Dinner with werewolves is exactly as it sounds, loud and full of meat. Wolves tended to eat in packs and so groups were assigned to the dining rooms. Multiple rooms, an entire apartment dedicated to food and tables. Typically the groups were decided by the floor the wolves resided on. And the floor level is decided by the rank of the wolf. The Alpha got the highest floor, the penthouse, all to himself. The floor below that was dedicated to Lupin's council and inner circle. Lupin ate with his inner circle, his family.
Three new people joined our group for dinner. Taron Faeyer, Rayen's father and Lupin's uncle, walked in rather unceremoniously. He had pitch black hair and shared identical eyes with Ember. I assumed Rayen received her looks from her mother, who was noticeably absent. Lupin informed me that she had died when Rayen was very young.
The two others to join our rooms of food, were brought in by a young willowy looking blonde female. She smiled warmly at the room full of wolves and buckled two children into high chairs. Their names were Autumn and August, a girl and a boy, twins. They looked to be about two years old and laughed gleefully at Ember and Declan. The young parents smiled fondly at their babies. The children were basically reflections of each other, they had Ember's blue eyes and dark hair. Beautifully inscribed with Declan's dark skin, just a shade lighter. They were truly going to grow up pretty.
Arrow said as much, though a bit more creudly. Informing the happy parents that their kids were going to grow up to be spectacular sluts. It started a heated argument about what to say and what not to say when a thought comes to mind, which was somehow brought back around to babies.
Arrow explained that he planned to have a horde of children and teach them all to be his spies and soldiers. Tristan agreed that the plan was fool proof and declared that he would do the same. The boys then suggested that they should join their child armies together, to make it larger and more impenetrable. Rayen then stated, very passively, that child armies were all well and good as long as the boys planned to birth the children themselves. The room erupted with laughter when the boys lamented that the plan might indeed have some flaws.
I turned to Rayen, still smiling, as she chose to ignore Tristan's goofy smile.
"Do you plan to have children?" I asked, she chuckled but before she could answer Arrow piped in.
"Wow, Fable, talk about personal." I shot my, rather drunk, brother a glare, he playfully shuddered.
"No it's fine," Rayen brushed off. "We're wolves, all we do is ask uncomfortable questions." She smiled brightly. "To answer your question, we do, but we want to wait until after we've been Bound." As she spoke Tristan slid his hand into hers and squeezed it affectionately.
"What's Bound?" I asked, brow raised. It was Ava who answered.
"It's like marriage but for werewolves. We don't have girlfriends or boyfriends, we wait for our mate. And once our mate is found, typically the Bond is accepted quickly, so we never use fancy words like finance or betrothed. We're just mates and then we're Bound. Which is basically just declaring your acceptance of the Bond in front of your friends and family." She shrugged. "Just like marriage." I chuckled and turned to Lupin, who sat beside me at the circular table.
"Is the ceremony the same as the humans?" He nodded as he swallowed the food in his mouth.
"Yes, for the most part. I think the most noticeable difference is we don't exchange rings." There was a beat of awkward silence and he didn't explain further.
"Well, what do you exchange?" I asked, realizing no one was going to offer up the answer. It was Ember who smiled sadly and twisted around in her chair. She pulled her hair up and we all stared at the back of her neck. Two half circles branded, red and harsh, scared over the bone of her neck, undoubtedly imprinted by the teeth of a wolf.
"What the hell is that?" Arrow declared to the silent room, his fork stopped halfway to his mouth. Oddly enough, it was Taron who answered.
"That is the Mark." He breathed. "Two Mates receive the Mark when they are Bound. The werewolves will Turn and then bite right above the neck where the brainstem is located. This act is to represent the control the wolf has over their monster and the control they are now freely giving to their mate. The recipient of the Mark is meant to endure the pain as a testament to their ability to now control two monsters. Both mates are given the Mark from each other and the audience is meant to witness the mates willingness and capability." He sighed and looked at both my brother and I. His face was the picture of concern and tiredness. All the wolves watched us, waiting. A long moment of silence passed as I looked around confused.
"Wait," Arrow announced loudly, drawing everyone's attention. He turned to Lupin and smiled broadly. "You plan to bite my sister on the back of her neck?" Laughter entered his words. "You're going to give your monster to her?" He couldn't go any further, the image in his head amusing him too much. If I were to really think about it, I would also be amused. I shook my head refusing to laugh along with Arrow's immaturity.
"Stop it Arrow." I reprimanded lightly. He hit the wooden table with the palm of his hand.
"Come on, Fable. Can't you imagine it? Hundreds of wolves in attendance and him trying to bite you-" He broke off into bursts of laughter and despite myself I smiled at the mental picture. I shook my head again as he tickled himself silly.
I looked around realizing the stillness of the werewolves. The worry on their faces had lessened and was now replaced with confusion. I looked pointedly at Lupin, placed my hand flat on the wooden table and pretended to pick up a card. This was a card I was keeping. He nodded, seeming to understand, but his eyes narrowed.
"You're not repulsed by the practices of werewolves? Biting and scarring?" I shook my head realizing the source behind the werewolves unease. But no, both my brother and I had seen too many gruesome things to be freaked out by a bite mark. I shrugged as the wolves relaxed.
"You should hear about some of the banshee's practices. That will really turn your stomach." The wolves relaxed fully and my brother's laughing fit seemed to be ebbing.
"What do banshee's exchange at weddings?" Tristan asked, I looked at him.
"Rings." I said, overly expressing a belief in his stupidity. The wolves chuckled as I thought about it. "It's an old tradition and not many people use it now, mostly because it's rather archaic. But banshee's used to tie each other's souls together over the Veil. It made it so that when one of the pair died, the tied soul would follow. Basically when one died, so did the other." Rayen made a face.
"Why did they agree to it?" I shrugged.
"It was the promise that they would be with the one they loved even after life," I sighed. "And it was tradition."
"Are there any banshee traditions that Lupin should be aware of before going in?" Declan asked, a rare smile on his face. "I mean, now that you know our weirdest one, it seems only fair that he be made aware." I chuckled and thought about it.
"No, I mean, we basically just do the same as the humans. Except we don't wear white, the color is too dead, banshee brides wear blue." I smiled, remembering Salem's wedding and Addie's beautiful sapphire gown.
