--- The Present ---
Freya stood just outside the door as she listened to the two speak. She caught little of the conversation, but finally she opened the door to peek in shyly. Both of them snapped their mouths shut, before flickering their attention to her. Mouse was the first to move, and quickly he pulled a hide of fur to cover Justin's back. For a moment, she thought of telling him to let her see it. She wanted to confirm the man was truly okay, but something told her he did it for her sanity. She had been upset, true, but she had seen a great number of gore in her life time. She killed and skinned her own animals after all.
Stepping inside, Mouse moved from the table while Justin smiled painfully. "Hey there Girly." Freya bit down onto her bottom lip as she hung her head. Her arms crossed over her chest as she tried to decide what to say to him. She did not know him well... they had only just meet, but she felt the guilt gnawing at her chest. If she had not ran away, he would not have chased her.. He would not have been hurt. Justin would have protected her though until his last breath no matter how long he had come to know her. That was just the type of person he was. He was a husky through and through.. loyal, loving, protective, and stubborn. He has his own thoughts about things, and once he made up his mind there is no changing it. Justin was a handful.
Freya glanced over at Mouse who was in the kitchen. Meeting her eyes, they stared for a moment, yet soon he nodded. Having gained his permission, she bolted forward and moved to Justin's side. Her hand clenched his and pulled it to nuzzle her face against it. "You idiot! What were you thinking?! A husky against a mountain lion? What-"
Justin's pained laugh broke her thoughts. It only enraged her further which in turn made her raise her hand to whack him. "Sorry sorry!' He kept laughing making her in turn begin to smile. Slowly, she lowered her arm.
"You stupid idiot." She repeated and brushed her thumb along his cheek.
"I couldn't let someone hurt my pet." He winked at her and coughed. Freya brushed a strand of hair from his face as his eyes closed. She could tell he was tired, but the idea of him falling asleep worried her. What if he didn't wake up?
"Shut up. Next time you do that, I really will hit you." She threatened, which only gained a small smile from him. However, within moments he was asleep again. She sighed and leaned back until she was sitting in the chair Mouse once occupied.
"His life is not in danger." Freya looked up at Mouse who had come to her side. He leaned down to hand her a bowl with steaming hot rice and rabbit meat inside. It was only then she realized how hungry she was, or rather the fact she had not eaten since she gotten there. She barely heard him when he spoke again. "He was reckless and will need at least a few weeks rest. It's better if Alec and you go back for now."
She was halfway done with her food before he even finished. Her tongue had burned after the first bite, yet her stomach growled and grumbled for more. "Thank you Mouse." Freya mumbled and licked rice from her bottom lip. Her eyes turned to his as he stared down at her unblinking.
"I didn't do it for you. I did it for Alissa." With that, he turned away and threw himself onto the bed. Rolling, he exposed his back to her as he tucked his arm under his head. Closing his eyes, Mouse stretched out to rest. "Now get out. You have caused enough trouble."
---
Freya, despite her wish to stay with Justin, took Mouse's words to heart. She went back with Alec and Blue, and it had been a week since then. She had not seen Mouse or Justin even once. Rather, she took her time getting used to the village. In her time, she had learned some of the customs including the art of clothing. She had created a short sleeved deer hind shirt that she dyed a deep red using berries. Her pants had been harder, but she had killed a black boar to create some black hind pants. With her arms uncovered, she had used black scaled wraps from her wrists to just below her shoulder. It kept her arm, and surprisingly was excellent guard against thorns and the weather. She had come to understand a few things regarding this world. There were the clans where individuals could shift, while there were plan animals that they hunted. She had even seen a few 'wild wolves' that had no mindset of Alec's authority. They were not considered part of Bellaroos, however they did not hunt them.
Alec had explained it as... respect for the canine kind. They did not kill each other unless needed. It was a strange concept, yet it made sense. Although, it was hard tell who was a shifter and who was not. In the eyes of Bellaroos though, they were neither human nor shifter but the animal they transform into. Of course, no one knew besides Mouse what and who she actually was. It was something she refused to share. It was a question that had come up several times, but each time she had done well to avoid the question. It was not... something that could be shared at the time. Mouse's words regarding the Beast Gods had echoed in her head day after day. A human had given birth to them, but something told her there was a deeper secret behind it.
