Once their traveling was done it was easier for Keelin to do what she did best—put her head down and do her work while trying to make herself as useful and tempting to Merrick as possible so that he would have reasons to keep her around. They were given a spacious cave in the mountain range with the other pack members and she had set to work cleaning it up and arranging it to suit Merrick's tastes. In this case it didn't particularly matter what her opinion on how their home should be kept or set up. The name of the game had always been keeping Merrick as happy as possible so that her usefulness to him remained high.

She didn't go far from the den and kept to herself to avoid interacting with any of the other pack members for the most part. Sometimes it was unavoidable when she went to collect food from the pack's stores or to go down to the lake to collect water, but if she was forced to speak with them she kept her interactions short and polite. It wasn't even that she didn't want to get to know this pack better or find out more about Merrick's family, she just didn't want to do something that would ultimately get back to Merrick and cause him to lash out at her for some misstep or mistake. He was by far the harshest master she had ever served, but he was also the biggest and the strongest and kept her safe so she couldn't ask for much more. She did also throughly enjoy the sex they had when he decided he wanted her so there was at least one perk to this arrangement.

Keelin used a bundle of dried grass like a broom to sweep out some dust that had collected on the floor of their den, the sound of the grass dragging against the stone the only sound beside her claws clicking against the stone as well. She wasn't sure where Merrick had gone off to this time, but she never really knew or asked and just waited for him to return. Once she was done with that she started fluffing and straightening their bedding. It was getting later in the day so she figured he would probably be back soon and she liked to look busy whenever he appeared... whenever that was.

"Keelin"

The day had been full of blood, guts and gore so, naturally, Merrick was in a fantastic mood. There was still a bit of red clinging to the brutes mottled coat when he traipsed back into his nice, spacious den. The giant man's gaze scanned the chamber and he was pleased. Keelin was doing exactly as he expected her to and had been cleaning the space. Good girl.

Stopping to get a drink from a basin of water near the door, Merrick nicely trailed droplets of water on Keelin's freshly swept floor. Did he care though? Negative. It would give the woman something to do. Swiping the droplets of water off of his chin with his tongue, Merrick crossed the room, lifted one charcoal paw, and gave the brindled woman a little pat on the head. He really was in a good mood today.

Tossing himself on the pile of furs, Merrick gave a little groan as he stretched. Dual toned eyes fixed on the fae and he growled out his words. "Keeping busy today, I see." He was pleased with the progress that she'd made, shifting the otherwise dull space into something that he would like. That was why he kept her around. Keelin was very adept at anticipating his wants and needs. It would take forever to train someone else to be as attentive. "Have you learned the place yet? Talk to anyone?" Silvered ears shifted forward. He was curious.

"Merrick Mendacium"

As she expected, not long after she had finished cleaning up every part of the cave that she could Merrick came in and immediately began undoing her work in his usual fashion. She gave the water he dripped across the cave floor a glance, but she knew it would dry or she could at least clean it up fairly easily later if not. All she really cared about was assessing what kind of mood he was in since that was going to dictate how her night went. When he walked over to her and greeted her with a pat on the head that helped her relax a bit. At least he seemed pleasant this evening. She noticed the spots of blood still clinging to his fur in places so she assumed that was probably a part of the reason why. He was always in a better mood when he got to fight and kill things.

While he got comfortable he sent over to where she had stashed away the meats she had collected from the food stores earlier that day, picking out a large piece of moose steak to bring to him. She glanced back at him over her shoulder when he spoke, offering him a small smile when he commented on how she had been keeping busy. "Of course, it's what I do best," she replied before she turned back toward the meat at her paws, picking it up and carrying it over to where he was laying, placing it within reach if he wanted, but out of the way enough that if he wasn't interested it could wait till later.

She was caught off guard a bit when he asked about whether or not she had learned the pack or spoken to anyone since she had originally assumed he wouldn't want her to do either of those things, but thankfully she had enough to speak on without lying that she felt like she could get away with it. "A bit," she replied as she settled onto the furs near him, beginning to groom the blood from his fur. "I've learned where the supply stores are and learned some paths around the island. I've spoken to one woman a couple of times... Irilyth I think her name is. Manea's handmaiden. Oh, and Avacyn for a bit this morning." Luckily Manea's daughter had stopped her to ask for some help with carrying some things down from the caves when she went to fetch her daily supplies so at least she was able to add a more notable name to her list.