"And," Arrow helpfully reminded me. "Don't forget that the mother walks the bride down the aisle, not the father." He rolled his eyes. "Banshees, all about the women." The wolves looked at me with questions in their eyes, I hurried to explain swallowing the drink in my mouth.
"Banshee's were created by the six Keeners, all of them women. They were our ruler's long ago, but immortal beings can only be fascinated with the mortals for so long. Yet still our rulers have always been women, so we tend to be a little more traditionally important." I shrugged. "The Keeners returned to serving as Death's acolytes, guiding the ghosts to their resting place and we continued on." Ava cocked a brow.
"And do you know what that is? You know, what's waiting for us on the other side." I smiled small, it felt stiff on my lips.
"There are five realms that banshees are all aware of. The most significant for us is the Astral Realm, where ghosts and wraiths reside. The Divine Realm is a seemingly empty world composed of nothing but Magic, it is the realm that witches draw on for their power. It is believed that it used to be the home for Gods, when the world was still too undeveloped for the use of sentient beings. Then, of course, there's the Mortal Realm, which is where we reside. Some believe that our Realm is either right next to the Divine or at the center of them all. This theory was concluded because of the magic leaking slowly into this world, a Realm obviously designed not to have magic."
"Obviously." Tristan muttered, Declan swatted him.
"Be quiet, I'm trying to learn something interesting." The big wolf whined. Arrow groaned, slumping onto the table.
"It feels like I'm back in school." He complained. I ignored them all and continued.
"The Veil is the place between each Realm. It's not really a Realm itself as it is the divide between the Realms. Then there's the space above the Veil, called the Void, it's an endless plain of nothingness, you can't stay in there for very long without going insane. Then there's the last Realm," I watched as Arrow tensed, barely moving and then relaxing, as if it was just a muscle spasm. We both refused to meet the other's eye as memories tried to resurface and we stuffed them back down. I cleared my head of the nightmares. "The Infernal Realm. It's basically like the human's Underworld. The only things that reside there are the Dead and those born to, or slaves to, Death's court." Tristan raised his eyebrows.
"So that's the answer, when we die we pass on to the Infernal Realm?" I paused for a moment and looked down at my half finished plate.
"I hope not." It was all I said.
"You forgot one," Ava said to me. "What about the Fairy Realm?" Thankfully my brother took that question.
"It's not really a Realm," He explained. "The Fairies made their land with Magic, so it doesn't really exist. Just one bad spell and the entire kingdom could disappear forever. Still, it is quite impressive."
"Have you seen it?" Declan asked, in the process of cleaning up Autumn's messy tray. My brother nodded a wince on his face, and didn't elaborate.
"Arrow is currently courting a Fae." I explained. "She's a pixie, to be exact, and her name is Lani. They met about three years ago at a party and my brother discovered a strong love towards red haired fairies with a stubborn attitude." Arrow sank lower into his seat and I smiled. "However there is a slight problem with pursuing a stubborn person who initially declares to never fall in love with you." The wolves sniggered warmly at Arrow's noises of disdain.
The conversation carried on nicely but diverted from my attention. I took the opportunity to finish my food, which was basically meat, meat, carbs, and meat. The conversation seemed to continue on oddly, turning to discussion about upcoming events for the Pack, then to the new hires Tristan was training, all young wolves with no experience. Next they discussed a challenge that had recently resulted in a draw, something that Ember assured me happened from time to time. Ember, as the Packs Judge, was the one who listened to the wolves problem and tried to solve it. However, she was increasingly annoyed with the two wolves because they had apparently been fighting over the ownership of an invisible trophy. Both would not give up as to who was the rightful owner and she couldn't seem to win over their beliefs. Because no matter what she said the imaginary trophy kept changing to suit the person's argument. At the end the trophy had both participants' names engraved in the metal, it was gold, green, blue, and silver and one of the participants had licked it, to claim ownership, while the other had, apparently, peed in it. Ember hadn't asked which had taken place first, she resolved the argument by promising both men actual trophies. They agreed, as long as the trophies looked exactly alike. Ember accepted, despite her growing irritation, knowing that she was soon to have a similar fight again. This time over two identical trophies and which one was better.
I laughed at the story, werewolf politics were funny. The conversation changed once again to Tristan's secondhand telling of Arrow's fight with his wolves. Declan and Taron seemed impressed with my brother's capabilities, at least as they were expressed in the story. Both men piggybacked Tristan's claim to spar with Arrow. Who responded with a confident smile at all the wolves.
"I hear you have decided to let the wolves express their frustrations with your arrival." Taron stated, addressing me. "Are you certain you want to do that? I realize your brother is a fighter and so I assume that you have had some-"
"Killer." I interjected. His words died at my cold tone. "My brother is a killer, not a fighter." I was getting rather tired of the wolves looking down at me. Sure I hated being a monster, but I was a monster. They would have to learn that.
I turned to Rayen. She straightened to attention at my look and leaned back, self consciously. I knew that reaction all too well. I forced myself to regain control of my face. I wasn't allowed to use this mask, I wouldn't allow myself, unfortunately it fit on all too easily. I was just pissed off, and not at her. I regained control easily enough, but I still chastised myself for slipping, even this little bit. I was not allowed to be her, not with family, not with friends. I didn't want to.
I felt Arrows shadows slip against my skin. It was a comfort. He was taping me, reminding me he was still here, if I needed him. I was still too close to the edge to look at him, but appreciated it, and the shadows would tell him that.
"The wolf from the hall," I started, still addressing Rayen. "The one that growled at me, do you know him?"
"Sure," She nodded. "That's Markus Grey." She shrugged, when I continued to look at her. "He thinks he's the biggest and baddest and everyone thinks he's an asshole because of it. Now mind you he's not entirely wrong, which does fuel the disdain, but he's too cocky and mean. No one likes him, and if we had a reason we'd kill him." Lupin grunted in disagreement and I turned to him. He said nothing and after a moment of my imploring eyes he explained.
"He's not essential but he's typically very traditional and votes opposing the others on the council. I like keeping him around because he gives me another view on things." I cocked an eyebrow at the description.
"Would you be opposed if I killed him?" Some of the wolves around me sniggered, still disbelieving of my capabilities. Tristan and Rayen remained stone faced, assessing. Lupin only raised his brows.
"Do you want to kill him?" At that I smiled real bright.
"Very much." He chuckled lightly.
"I'm not opposed, but you should know he's on the council, if you kill him you gain his position." I cocked my head. Interesting.