Freya's eyes narrowed as she pulled the bow string back. Her thoughts blinding her to reality for a moment, yet alone and by herself in the wilderness was something she needed. So much had happened in the time she had gotten here. Between her attack, meeting the pack, Justin, Mouse... the information, and now she was a prisoner among the canines. After all, where would she go? She hated it. Shaking her thoughts away, she aimed the stone arrow at the target on a tree. She had carved it there to practice. They had plenty to eat at the moment, so hunting was out of the question. Bellaroos, despite their advancements, still preferred to hunt, but they do have some ability to farm and domesticate animals. She had seen the goat, chicken, and fish farms. They had vegetable and fruit farms too, but she wondered if they had any rice farms. Mouse had rice after all, however it bothered her some about it. They didn't live in an area she thought it could grow.
"Focus." Freya mumbled as she felt the brush of the hand against her cheek. The primitive bow arched and vibrated with her pull until finally she released it. The thud echoed in the quiet as the stone arrow hit the target with little resistance. Satisfied, she lowered the bow to her side. It was then she felt warm arms wrap around her stomach before a chin settled on her shoulder. Her tense body relaxed against the strong chest, but she did not look back. She knew this touch... the smell... There had been one person that had changed around her dramatically.
"What are you doing out here?" Alec's voice rumbled against her ear. Since they had returned, he had been more affectionate with her... protective. Anyone that looked at her wrong gained his anger, which confused her. Although, it did make things easier. She did not have to worry about danger or to much attention. Alec had made clear his intentions or perhaps he wanted to make sure she didn't run off again. Either way, Freya tended to not mind. She could not explain it, but his touch settled her. The raw male smell, his power, his touch, and his aggression grounded her.
"Thinking." She admitted before trying to step from his hold. He held fast though with a low warning growl. Freya frowned and moved to yank his hand from her before moving to yank her arrow from the tree. Spinning it between her fingers, she pointed the stone arrowhead towards the ground before turning her eyes over to his. Alec stood there with his arms cross and green eyes narrowing as he watched her.
"You have been doing a lot of 'thinking' lately." He challenged.
"Well, there has been a lot to take in." She admitted, but something about his frown made her hesitate. Freya had wished to tell him what Mouse said... to tell him her past and explain to him who she was, but each time she thought of it.... something deep inside of her told her no. Her instincts snapped at her the way one would sense danger. Alec was dangerous, but why she didn't know.
"What did Mouse tell you?" Alec had asked that before, and he always got the same response. She turned from him silently before leaning down to pick up her leather bag. Pulling the brown back up, she looped it around her neck before passing an arm through. With that, she turned away to begin her way back towards the village. She refused to answer him.
This only angered her. Snapping his hand out, he snatched her wrist and yanked her close. Freya twisted her wrist though to yank away as she turned to him. "Alec, drop it." She growled low in her throat.
Stepping forward, he came to stand chest to chest with her. His height towering over her as they glared between each other. With a purposeful movement, the wolf came to lean to brush his nose against her ear. "Do not disobey me Freya. You will regret it." A low menacing growl left his throat as he bared sharpened fangs. She, however, stood calm... unmoving.
Sweetly, she smiled. "Alec, if you wished to hurt me you would have done it already." Stepping back, she turned away from him. Truth be told, he didn't wish to hurt her. No, he wanted her on her hands and knees instead. Alec did not understand this women at all, but something about her made him want to devour her... in every way possible.
"Then perhaps, you would like to join me at the bonfires tonight." Before Alec even realize what he had said, the words had left him.
Freya who had been walking away turned her head to look back at him. "Bonfires?" She asked in confusion.
"It's a celebration of the changing of the seasons and to honor those who we have lost in the war." The male's eyes half closed as the light in them slowly faded. "So many lives were taken to early." He whispered softly.