"Keelin"

Keelin brought the marbled man some dinner, placing it within reach just in case he didn't want it. She'd always been thoughtful like that, which is why he kept her around for so long. Taking up the steak between his paws, Merrick bit off a big chunk, giving it a chew before swallowing. His mismatched gaze followed the fae as she moved, focusing on her shapely rump before she settled down beside him. Keelin began grooming the blood from his coat and Merrick practically purred. He thoroughly enjoyed attention and the woman knew it.

Having asked the fae what she'd been up to, Merrick listened as she told him just that. Apparently Keelin had met a few wolves and had learned a few paths. "Good," he rumbled, taking another bite of steak. Swallowing, he continued. "This isn't the ship," he reminded the brindled woman. "I don't mind you having your freedom, but don't fuck anyone." That was his big rule. Merrick was a jealous beast and he wouldn't have anyone else inside his woman ever again. Someone else had beat him to her for her first fucking, but it would never happen again.

Silvered ears shifted forward as he fixed Keelin with his red and blue gaze. "Learn the island. Learn the pack. Make yourself useful where you can." It would do well if the wolves of the island liked Keelin. They surely wouldn't like him half as well, so her amicable nature would soften them towards him.

Merrick added as an afterthought, "Manea expects me to produce pups." The giant's gaze stayed locked on the scarred fae, gauging her reaction. "I'm expected to take you or someone else as a permanent mate. Here's your chance to be free of me if you want, woman." Was he giving her options? Hell no. He just wanted to see what she'd say. Would she hightail it out of Elysium or would she grin and bear the fate that he'd decided for her?

"Merrick Mendacium"

Keelin was glad when her only slightly embellished story of her days around the pack seemed to satisfy him, but what she hadn't been expecting was for him to tell her to have her freedom and not fuck anyone while reminding her that this wasn't the ship. It made her pause for just a beat as she took that in and processed it, having to remind herself in a way that he was right. She had been on the ship and in the paws of slavers for a majority of her life and it had gotten to the point where that way of life was all she really knew. Living in a constant battle to make herself the most appealing to them so that she would get the preferential treatment, keeping her head down and doing her work to avoid their punishments, molding herself to whatever her masters needed of her... That wasn't her entire life any more and for at least a moment she was a little overwhelmed by that thought. She didn't know what to do with this new found freedom, but Merrick elevated a bit of that uncertainty by directing her, telling her to learn the pack and make herself useful. Somehow it felt easier when even these vague tasks were given as a command and she nodded while she continued to groom his fur, saying, "Yes, sir," in response.

If that exchange didn't throw her off balance enough, then he mentioned the fact that his sister expected him to have pups and find a mate. That made her hesitate and blink with surprise, her usual calm, controlled demeanor slipping for a moment. At first she felt a bit of panic with her first assumption that with this expectation it would mean that he would be throwing her out in favor of whoever it was he might choose to fill this role. She had never had to care for herself, only tending to others so that they would provide for her, so she would be entirely hopeless if left to her own devices. However, she processed the second portion of what he said, about how this was her chance to be free of him, and realized that wasn't what he was implying at all—quite the opposite in fact. She truly wasn't sure which option caught her off guard more, the possibility that she might be put out on her own or the chance that she might be playing the role of his mate and the mother of his children.

She hesitated as she considered her options, glancing up from where she had been grooming the blood from his fur to glance up to his two toned gaze. He was a violent, murderous brute that sometimes felt unpredictable and dangerous, but... despite all of that she knew where her loyalties were. Once he had decided that she was his, even back on the ship, he hadn't let any of the other slavers touch her—sexually or otherwise. Sure, he had put a few of his own scars on her in their time together, but she still felt like he had protected her where no one else ever had. He had been the only constant for nearly two years and she couldn't imagine being with anyone else... for better or worse.

"I don't want to be free of you," she finally replied after a bit of thought. If that meant that she'd have to continue putting her life in his paws and would need to have his pups then that was a fate she'd accept. She'd never pictured herself as a mother, especially not when her own parents had been so entirely non existent, but she would figure it out for him. Keelin leaned her side into his, her delicate frame resting lightly into his, while she turned her head to groom away a bit of blood she spotted along the curve of his jaw. It was the last of the blood, at least from what she could see, and now that she was leaning into him like this she didn't really want to pull away. Their tastes and presences in sex meshed well together which certainly gave her another good reason to stay with him. Her tail brushed his thigh while she gave his jaw a few more kisses and nibbles while she gauged whether or not he would want her tonight or not.

