It seemed like much of the distractions Gerard pushed in Shera's direction weren't working. He found himself again, questioning how she was looking into the build up of the war behind his back. He didn't want her involved anymore than she was and just wanted her safe. He needed her help on other fronts instead of attacking and planning assaults. His finger tapped on the table as he watched her fix up bandages he hadn't seen before.
"Where are those from," he asked slowly. She looked up, locking her eyes with his as she continued to tighten the bandages.
"We got into it and Lionel lost," Shera nodded. "He said we needed to figure out where we stood before father came."
"You're the older sibling, foxy," Gerard groaned.
"And I agreed," she nodded. "He needed to know how good he was before a fight broke out."
"How long was it," Gerard asked. He sighed when she smirked and rubbed at his temple.
"I took it easy on him so a little bit," she replied.
"Shera, you're not fighting," Gerard stated. Her face became blank as she glared at him and he grit his teeth. He didn't want her fighting if it came down to it and he didn't care if he sounded selfish. "I'm not letting you fight and I had that intention from the beginning."
"That's not fair," Shera protested. "I'm not weak."
"I didn't say you were. I don't want you in the fight," Gerard growled. "I want you at the home front."
"Is this about me against my father," she asked. Gerard stiffened a bit as he looked her in the eye and she nodded, a dry laugh leaving her lips, "Oh good."
"Shera," Gerard started.
"No. We have to pull out every stop," she snapped. It wasn't that Gerard didn't know that as he watched her hand pulse on the table. "There's no way he hasn't prepared something against everyone."
"You're mine and that's why you're not fighting," Gerard ordered.
"I'm not an object," she snapped. He stood up as she did, leaning over the table.
"You're not. You're someone important to me," Gerard informed her. Shera's face turned pink and Gerard sighed, "We need someone at home. The good fighters will be out on the front lines and I need someone capable to defend home."
"You're putting me in the-"
"I'm saying I don't trust anyone else to save our pack if we get flanked," Gerard yelled. Shera flinched back, her claws raking down the wood of the table. "The alphas are coming all this week. Please, for the love of god, don't lose control."
"Because it's an embarrassment," she snorted.
"Because if you lose control I'll lose control," Gerard barked. "Some of these people are radical; they'll have ideas and opinions that will sound outlandish and I can't fend you off from all of them."
"I don't need you to protect me," Shera snapped.
Gerard stood straight, "I want to though!" Her body was stiffer than a board, her eyes digging into his as if there was some way she could sway his opinion. He reached and grabbed her face, squishing her cheeks together. "Humor me, you'll see that I'm not wrong for wanting you where I place you."
"You're caging me," Gerard saw the tears start and he rubbed at her eyes for her.
"I'm not," he chuckled lightly. "I'm ensuring your safety so I can be at ease." She sniffed, pulling her face from him. Gerard saw something in her eyes and he frowned as she shifted where she stood. "Shera, what is it?"
"I hate this," she told him. She sat back down and Gerard walked around the table, leaning against it when he was next to her. "I hate this and sometimes I really hate you. I hope you know that."
"I figured," he nodded. Gerard took her hand and began playing with her fingers, "I'm hoping you understand though."
"I do and that's why I hate you," she snapped. She allowed him to play with her hand, watching his. "Who's staying behind if people get sent out to fight?" Gerard stared and smiled softly, pulling a chair forward before sitting down to go over what he thought. She was silent for the most part and Gerard realized she was thinking on how to work around him and his plan. It wasn't until later that day she started asking questions, her eyes showing a sharpness he had seen only when she fought.
The alphas showed up throughout the week as Gerard said they would and many of them looked irritated. Shera had gone beyond what Gerard expected, hosting the alphas with a smile on her face. Gerard found himself at the head of the table, Shera standing behind him as the silence filled the room. They had all sat at the large conference table. Tyrone and Taj sat next to each other not too far from Gerard and he could tell they were both unnerved by the group.
"What's the meaning of this," Gerard stared at a young lycan, his hair spiked and piercings littering his skin. He hadn't even heard of some of these alphas and he could see the difference.
"We are all aware of the fight hanging over our heads," Gerard started.
"And you call a damn press conference," a blond snapped. There was a patch over his eye and a toothpick between his teeth. "Get the woman out of here. This is a talk for alphas, not little pups."
"Insult my mate again," Gerard felt a hand on his back and he looked up at Shera.
"I know how the alpha leading this fights and I know his tactics. That's why I'm here," she stated.
"You're a Pillar, right," a man in a suit raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair. "As I recall, that means there are two Pillars in this room. We don't need you here."
"Who is here doesn't matter, it's what we're here to discuss," Taj interjected and looked to Gerard and Shera. "If the rumor mill is right, you've made contact with the vampires concerning all of this." There were murmurs, a few of the alphas in the room snarling as they glared at Gerard.
"I did. That's because we're at the point where if this breaks out we will be exposed to the human populace," Gerard nodded. "And if one of our races is revealed, the others will be pulled from the shadows as well. We will all be exposed."
