☽◐⬤◑☾

Lupin

She lay there. So still. So close to broken. Too close.

The wolf inside of me paced with worry, but at least it had stopped its rage. When Tristan had first come back, her unconscious bloody body in his hands...

The wolf had not been pleased.

I had had to leave. Had to calm myself before I hurt my friend. I knew it was not his doing, so too did my wolf. That fact had made it easier to soothe the beast. Yet still I had not been there when Tristan and Rayen tended to her. Had not been there when she awoke. Rayen relayed to me what had happened. The woman, my mate, had not been confused and frightened. She had not reacted like most humans would when faced with the paranormal. She had commanded Tristan and known how to handle the situation. She had called someone, someone she loved, or so Tristan had said.

My wolf also did not like that. He growled at the idea of her heart being claimed by another. I didn’t entirely disagree, yet still I would let her go, if that was her happiness.

Watching her now, still asleep, sweating into my sheets. She was so delicate, blonde and small-boned though muscle lined under her flesh. I did not even know her name. Tristan said she had killed thirteen vampires. It was impressive considering I had mistaken her for human.

But she was not. That fact still hurt, like a knife in my heart. She was obviously very aware of this world. Probably knew instantly what I was to her on that street, yet still she had left. Still she had walked away.

It made me wonder a thousand things. This woman I knew nothing about, this stranger that I wanted, needed. Could she need me? Want me?

I had never thought it possible. Never thought myself deserving of that happiness. But I would be, for her I would try to deserve it.

I sighed, a long deep sigh, looking up to the ceiling. I didn’t even know this girl. She wasn’t mine.

But my wolf snarled, even at the thought. Wanting it, wanting her. I, again, couldn’t disagree.

How weird this magic was. How real it made everything feel. Like true destined love, for a complete and total stranger. Who apparently wanted nothing to do with me. I sighed again.

I was raised with the understanding of the mating bond. All wolves had a mate, we were the only species that adhered to it so completely. So I knew what to expect but feeling it, actually experiencing it, was something wholly different.

She grunted and whined in her sleep. A whimper of pain. My wolf snarled and scratched, red flashed. Death. I would kill any and all that came near her. The urge rode me hard, too hard. I had come this close to tearing out Tristan's throat, my best friend, not to mention her savior. Rayen had had to step in, and even then my wolf still raged. My eyes closed against the heightening bloodlust, urging it back down.

She suddenly gasped and I snapped my eyes open. Only to meet hers. Bright blue and shining, as beautiful as they had been that first time I had seen her. Like stars shone in their depths, like she saw something exquisite in the world. Something I could not see.

The stars dimmed as she too found my eyes and shock filled her face. And then relief loosened her shoulders as she took me in.

“Are you okay?” I asked and she smiled. That’s all it took. One small little half-hearted smile and I had decided. My wolf and I, both in agreement.

She would be mine.

☽◐⬤◑☾

Fable

I woke up again. The room was darker, the bed still massive. But the pain had lessened, now exhaustion and soreness. The nausea still rumbled in my gut, but the fire had turned more to a fever. A sheen of sweat coated me and I sat up slowly, grunting. 

A man sitting in the armchair nearby looked at me. Our eyes met and I breathed. It seemed like the first time in days that I was able to just breathe.

Lupin sat forward, eyes never leaving mine. The man that had held the bucket, as well as the pretty girl, were nowhere to be seen. I leaned back, wincing at the pain. A long moment of silence passed between us, just looking at the other. 

He looked exactly the same, utterly gorgeous. And to my relief, a worry I didn’t know I had been harboring until this moment, he was completely intact. No wounds, not a scratch. I realized the same could not be said of me. He took a deep breath. 

“Are you ok?” He asked, his voice was deep and I smiled, it was small, the best I could do. His presence was very demanding and I was exhausted, hearing his voice was somehow calming and excruciating at the same time. 

“I’ll survive.” My voice was still a scratchy whisper, but the shift in his shoulders told me the effect was the same. I groaned inwardly, who’s ever great idea it was to leave us in the same room alone, was insane. I tore my eyes away from him and stared at the ceiling. “At this point it’s just my body trying to rid itself of the venom. The bites have already healed and now I’m just tired and queasy.” I could hear the seat squeaking as he moved. 

“So you're…” He cleared his throat in awkwardness, I glanced at him. “You’re not human.” I smiled, shaking my head and he nodded. He looked away from me, staring at something in the distance. I could tell he was mulling it over in his head, going through what it meant. And then something seeped into my gut, feeling it. I felt the sadness and hurt, the longing and pain. It was his, I knew, but it was also mine. And oddly enough knowing it was his pain, hurt more. I needed it to stop. 

“Lupin.” My voice was softer than intended, I realized I was close to tears. He looked up at me surprised, I smiled softly. “Please stop.” It took a moment but he understood, he nodded and the pain and sorrow lessened. “Why?” I asked and he knew what I meant, I didn’t have to elaborate. I wanted to know why he was sad. 

He watched me for a long moment, deciding what to say. I almost told him he didn’t have to tell me but then he started. 

“When I saw you for that first time, and realized what we were…” He sighed, looking down. “I thought you were human. I figured you left because you didn’t know what had happened and it freaked you out.” He looked back up at me, the sorrow seeping again. “But you knew, didn’t you?” Slowly I nodded, he closed his eyes and the pain sharpened, his pain. I almost choked, it was me, I was doing this to him. 

“You left too.” It was a weak defense, I knew, but I wanted to hear it for myself. Why he left. He shook his head, eyes still closed. 

“I left to protect you, I thought you were human.” It clicked, slowly in my exhausted brain, but I got it. 

“The wolf?” He nodded, still refusing to open his eyes. 

