As soon as his eyes met hers she felt a nagging in the back of her mind. An instant bond with him, something that made her hang onto every word he said. She could feel him there, and knew even if she left the room he would still be with her in a way that was indescribable. He seemed…genuine, and not to mention sexy. Her inner wolf was growling in approval and curiosity. She should have gotten a better look when he showed Rick the bruise on his side.

“…My name is Jaii Talon, and if I may be so bold; why is a beautiful creature like yourself wandering around with this pisshead? You can do so much better..."

Wow. What a speech…the only problem was his last name. Another Talon. Despite her want to find out more about this Jaii, she knew his family and was concerned with this sudden attraction. It…was just attraction, right? Please let it be just that… “Vera,” she answered quietly, but before the shifter could say anything else Rick interrupted.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing!” he screamed, slapping the boy across the back of the head and getting up, crumbs falling from his mouth. “I’m Beta if you remember right, and she can’t do any better. What’s gotten into you?”

“Rick!” Vera hissed, getting to her feet as well. It was difficult to tear her eyes away from Jaii, but she looked up at her fiancée and tried to wipe any anger off her face. “I have an idea. I’d like to spend some time outside and freshen up, so while you eat why doesn’t Jaii here show me around? Then I promise we’ll meet Luke together and talk about that ceremony.” He thought about this for a moment, looking from his nephew to Vera, chewing slowly. It seemed to take him an eternity to come up with an answer, so she continued to try and help him along. Her and Jaii needed to talk. “Then you can show me your- I mean our room?”

That got a stupid looking, crooked grin out of him. “All right, baby. Don’t be too long. Jaii, stop being a lazy deadbeat and give the girl a tour.” He sat back down, satisfied to finish his lunch in peace.

Vera looked up at Jaii before leaving the room, assuming he would follow her. How dare he put on a face of ‘saving the day’, as if he were some hero. He may be attractive, and her wolf may trust him at first sight, but her human side was smarter than that. At least with Rick she knew what she was getting into.

Kiara was caught off guard when he pulled her closer, but soon forgot it at his next statement. Like most females do? But mother says… It was true that she didn’t spend very much time with females at home. Mother was always pushing this man or that on her trying to find her mate, as if that would help any. At this point, Kiara didn’t think she’d recognize her mate if he bite her in the keister. How could she? How can someone be open to love when they can barely recognize their own feelings. She was learning, that was true, but she had still had so far to go. Maybe she really knew nothing about the world. Maybe the girl she wishes she could be is actually the one she should have been all along.

When her thoughts started to calm down, she once again noticed the closeness of this man. A man she knew nothing about besides his name. Quickly, she pulled away, her cheeks turning red once more as she tried to figure out what to do next. She wasn’t sure she could do the things he wanted, and if she couldn’t, would he even really want to keep her around? How backwards. She had learned to stay quiet so that one day, her mate would want to keep her, and now it might be the thing that sends someone running.

“I…” Kiara started, but found she wasn’t exactly sure what to say next. It was easier this time, after pushing past that barrier before. If she pretended he was one of her customers, maybe she could actually have a bit of a conversation. Closing her eyes, she imagined she was back in the store, confident and never worrying about what anyone thought. “How did you break your nose?” she blurted out before she could lose that feeling.

He paused a moment as their embrace caused his brain to slow and his heart to beat erratically in his chest. The sensation that ran through his nerves and his spine was indescribable as her sweet scent had begun to fill his nostrils, as he now began to breathe slowly through his nose, and the soft caress of her lips was still resonating on his own. He shifted his left hand from her chin and lifted it slightly to cup her left cheek. His eyes grew ever more lovingly as the realization of the experience settled into his mind. He leaned in again and softly pressed his forehead to her while continuing to cup her cheek. "I.." He paused unsure of whether or not what was happening was real, but he continued on with his words. "I think, I love you." He said in a whispering, yet caring, deep tone. His right hand released her left hand and slid down her shin and then back up again in a slow-paced series of caressing rubs while eyes seemed to lower to the ground, uncertain of her own reaction.

