“What do you mean they don’t want an alliance?”

Luke Talon stared at his son, Jaii, pacing across the length of his office. While the pack was able to live wherever they chose on within the pack house, the first floor had his office, rooms for the alpha and beta families a homey living room, and kitchen area for any meals. The pack must have accumulated a decent amount of money in the past, because everything that was directly owned by them, such as the building they were currently in, was nothing but modern. Right then poor Jaii was being interrogated by Luke once again, and no pack member was dumb enough to interrupt that, in his office or not.

It was just before lunch on Claymore Pack territory, and despite the bad start to Jaii’s, day the sun was shining without a cloud in the sky. The alpha had sent his son to see another pack alpha about becoming allies. Luke was intent on getting as many as he could by name dropping and threatening. Unfortunately no matter what Jaii had or could have done, the other alpha would have never agreed. He knew Luke, and knew how hungry he was for power. Everyone knew that got you into trouble eventually, didn’t he see that? Poor Jaii was caught in the middle, and now he was getting an earful for it.

“Jaii Talon I swear I should keep you on pack territory and never give you another job in your worthless life. I asked one thing of you.” Not true, he asked a lot of Jaii, but it was never good enough. “One thing! One very important thing, and it didn’t get done. I would have sent Rick, but he’s got his hands full getting a mate for the sake of an alliance! A mate, Jaii! What are you doing to help this pack, hm?” The look in his eyes was furious, and his hands moved in an exaggerated fashion with every word. But those eyes…those eyes that held an anger that hardly ever left, stayed on his son during the entire rant.

*******

How could her father just give her away like that? With arms crossed over her chest and eyes looking nowhere but the window, Vera Evans rode alongside Rick in his red pick-up truck. She didn’t understand why she even had to meet his pack, and if Rick thought for one moment she was going to let him permanently mark her he had another thing coming. If he wanted someone who would go with what her father said just because he’s an alpha then Rick had another thing coming. Vera would not be like one of his past lovers, a submissive that would take his physical abuse.

“Come on, baby. You don’t want to meet your new family?” he laughed, glancing at her but keeping his hands on the wheel. Rick had already tried touching her arm and had gotten a swipe full of claws for it. Shifters could partially change when they wanted to show claws or teeth, and he’d seen hers enough to last a lifetime.

“New family? Have you listened to a word I’ve said, Rick? I’m not your mate and I’m not joining your pack!” she yelled, finally looking away from the window to glare at him instead. “By the way, I like your truck. Really tells a lot about you. I mean you know what they say about men and their big trucks, right? They’re making up for something else?”

The man chuckled, shaking his head. “You and that attitude. I’m going to have fun breaking you, girl,” he hissed, his language making it even more clear than it already was that there was an age difference between the two. Why did everyone in her pack buy into his charming smile and good looks? Didn’t they see his manipulative ways beneath all that? “And didn’t your daddy tell you? We have a mating ceremony scheduled within the next few days. Luke is going to perform it.”

Vera’s eyes widened. “What?” she whispered, finally showing fear rather than frustration and defiance in her eyes. It wasn’t like it was a wedding…no money was spend, not much of a big to-do. The alpha usually said a few words and the two mated…in front of others or in private. Not everyone even had a ceremony, but for Rick it guaranteed a reason and occasion to bite and mark her permanently for all to see. Then nobody could argue that they weren’t ‘meant to be’ as he was claiming, because she was too proud to admit she was being forced into something she hated.

But Vera knew…this wasn’t her true mate. Sure, sometimes signals got crossed and one didn’t notice at first, but Rick wasn’t it, she was sure of it!

The rest of the ride over to Claymore territory was silent. The gate surrounding the wide, open space surrounding their community opened at the sight of his truck and Rick waved to whoever was standing guard. One of the trained shifters with a lot of muscle.

It was past midday, but the certain time was unknown to Dakeyras, as he was running through the forest. Two other wolves were running parallel with him couple hundred feet away. The message was clear; Dakeyras was close to a pack territory. The one amazing thing was that he has been running near a border of a same pack two days already, which was prove that the pack was not small, not small at all. The two wolves accompanying him were not aggressive, either. They just ran within their territory border parallel to him. Ussualy the guards would come to him and interigate him what he was doing here, but these did not, maybe because ethey were much smnaller than him, yet with such a big pack he should be of no effort to kill. Dakeyras didn’t mind it, truth to be told he like to be left alnone.