Freya turned back to him before moving forward. Her hand slowly guided itself along his chest. Fingers traced the muscles there, and along the scars that showed on his bare chest. Before long, her hands found their way to his neck and to his jawline. She gently brushed her thumb along his cheek in hopes her touch would remove the darkness from his eyes. She knew what it was like to lose someone. She had lost her whole family after all. First in a fire, then in a car wreck, and finally her grandfather from sickness. She had watched them all be buried. "Who did you lose Alec?" She barely heard her words, but she instantly regretted even asking.
Alec turned to look away from her. His hand gripping hers to pull it to his side. He, however, did not release it. "My mother was killed in the Kenya Massacre." He stated. "I had just been promoted as a general." Freya's eyes widened a bit in surprise he was sharing such information. He didn't seem the kind to share such personal information. "While I was doing recon, the camp was attacked. She was killed in the attack... along with everyone else. Only Justin, Mouse, a few soldiers, and I survived it. We could not even recapture the Kenya territory."
"Is there where you got your scars?" Freya inquired.
"No. My father gave them to me... after they found my mother's body. Since then, he has been on his death bed." He said flatly. Slowly, she felt him pulling away from her. The male's cold voice... his refusal to look at her, and the thought of the darkness he had endured. It was almost to much. She had not realized what kind of pain he had gone through. The man she viewed as strong and powerful was just... a man after all. It was no wonder he cut off the world and those around him.
"Yes, I will go with you." Freya whispered as she looked down at their intwined hands. The green eyes of the wolf turned to look down at her, and gently he pressed his forehead to hers.
"Thank you, Freya."
---
Back at the village, Alec followed close behind Freya. They had traveled back from the forest and entered through the gates. They had chosen to go through one of the calmer routes rather than going through the busy streets or the market place. With how the castle was built, there was only one entrance and one exit besides for the secret passages. Of course, he had chosen not share those. After much argument, she had agreed to stay there with him as long as she had free ability to come and go as she pleased. He was glad he had given her that chance. The streets today were lined with people going about their daily lives. It would soon be winter, so businesses were booming. Clothing, fabrics, food and trade were lining even the smaller streets. Alec had stopped once or twice to check the goods and to check for papers. Not all of them were canines after all. Bellaroos had a closed border, but those with proper papers he had granted permission to enter. Many were avians that traded and sold goods. It was their nation that held the market for decades, and even at war no clans could afford to refuse their trade. However, it was only in fabrics and material goods that they held favor. It was the Hoofed clan that held favor in other areas when it came to trade, and the Hopi clan was a trader for information.
"Hurry up!" Freya chuckled causing for him to glance up from the papers he held in his hand. He blinked for a moment in realization she was waiting for him. Her hand had come to rest on her hip as she smiled playfully. He handed the papers back to the bird before stepping away to come to her side. She turned away again to start down their path. It the time she had come to the pack, she had adapted well. Although, he could still see the weary eyes around them. Freya had no clan marks, spouse marks or true origin. It made others nerves of her and reminded him of the time Justin had come to the pack. He had been brutally isolated, attacked, and verbally taunted. The war had made many paranoid. Many people had been killed, left homeless, and starving because of the war, but he refused to let that control them.
While Freya saw it a him being possessive, in truth he was being protective. Alec feared for her safety. Soon, he would have to do something to force her position here. Parting his lips, he released a low growl at the idea. "My lord!" Snapping his head up, the male turned to watch as a small red fox bolted to his side. Once there, Cupid shifted and leaned down to clench his knees. Panting heavily, he forced his words out. "A J-Jormungand r-requested an audience!"
"Deny it." He snapped out and turned away.
Cupid snapped his head up and whimpered. "B-But s-"
"Deny it. Tonight is the bonfire celebration. We will not accept such a request on this day." With that, Alec patted Cupid on his head before catching up to Freya. Cupid, however, simply stood there watching the pair nervously.
"This is not going to end well." He whimpered before turning away as his fox form took over once more. With that, he begun his way to deliver the message.