Her eyes softened as she continued to lean into his warm embrace her lips tingling slightly from the kiss that seemed to linger, not that she minded; she wanted it to last forever. As his forehead pressed against her own his hand gently cupping her cheek. "I..." Nodding softly so as not to break the constant connection the two had she smiled shyly, "Yes..?" After a short pause he continued his words hitting her causing her heart to skip a beat and her eyes to widen in slight shock, I think, I love you." Love. It was something she wanted more than anything though she didn't have any idea of what it even was, "I-.. I don't know what love feels like... But if its the fear of leaving your side, my heart feeling as though its going to beat right through my chest, my stomach feeling as though its in knots because I'm talking to you and your noticing me... If love is any of those things. Then I think I love you too..."

"I-.. I don't know what love feels like... But if its the fear of leaving your side, my heart feeling as though its going to beat right through my chest, my stomach feeling as though its in knots because I'm talking to you and your noticing me... If love is any of those things. Then I think I love you too..." Her words hit his ears in a sweet melody, her voice was alluring to him, a call he could not refuse. He listened to each letter with a great focus. When her words ended his his heart began with a heavy thumping, it was no faster then before, but it pounded like an engine piston pumping the blood through his body with a great force so that he may carry out his life's goal.

"Rhea, I can't help but stare into your eyes, like brilliant stars calling my eyes to the sky, I must look upon them with wonder..." He couldn't find anymore words, and deep in his mind he felt like he had recited cheesy poetry, but he didn't care, he let his actions speak for him most of the time, and this time was no different. He slid his hand from her cheek down to her right shoulder and applied a slight force to it guiding her down onto her back and he leaned up over her from her left side and locked their lips once more into a kiss, this time a deep, passionate kiss. His left hand slid up to her neck and is right hand caressed up the side of her left leg to her waist and it laid down on her hip warmly.

"Rhea, I can't help but stare into your eyes, like brilliant stars calling my eyes to the sky, I must look upon them with wonder..." She couldn't help but let a soft giggle escape her lips as the cheesy but incredibly sweet bit of poetry left his lips, his voice bubbling up emotions inside of her that she had never felt before; causing her to want to melt into his arms staying in his warm, safe embrace for the rest of her life. Feeling a soft push against her shoulder she gave in to him her body gently falling back once more into the grass that felt so cooling against her flushed skin, her eyes following his movements as he leant over her keeping her all to himself his lips once more pressing lovingly against her own. Her eyes fluttered closed as she kissed him back longingly the pressure building from either side making the kiss slightly more faced paced and passionate than it had been before.

She whimpered softly against his lips her hands sliding up his chest and over his shoulders before she hooked her arms around his neck pulling him closer against her body, she had no clue of what she was doing, she had only just met him and now the two were in love; her body and instincts seemed to know exactly what they wanted and her mind seemed to just go with the flow drowning out all background noises that weren't him.

The closeness of Kiara made Dakeyras feel uneasy. His heart beat quickened and his senses inhanced, but they only focused on her. Suddenly the tightness of her arms, the unsteady breathing, eyes doffing. .. everything was important. This intrigued Dakeyras. An urge to hug her, hold her, kiss her rose, but he ignored it. When she pulled away, light sadness washed over him, like a pray which just managed to run away. It made him smile as blood rushed v to her face, a strong red blush forming on her face.

She looked worried and lost. Dakeyras felt a small guilt rise within him. After all he, a lone male, asked her, a packs female, to wonder through the city with him. Withou noticing he looked at the ground with a worried face. As she tried to say something, he looked at her. It took her a second, but finally she managed to day it clearly. “How did you break your nose?” with that a wide smile drew on his face. "Oh this? " He pointed at his nose. "Ja is an old wound. I could straitened it, but I chose to left it like this. When I was at North Canada I got into a little pitch with a domestic pack. I would of died, but another line wolf, an old geyser, came to help. I got a broken nose and he lost half of a right ear. We agreed we'll let the scars be. As a memory on eachother." Dakeyras lifted his chest. This story was his pride. Though there was more to it than he told, but he didn't want to bore the little girl. "Ah that is a truly great friend and a man." He sighted. " And you? You got any friends like that? Or any great story to tell. " He slightly turned away from her, moved his elbow away from his torso in a manner of inviting her to join him for a walk, as they did in the old days.