"What is his position?" Lupin smiled, the epitome of a wolf.
"He's my Third." I narrowed my eyes at him and he shrugged.
"You forget, love, that position is decided by strength, not my preference." I shook my head.
"But I can't be the Alpha of the werewolves, I'm not even a wolf." He shrugged.
"Your my mate, whether you accept or not, the wolves will follow you."
"But if you were to die, Rayen would become Alpha, not me." He nodded agreement.
"Yes, but that's because you haven't accepted." I shook my head again, trying to comprehend.
"So if I do accept, I become your Second?"
"No, you become the Female Alpha. If I die it is your preference as to whether you remain in power, or hand it to the Second." I narrowed my eyes at him, thinking.
"And if… if I were to kill Markus and still refuse you?" He sighed but answered.
"You would remain my Third, unless you moved, then you would territorially belong to another Pack." I took a deep breath, finally looking away from him. For whatever reason just looking at Lupin had calmed my anger. I thought out the possibilities. Apparently, if you kill a wolf, you will forever be associated with the werewolves. I supposed that made sense, because killing is how they decide rank. I'd be Third of the Pennsylvania Pack no matter where I went and werewolves would always be suspicious of me.
I groaned sitting back in my chair. While I thought, the willowy female came back in, to take the babies to bed. Their parents kissed them goodnight and promised they'd see them soon. When the children left, I still thought.
I supposed I had run from the wolves for long enough. I would always be connected to them no matter what I did now. I was Lupin's mate, no one could change that, and I was still undecided if I wanted that to change. Either way, I was part of the wolves now, the question was, how much apart. I figured the whole Female Alpha thing could be settled at a later date. Right now, the only cunnumdrum was whether I could be a Third.
I squinted at Lupin, and he smiled softly.
"What would the position entail?" His smile grew. "Jackass." I added.
"You're not seriously considering this?" Arrow asked me. I glanced sidelong at my brother and his concerned face.
"I Branded him." My brother let out a noise of utter exasperation and slumped onto the table, head in his arms.
"Why in the seven hells of Holy Fuck would you do that Fable?" Arrow muttered through his arms. I winced slightly and turned to face him.
"I was a little on edge, ok. My mate had just left me, I had almost been mauled by vampires, I had woken up in a den full of temperamental werewolves, and a girl, who I have a very strong urge to rip open and tear out her guts, was leading me up and down flights of stairs on a still stiff leg, while those very same temperamental werewolves stared at me like I was an exhibit. So when the leering wolf got too close and bared his teeth I got a little too mad." I took a very deep breath. "I do admit that."
Arrow lifted his head, cocking an eyebrow.
"Feel better?" I sighed again. Lupin reached up and brushed a finger over the top of my hand. Apologizing and comforting. The touch definitely helped. It helped so much that I took his hand in mine, not caring about onlookers, and refusing to let go.
"What's Branding?" Ava asked. I slumped against Lupin, my head on his shoulder. She definitely liked asking questions. My headache was back and I closed my eyes letting Arrow answer her question.
Lupin's presence just soothed me in an odd almost familiar way. Like a dream I had once, that was now coming true. He was just warm and soft and smelled nice. A strong part of me wanted to climb into his lap, I figured that was too far, especially in public. He apparently didn't agree and lifted me into his lap. The wolves didn't seem to care, Arrow gave me a look but seemed to understand. He turned to Ava as I settled in.
"Branding is something only a few banshee's can do, our father has the ability and so do all of his children. The Brand is placed on a person to mark them for death, the imprint left behind is specific to each banshee. The drawback is that the Brand never goes away and if the person you Branded dies, not at your hands, then their next of kin inherits the Brand." Arrow ran his fingers through his hair. "Typically this skill is used to Brand masked killers for revenge later on down the road. The problem being that sometimes you end up killing the cousin of the daughter of the sister of the man who actually murdered your father. Because you never knew his face and thus just assumed he was the guilty party because he had your Brand." I closed my eyes listening as my brother explained something my father had taught me when I was seven. "Most of the time we try not to use it because we are made to kill the Branded person the next time we see them. Even if you're aware it's not your father's murderer you still have to kill them. There was this one awful instance when the guy's wife ended up inheriting his Brand, he killed her, of course. The whole thing was a mess." My brother groaned again and I opened my eyes to take in the audience. They all watched me, a little perturbed.
"I was having a bad day, alright." I defended and snuggled closer to Lupin. Fuck them and their judgmentle looks. I felt Lupin shift, looking down at me.
"Love, are you even in the right state to fight?" I refused to answer and just stayed still in his lap. Pompous werewolves and their strength.
"Of course she can." Arrow helpfully supplied. "Fable, could easily kill all of you if she wanted to." He shrugged. "If I'm being honest, so could I."
"Your endless confidence makes us sound like weaklings." I laughed against Lupin and sat up to lean back, peering at Tristan.
"Trust me we're both aware of your power. I know that if I had been caught in the same scenario as the vampires, against just one of you wolves, I would be dead." I settled back against Lupin and looked at Arrow. I sighed.
"I want to kill Markus Grey. Even if he didn't have my Brand." Arrow narrowed his eyes at me.
"You sure?" I smiled and shrugged.
"What's the worst that could happen?"
"You could die." Taron stated, realizing I was actually considering this. I smiled at him.
"No she couldn't." Arrow reassured, not that it did much good. I looked around the table and all the wolves watched me with concern and apprehension. Oh for the love of God.
I disentangled myself from Lupin, sliding out of his lap.
"Let's go see if we can get Markus to challenge me." Lupin scoffed and stood up.
"That should be easy enough." Declan shot him a look.
"You're really going to let her do this?" Lupin hesiated, just slightly, but nodded.
"I can feel her sincerity through the Bond. She truly believes that she could kill all of us." I waited for any more arguments. When none came I headed for the door, Urlatrice at my hip, and Lupin following behind.
"Well," I said when no one moved from their seat. "Are you coming to watch the show or are you just going to stay here?" Everyone stood up as one and followed us out the door.
☽◐⬤◑☾
As a group we traveled down six flights, there were 23 in total, six of which were for parking. But this floor had been completely gutted and turned into a ginormous dining hall for wolves to use whenever. Tristan informed me, a smile on his lips, that the Dining Hall also served as a great punishment for the rowdy teenage wolves. Teens hate cleaning dishes, and nobody likes cleaning up after werewolves.
