spun around and darted back towards our border, not stopping until I reached Greenhollow.