Couple of hours later as he ran through the forest, he came across a road. A red truck drove by, and a small scent of a female could be sniffed. “Oh so it’s that reason. Guess I’m just a lucky guy.” Dakeyras thought to himself as he waited for the car to drive by. He noticed two other wolves twenty yards away, but these were much bigger and visibly stronger than the ones who followed him along the border. The message was clear; “don’t move till the car passes and you’ll live.” Though the whole warning didn’t have any effect on Dakeyras he waited none the less. After the truck was out of sight, Dakeyras thought of going into the city. He dashed onward along the road into the direction from which the truck came, sticking to the cover of the forest. AS he reached the town he waited a bit, trying to locate some wolf scent in a shop or anything, where he could ask for some clothes and information about the surrounding areas. The closest thing was a book store. Dakeyras ran to it and entered. He froze on the spot. “A book store? A book store? You have to be kidding me. Oh you old senile goat of a god, I find this humour lacking, which is unusual for you. Maybe you have fallen ill, yeah that must be it. A damn book store.” He said to himself as he slowly walked inside.

“Thank you for coming!” Kiara smiled at her newest customer as she left. It was odd, this smiling, because she wasn’t used to it. She was used to hearing, “What are you smiling at? You know better. You only smile when a man tells a joke, and only because it is polite,” as soon as she let herself feel any amount of joy. This thought caused the smile upon her lips to disappear as quickly as it had come and she sighed as she turned back to her small store.

Despite being away from the pack, she loved it here. It was here that she could be whoever she wanted to be. Her mother wasn’t here to nag her about what a lady should and shouldn’t be. It wasn’t until she’d bought this place that she’d finally been able to see the small little girl that was hiding inside, just waiting for a chance to say what she had been really feeling this whole time. Leaning against the counter she looked up towards the ceiling as one of her favorite songs played. Now that she was thinking about it again, it wasn’t just the shop that was making her feel this way.

With one more check to make sure that no one was here, Kiara raised onto the balls of her feet arms stretched towards the sky in a dancer’s prayer. When she moved into the dance, she found that most of the steps she was making up, but it didn’t matter. This was how she expressed herself now. Even if no one ever saw or knew, even if no one would even understand if they did, she was showing who she was. In this moment,
she was proving to herself that she was more than her parents had made her to be. One day, she would be free to express everything she was.

The chiming of the bell above the door, made her stop in her tracks, the white dress she was wearing swirling around her as she did. If that wasn’t bad enough, the smell that made it to her nose made her want to run away. What if this was pack? What if they had seen? When she didn't feel the bond that would tell her this was pack, she slowly turned to see a man. A scary looking man, to be honest. He was huge, but not counting that he looked as if he had been in more fights than she could count, and Kiara could count very high.

As she opened her mouth to ask about this, that crippling fear returned. What if her mother found out that she’d talked to a possible mate that way? She’d never hear the end of it. Instead, with shaking hands, Kiara looked towards the ground and said quietly, “Hello. How may I help you?” One day, she would be free to express everything she was, but today was not the day.

The sharp cry of a whistle pierced the air as Kennedy blew the signal for her team to stop their suicide runs. "Alright, grab a drink! Get your ball and give me one good shot from the penalty stop. If you make it, you can leave. For every shot you miss, one down and back." She watched as the teenage girls jogged to the bench and guzzled water from their bottles. Kennedy walked to the middle of the 18 yard box and waited for her players to arrive. She blew the whistle again and the drill began. It didn't take long before everyone had put the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net. "Good practice ladies, I'll see you tomorrow."

Kennedy made her way to the locker room where she went into her office to gather her things. It was still mid-morning, a sunny and nice day. Kennedy made her way to her car with her things and started the small coupe. A light breeze blew through the open windows as the car rolled down the street. She made her way through town, grabbing a smoothie from a local shop on the corner. Returning to her car, a scent caught her nose. She looked around a moment. It was definitely a wolf, but not one from her pack. No one was in sight, so she shrugged it off and got back into her car to head home.

