"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" The shadowy figure teased as they stepped into the light.
The light flooded over the figure, exposing a slender, ashen-haired man. His face was dirty. Covered in a layer of dirt, sweat, and grime. But even with that layer of shine, he looked well-kept and put together. His clothes were worn but not infested with holes. And his eyes glinted with a playful tease as he looked over Serena and Venus. A slow smirk spread over his face as his eyes adjusted to the room.
"Two lovely ladies, I see. One of which," The man swiveled a finger over toward Venus. "Is a werewolf. While the other," He cocked his head as he turned to Serena. "Is... a human? My, my. You are full of surprises." He turned back to Venus and strode toward her.
Venus collapsed onto the sofa behind her, her eyes wide in shock. Her mouth hung open. Serena dove for Venus, colliding with her face first and knocking the shocked woman to the cushions. Serena covered Venus with her body, protecting her from the man. The man stopped and cocked his head again at Serena.
"Is this how you protect a being that is capable of tearing you to shreds? You waste your life. There is no need for this selflessness. I am merely greeting an old friend."
The messy-haired man pulled Serena off Venus and to the floor. Venus rose to her feet as though she were in a daze. Tears began to pool in the bottom of her eyes, and her lip began to tremble. She bit her lip, hoping to stop the movement, but to no avail. She fell onto the man, her arms open and her eyes closed.
"It's good to see you, Lucian." She wheezed between stifled cries.
Lucian wrapped his arms around Venus and pulled her up, burrowing his nose into her hair.
"It's good to see you too, Venus." His tone dropped the teasing and picked up the affection that had been simmering deep in his soul for a long time. "It's been a long time."
Venus pushed herself away from him and bent over to help Serena.
She waved a hand to the slender trespasser as she and Serena flopped onto the couch.
"This is a childhood friend of mine. Lucian. He was..." Venus shot a glance over to Lucian, who nodded before continuing. "He left the pack ages ago. What's it gotta be now? Five, ten years?"
"Eight and a half to be exact." Lucian lifted dark eyes toward Venus. She smiled awkwardly and turned to Serena.
"He's completely harmless. He grew up with Atlas, Eli, and me."
Lucian slouched in the rocking chair across from them, watching the two closely.
"Who are you?" He asked, pointing at Serena.
"Serena." Venus chimed in, Serena shot a glare at Venus as she spoke.
"I can introduce myself..." Serena grumbled into Venus' ear.
"I know... I'm just excited. I haven't seen him in ages." Venus turned to Lucian. "What happened after you left the pack?"
"I didn't really do much." Lucian slung an arm over the back of the chair lazily. "Wandered place to place for a while. Looking for a new pack to join. But all the other packs around here are bat-shit crazy, as you know. They don't let anyone in unless they do these crazy acts of loyalty. So I said fuck that, and have been a rogue since. I mainly did stuff in the city. Tried to get a life, but that didn't go well on major moon dates, so I left that too. Just came back here recently. This cabin was unlocked and abandoned, so I've made myself at home."
"It's not abandoned," Serena said through gritted teeth. Seething as he spoke so casually of this house.
"Has anyone lived in it recently?"
"No."
"Is the owner dead?"
Serena paused, a lump stuck in her throat.
"Yes." She croaked.
"Then it's abandoned."
"The new owner isn't dead." Venus wrapped an arm around Serena's shoulders, pulling her close. "The cabin belongs to Serena's father. But he is dead now wince Atlas killed him. Serena just wanted to come back to put things in order and live here for a while." She turned to Serena and nodded. "Isn't that right?"
Serena nodded, the lump still solid in her throat.
"Ahh..." Lucian drawled, eyes studying Serena closely. He leaned forward and clasped his hands together firmly. "So I understand that Atlas hurt you, and you need some space. Was there a reason you were with the Riverwood Pack?"
"No. Eli just found her on our land, and she's been under our watch since. Her father came to save her, but Atlas killed him protecting the pack." Venus tightened her grip on Serena.
Lucian nodded and sighed.
"Looks like you need a house. But so do I."
"It's my house," Serena said quietly, her voice unsteady.
"And I need a house. You weren't here before now. Is your name even on the deed?" Lucian pressed.
"No... But it's my family's." Serena challenged, sliding forward on her seat.
"But you still don't own it. We both need shelter, and I need a safe place to shift. I say that we share."
"No." Venus and Serena said simultaneously.
Lucian rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.
"Women."
Venus shot from the couch and toward Lucian. Lucian dodged as her fist came for his face. She nailed the drywall behind him, her fist digging deep into the insulation. Serena groaned as Venus removed her fist, leaving a gaping hole of crumbling plaster in her wake.
"Not the house..." Lucian and Serena both grumbled.
"It can be fixed." Venus shrugged.
"Yes, but it shouldn't have needed it in the first place." Lucian dodged Venus' barrage of punches while he spoke. "Why can't we share space?"
"Because." Venus clenched her jaw tight. "She doesn't know you."
"She didn't know you until you forced yourself on her. Tell me I'm wrong."
Venus froze, her fist sticking straight out.
"True..."
"See." Lucian delicately gripped her hand with his fingers and pushed it to her side. "Let's talk about this like adults and not use violence."
"Fine," Venus grumbled, sitting back down beside Serena.
"Perfect." Lucian sat in his chair again and crossed his legs neatly. "Serena and I both need a house. This house is available. I can protect her, and she can let me stay here. I don't see how this is a problem. You can come to visit as much as you want."
Serena nodded. Venus bit her lip and crossed her arms tightly. She jiggled her leg and shifted her gaze about the room.
"Fine. But this is Serena's choice to make. I trust you as far as I can throw you, Lucian. So if you do anything to Serena, I will hunt you down, rip out your throat, and give it to Atlas as a gift." Venus shook her finger at the relaxed man. He lazily threw up his hands and nodded.
"I would expect nothing less."
"What do you say, Serena?" Venus elbowed Serena. She jumped and shook her head.
"I..." Serena started, sweat dribbling down her temples. "I think it'll be okay. If you know this man and if you come every now and then, I think I'll be okay."
Venus nodded once and turned to Lucian.
"It's decided. I will come here randomly, and if it's not me, then it'll be Eli. He is the only other werewolf I trust in that pack to keep Serena safe and her location hidden from Atlas."
Venus rose from the couch and stretched out her hand to Lucian. He took it and the two shook on it, leaving Serena alone on the couch.