Despite everything, she smiled a bit when he told his story. She didn’t hear very many at home because no one thought she would understand, and those that did had no reason to tell her. It wasn’t like she could ever ask, not with how she was now? It also was nice to hear about a friendship like that, even if it started with violence. She understood that it was nice to feel remembered. Kiara also smiled a bit at the pride he obviously took in the story. Although, she wasn’t sure if it was because of the fighting or the friend or maybe because he survived.

When he asked his question she looked down a bit and shook her head. Now that she thought of it, it was probably strange that she didn’t have any friends or any stories to tell. When she took his arm, though, she remembered one. Another deep breath, and she was ready to speak again. “I… I grew up here. Once when I was little… Well I never understood why wolves couldn’t fly, and decided that I would be the first.” Kiara paused, struggling to resist the urge to keep her mouth shut as she pulled him over to a 2-story building a block or so down. “I was so determined, that I climbed to the roof here and jumped.” This time her pause was followed by a wince. “I still have the scars, but at the time I was telling anyone who would listen that I had flown.”

This time she sighed and look towards the ground. This story made her remember who she was and who she could have been all along. That brave little girl who didn’t let anyone tell her what to do or what to think. Inside, she still felt that way, but what good was it if no one knew. “I’m not slow,” she said in her defense. “I.. I know everyone thinks I am… but I’m not.” She bit her lip once more hoping that he hadn’t thought it too.

Dakeyra carefully listened to the story Kiara told. He Had no intention in interrupting an already quite girl. And for the first time since they met, he can finally listen and enjoy the sound of her voice without the need to struggle to hear each of her words. As she pulled him, he didn’t resist. He had the whole world and all the time in the world. He was not in a hurry, and at this moment, the only thing that matters is that he is with her. As she finished he looked into the sky. How interesting, he never dreamed of flying before, he didn’t even think about it. He was contempt with the idea of running for the most part of his life.

For a moment he was lost in thought. But as she sighted he instantly looked at her, hoping she has something more to say. Her gaze fixed to the ground again. As she defended herself for not being slow, more guilt burned him. He had to admit he though she was at first, but now it was clear she wasn’t. “Ah don’t worry Kiara, I know you’re not. You’re just a shy and a silent person that’s it.” Saying that he hugged her, and gently kissed her neck and smelled her hair. “And about you flying I believe you. We all did risky things when we were younglings.” As he said that he remembered a painful day from the past. In that moment he realise he forgot his scarf, in an instant his hand was around his neck making it looked like he was scratching himself.. Quickly he looked around, they were alone. “Though I must say, I doubt that your physical strength and speed are average. So why not show me and go for a little run? I really love running and I’m unused to the human form.” Saying it with a smile, he slowly took of his cape, at the same time he made sure she won’t have the opportunity to look at his neck. Once he was naked again he shifted. Picking up the coat in his mouth he poked her with his nuzzle in a manner o encourage her to do so herself.

As soon as they rounded the corner Vera grabbed Jaii’s wrist, leading the way further down a hallway. Eventually she turned to him, looking at the man like it was him who had driven her there and was causing all the trouble. “Look, why don’t you drop the heroic act. You’re the alpha’s son, right? I know how your family works and I don’t need anything else to make this situation more complicated!” Vera hissed, looking him up and down. It was just attraction…very strong, desperate attraction. Yeah.

“Rick is- and then you come in here and- and what is all this, huh?” she asked in a harsh whisper, gesturing with her hands between him and her, hands moving quickly. Without any warning she suddenly pressed her hands firmly against his chest, stood on her tiptoes, and impulsively placed her lips against Jaii’s in a longing kiss that just felt right. It angered her, frustrated the woman that she could want something so urgently, but maybe this would make it go away. It had to go away…

Pulling away Vera sighed, pressing her lips together in a guilty fashion. “Please tell me you’re just really hot and you feel nothing here,” she groaned, finally showing a bit of worry. “At least with Rick what you see is what you get. You, I don’t know…I’m supposed to mate with…” Please say something, Talon…

Kiara jumped at the feel of his lips against her neck. She was still in shock when he undressed and shifted, and for a moment just stood there staring at him. “I…” Quickly, she snatched the coat from him and took off towards her store. When she got inside, she went into the back and leaned against the wall as if she could no longer hold herself up. Her breathing was heavy as she looked at the coat, knowing exactly what she should do.