We walked in as a stoic group, Lupin leading, while I stood at his side. Lupin's friends had paired off and were, not so discreetly, betting on who was going to win. Lupin steadily ignored them. But as his family bickered and joked, down floor after floor, I could see the silent smile in his eyes. About as well as I could feel his love and joy reverberating through my own heart.
But as we entered the large modified room, their smiling faces straightened. Lupin and his comrades squared their shoulders and raised their heads. The wolves moved as one, each like cogs in the machine, they shifted, almost un-noticeably, to form some sort of predetermined positioning. Arrow broke off from the now robot wolves and stood behind me.
The room was concrete from floor to ceiling. Lights dangled from the ceiling in harshly bright whites. The tables stretched, long and rectangular, like highschool lunch rooms.
We made our way down the middle of the crowd. Barely half the room was filled and still there were over a hundred people in attendance. As we walked some turned to look at us, but the noise of eating wolves did not diminish.
We stopped dead in the center of the crowd, a sea of tables on every side. I could see Markus, my Brand glowing around him, clinging to his arua like a parasite. He sat about four tables away from me. We stopped and everyone turned to look at us, another machine, more cogs. A beat passed and the entire room was dead silent. Waiting, all of them waiting, for what their Alpha would say. And I turned to him, as they did, feeling not what he felt, but what they felt.
Their respect and adoration, their love and their fear of him. He was their greatest power, their largest weapon, their protector and defender, as much as he was a threat. He was a werewolf and yet he was different, Other. He was their Alpha. He was their… everything.
Lupin paused for a moment, letting them wait, letting them feel his power. And in that moment, that split second, I felt it too. It consumed me, like some void, endless and dark. And it crawled and sprawled like the forest, the overwhelming enchanted expanse of trees and dirt and grass and rocks. It washed over me, comforting and cold. He glanced over at me, in the wake of his power, his forest-born eyes blazing silver, and I couldn't help but smile. Lupin turned quickly away from me, gazing with his power-struck eyes, at his wolves.
"I am certain you are all aware of the recent discovery of my mate." I forced myself to look away from his beautiful magic-coated presence. I couldn't say whether my delight was brought about by the Bond or my own desire, but his magic was out, splayed before him, and it took an effort to breathe. My skin jumping as his magic went twisting about my shoulders and winding up my neck, it was the most delicious sensation to ever brush my skin. Arrow was close enough to feel the magic, he pulled me back when I leaned into it. The tendrils of magic gently let me go, falling away like a soft kiss. I thought my thanks to Arrow's shadows, and looked back up at Lupin. He was unchanged, had felt none of the magic's charm, and continued on.
"It was a surprise, to all of us I'm sure, that she was not born a werewolf." I took a breath and stepped back to his side, making an effort to block out his addictive magic. The Alpha leveled his gaze at his wolves and I joined his vigil as he talked. "However, that does not change her standing as my mate." I smiled a little at the sneering audience. "I am aware of the rumor's that have spread, so I am here to set the record straight. My mate, Fable Walker, is a banshee." The sneering turned to growls and my smile grew. "She has yet to accept our Bond but has asked that she be treated the same as any Alpha's mate. If you have a grievance with her as the potential Female Alpha you are permitted to challenge her." The growls died, the predators becoming intrigued. "She has, however, requested a change to the rules and I have agreed." The growls started up again, but Lupin spook over them. "Any challenger is allowed to kill her." The room went dead quiet at the words, confused and bloodthirsty. Lupin smiled small, at his people. "That is, if they get the chance."
A moment of absolute stillness passed. No one moved, no one spoke. And then Markus Grey stood up, four tables away from me, a smile on his face.
"I will challenge her." He declared for all to hear. I smiled and faltered, turning to Lupin, his magic reigned back in. Oddly enough my heart pinged in disappointment, I ignored it.
"I probably should have asked this before, but I can kill him now, right?" Lupin flashed me an amused smile.
"You have to accept and then you can kill him."
"Wonderful." I said, raising my voice and turning back to Markus. "I accept." And as my words echoed through the room Markus leaped, clearing all four tables and lunging right at me. The wolves, and my brother, who had just been surrounding me a second ago, disappeared, giving us room. I heard them leave but didn't turn to look, keeping my eyes on my target. A part of my soul tore and stretched as Lupin disappeared behind me, but I blocked it out.
Markus's leap was too big and too easy to track, I side stepped out of the way easily. I tsked, shaking my head and the man landed limberly on his feet and turned to me, feral. His body was encompassed in my Brand, radiating with my magic, it was an effort not to kill him out right. But I needed to put on a show, entertain these wolves.
"Markus," I chastised. "It's bad manners to attack a lady before she's drawn her sword." He snarled, face twisting, and bent at the knees, readying himself to pounce at me again. In a breath my sword was in my hand. He jumped and I turned into it and away, slashing my blade against his ribcage. He fell from the jump, a little less gracefully, and turned to me, his shirt falling in two pieces and soaking with blood. He roared at me, loud and ferocious, apparently upset. I pursed my lips, faking concern.
"Did I hurt you?" He snarled and charged at me. I did the only thing you could do when a pissed off werewolf charges you, and ran like hell in the opposite direction. When he slowed, running out of momentum, I turned, twisting my sword out and kissing the tip against his bicep. The rapier pierced his flesh and he snarled in pain, turning to me and swiping at my face with talon-like claws. I dodged, barely, and switched my sword to the other hand, slicing the blade across his outstretched forearm. I retreated, out of his reach, and he roared, louder than before. His back popped and curled, his shoulders shrugged and his spine split open, his skin flipping inside out, and what was on the other side was a wolf. Dark tan and large, oh so very large, larger than any average wolf.
The giant monstrous wolf charged at me, claws out and teeth bared snapping for my throat. I watched him quickly shorten the distance between us and decided on a risky move that would look impressive. Crossing my fingers and toes, I ran right for him, sword raised high over my head. Moments away from me the tan wolf leaped, teeth open wide to clamp down on my head. I dropped down and slid under him, driving my sword up into his stomach and across his hind leg. The enormous wolf collapsed right on top of me, all his weight trapping me under him. Bleeding out and fatality wounded, yet still the wolf dug his claws into my side and raked down my ribs, trying to dig out my heart. I bit my lips, refusing to scream, readjusted my sword angel and thrust. Over and over, readjusting just a little until I found his heart, he yelped and then he died.