Kennedy pulled into the pack's long driveway, nodding to the guard at the gate as he let her in. With her enhanced hearing, she could hear Luke yelling at Jaii from the driveway. She was careful to go in the back door, straight to the kitchen where she grabbed a bottle of water before quietly heading up stairs. She set her things in her room and took a shower. She scrubbed the dirt and sweat from the early morning practice off of her tanned skin and washed her long brown hair. When she got out, she got dressed and fixed her hair quickly, before heading out of her room. She didn't know who was home right now, but she headed for the living room to watch some TV and try to ignore the hate that was taking place below her feet in the Alpha's office.

Samuel toiled his hands around a series of metal fixtures and bulging pistons. His figure bent over and framed by the body of a car hood. He was in the Pack's garage working on the engine of an older car, a 1999 Buick Grand Avenue to be specific. The care was grey with the burgundy factory interior and wood-lined panels. It was a clean car, to say the least, but it was all stock and not exactly a drag monster.

Samuel pulled back from the car and lowered the hood before wiping his grease-coated right hand over his forehead. This action smeared another small coat of black sludge over the already dirty face he wore and he only chuckled to himself as the thought of the grease slipped his mind. He turned to look out from the Garage's main door into the nearby scenery and he smiled at the sight of the wilderness. He leaned back against the pronounced bumper pad the car had and crossed his arms over his chest. The warmth of the day seeped through the doorway of the garage and over Samuel to bring him a sensation of peacefulness, but the slight noise he heard from the Alpha's office was signal enough that peace was all, but present. He blocked out the anger-fueled words and furrowed his brow in annoyance, but quickly gave up trying to fight this and sacrificed his peace for a shower.

He left the garage moving up the stairs to the showers, once there he closed himself in, stripped himself of his jeans and the ratty tank top he worked in, and then climbed in to take a long needed shower. He took his time, but didn't stay for too long, using the warm water as a stress relief while is mind wandered and he cleaned himself up. Once out of the shower though he wrapped a white towel around his waist and let it drape over his legs, then he marched out and into where he bunked to fetch some clothes. He peeled open a dresser next to his bed and poured through to find another pair of jeans, a white T-shirt, and the essentials of under garments before clothing himself and ten making his out into the backyard. He stood on the back patio and watched the birds fly overhead from the trees, the soft song they sang while they danced about was entertainment enough when someone mostly wanted to think, rather then bide their time. He took a seat after a few minutes of standing and began to watch everything more closely. The day was beautiful, the air was warm, and the sky was clear. This day was nearly perfect, but Samuel quickly eyed the seat next to him and collapsed half of his smile. He thought to himself of how the way a day like this could grow better, would be to have someone to share it with. His mind focused on the fact he was alone for a moment, but then adjusted itself quickly back to the beauty of the surrounding woods.

"Please, father; let me try again. I promise you I will get this alliance. Just give me another chance, I know I can do this! But there has to be another way! Let me find a way without that poor girl having to endure the torment we both know uncle will give her... Please..."

Oh, he shouldn’t have said that. Luke was scarily still, his eyes widening in shock. “Why do you care so much about what Rick does, Jaii?” he growled, taking a step forward and, without warning, throwing a punch at his son, right in the jaw. “Why don’t you mind your own damn business and remember your place? You aren’t alpha of this pack. You aren’t even Beta! Rick and Evans are true mates, there’s nothing you can do to change that!” A small ring let Luke know he’d received a text. Pulling his phone out he smirked, reading the message from his brother.

“They’re close. If you don’t believe me then ask them yourself. Either way they’re mating and you are never being given responsibility again. I should have gone myself instead of sending you.” His phone went off again, this time a call. “Leave, Jaii. I have more important things to do than babysit you.”

******

“Don’t you know it’s dangerous to text and drive?” Vera asked accusingly, looking over at Rick. They were going down the long paved road that led to the pack garage, and he was barely looking up from his phone.

“Don’t you worry about a thing, doll,” the Beta wolf answered, as if that was supposed to calm her. Soon enough they were parked and she stepped out with a sigh, sneakers skidding across the asphalt as she kicked the tire in frustration. Above those she wore a pair of dark jeans and a black long sleeve shirt. "Wonder where everyone is. Whatever, I’m starving, lets head to the kitchen. I had to skip breakfast because I drove all the way to pick you up,” he said, looking over at Vera as he led the way outside and through the front doors. It was a beautiful foyer; modern, fairly expensive. She had a feeling Mr. Talon did everything he could to look like money was no object to everyone around him. Was it a mask, or real?