“Tristan was your guard. I had him follow you for days, just to make sure you were safe.” I nodded, I understood the paranoia. I didn’t fault him for it, in fact, I was rather grateful, I would be dead if not for Tristan. 

That ever persistent silence settled in again. His eyes remained closed. I took that moment to watch him, to just look at him. How alive and real he was. He was big and muscled, but most werewolves were. His arms and legs were longer than most though, if he were human he would probably be lanky. His hair was still dark as pitch, curled and slightly disheveled. Light stubble ran across his chin and throat, I couldn’t remember him having it before. 

His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, my heart throbbed a little. My eyes skated down his throat to his shoulders and then his chest. He was really well built, even in the navy blue button down shirt he wore I could tell he was lined with muscles. Painting him would be glorious, I bit my lip, wondering if he’d be opposed to nude modeling. That thought, I realized, was the wrong thought to have. My eyes continued their trek down his body, his torso, his legs, his thighs, imagining all of him naked. My heart squeezed and my core probably would have heated if I wasn’t so damn tired. I snaked my eyes back up his body, his long-fingered calloused hands, muscled arms, flat chest under the dark cotton, back up to his throat, and then his face. His sharp jawline, narrow lips and straight nose, and his eyes, his beautiful eyes, that were now open, staring straight at me. I almost shrieked, surprised and embarrassed, having been caught. His marvelously colored eyes now regarded me, shining a pure silver. The wolf watched me. I shivered and he groaned. 

“You have to stop that.” His voice was deep and husky, I could only imagine the self control he was expressing. The urges of the Bond were cut in half for me, due to the exhaustion and pain, yet still I felt the painstaking need to touch him, hold him, and make him mine. He growled low and harsh, it was a warning. And it meant he was past the point of speaking. I looked away quickly, forcing myself to think of dead dogs, soccer, mealworms, and math. 

A few moments passed and I could feel him slowly relax. I carefully turned back to look at him, a small smug smile hung on his face, I rolled my eyes and sunk back into the pillows. He chuckled and I fought the urge to pull the covers over my head. 

“Tristan said you called someone.” I looked over at him. So the man that had held the bucket was also the wolf that had saved my life. It seemed I owed him quite a lot. I nodded at Lupin. 

“My brother, Salem.” Lupin sighed, it seemed to be relief, I cocked my head but he didn’t explain. 

“If you want he’s allowed to come here, we could bring him if you wanted.” I tried not to laugh out right at the idea that they could bring my brother anywhere. I just shook my head. 

“He lives in New York. I was just assuring him.” He raised an eyebrow and I explained. “His wife’s an oracle, she sees the future. Unfortunately she only sees specific things, like the fact that I got hurt, but not the fact that I was rescued and survived.” He didn’t say anything but I could tell he had questions. The one he asked was:

“So you have no family in the city?” I went to shake my head and then remembered, sitting straight up and choking on a scream. The pain stabbing into me. Lupin stood up to help, but I waved him off. I really didn’t want to find out what would happen if he touched me. I turned to him, still grimacing at the pain. 

“My younger brother, Arrow.” I release a shaking breath. “He doesn't live around here but he’s visiting for the week.” I groaned, settling back down. “He’s probably going crazy trying to find me.” Lupin nodded. 

“We’ll bring him here, don’t worry.” I smiled at him and shook my head. 

“Leave a note on my door explaining what happened, he’ll come to you.” He shook his head. 

“It’d be easier if-”

“Lupin.” I cut him off, softly and he looked at me surprised again, I smiled. “You can not apprehend my brother. Just leave a note.” He pressed his lips together but nodded. I took it as an agreement. I mean, if they did try, it was their funeral. 

“You know my name.” I looked over at him. It wasn’t really a question but I nodded anyway. 

“I heard her call you Lupin. The… girl.” My voice growled even in my exhaustion. He chuckled lightly. 

“Her name is Rayen.” I grunted and he chuckled again. “She is my cousin.” I gave a nice un-opinionated “huh”. He smiled and looked at me for a few seconds. 

“Do I get to know your name?” I started, realizing he didn’t know. For me this week, staying away, had been torture, but at least I had a name for that torture. I looked at him, hating myself for being the cause of so much of his pain. 

The insecure part of me hesitated, what if he didn’t like my name? But I wanted to give him this, at least this, because, for now, I was unable to give him anything else.

“Fable.” I said, my voice soft but firm. “My name is Fable Walker.” Slowly, ever so slowly, a smile pulled at his lips. 

“Well, I’m Lupin Hunt.” I scoffed and smiled at him. 

“Nice to meet you.” He smiled back at me. A cat jumped up on the bed and almost scared me half to death. I recognized it immediately as a Norwegian Forest Cat, with it’s fluffy mane and tail. The cat in front of me was white striped with black, her almond eyes glowing yellow in the dim lighting. She regarded me for a moment and then proceeded to curl up on my chest. I looked incredulously at Lupin and he laughed. 

“Her name is Rane.” He chuckled and shook his head. “You took her spot.” I looked down at her and she watched me, then she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Carefully I petted her, her long fur was incredibly soft, I sighed as she purred against my chest. Lupin audibly snickered and I raised an eyebrow at him. 

“Don’t even start, you're the werewolf with a cat for a pet.” He shrugged and relaxed into the seat. 

“She found me, I had no say.” I chuckled, the relationship seemed familiar. Fatigue settled over me as the warmth of the cat rumbled against my chest. I smiled, my brain no longer in control of my mouth. 

“When I called my mom to tell her about you, she told me that it was just like me to wind up mated to a werewolf. She said I had alway been original, she was happy I had stuck with it.” I looked over at him smiling sleepily. “It makes total sense that you’re also original. I mean look at you, you're a werewolf with a cat.” I closed my eyes, the world fading away. “And have a banshee for a mate.”