"Keelin"

Keelin didn't immediately jump up and try to run away with her newfound freedom, but he could see the shifting emotions on the woman's face. He watched her, mismatched eyes narrowing the longer she took to answer. Then, in the end she told him that she didn't in fact want to be free of him. The dire brute grinned. "I didn't think you would," he spoke. "You're too loyal to run. Too dependent to be on your own. To little and frail to care for yourself." As he spoke these words, one big, black paw rose and began moving suggestively down the fae's spine to grasp at her rump. Even if Keelin hadn't agreed to stay with him, she would have. He would fill her with his puppies and he'd get to choose which one to keep. That was just how it was going to be. She really had no say.

The brindled fae kissed and nibbled along his muzzle and a low rumble of pleasure emanated from him. The flick of her tail was noted and the paw upon her rump pulled her in closer. He knew Keelin well, inside and out and even after all this time, he enjoyed having his way with her. She was the only woman that hadn't gotten boring after he fucked her. Perhaps it was because she bent so well to his will. Perhaps it was because she kept things exciting and kept her body just how he liked it. Either way, Keelin wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"You act like you want something," the purple brute purred against the fae's cheek, his teeth grazing the shorter fur there. The paw that had settled upon the woman's rump shifted, sliding slowly around until it was nestled nicely between her thighs. The huge, curved talons of his paws pulled across her tender flesh, but not enough to draw blood or even raise welts. Just enough to remind her that they were there. "Tell me what you want, Keelin." Lecherous bastard that he was, he wanted to hear straight from the woman's mouth just what she wanted him to do to her. Then, if he was feeling generous, he would decide whether or not to indulge her request or not. In the meantime, the rough pads of his paw continued to slowly drift over the most sensitive parts of her. Already his arousal was growing, he just wanted to hear her say it before he acted.

"Merrick Mendacium"

She was sure some other woman that was more independent or headstrong than herself would have taken some kind of offense to his assumptions about her, but she couldn't say that any of them were incorrect. She had grown used to a life of having the necessities taking care of for her in exchange for whatever services or attention he wanted from her. She honestly didn't know how to hunt or fight for herself more than some small prey like rabbits and maybe fighting off someone as slight as herself. He took care of her and so therefore she was loyal. She wasn't a complicated woman. Maybe that's why she got along so well at Merrick's side. A little smirk pulled at her lips as his massive paw settled on her rump and as he pulled her closer a soft, pleased hum left her. More than a couple of her scars had come from moments of heated passion from him, but that hadn't stopped her before. Those talons were deadly, but they also made the sex with him that little bit more exciting.

A little shiver went through her at his rumbling voice against her cheek with his teeth grazing her skin, the smirk on her lips pulling into a grin. "I do," she replied, her voice breathy while she felt his paw moving across her rump, slipping between her thighs to reach some far more sensitive and tender places with his sharp talons lightly grazing her skin. She had given herself to men plenty as soon as she was old enough to do so in her efforts to gain their favor and get what she needed from them, but Merrick was the only one she had sought out again after he had her once and continued to come back for more just for the fun of it. She grinned again at his command for her to tell him what she wanted, but just as she was about to his paw found some very sensitive parts of her and she gasped softly, her tail curling up over her back with a quiet groan. She tipped her head to nibble along his jaw from the curve of his jaw to his chin, her voice taking on a seductive purr as she spoke.

"I want you to take me and have your way with me," she told him, her hips shifting back into his paw with another quiet groan against his skin. "I want your paw around my throat and your talons in my hip while you do it." She had never exactly been one to favor a gentle lover, but that wouldn't come as a surprise to him. Besides, she knew how much he liked when she enticed him with exactly what she wanted even if in the end he did what he wanted. She was hardly ever disappointed with what he gave her—unless of course he decided not to give her anything at all.

"Keelin"

Keelin reacted so exquisitely to his touches. Maybe that was another reason that he kept her around. Her body acted as though his touch was the only touch that it would ever want. Perhaps the woman was just a good actress, but he liked to believe that he actually brought her pleasure, though her pleasure mattered much less than his own. Her soft little gasps and groans had always been music to his ears. She gave him what he wanted even when he knew that she didn't want it. Such a good girl, his Keelin.

As his paw continued to stroke and caress the most heated parts of her, the woman leaned in to tell him just what she wanted, lips and teeth pulling along the line of his jaw. Merrick gave a low, dark chuckle his paw pulling from its former resting place. One slick digit ran over the woman's lower lip before he purred in return, "As my mate wishes." And mates they would be. Keelin would grow and bear his children. In Mendacium eyes, this made them mates. It bound them together. Merrick wasn't exactly a follower of the ways, but he would play along for his sister's benefit.

Merrick knew that Keelin's tastes ran to rougher, darker things, much like his own tastes. Whether she had grown to like them or those kinks had been there to begin with, he didn't know. What he did know was that he could be rough with her. He could choke her, throw her about, pound her hard into the furs, the grass or the stone floor and she wouldn't make a peep of complaint. Another reason. There were many reasons to like Keelin. Many reasons why she had to be the fae chosen to produce his offspring.