“I’m not hungry,” Vera commented, getting a huff from Rick. He ran a hand over his brunette hair, barely looking at her. She would have said something more insulting, but a few children from the pack were playfully running from a room down the hallway and up the stairs. Judging by the fruit in their hands, they were probably coming from the kitchen. “Can’t I just sit outside while you grab something?”

“And risk you running? No, doll, you’re sticking with me.” The male shifter suddenly grabbed her by the wrist, receiving a growl from the younger woman. “Come on, we both know you won’t say a thing. You have nobody listening.” Rick jerked her forward, a startled cry following him to the kitchen. He immediately started searching the pantry and fridge for the necessities to make himself a few sandwiches.

“You’re an idiot, Ricky,” Vera muttered, sitting down in one of the many chairs at a rectangle dining table, looking rather bored as she put her chin on the table, black hair spilling out around her.. The kitchen really was beautiful and luxurious, she had to admit. High ceiling, island in the middle. Spending time in here might be nice, distracting herself with cooking. Not that she was any good, but if her life was over then why not take the time to learn?

Sam closed his eyes a moment and leaned his head back to allow himself some thinking as he listened to the area around him, the scent of Rick entered his nostrils once more and a female, one in the kitchen with Rick, but then another scent filled his nose, a Pack member, someone he had heard of before and knew was in the clan, but he had never really met her. She had surely healed him a few times when he had fought with other wolves, or other dangers, but most of the time he was asleep for the healing and he thought perhaps it was time to meet, and thank, her for her services.

He kept his eyes closed for a few moments to soak up the last of his resting breath before raising himself up from the seat and when he opened his eyes, it happened...

He opened his eyes and his body slid forward in his seat to sit up straight and e glanced at her for a moment, that glance was all it took to make it clear. His eyes scanned her as she was crouched over a few flowers. His body tensed and then released with his muscles aching and trying to get him to move, his mind slipped from the thoughts and is emotions ceased. Tunnel vision enclosed around him and all he could see was her, a gorgeous lass basking in the beauty of nature and herself, and when she laid back in the grass he was forced to his feet with a small leap and began to stroll towards her, his very essence aching with the pull of something he thought would far less of an effect on him.

He walked several feet over to her and stood to her left side looking down upon her with a soft smile and then he bent down on his right knee and spoke calmly, but deeply as was his nature. "A pleasure to finally meet you, Healer. I am Samuel Napier, most call me Sam."

“Well, if it ain’t young Jaii,” Rick greeted in a mockingly warm voice, looking up from making lunch and grunting in laughter. “I’d ask how your meeting went this morning, but I can guess by that shiner you got goin’ on that it didn’t go well.” He laughed again, as if he’d made some hilarious joke. Vera rolled her eyes in annoyance, her back to the two. “Come on, you can’t take a punch without getting ice? Do I need to call the healer for you, Jaii?”

Jaii, Jaii…was that the son? Jaii Talon, so it had to be. Probably just like his father and uncle…hey, if he was hurt then it might actually brighten her mood to see another member of the family. Vera sat up and turned I her seat, arm thrown over the back of her chair. Hm, she could only see his back. Nice hair…she wondered if it was natural or just done for attention. And he looked buff enough to defend himself, so why did he get hit? What did the other guy look like?

“So, is that a thing around here? Throw a few punches before lunch, somebody ends up in the hospital by dinner?” Vera hissed at the boys. “My Rick, I see why you came to get me. You wouldn’t stand on your feet for two minutes in a fight.” If she was going to be forced here, she would make her company as unpleasant as possible. Wearing a smug grin her brown eyes flickered from Jaii’s back to Rick’s, until he turned around.

“Vera, dear, what was I thinking making my own lunch? That’s your job now, isn’t it? Next time, then,” he muttered, shoving past Jaii as he brought his lunch to sit with her at the table. “Jaii, have you met my mate? A lovely women, as you can tell already.”