The wolf's blood pooled out warm and sticky, I could feel it in my hair and soaking into my back. Slowly the wolf shifted back to human, his fur flipping over like a cascade of scales. Thankfully Markus was fully dressed, still draped across me, his eyes staring into nothing, dead and glass-like. I let go of my sword, leaving it stuck between our bodies, reached up and closed his eyes. I pushed his body off of me, he toppled onto his side, his limbs hitting the tiled floor with hollow thunks. I sat up and my side screamed, looking down at the white shirt that Rayen had given me, it was completely destroyed. Torn to ribbons by desperate wolf claws and soaked clean through with blood. I frowned and then looked up.
Every wolf stared, either at me or the dead corpse of Markus Grey. I followed their gaze and watched as the Brand released his arua, like a fire going out, a single harsh breath and it was gone. I stood up, with some difficulty, using my sword as a crutch. I looked at the sea of werewolves still starring, in equal awe and fear of me. Unsure what else to do I gave them a small wave.
"It's been lovely meeting you all." I smiled at them and slowly, ever so slowly clapping rippled through the room. Until the wolves were hooting and howling and singing my praises. I just stood there and stared at them, the adrenaline rush was ebbing and the pain of my side was throbbing. I felt Lupin's warmth behind me and almost cried. The lack of his presence in battle had been startling. My instincts screaming that he was in trouble, that I had to fight or he would die. Feeling him now, unhurt and warm, I released a heavy breath I didn't know I had been holding. I turn to him, our bodies inches away, instinct itching to grab each other and never let go.
"Where were you?" I asked softly. His face was that expressionless mask again, he was hurting and didn't want anyone to know.
"I had to stay away or I would have interfered." He reached out for me and I moved back. His hand froze in the air, centimeters away from touching me.
"I'm covered in blood." I explained, he scoffed a bitter sound. He didn't seem to care much, as he pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around my waist. I held him back feeling tired and sticky.
I could feel his fear and dread, now that it was over, he let me feel it. I couldn't imagine what it was like to watch me go through that, to let me do it. If it had been him… I didn't think I would have let him. I sighed. No, I would have let him, but I wouldn't have wanted to.
"I feel like I just keep hurting you." I whispered into his chest. "It's not intentional." He nodded and pulled back.
"I know that, and this was necessary. But it still terrifies me, and that's not your fault." I nodded, and had the sudden urge to kiss him. I had been giving into too many urges as of late, not that Lupin was much help. I looked up at the tall beautiful wolf but he was distracted. I quickly looked away, that meant that the urge was my own and not the comfort of the Bond. If it had been the magic, Lupin would have felt it too. What the heck is wrong with me?
I shook my head and looked back up at Lupin. He watched, eyebrows narrowed and a frown on his face. I followed his dirsurbed gaze and found my brother. Arrow sat, crouched over Markus's body, poking around in his shredded torso.
"What the hell are you doing, weirdo?" Arrow looked up at me and frowned, the epitome of a kicked puppy.
"You went easy on him." Arrow replied mournfully and stuck his finger, once again, in Markus Grey's gut-slushie. I rolled my eyes.
"Stop acting like a buffoon and leave the poor dead man alone." Arrow sighed, brokenhearted, and stepped away from the corpse. He stretched out his shoulders, staring down at my latest victim. He screwed up his lips and then glanced at me.
"We should head home soon, Fable. It's getting late." I looked around us, the werewolf spectators were shuffling out of the giant dining room, probably heading home themselves. Lupin's friends had reappeared around us at some point. I felt Lupin tense at Arrows words. I leveled Arrow with a look and he smiled impishly.
"Don't be an asshole." He flourished with his hands.
"What else would I be?" I rolled my eyes and noticed Lupin's inquiring face. I nodded to him, I wasn't going anywhere. Lupin turned to one of the wolves helping to clean up the mess of Markus.
"Will you please direct Arrow to a room he can stay in?" She nodded and started off, leaving my brother behind. Arrow blew me a kiss and winked. I smiled as he left.
"I love you too." I called after him, he raised his hand, without turning around, and flipped me off. I sniggered and turned to Lupin.
"Do I get a room?" He nodded.
"Of course." We wished goodnight to all of the his wolf friends, some chipper and some somber, telling obviously who had won their bets. I had laughed at Rayens disdain towards my wound, not for concern but because she had bet I would come out unscathed. I promised her a new shirt as compensation, at which she rolled her eyes, and then Lupin led me to my room.
☽◐⬤◑☾
We walked through an empty hall alone, stopping at an elevator. Lupin pressed the button and a moment later the doors slid open.
"You're telling me there was an elevator this entire time and we were trekking up and down the stairs?" He didn't look at me, his face still an emotionless mask.
"We rarely ever use the elevator," He explained. "The wolves believe it shows weakness." He glanced down at me. "But you're injured and I don't want you hurting yourself further." We stepped into the elevator and Lupin pressed one of the inside buttons, the door closed and I felt the shift of gravity as the room lifted.
"So am I your Third now?" He nodded and said nothing else. It was odd, I had known him for a little over 48 hours but when he was like this, pretending to feel nothing, it annoyed me to no end. "What does that entail exactly, we went over that."
"Nothing much," He dismissed, rolling back his shoulders. "Rayen and I take up most of the grunt work, you're just the spare." I regarded him dryly.
"That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. I mean really, how have I not fallen for you yet?" He peered over at me out of the corner of his eye, his face still blank. I heaved a sigh and turned to fully face him.
"What is it?" He shook his head and looked away.
"Nothing." It was all he said. I waited a few moments but he refused to acknowledge me. I decided to change tactics.
"May I borrow your phone?" He obliged and handed me a black iphone. I turned it on and to my surprise it was not password protected. I selected his Phone icon and went to the keypad, typing in the number I knew by heart.
The line rang once, twice and then picked up.
"Fable Rene Walker, do you know what you have done to my heart." I smiled and rolled my eyes.
"My phone was literally crushed by vampires, Mom." She clicked her tongue at me.
"That is no excuse, young lady, you find another phone and you call your mother. Everyone was convinced you'd died." She reprimanded me, as if I was still ten years old.
"I was unconscious for two days and I'm fine. I'm calling you now, aren't I?"