It was going too far now. He was a stranger, a lone wolf, not pack. She shouldn’t have talked to him in the first place, or tried to help him. She definitely shouldn’t have opened her mouth more than necessary or told him that story from her childhood. She shouldn’t have touched him, or let him touch her in return. When Kiara finally did go home, they were going to smell him and come to conclusions. There was no way she could go running with him. If she did, he was sure to see the wall around her heart caused by having to hide her feelings. The next step was obvious. She needed to go home.

Suddenly, she grabbed her chest, surprised at the pain she felt there. It was an emptiness, a longing, that she had never felt before. At first, she had no idea where it was coming from. The minute it died down, Kiara remembered something that she had once been told. Sometimes, the wolf had a mind of its own and when it didn’t like something it made sure the human knew it. “Going home,” she whispered aloud, testing.

The pain hit her like a truck this time and left her bent over and gasping. Don’t like that do you? I suppose you want to go for a run with the strange man who could get us shunned from the pack then? The pain stopped the minute she thought it, but she had no idea why. Was it because she had never really run with anyone outside her family? Or maybe it had just been too long since she had run at all. Either way, she was sure she couldn’t go home.

With no other choice, Kiara undressed, unlocked the doggy flap located on the back door, and changed. Dakeyra was right about something. She was not average in her speed. He wanted to see? She stepped through the flap into the town, stretching out her limbs thoroughly. It really had been too long since her last run, now she was sure of it. When she felt thoroughly calm, she began to run, sprinting right past where she had left him. If a wolf could grin, she was sure she would be doing it now.

Vera gazed up into her true mate’s eyes, tear’s coming to her own. She wanted to believe him, but couldn’t. It wasn’t fair, afterall she wouldn’t want him judging her based on her own father, and the idea of someone saving her from the cage her father and Rick had put her in was a dream she had already thrown away… How could something that caused so much doubt in her mind feel so perfect? “Jaii, I don’t know-“

“Let me get this straight. You’ve been here a total of five minutes and you’re already making out with another member of the pack?” It was Luke. He’d apparently been off near the bedrooms and had caught them in the middle of the kiss. Vera whirled around with a gasp, quickly pressing her back against Jaii. He cursed, hitting the wall with his fist before rushing forward in blind anger. He didn’t know who he was more angry at, Vera for throwing herself at his son, or Jaii for potentially messing up the perfect alliance. Jaii needed to stay far, far away from this for good, and it seemed Luke needed to beat him that into him.

“Why don’t you-“ he growled, gripping his hand firmly at the back of her neck in a dominant gesture, something she would have been forced to respond to if he were her own alpha. “Go back to your mate, you know, Rick?”

“You’re not in charge or me, not yet!” she screamed, attempting to pull away. It only resulted in him grabbing her hair, making her stay put. The noise was sure to bring Rick in soon enough.

Sam smiled as her arms hooked around his neck and their embrace grew stronger with each passing minute. The breeze whipped up and slid softly through the small gaps between their figures before Sam raised his legs up slightly unto his knees and then raised his torso up, her's following with hooked arms still around his neck, and then he stood lifting her along with him. He grasped her legs and slid them around his waist slowly while looking into her eyes and turning slowly to put her back to the sun and his smile tightened into a small grin. His mind focused on her, but slipped from the surroundings and began to question it all. "I, I can't really understand it, all this time, all these weeks, thee months, two mates in the same clan without finding each other, til this day? I feel so invigorated, so alive, so happy." He spoke in the solitary confines of his mind where the words of such a cheesy nature were better left.