Dakeyras looked around. It seemed this small female was the only one here. But the scent of other wolves was in the air meaning that they are not far. He looked at the girls, she was cute, but small in comparison to him. Though there was nothing special about her., yet her scent. For too long Dakeyras have seen scents and smells like rocks. There Were no good, no bad aromas, to him they were means of gaining information and that was it. After this long time, for the first time, the scent of this female was heavenly. For a moment he closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose, he let himself be taken by the pace and warm feeling the scent gave him. Then he returned to the present and matters at hand. He realised he had spent way too much time as a Wolf. The only time he was human, was when he was inside cities, and that was rarely. Noticing the girls is all standing in front of him and the fact he's naked, it was obvius this was normal for her. "Sorry for the sudden intrusion, but do you have any spare clothes that would fit me. " He opened his hands on a manner of pointing out, that he's butt naked. He tried to smile as early as it was possible with his features

Kiara blinked a bit and finally noticed his lack of clothes. It wasn’t that she was desensitized to that sort of thing, but well… yeah, she was. In the pack, it wasn’t uncommon for someone to be nude, especially if they have just come in from a run together. It’s something that she stopped getting flustered over years ago. However, now, she could feel a blush in her cheeks. Not only because she assumed it was her that he was smelling, but also because he was not pack. She had no idea who this man was except that he was a shifter. “I-I-” She began, but couldn’t get the words out.

Taking a deep breath, she tried again, but to no avail. Instead, she turned and walked into the back of the store returning with a long coat that had once belonged to her father. Now, she kept it in the store in case of rain. “Pack.” She said trying her best to smile at him, and then mentally face-palmed herself. Come on, Kiara. You don’t know this guy. He has no idea you’re shy. You can do this. Just say what you’re thinking. Ask him how he broke his nose, or tell him that you’ve never seen someone so tall. None of this is what came out of her mouth as she tried again. “More clothes at home…”

She still would not look at him as she grabbed the keys and turned her sign to “Closed”. It probably wasn’t a smart idea to bring an obviously unmated male into the pack, but she didn’t know what else to do. He needed something to wear, and probably some provisions. Kiara cringed as she thought of what Luke’s reaction might be. However, luckily, he had not expressly forbidden this, at least not to her. “Must be c-careful.” She said aloud, beginning the trek back to the mansion knowing that this man would never fit into her car.

At first he thought she was a half mute, or maybe a foreigner. It was obvius she was insecure, and she blushed red like a deers blood, still warm from the dead body. When she turned around and left him there, Dakeyras got ready for some sort of attack. His heartbeat fastened, the body ready for a sudden shift. Most of the blood went to his muscles, ready for a quick reaction. She came back with a coat that seemed a tad small, but nonetheless it was perfect. Dakeyras took the coat. "Pack" What? Dakeyras thought to himself. He scratched his left side of the face. He was positive that she was mentally regarded, but he won't show it, and he will endure it for the time being. Putting on the coat, he looked at himself. Yes it was a tad small and tight, but it will do.
“More clothes at home…” she said as she walked past by him to turné the closed sign. As she walked by her scent got carried to Dakeyras, filling his nostrils. This time Dakeyras almost kneeled down. The fragrance brought such heavenly feeling to Dakeyras that he never felt it before. Yet he didn't show it, he stood still and word for any orders the girl might give. As she walked by him, he unittentionaly lend closer to her. She aid something, but at first he didn't listen. He was in some sort of a dream world, the he could feel alive again. Then he realised what she said and where she is taking him. He grabbed her by her arm, his palm big enough to curl around his fingers touching. "Wait I can't go to your pack. Are you mad." He told her. His face an expression of confusemnt. Noone ever brought a stray Wolf home. It was too risky. " The name is Dakeyras and thank you for the coat, but I can't go with you.

“Yes, you can!” Kiara gasped, and her free hand flew to her mouth. The conviction and the volume of her voice confused her, and at the same time excited her. She knew that everyone thought she was slow, but that wasn’t the case. She had thoughts and feelings just like everyone else. This was definitely one of her firmer beliefs. She knew, she really did, that Luke would not be happy about bringing a lone wolf home. No one would be happy, but that didn’t matter. He deserved to be treated like anyone else. He deserved to be able to get clothes and eat something and socialize with his own kind. There was no reason that he should be shunned because of something that is his choice. Of course, she felt all these things, but it was still surprising that she voiced it.

