Chapter 12 WITCHES OF THE CULLING ARMY (1)
GALLAHAN’S POV
I already knew even before I opened my eyes that Willa was gone. That she had left without so much of a goodbye.
I didn’t know whether to laugh in bitterness or yell in anger. I also didn’t know if I should be grateful that Willa spared me from a direct and personal rejection, or be outraged that she didn’t seem to think I was worthy of a proper one after I had claimed her as mine. Most importantly, I didn’t know if I had wanted her to stay or to actually leave to save us from another fight where none of us would win.
Fuck… Of all people, why did it have to be her?
My hand went to the juncture where my neck and shoulder met, feeling the absence of her bite on my skin.
Damn it.
Our bond was not completed at all. It remained one-sided and would likely stay that way for the rest of our lives.
To my shitty luck, I could feel the tell-tale signs of my rut, sizzling just beneath my skin. A certain feeling, akin to an urge or an itch, began to surge within my veins, and my inner wolf demanded for Willa.
But she was gone. I would have to deal with it all on my own, just as Willa would have to deal with the rest of her heat alone.
I ignored the gnawing worry about Willa’s safety, banishing the thoughts of another wave of heat hitting her while still on the run.
An angry growl roared out from my throat at the mere idea of another man seeing her while she was in a vulnerable state.
‘She’s a fucking warrior,’ I internally reminded myself. ‘She has fought battles against my own army. She can take care of herself. She decided she was well enough to leave, so there is no fucking point thinking about her.’
But I still did. I thought of her as my rut grew worse. I thought of her still as I tried to ease the primal desire of fucking and breeding her until her womb no longer had any space for any more drop of my seeds.
But no matter how my hand worked tirelessly around my cock, how hard I grinded onto the bed, how many times I had taken a deep inhale of the pillow that still smelled so much like Willa, or how vivid I tried to imagine her as I pleasured myself, I could barely feel any relief from my rut.
I was unsatisfied and… unhappy.
So once my rut passed, I poured my attention into deep cleaning the cabin, then left to head back to my army’s headquarters.
“You look horrible,” Zuleika commented as soon as I walked into the conference room that only the officers of the Culling Army had access to.
“Thanks,” I grumbled, plopping down on the deep brown wingback chair at the head of the long rectangular table. “Whiskey, please.”
“You may be our general, Gallahan, but we are no servants,” Maliya shot back from where she sat adjacent to my left.
Still, despite her words, a bottle of whiskey and an empty crystal glass floated out of the drinks cabinet at the far end of the room. The summoned items landed on the polished surface of the wooden table, exactly within my reach.
Zuleika summoned a glass for herself as she changed her seat, transferring from beside Maliya and moving to the chair adjacent to my right.
“What has gotten into you?” Maliya asked, pouring two fingers each of aged whiskey to the two crystal glasses. Then, as she slid the drinks towards me and Zuleika, she said, “A few of our people are upset about you suddenly going missing during the battle in the Ferndell Forest. You broke ranks, and our people ended up retreating.”
“A shame too,” Zuleika added. “They reported that we were dominating the Peacemakers until you suddenly vanished on our people. They were directionless without you, and the morale just plummeted. If you had just stuck to our plan, we could’ve taken over the biggest town of the Kingdom of Agvanda that night. Not even the League could’ve stopped us if you just didn’t disappear so suddenly. After all, we had expected their arrival.”
“Maybe that is why you need to be more active in battles. To have someone else in the chain of command be present during the fights,” I shot back, trying to dodge accountability, even though it was utterly shitty of me to do.
“Don’t turn this on us, Gallahan. We are witches, and you know well enough that this is a war between werewolves.”
“And yet, you are involved.”
“We are here as your strategists and healers, Gallahan. Besides, your army wouldn’t last long with just brawns. You need some working brains.”
I took a big gulp of my whiskey and replied, “My brain is more than fine and more than enough, Zee.”
“Sure,” Zuleika agreed kindly. “For other things. But when it comes to your own cause? That's a different story. You often get too…excitable.”
“What she said. Besides, we can’t let your impulsive ass die in battle,” Maliya added, smirking.
“So you do love me,” I said, forcing a grin on my face.
“Of course we do. You are our private entertainment. Imagine how boring life would be if you go to the afterlife so soon.”
“Thanks. That is quite… assuring. Really. My life is truly a shit show.”
Genuine upset must’ve slipped in my tone because Zuleika and Maliya exchanged worried glances.
“Gallahan, be honest with us,” Zuleika asked, her voice quiet and tender. “Where have you been since you disappeared from the battle in the Ferndell Forest?”
“Banfair,” I answered, finishing what was left of my whiskey.
Then, as I refilled my glass with three fingers more of my favorite drink, Maliya prodded, saying, “What were you even doing in Banfair? Why would you suddenly leave just to be in Banfair for days?!”