"Don't be smart with me, child. You scared your younger brother out of his wits. The next time you go out you will bring your sword, I don't care if everybody stares at you like a crazy monkey wearing woman." I pause a moment but decide it best to simply ignore her weirdness. Instead I smile and try to placate her.
"I have my sword with me now, Mom." This time it's her turn to pause, which is uncanny, because she never stops.
"Where are you?" My mother asked. I looked around the small elevator, Lupin still staring unfeelingly, listening to our conversation.
"I'm in an elevator." I answered, I mean it isn't a lie. A silence settled for a moment, my mom still uncharastically frozen.
"Who did you kill, Fable Walker?" I winced, I somehow always managed to forget my mother could sense a death from hundreds of miles away.
"He was a caucasian male, 6'4, blonde hair, brown eyes, probably in his late fifties, his name was Markus Grey." My mothers tone turned hard.
"What species was he?" I grimaced. I figured it'd be best to simply tear off the bandaid, but I end up defending myself to my mother like the ten year old she still thinks I am.
"He was a werewolf, mom, okay. I killed a werewolf today, big whoop." My mom sighed.
"You forget, child, I've been around longer than you and know more. If you think I'm unaware of the werewolf hierarchy, think again." I sighed.
"It was worth a shot." I could swear I heard my mother roll her eyes.
"What position do you hold?" I rubbed the back up my neck.
"I am now the Pennsylvania Pack's Third."
"I suppose I should congratulate you on moving up the ranks so quickly." Sarcasm dripped from my mothers voice.
"Don't be cross, mother. Who I kill is my business." She sighed over the line.
"Of course dear, I just wish you'd tell us your loony plans before you act on them." I smiled.
"But then I'd lose my charm." My mother scoffed and quickly changed the topic.
"Salem just called us. He informed us of His involvement in all of this." I could physically hear the hate in my mothers voice. She didn't share her childrens scars, but she had watched us bleed and helped us heal. She hated the man whose hands had broken us, hated Him maybe even more than us.
"Are you okay, dear?" I let out a long sigh.
"Yes." But then I sighed again. "No." I shook my head. "I thought it was over."
"We all did, honey. How's Arrow?" I shifted my weight. The elevator doors opened and we walked through, into a dimly lit empty hall.
"He's letting the Shadows have his emotions." I explained and my mother huffed.
"You tell that boy to stop it, it's not healthy. You've got to feel your fears." I followed Lupin down the hall.
"Both Salem and I went over the Veil, mom, we all deal with it how we can." She tsked but didn't argue.
"Your father is heading over to Salem's to help with any preparations they can think of. Echo is on her way here, I know she has every intention of begging me to send her to you. I believe she is traveling with Lani who is rather peeved that Arrow didn't tell her he was leaving. I think once they realize they won't get my permission they'll arrive suddenly at your doorstep. Just a forewarning." I groaned as Lupin held open a door for me.
"Thanks, Mom." I intoned. We walked straight into the Sitting room of Lupin's penthouse. I froze and turned to him. He moved on, ignoring my look and strood into the kitchen, adjacent to the Sitting room. No wall blocked off the two rooms, but the carpeted floor switched to tile as I followed him to the dark wooden island.
I had been too preoccupied to recognize the familiarity of the hallway. I stared incredulously at the werewolf as he opened the refrigerator and poured himself a glass of apple juice.
"I also talked to Adelaide." My mother said, reminding me of her existence.
"Oh, and what did she say?" I asked, now preoccupied with Lupin and his apparent belief that I was going to be staying with him, in his rooms.
"She says your wolf seems very agreeable." I turned away from my staring contest with Lupin as he smiled slowly.
"Mom." I warned but she paid me no heed.
"Arrow sent me pictures and I have to agree. He is very handsome, Fable, if you don't accept soon, someone else will take him from you." I opened my mouth but she continued before I could speak. "Not to mention your combined features would make a marvelous child. Could you imagine, your golden hair and his eyes? Not to mention the power your child would possess, I mean they always said mating Bonds were decided for genetic compatibility, but my god. With his inherited strength as a Shapeshifter and your-"
"Mom!" I interrupted. "He's right next to me." I admitted and I swear to god I could hear her smile.
"Oh," She breathed. "Is he?" She asked, her voice dripping with false innocence.
"I'm hanging up now."
"Ok, you kids have fun." She called her tone high with implication.
"Mother!" I shrieked and she cackled.
"Don't be a prude, Fable. You're twenty six and I'm already a grandmother, I don't care." I blinked perturbed as the line died. A moment passed and slowly I turned to face Lupin. He leaned back against the kitchen counter, sipping his juice, a grin hanging from his lips.
"Your mother is quite interesting." I tossed the phone down on the island between us.
"Don't start." I warned and he smiled brighter.
"I now see where your brother gets his attitude from." I sighed and flopped down on one of the stools along the island. "Can I assume you take after your father?" I winced at that, thinking of my father. He used to be the person I learned from and looked up to. He taught all of us how to fight and was our teacher of the magical world. He had always been reserved and strict, but he loved us all very much. He took our scars even harder than my mother had, believing himself responsible for what had happened. He wasn't to blame and we told him as much, but still he felt like he should have found a way to prevent it all. His children had broken and he helped fix us, but he broke a little in the process. My father was never the same after that, he changed in a way I could never understand.
I smiled tartly at Lupin and he watched me with sympathy, feeling my sadness.
"Salem takes after my father the most, in character. I happen to be the spitting image of my mother." I leaned forward, resting my head on my elbows. "Only Arrow and I share my mothers blonde hair, Echo and Salem have my fathers dark hair." I smiled. "We all have my mothers blue eyes, except for Arrow, he has my fathers brown." I shrugged. "It's what happens when you have two parents who look like opposites, all your siblings are like mismatched tie dye." Lupin chuckled lightly.
"Both Ember and I take after our mother, we tease our father about it, but he says he prefers it that way." He shrugged, watching me with a relaxed smile on his face. I sighed, alright.
"I can't stay here, Lupin." I said and the smile disappeared, replaced with the expressionless mask.
"Why not?"
"Because…" I started, but the words died in my throat. I didn't really have a reason. Honestly, I was just afraid of what I'd want to do in an empty room with him, alone, for a long period of time. But I wasn't going to tell him that.
The mask slipped slightly and he smiled.
"Is that it? Because?" I growled at him.