She tried to do this again, but instead of confident and brave, it came out very quiet. “You deserve…” She paused again freezing up at the thought of actually voicing these thoughts out loud. She wanted to say that he deserved equality and that she was willing to give that to him if he would just follow her. She wanted to say that she wanted to make sure he was actually clothed and fed before he left again. She wanted to tell him that she didn’t like the tingling feeling that was coming from her arm where he grabbed it. Instead, she only said. “Kiara… My name.”

Even if she could not voice any of those thoughts, the way she pulled away from him and the way she strutted up the street should have made them obvious. She was bringing home a stray and her pack better damned well be okay with it or she would… well she hadn’t gotten that far yet. She was too proud that her body language was actually saying something besides: “I’m a meek little wolf go ahead and command me.”

Sam found himself with wide smile as her hand extended to his forehead. The feeling of her skin on his own created a wave of warmth that passed over his body and resonated deep within his stomach. He stared into her eyes a moment without control, but then she backed her hand away with a blush. "I-I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me..." He watched her quickly wrap her figure up and her hands clasp her knees which was followed by him placing his right hand on her left knee and hand with a slight shake in his head. "No need to apologize Rhea, you have no reason to apologize at all." He stretched his fingers to make his hand cover more of her knee and her hand at the same time and comfortingly lay atop them. "I'm not usually like this, I swear... It's just when I saw you, it was like I actually... Saw you..." He couldn't help but close his eyes a second as she spoke to truly listen to her voice and then open them again with a small nod. "I know exactly what you mean, a sensation of unknown origin seems to tell you something you can't quite comprehend at first." His heart began to race more so then before the longer he sat knelt beside her and the longer he stared into her eyes.

"Listen to me, I'm not even making any sense. What's wrong with me..." He watched her raise her other hand to her head as if to see if she were running a fever and his initial response was a modest chuckle that barely slipped past his lips. He watched her, as if he had known her all his life and found her actions very adorable. He placed his left hand onto her wrist and pulled her hand down into her lap between her stomach and her pulled up knees and then he raised his left hand again to slowly place it under her chin and guide her gaze to his once more. "You aren't running a fever, dear." He said softly while his smile formed into a grin in the right side of his mouth. "You are jut flustered.." He said leaving his sentence open as the pull grew stronger and literally pulled him from his comfort zone of normal actions. His figured was forced forward by the attraction they shared and he slowly titled his head to the right and laced his lips with her's. Their lips in a soft caress for mere moments before he pulled away with the same gaze, but this time filled with obvious attraction and his right hand moved from her knee to her resting right hand and with his palm on the back of it he cupped it warmly.

Her sudden reaction surprised him. Oh so you aren't retarded, just silent and most likely shy. Dakeyras thought to himself. He noticed how she was trying to get a grip of herself. Her mouth opened but he couldn't hear anything. Usually he would grow annoyed by such people, but this time it was the opposite. He started to grow fond of her, just like his favourite food, he liked her. Which was more than any feeling for any other person on earth. Again she opened her mouth. He could hardly make out what she said. “Kiara… My name.”. Then she pulled away from him. He wanted to tighten the grip, not allowing her leav. He resisted the urge, knowing it was wrong. She strode away. Dakeyras chuckled as he saw her struggle to look confident, but with no avail. Though she walked away he stood his ground. Let's play a bit. He thought to himself. "Glad to have met you Kiara. I am sorry, but I seems I haven't made myself clear. It's that I don't want to go. I dislike large groups and company. Though you are different. But I must apologise. I have no intention of meeting your pack. I thank you for your aide and time. YOU are welcome to join me on my walk through the city. Besides I can't meet a pack of a female I had just met. It would look wrong." With a grin and a stern voice he explained. He really had no wish of meeting the pack, though the idea of staying with her was most appealing. If it would be friendly they would invite him as he ran close to the border, but that was not the case, the whole thing seemed wrong to him. From his past expedience it was unwise. No matter the reason or with who you come to a strangers pack, uninvited was never a smarty idea. The one exception is of the alpha introduces you. " again I ask you, more like beg you. ... come with me, once we get acquainted I might let you lead me to your pack." He looked at her with a sad puppy eyes face, though it looked nothing like it. As he said that he also extended blood hand, his palm turned upwards.

Kennedy had not been on the couch long before the ruckus downstairs had escalated once again. The sound of fist meeting flesh was unmistakable, and Ken shook her head slightly, knowing full well what was going on. With a click of the remote, the television flashed off and she rose. Rays of sunlight flooded through the drawn curtains, illuminating the room with bright dusty light.