He closed his eyes a moment and laid his head back to take in some sun, but then he raised it back up and tucked his lips into the nape of her neck to place a soft kiss before letting her down onto her feet. "Hm, let us move into the kitchen. I am about to grab me a bite, would you like me to get you anything?" He smiled and turned placing his right arm over her back and tucked his hand onto the right side of her waist, while walking on her left until they entered the kitchen. He pieced himself together a small sandwich and laid it on a plate. He then grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and stood opposite the room from Rick with Rhea while awaiting her decision on something to eat, but before either of them could have said anything a sound rang in their lycanthropic ears, it resonated from the front of the manor and he quickly darted passed Rhea and the others, with Rick in tow.

He moved into a hallway to find Jaii, an unknown female, and Luke standing around with the female in Luke's grasp and Jaii opposite the woman. This all looked very bad, and Rick would surely have something to say, or something to punch knowing him, after he found out what was going on.

"Luke, sir, what is going on?" Sam asked, uncertainty filled his mind as he tried to piece together a thousand piece puzzle with only a handful of details. He tensed up, he knew with Luke anything could happen, and anything probably would happen. He guided Rhea back around the corner with a light pat backward and then he stepped forward, only a few feet away from the situated trio.

“I…” Quickly, she snatched the coat from him and took off towards her store. Dakeyras was surprised by her sudden reaction. Did he do something wrong. His mind just couldn’t wrap itself around the incident. All he did was turn into a wolf, and what was wrong about that. He spent most of his days in his wolf form. To him it was weird to be human. Maybe it was something he said. Or the kiss that could be it. But he didn’t mean no harm by it. AS she strode away a sudden pain hit him through his body. His spine hurt like it was being burnt. He tried to call after her, but the pain was unbearable. He slumped to the ground. He didn’t understand this. His whole life he listened to his instincts, those came from his spine, he always protected it, more than anything else. Why the pain then. Slowly he slouched down to lie on the ground.

Dakeyras lay on the ground, keeping back the whimpers forming in his throat. Slowly the pain eased itself. And as it eased Dakeyras stood up. He stretched himself. It was better now but something is definitely wrong. As he was trying to think about it, suddenly a wolf rushed by him. In a moment he knew it was Kiara, for such a beautiful smell can only be carried by her. In an instant he trotted after her. As she ran, it was clear she was not used to her wolf form. Though she did ran naturally there was missing a hint of elegance. Something only those who stayed as wolfs for a long time had. In few moments he passed by her, but the scent faded and also the run became more gloomy and grey. Dakeyras slowed down and allowed her to lead the way, though she had no idea where she was supposed to go, but the way she ran it seemed that she didn’t mind. As he was running behind her, he started to get drunk on her scent. He followed her every step. AS they ran he unintentionally began to look at her build. ‘Wow that’s a nice body and look at those hips and ass. And the awesome fluffy tail.’ These thoughts began to occupy his mind. Though he hid it, he was staring at her posture and it seemed more beautiful than anything else. He was under a spell and at this moment he was so contempt that if someone would kill him he wouldn’t mind.

Kiara stuck to the edges of the pack’s border, so that Dakeyras was safe, but that if anything happened she would also be protected. She saw the wolves following them and felt the confusion and anxiety of seeing her with a non-pack wolf. Luckily for her, they could not see the joy she was feeling. A joy she barely knew she was feeling herself. If they knew, they would surely step in and stop whatever was happening. For all they knew, now, she was just running and he was keeping her company. Contrary to popular belief, wolves were pack animals and didn’t like to run alone.

While they ran, she stumbled a few times still unused to four legs. However, the longer they ran the faster she went. The speed was nothing she had ever felt before. Normally, a run was something she endured because she was not supposed to enjoy it. She was not supposed to enjoy anything. But right now, in this moment, the wolf inside her was howling in joy. Her instincts told her that this was exactly what she should be doing, running with him. Wait. What? With him? Kiara stopped her thinking quickly, stumbling over her feet again. This time though, she couldn’t catch herself and went muzzle first into the ground.