Blackened lips found those of the brindled woman and Merrick thoroughly kissed her, his tongue infiltrating her maw to dance with her own. He wasn't a kisser, or at least he hadn't been before Keelin. This was another way to dominate the woman and prove to her again and again that she belonged to him, and so he'd become accustomed to it, but only with her. He'd bedded others, of course, but he didn't kiss. It just wasn't his thing. If the woman knew, she should feel special for that at least. He'd never told her, however, so that little tidbit was lost on her.

An old fashioned gent, Merrick liked doing things the traditional way. Occasionally they would fuck belly to belly, but nothing got him going more than having a woman pinned beneath him like a bitch in heat. The kiss was broken and with one big paw, he flipped the fae onto her stomach. That paw then wrapped around the fae's tail, jerking her back across the bed towards him. He tasted her first, a nice little gesture of preparation before he rose, settling his big body over hers. As she asked, his paw settled over her hip, talons digging into flesh just lightly to begin with. A bit or pressure and a roll of his hips sent their bodies to joining. Strong hips continued to roll and a deep growl emanated from the brute. Keelin was like molten silk beneath him and, knowing that he would soon deposit puppies within her fueled that fire. The pair moved together as one until Merrick's breath became ragged and uneven. Only then did his paw slip away and lock around the fae's slender throat, pulling her head up and back, squeezing tightly enough to cut off her air supply and prick her flesh with his claws while he growled the heights of his pleasure against her cheek.

"Merrick Mendacium"

If she didn't have his paw grazing her lip with the promise of some very nice things to come she might have considered him calling her his mate more throughly, but as it was her mind was already far off on a much more pleasant topic. He stole her lips away for a heated kiss and she returned it whole heartedly, more groans escaping her and becoming muffled sounds in their connected mouths as he claimed her in ways that were familiar but still exciting. When that kiss broke he wasted no time tossing her around just like she loved, flipping her onto her stomach and making her gasp as he pulled her back by her tail until his muzzle was replacing where his paw had previously been. He pulled sounds of pleasure from her freely from this little treat he was giving her until he pulled away to settle his massive frame over hers.

She loved the weight of his body pinning her beneath him and the feeling of giving herself over to him entirely. She was always so calculating and careful with her actions on a daily basis, but when they were like this she didn't have to make decisions or curate her reactions. She could just let go and let him have his way and know that in the end they were both getting what they wanted. She felt the press of his claws against her skin as he joined them together, his hips rolling into hers pulling a louder gasp from her and making her toes curl. The growl that sounded from above her made a shiver run down her spine and her hips pressed back into his eagerly with each roll and movement as they fell into a familiar rhythm with one another. Eventually, as they both started building toward their peaks, his paw found her throat and as he squeezed and cut off her ability to breathe her eyes fluttered and rolled back with a strangled gasp, her paws gripping at the fur they were on as she lost all control and the pleasure of it all overwhelmed her.

"Keelin"

As always, Keelin was superb. She moved her body in ways that worked the giant brute quickly to pleasure. She was seasoned, talented and exquisite. Being off of the ship and falling into life with family once more, he was beginning to think that she could indeed be what he wanted and needed. However, he was currently in a very good mood. It was something that he might rethink later. It depended on whether or not she pissed him off, he supposed. It was easy to do.

After they had both attained pleasure, Merrick looked down at the gasping fae for a moment longer before releasing his hold on her delicate throat. His claws pulled along her flesh gently and he placed his paws on either side of her body. The man didn't withdraw from the woman just yet. He wasn't quite done with her. He was just catching his breath. Powerful hips rolled, teasing the woman beneath him and keeping them both aroused. She should be used to this. He'd never been a one time fuck. Multiple times or it wasn't worth the effort. The black and purple giant continued to periodically grind against the upturned rump of the brindled fae. He'd be ready against soon enough.

One giant paw gently stroked the side of Keelins throat, the throat that his big paw had just been wrapped around. He enjoyed choking the woman and she enjoyed it as well if her attained pleasure had been any indicator. Merrick slid his paw around her throat once more, pulling the fae's head up, forcing her spine to bow as there was no way that his arousal would allow her hips to drop. "I wonder what it will be like," he growled in gritty tones beside her ear, "Seeing you round and filled with my children." As he held her there, powerful hips began moving again, but not gently. Merrick's body collided with Keelins again and again and again. He never let her loose from his grasp, wanting to strain her, wanting to hear her call out in pleasure and pain. He enjoyed hurting her and enjoyed bending her to his will.