With nothing else to do, Kennedy stretched for a moment and made her way downstairs. She knew it was risky, especially since she could now smell Rick had arrived home. He was just as distasteful as his brother, worse in some ways, better in others. But there was a new scent, a female. Must be the mate Luke has been talking about...

She took her chances and walked through the dining room, taking the opportunity to steal a glance at the scene playing out. She saw the new girl, and could feel the hate towards Rick radiating from her. No surprise there, his friends were few and far between. Jaii was in the kitchen confronting his uncle. Kennedy made her way through the dining hall and out the back door to the patio.

She saw a couple of her pack members lying in the grass a distance away, but she let them be. Instead, she took a seat on one of the deck chairs, taking in all the fresh scents of the day. The sun warmed her skin and she closed her eyes, allowing herself to take a brief disconnect from the real world and drift into a warm and cozy daydream.

She turned back to him, her eyes wide. It wasn’t necessarily because he didn’t want to come to the pack. Even the shifters that loved to be around people avoided Claymore, for good reason. Outsiders were not treated well and those brought up in the pack were taught the same ideals that Luke himself believed in. It was that or leave. What choice did they have? What surprised Kiara was his last statement. She didn’t look him in the eyes, just as she hadn’t this entire time, but she had a feeling he was doing something that made him look ridiculous.

After a moment’s thought, she walked over to him and looked at his hand as she tried to speak again. “A-Acquainted? Talk..?” She felt the catch that she always did, especially when talking to a male, but she pushed against it as hard as she possibly could and managed to say, “You want me to talk?” Don’t be silly, Kiara. Of course he doesn’t want you to talk. Remember what mother said, and what all the men say. Women aren’t meant to talk. They’re meant for cooking and cleaning and babies. These thoughts lead to a quiet, “Sorry,” because of course she had heard wrong.

Still… someone wanting to get to know her. Actually wanting to hear what she had to say? Isn’t that what she’d been waiting for all this time. Kiara bit her lip gently and continued to stare at that hand. Should she go home where everyone was probably waiting, or should she take a chance? The answer should have been simple. If she even so much as walked around the city with him, it was likely she would feel the backlash at home, but if she didn’t? What then? If he really wanted to get to know her, what choice did she really have? Tentatively, still unsure, she laid her hand on top of his and nodded.

Dakeyras noticed she was hesitating. It was also noticeable that some thing was bugging her, making her feel uncomfortable. Dakeyras wanted to day or do something, but his lack of communication and dealing with people, he decided to wait and see. He was hoping that she would take his hand and go with him. It was not that he would be lost in a town. Hell, most towns he visited he visited alone. Never had he had any problem. With orientation and he was a very resourceful man, so the idea of her coming as a guide was a tad wrong. No je wanted her to join him because he wanted to enjoy her company. It has been a long time since Dakeyras wished for specific company, it felt wrong in some way, yet all the instincts wanted her close to him.

Again she opened her mouth trying to speak. Again he couldn't hear her well. It was clear she fought for control and finally she said something normally without stopping. , “You want me to talk?” The question surprised Dakeyras. What did she mean by that, it made no sense. Then it hit him. It was probably a custom in her pack for females not to speak. No wonder she was so quite and shy. Without the possibility to talk freely, one must go insane. Suddenly he felt a tad pity for the girl. Most likely she had never met a foreigner before, and if she isn't allowed to talk much with the pack males, what rules abide her for contact with a foreign male. The whole thing was just unimaginable to him.

Now he was positive she won't take his hand. He wanted to drop it, but suddenly she apologized to him. What for? He knew why yet it all surprised him. This was wrong so wrong, but he couldn't intervene with another packs customs. He saw how she but her lip, suddenly an urge to kiss her surged through his body, but he ignored it with ease. Before this would surprise him, he was unprepared for anything and it took him of guard. Now his guard was up, no feeling, nothing could shake him.

Finally she took his hand. "Took your time to decide girl." He aid smiling pulling he close. Now they stood in half an arms length apart. "And for the seniled gods sake. YES I want you to speak and talk and nag and chatter, until we part ways, like most females do." His voiced boomed and bowled through the air. Though he had a feeling that their time togeather will mostly be spent in silence.