"Shut up, I'm thinking." He chuckled lightly and put down his glass, finished with his drink. As I thought, Rane sauntered over to me. She inspected the pool of blood I had created on the floor. After a moment she placed her paw in the red liquid. Immediately she was repulsed, meowed and jumped away, attempting to shake off the blood as she went. I laughed at her and then inspected the blood myself. The pain of my wound had ebbed meaning it was already healing, most supernatural creatures had a proclivity to fast healing. Yet even with the wound painless, still I bled. I grimaced and looked up at Lupin.
"I'm making a mess." I informed him. He pushed off the counter and came around the island to see what I was talking about. He swore and pulled me off the stool, away from the blood. As if the red liquid was the offender.
He grabbed my hand and directed me across the room. I looked back as my shoes left bloody foot marks on the carpet.
"You realize this is just making more of a mess?" At my words he scooped me up into his arms, I was small and he was a werewolf, he didn't even pause.
"This is not what I meant." I sighed, but wrapped my arms around his neck. He carried me down the hall and into the room I had been recovering in after the vampire attack. He turned to the left and into the bathroom. He put me down carefully and started filling up the tub. I watched the bath fill with water and blinked at the nightmares.
I tried to bat away the memories. But they were punishments, they were meant to stick and burn. The memory surfaced. The tang of blood burning down my throat, the world blinded in a coat of red, as I was drowned over and over again. Pushed back down as I fought against the hands holding me. Allowed up only to inhale one breath of air, so that I would not die, and then cast under again. Drowning on blood, blood I had spilt. Sophacating, slowing and agonizingly, in a vat of gore. Gore I had created. My punishment, to choke on those I had killed.
I stumbled away from the tub, just a step. I couldn't do it, even years later I couldn't submerge myself in any form of liquid. It felt too similar.
Lupin looked over his shoulder at me, feeling my fear and uncomfort. He saw my face and straightened alarmed.
"Do you…" I eyed the tub, and then looked back at him. "Do you have a shower?" He followed my gaze to the bath and recognized what it was I feared. He didn't ask questions, just nodded, turning off the water and pulling out the plug.
He led me by the hand, the memories still a shock to me. We crossed the hall and entered another room. This one was marginally bigger then the one I had stayed in and was obviously lived in. The room was painted a light blue and the furniture was all dark wood. A cat tree stood by the far window-wall. The dresser was full and things rested on top of it, cat food, a mirror, some books, and a grocery bag. The light grey carpeted floor was clean and the bed unmade. The room smelled strongly of Lupin, forest and pine and sandalwood.
He walked me across the room and into a ginormous bathroom. A two person sink lined the left wall, granite countertops and black faucets. Across from the sinks was a walk in shower, just a large, black tiled space with a drain and a shower head protruding from the wall. A clear glass divider stood between the shower and the tub. The tub was also black, and humongous, it most likely had jets and modes. I chuckled at the enormity of it. Lupin shrugged following my gaze.
"Wolves like bathes," He explained. "But we also like space." He let go of my hand and turned on the shower. The rest of the room was tiled white, I found myself liking the aesthetic of the room. Lupin stuck his hand into the water and left it there for a minute. He stepped away, wiping his hand on his thigh.
"Do you need assistance?" He asked me. I gave him a look and he smiled.
"I think I can manage, thanks." He sniggered as he left.
He closed the door behind him and I locked it. I took a deep breath and stepped away. Slowly I peeled off my blood soaked clothes, tossing them in a pile. The water was warm and massaged my aching muscles. He had made the temperature hotter than usual, remembering my natural coldness. The water ran away red for a moment and then cleared. The claw marks along my rib cage had already begun to close, by morning they'd be gone. I studied them trying to figure if they'd scar.
I picked up Lupin's shampoo and decided to wash out the blood more thoroughly. Not for the first time I cursed my light hair, if you don't get all the blood out it's very visible. And streaks of blood in your hair just raises uncomfortable questions. His shampoo smelled of sandalwood, honeysuckle, and jasmine. I choose not to use any of his other bottles. Unsure what most of them were. And even if I had wanted to use the same bar soap as him, my wound was still too painful to touch. I opted against washing my body.
I turned off the water, with some difficulty, but figured out the mechanisms soon enough. I stepped out and wrapped a grey towel around my body. I took to scouring his cabinets looking for bandages. Thankfully I found some, in fact, it was a little peculiar. An entire shelf was stocked full of medical tape and cotton cloth. I didn't even want to know what had transpired for him to have an endless supply of medical utilities.
I carefully held the cloth up against my wound and wrapped the tape all the way around my body. When that was done, I realized I had no clothes. I cursed at myself for not realizing that earlier.
I picked up my towel, wrapping it once again around myself and cursed again realizing I'd have to go and find Lupin. The search didn't take long, I stepped out into his room and found him sitting in bed. He had changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt, he sat against the headboard, reading.
He looked up at me when I entered. Putting the book down in his lap. He lifted an eyebrow, smiling at my attire. I crossed my arms and bared my teeth.
"I don't have a change of clothes." I informed him. His smile widened and he pointed next to me. Sitting there, on the desk, was a pile of my clothes. My actual clothes.
"I think we need to have a discussion about what your wolves can take from my apartment and what they shouldn't touch." Lupin laughed at my glare.
"Your brother brought your clothes for you." He met my eyes and his smile turned less amused and more wolfish. "I wouldn't allow my wolves to touch your clothes. I would have to kill them." I shook my head.
I picked up my clothes and headed back into the bathroom, ignoring his laughs. Lupin had selected for me a soft red sweater and loose grey pajama pants. I changed quickly and came back out. Lupin was still sitting on the bed, the book gone.
"I had an interesting conversation with your brother, while you killed Markus." He said in greeting.
"Oh?" I breathed, drying off my hair with the towel. I came to sit on the edge of his bed. Typically I don't invite myself onto other people's beds, but his room disarmed me. His scent, permeating the air, calmed me like nothing before. It was intoxicating and I was getting rather addicted. But the wolf didn't seem to mind, smiling at my uncanny comfort.
"Yes," Lupin replied, his smile quickly fading. It made my heart hurt, his sadness. It made me stare, waiting, hoping I could help."He said that you don't believe yourself deserving of happiness." I groaned. Right, of course, his sadness was about me, I can't help with that. Siblings and their meddling. But I wasn't alone in this sadness, I smiled kindly up at him.
"Well, Rayen and I had a similar conversation about you." He made an exasperated face and I laughed. He smiled at my laugh and I watched him, a small moment of contentment passed.