Every undulating motion brought the coil within him growing tighter and tighter. Already he could feel a second volley of pleasure coming his way at least. He didn't care if she reached her own orgasm. If she did, fine, but he wasn't an attentive lover. He was selfish as fuck and he was mean to boot. Jerking Keelin's head back, Merrick snarled in her ear, "Scream for me, Keelin." Teeth sank into the woman's ruff, pricking through her flesh as he dropped his paw from her throat, holding her body weight with his teeth and jaws alone as he hammered into her again and again and again.

"Merrick Mendacium"

Keelin was kept in his grasp as her head swam with the pleasure and breathlessness after they both hit their peaks for a few moments longer until he finally released her throat and allowed her to take a deep breath with a shuttering gasp. She collapsed onto the fur as she caught her breath, a pleased grin still lingering on her muzzle. She knew him well by now and when his hips didn't pull back she already knew what to expect. Every time his hips rolled and teased her it pulled small sounds of pleasure from her between her panting breaths. She wasn't given all that long to rest though and his paw that had been stroking the side of her throat and making tingles dance across her skin wrapped around her throat again. This time though he lifted her up by her neck, forcing her back to bend and bow to his will as he pulled her head up toward his own and made it difficult for her to breathe as her head tipped back while she dangled by his grasp.

The growled out words of what it would be like to see her filled with his children made a shiver tremble up her spine, her toes flexing and gripping onto the fur she had been fucked into and would be again before all was said and done. It was no secret that she enjoyed how he dominated her and used her and somehow, especially when he was controlling her like this, the idea of carrying his pups because he dictated that she would scratched that same itch. That lingered on her mind as his hips began to roll once more, this time with even more intensity and strength as he had before, his hips driving hard into hers every single time. Slightly strangled gasps and cries left her with every movement, his rolling hips knocking the air out of her lungs with every collision into hers and drawing pleasured whines and sounds from her. Her eyes fluttered and rolled, nearly lost to any conscious thought as she was claimed and dominated throughly.

Her head was jerked back again and her eyes flickered open for a moment as he snarled a demand into her ear only a beat before she felt his teeth bite into her scruff and lace her pleasure with a sharp sting of pain. She gasped at the bite, but as soon as his paw dropped away from her throat and her body weight was left hanging from his jaws he got his wish and she screamed with a heady mix of unbelievable pleasure that was cut with the stabbing pain of his sharp fangs cutting into her skin. Her voice echoed around the cave, her screams cutting in and out with each powerful movement of his hips into hers. Her vision blurred until she gave up keeping her eyes open at all and she let herself go to the pleasure again, crying out again and again while gripping at the fur bedding with trembling paws.

"Keelin"

She knew what to expect. Fucking her a second time wasn't something new. It took a lot for the dire brute to be satiated and the woman would be well aware. When his hips pulled at her own again, she gasped and whimpered, making sweet sounds just for him. He only stopped long enough to catch his breath before he was moving within her once more. The stroking paw found her throat and he squeezed hard, loving the pinched off, wheezing cries that she made when she tried and tried to pull enough air into her oxygen starved lungs.

Merrick knew that the woman pinned beneath him had some sort of breeding kink. It was obvious by the way she squirmed and writhed beneath him when he told her that he was going to fill her with his pups. It wasn't a threat either. It was an eventuality. He was going to fuck her every single day, spilling his seed until it took and she produced a child for him. He didn't care much about the child, but he thoroughly enjoyed the act of creating it. It would seem that he had a breeding kink as well. Thinking about Keelin's taut belly swelling as her body created his pups made him slam his hips into hers with hard, audible claps.

Merrick demanded screams and Keelin would deliver. As he dropped the weight of her body, holding her only with his teeth, the brindled woman sang him a symphony. The ululating cries shuddered every time his hips rocketed into hers, pulling a moan of pleasure from the giant as he held her between his jaws. No doubt the entire pack heard the culmination of their lust as they both pitched off of the precipice and into the gaping mouth of absolute pleasure. Keelin screamed and Merrick roared as he tried again to put children within her.

The man collapsed after that, his legs too shaky to keep him upright any longer. With one arm around Keelin's ribcage, he dropped to his side, releasing her bloodied scruff and panting hard. His chest rose and fell and his tongue protruded, trying to rid his body of excess heat. He remained tied to the woman before him, but otherwise paid her no mind as he waited for the stars dancing in his field of vision to fade and fully subside. Only after they were free would he give her rump an affectionate pat. "Good girl." Then he rolled over and promptly fell asleep.

"Merrick Mendacium"