A small whimper escaped her, but she was soon getting back on her feet and taking a look around. To her surprise, they were almost to the mansion which caused her to take a step back with much difficulty. It did not surprise Kiara that she had unconsciously run towards home, but being this close was not safe for him. If Luke found him so close to pack property… Her thoughts were turning back to her earlier revolution again. Nothing was making any sense anymore. Why should she be happier with him safe? Why should she be having fun just because it was him that she was running with? What was going on with her?

Inside, she tried battling with the wall surrounding those feelings that she couldn’t see, but no luck. It was impossible to know what was going on that far down. Impossible to know what was causing all these new thoughts. All she knew, was that it was scaring her, for good reason. Nothing like this had ever happened before, and with someone she barely knew? How could she want to be around him like that? The distress she was feeling alerted the guards travelling across from them and the growling began: both from her and from them.

Dakeyras was following his goddess. Drunk on her scent he didn't care for his suroundings. He didn't notice the wolves who followed not the fact that they passed the border. He didn't notice each time when she stumbled. Only when she fell.He sprinted to help her up, but there was no need. She didn't stop either. She ran onward. Dakeyras was a bit disappointed, he wanted to cuddle? Or say something. .... Any thing. He loved running and running with her was tens of Millions of times better than anytime he ran before. He could feel dizzy, his stomach twisting and a cold shiver through his spine. But all of these feelings were nice and comforting. The pain he usually felt from his old still not fully healed wounds was missing. This could last forever, and Dakeyras would not mind. Though his instincts and body were telling him he loved her. Yet the noise and v everything his heart and soul desired and screamed for, it did not reach him. It could communicate with him only through instincts and urges. For though he was closed to his heart he was listening to everything his spine wanted. But spine didn't love or hate. Only primitive instincts and reflexes ruled it.

Suddenly she stopped. He ran to her and as he reached her he gently leaned his head on her rear leg and moved forward his right side of his face brushing against her left side. As he came closer to her neck she growled. Instinctively he jumped away. Confided and hurry from her reaction. This made him snapp out of his dream world. Suddenly he realised they crossed the border there were two wolves behind him growling and slowly approaching. Instinctively he jumped infront of Kiara facing the two wolfs. They were Smaller, much smaller and scared. Most likely the haven't had a real fight since they were born. Dakeyras was amazed by his action. Usually if this would happen and he would be alone, he would jump into the wolves biting and ramming. This time he moved to protect Kiara. His head held high, legs spread wide and his back arched. He didn't growl nor bark. He felt his heart beat rise the blood went from his insides to his muscles. One move wrong from the small Cubbs and they would have to fight for their lives. Yet with Kiara close Dakeyras payed for this fight to be avoided.

Luke yelled as his arm was twisted off the girl, jumping back and away from the couple to gather his thoughts. Jaii just fought back. He would learn his place soon enough… “This is the Evans girl- Rick’s mate, and I caught here and Jaii- well, like this!” he stammered, pointing to the couple while speaking to Sam. “I didn’t know she would be whoring around when I invited her into this pack!”

Vera wasn’t even paying attention to the man yelling like someone had personally wounded him. Somebody had finally taken her side in this struggle between her father and Luke’s pack. Part of her felt guilty for being the cause of this fight, but she felt so relieved that she said nothing. But…he was asking for forgiveness…why would he do that? Vera’s mind was making up all kinds of reasons, most assuming that Jaii was going to give into his father and leave her to be under Rick’s control. Just as she was closing her eyes, letting herself enjoy the last bit of warmth from his embrace gave her, he started moving her sleeve to expose more skin. It was about this time Rick showed up, and his eyes widened at the sight. “That’s my true mate you’re touching! You just can’t keep your hands to yourself, can you Jaii?” he screamed, but a look from Luke kept him from moving forward. This was between him and his son.

Before Rick or Luke could get any other insults out, Vera felt a stinging pain in her shoulder that traveled down her arm. The girl opened her eyes with a gasp, too stunned to move. Jaii had marked her as his own without even asking! “What the hell!” she screamed, putting a hand to the bite to stop the bleeding, though it was very little. Her body had accepted it as a marking, and would heal quickly to become a scar that was meant to symbolize love and partnership. Vera had yelled more out of surprise and annoyance at being interrupted than at him being her mate. Afterall, she was feeling the bond too, it just came down to whether she wanted to fight it or not.