"Why don't you believe yourself deserving?" I asked, easing us gently out of the moment, but he flashed me a small apprehensive smile. Something in my stomach fell. I had finally run into one of his cards.
I knew I was being unreasonable, but it upset me that he wouldn't tell me. Something deep inside of me, resenting the idea that he kept secrets from me. It was unfair and cruel of me, but I couldn't help my monster's disapproval. Couldn't fight the hurt, because it hurt, like a stab to my heart. So very very unfair.
For he could feel my disappointment, just as well as I could feel his guilt for upsetting me. I shook my head at his apologetic eyes.
"I'm being a hypocrite." He smiled at me showing he didn't care but didn't refute the statement. I was glad he didn't try.
"How about this," He suggested carefully. "I'll tell you my reason's, if you tell me yours." I sighed. His offer was more than fair, unlike me. But still my stomach turned at the idea of telling him my sins. However this whole thing was to see if I could love him, if we could love each other. He would need to know all that I was and then decide for himself if he could love it. He wouldn't, I knew, no one could, but I also knew he wouldn't give up, not without that decision. I shuddered a breath and agreed, nodding stiffly. Lupin sat forward not expecting that I'd agree.
"Are you sure?" I nodded again and pulled my legs in, sitting across from him.
"Yeah, you go first." He laughed bitterly and nodded.
"Right, ok." He rubbed a hand down his face, trying to figure out how to start. He sighed and opened his mouth. "I've… killed… a lot of people." I watched him as he talked. He didn't look at me, his eyes were far away, remembering. He figured I'd judge him, a normal person would, but I had no room to judge him. Not for that.
"They were my friends," Lupin continued. "My family, werewolves, just like me. I grew up with them around me. I knew them all." He blinked. "Yes, sometimes the only thing I even knew about them was their names, but that should be enough. Shouldn't it?" He grew quiet, the question breaking in his voice. The words echoing into silence. I waited for him to continue. I could see the thoughts flying by in his mind, suddenly he spoke. "I mean, where is the line? When is it ok to kill someone? I knew their faces, I knew their names, sometimes I knew their sisters, sometimes I knew their laugh, sometimes I even knew their favorite color. But I still killed them." He blinked again. "I know, logically, I had no choice. They all challenged me. I couldn't say no, and I couldn't die. I fought them for my life and I won. I know there is no fault in that." He sighed, looking up at me, his eyes reflecting his pain. "They challenged me and I killed them. I had every right," He shrugged. "But still…"
He let the words hang there. I understood, he knew I understood. And it was because I recognized his pain so well that I felt better, telling my story. We both had similar scars. Yes, they were different, but they were close enough to comprehend the pain.
"Carter," I started choosing to meet Lupin's eyes. To center myself in his comfort. Refusing to remember the story as I told it. "He is a cruel and wicked man." I breathed. "He is a butcher." I blinked, staring at the reality of telling my sins. Sharing my soul. I took a deep breath.
"I was his blade. I killed thousands of people. All of them, strangers. Mothers, fathers, daughters, sisters, brothers, young, and old. I killed them all." Lupin's eyes did not change. "I did it all in His name. I made it messy, I made it known. I was His weapon and I was effective." I hated the word, He had used it so many times to praise me. Lupin blinked at my spite but he didn't shy away. "There's a difference between fighting for your own life and fighting for someone else's. Because, mark my words, I would have gladly died. I would have perished at His hand with a smile on my face. I would not have allowed myself to be used." This time Lupin's eyes did change. Shiny with sympathy, at my self-hatred. I took a shuddering breath and blinked away tears. "But I was not His only weapon. He wielded all of my siblings just as effectively. I allowed myself to be used by Him, so that he would not kill my siblings. Or do worse, because believe me, He could do worse." I looked away from him as the memories surfaced. Salem screaming, Echo crying, Arrow silently breaking. I shuddered, the tears now falling, despite my efforts. "In the end it was never enough. I killed thousands, and still my siblings suffered." A long silence passed as I fought through the memories. "I had… I don't know, the best of intentions?" I sighed, tears falling as I looked up at him. "But still… "
And I let it hang there, just as he did. Both of us understanding. We were the bad guys, we were the monsters, the murderers. We had a reason, sure. But the bad guys never get happy ending's, no matter how right they were.
We sat there staring at each other. Basking in our shared sins. Moments had passed and the tears on my cheeks had dried. I leaned against the post of the bed and Lupin sunk against the headboard. He watched me with a small smile on his face and I watched him in turn. It was odd how his presence had healed the scab I had just reopened. It felt like I hadn't even picked at it, in fact, it felt… better.
"Do you want children?" I asked him and he smiled brighter. I had been wondering about it, when the topic of children had been brought up at dinner. I, of course, hadn't had any intention of actually asking him.
"Yes." He whispered, his voice relaxed and content. "Werewolves love children." I smiled at him, feeling the same relaxed happiness.
"I want children, too." He shrugged.
"Well then, I guess we were destined for each other." I clicked my tongue and kicked him lightly on the shin.
"That is a terrible joke." He laughed, deep and husky. I was reminded quickly enough why I thought it was a horrible idea for us to stay in the same room together. Yet the thought of leaving cleaved my soul in two.
"Lupin?" I whispered. He grunted his awareness, his eyes closed his fingers brushing gently up and down my calf. "I just…" I trailed off and his eyes opened to look at me.
"Just say it." He muttered gently, seeing my nervousness. I sighed and decided to look him right in the eyes.
"Does the Bond make me sexualluy attracted to you?" He's eyes dilated and sparked with silver. He took a slow deep breath and his gaze didn't leave mine as he shook his head.
"No. If you thought I was ugly the Bond would not interfere in that opinion." I gave a small nod of my head and looked away.
"Do you-"
"Yes." I looked over at him and his face was serious and kind, almost… loving. "I thought you were beautiful the first moment I saw you and I believe I always will." I felt my heart contrast and thought, maybe…
But then I remembered. He didn't know. It couldn't be love, not yet anyway.
I shook my head and sat up a little, smiling at him.
"Thank you." He smiled sleepily and closed his eyes again. I felt the drowsiness seep in. "May I sleep with you?" He smiled but didn't open his eyes.
"I would have it no other way." I crawled across the bed and curled up against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and I fell asleep to the rhythmic beating of his heart.