"What's that matter," the blond snorted.
"History doesn't take kindly to us if you read over any history books," Shera informed him. "Humans are vast in numbers and throughout our history, we are the monsters they fear and detest. There have been lycans that have put us in the view of rose glass but that's all it's done. Humans will react as they have through history by trying to eliminate us."
"So you're a book nerd," the spiked one sniffed. "Great."
"There's important lessons in history," Gerard stood up and sighed, placing the copies he made of the treaty in front of each of them. "And it's about time we made a drastic change and worked with those hidden with us, for our own safety."
"An alliance with suckers," a red head stood up and threw the treaty aside. He growled out and walked for the door. "No thank you."
"This was brought up with the vampires' elders," Gerard nodded to Taj. Taj flicked his wrist, sigils appearing on the doors that kept them closed. "Shera and I have gone over it multiple times and we believe we've found a way to keep our way of life while also coming to terms with our-"
"They are the reason we exist," the blond stood up and starting going over the treaty. "One of their twisted people made us in a lab using the occult. Just like our bitten friend here just did."
"I was a witch before this," Taj snorted, "And I worked with many packs, Lewis."
"I commend you for not killing yourself," Lewis nodded his head and Gerard gritted his teeth.
"The Pillars take in the outcasts," the suited man sighed, "That was the agreement long ago."
"We aren't here to discuss the Pillars but the treaty between the vampires and us," Gerard snapped. They all stared at him and he took a deep breath as he sat down. "We don't have to change. All they want in this treaty is for us to actually have accountability of each other. They want us to check each other so that there will cease to be pointless fights between them and us."
"I will not stop fighting those beasts," Lewis stated.
"Them or their starved," Gerard asked loudly. That drew confused gazes, many of them muttering quietly to each other. "I run a hospital and I cater to many different species. Vampires are one of them and they have their own issues with the matter, Lewis. We all have our own issues and they aren't an exception."
"You're the one that's been treating diceases," an older alpha blinked and he suddenly smiled. "To think, you're the one that's been saving our backs while treating humans as well. I think it's fair we listen."
"That's all we want. I've had my people hurt by one of our own with silver dust," Gerard nodded. "Shera was subject to silver poisoning herself earlier in our relationship due to the modified use."
"Dust," the spike haired man suddenly became nervous and Gerard could smell it. "Did they use a membrane over their claws?"
"Exactly," Tyrone nodded. He glanced at the man and sighed, "Scott used to be friends with you, Harris. You know he won't hold anything back if there's already been an idea of it."
"Why are they suing something like that," Lewis snapped.
"We use it for those that lose control," Harris cut in. "It's original purpose was to subdue the bitten that couldn't control themselves so that the damage could be kept to a minimum. I didn't think Scott would use it because their pack doesn't believe in killing our own."
"We recently amended that so that we could assist in fighting but it is a strict amendment," Shera nodded. "Only when there's an imminent threat or revelation or genocide will we resort to annihilating our own." Gerard glanced up at her as Harris seated himself. "The vampires are willing to help us. We don't know the exact size of his pack as he's only been tracked via purchases and cameras so every bit of help we can get is necessary for survival."
"Is that why you're so beat up," the suites alpha snorted. "Because you don't know how to fight or kill like a normal-"
"I tried to spare who I fought," Shera snapped. "And I will continue to try and spare them unless they don't give in." There was something metallic in the air as Gerard watched their reactions. "We need the vampires and honestly, they need us too. So before you refuse the help that they brought, weigh the pros and cons of the situation."
That's what it took for them to listen and Gerard was thankful. The alphas has begun to throw ideas into the air, a few more reluctant than others. They left for lunch, planning to return after a few hours to continue and Gerard leaned back in the chair as he stared at the notes he took. Shera finally took a seat next to him, her gaze fixed on his face. "They're all jerks," she stated.
"They're alphas for a reason," Gerard nodded. Shera put her head on the table and sighed, Gerard chuckling lightly, "What's wrong foxy? Regretting something?"
"No, I just feel light headed," she retorted. Gerard frowned and leaned forward, stopping as the world began to spin. He sniffed the air, carefully pushing himself to his feet and grabbing ahold of Shera.
"We need to get out," he started pulling her towards the door. She leaned on him and blinked rapidly, her fave turning a bit red. The air was a sickly tang, one that Gerard couldn't put a name to. It was worse as they got into the hall and Gerard watched as people stumbled a bit. He grit his teeth and stared down at Shera, his eyes widening as she went slack in his grip.
Gerard looked around, holding his breath as he caught sight of Taj. The man stared and a grin spread across his face before a wind tore through the hall. Gerard couldn't smell whatever was in the air anymore and he pulled Shera to Taj.
"They're here," Taj stated.
"I can see that," Gerard growled. Taj rose an eyebrow and patted his back, waving him off.
"Go take care of it," Taj ordered. "I'll get the rest out. Gerard didn't wait as he shifted, shooting down the hall and picking up on scents that didn't belong.