Already Jaii had told Luke he was leaving the pack; looked like she wasn’t the only one getting a shock today. “You can’t leave,” Luke growled, taking a step back, balling his hands into tight fists. Yet Jaii had already parted ways, they both knew it. The presence of his son was gone from his mind, and it outraged him. He was not going to let his son leave only for him to worry about when he would come back and try to destroy the Claymore pack. Jaii had never fought back before, surely a few swipes with his claws would teach the boy a lesson. “Outside, Jaii. Now. After I’m through with you there won’t be anything for Vera to hold onto,” he growled, already unbutton his shirt. “I can’t believe you would bloody mark her just to get your way!”

Vera was a cluster of overwhelming emotions. The woman leaned against the wall and fell to her knees, just wishing she could go back to her own home, her own bed. She was marked and bound to a Talon, her worst nightmare. Were things always going to be like this, constant fighting? But he had left the pack…what did that mean for them?

When Dakeyras moved in front of her, all three wolves became quiet out of surprise. Watching him step into danger thinking that he was protecting her, snapped her out of whatever she was feeling. Why had she even been growling in the first place? Again, distress and confusion radiated off her being in waves. That was the problem with being in this form. They could convey feelings, but not reasoning. The kids across from them were just as surprised, but mostly disgusted. He thought he could protect their pack? Who gave him the right? It was their job to do that, and though they were at the obvious disadvantage, they would stand their ground.

Kiara felt them tense and moved as quickly as she could. If ever she was grateful for the ability to hide her feelings and do what she was told, it was now. Perhaps, she had always wished to be able to express herself, but now she needed to be who she actually was. The quiet, submissive girl that everyone expected her to be. She darted forward, still a distance away from the kids when she laid down in front of them. Submissive, Kiara. You need to be submissive. Show them that you are looking to them to protect you. Show them that it’s not him. It’s not. Slowly, she rolled onto her back so that her belly was exposed, the most obvious signal she could think of.

The two began to calm down, feeling almost superior as they saw the action. It wasn’t often that a female showed submission to anyone other than a mate or alpha, but Kiara was desperate. The only problem was that her chest was on fire. A quiet whimper escaped, but she stayed in place knowing that it was probably the only thing keeping Dakeyras safe. I know, she thought. I know this is wrong. I don’t know why you feel the need to hurt me for it. If you don’t stop, I’m going to have to hide it before they realize. The pain, however,. only grew and finally she forced it behind the wall so that no one would notice, not even herself

Sam was listening to every word, and while he was still somewhat unsure of who was truly in the right, and the wrong of the situation, it wasn't about to matter. The moment Jaii revealed the physical abuse fingerprints left over from his father's handy work Sam entered a mental rage, his mind caged off everything from outside of the hallway and he stepped forward between the father and son.

"Enough. Luke, by our laws and written records, she has accepted the mark as her own and they are legally bound, they have a bond, I can feel it. Pursing action against them is not right, and against our ways. This is only the first note, I am certain you know what my second qualm with you is now..." He left his sentence open while staring the man down. Sam may have been only nineteen, but nineteen was a mature age and when you are the Guardian of a pack, and your responsibility is a close mesh of Law keeper and historian, you were almost always talking several years ahead of yourself.

Samuel stepped back and to the right of Jaii, side-by-side now he pierced the pupils of Luke and readied himself for anything. His arms tightened, his deltoids curled, and his chest locked up ready for whatever moves were made by Luke or Rick. He was ready to fight, for Jaii, not so much, but for their way of life as Pack wolves, yes. He would certainly throw down with any Alpha, his own or another, to do is duty as Guardian or to fight the enlightened truth of abuse on another person. Samuel's showed this, in many ways. The shimmering emotional anger hidden behind his mahogany iris, which quickly became clear as his eyes shifted to that of his wolf's and his internal stronghold was slowly being uncased for good reason.