"God, I love you so much I can't even find words. I would have lost it if you hadn't given me an excuse to get away!" Ben's return brought her back to reality. He put a plate down in front of her and a coke. "This woman is crazy as fuck!" he let himself fall next to her and only then he realized how distraught his mate was "Anya? What's wrong?" he wanted to know, suddenly worried.
"I…" Anya started but didn't know how to go on. "Do you feel obligated to be with me because I saved your life?" she finally blurted out, tearing up again.
"What the…?" Ben recoiled, realizing it must have something to do with Belinda because Anya had been perfectly normal ten minutes ago when he left her. "Whatever this Shithead said to you is bullshit. I have no idea what she intends with it but she just talks shit." He gently caressed her cheek so he could wipe away any stray tear.
Anya calmed down a bit "I think she feels entitled to you because you are both snow leopard shifters and you only waste yourself on a puny human like me because you feel obligated by something I did…" she relayed what Belinda had said.
Ben's eyes grew distant for a moment - a sign that Snow had something to contribute. Since some months Ben started to have kind of conversations with his beast Snow - mostly when the latter was riled by something. "Snow is pissed and wants you to stop giving a single fuck about her and what she says. And wants us both to know that even if she would be the only female in this realm he wouldn't be with her… and neither do I for the record." He finally relayed.
Anya gave him short a laugh "Figured that much when I saw you sitting next to her all stiff and tense… I knew immediately I needed to rescue you." she gave him a smile to show him there had been no jealousy involved. She trusted him absolute.
"I was so relieved when I felt your arms around me…" he laughed "No, I'm not with you because I feel obligated nor do I 'waste' myself on you." He smirked "You are my kind of crazy and that's why I'm with you… and why I love you." he kissed her and Anya enjoyed the gently touch. "Sorry I even gave this a second thought… I blame my after-debug insecurities. This day was wild!" She had completely relaxed under Ben's reassuring words and started to dig into the steak he had brought her.
"Plus she is a manipulative bitch…" Ben shook his head while he watched Anya eat "I mean the way she raised doubt in you… and in me." He gave a bitter laugh "When I tried to leave, she subliminal threatened to rat me out to Cian for not being hospitable and cause trouble." He sighed.
"Fucking Bitch." Anya agreed full mouthed.


"Anya! Glad you are here… Solved the bug or given up?" Cian joined the two developers while Anya still finished her dinner.
"Solved it." Anya smiled but her tiredness was visible "I already discussed it with Hardigan too after I finally found out what the hell went wrong and fixed it." She swallowed the last bite and decided to use the opportunity.
"Can we talk for a second, Cian… in private?" she asked him and gave Ben an apologizing glance. She didn't want to chew Cian out with an audience. That was probably not helpful.
"Sure…" her Boss agreed wary and Ben took the paper plates and empty bottles "I clean up while you are talking…" he offered because he didn't want Belinda to return to him "Ok, what's up?" Cian asked her when Ben was gone.
"I understand the Tribes situation is not easy at the moment with Puck stirring up the status quo, other groups watching us with eagle eyes. The threat of being attacked…" Anya started trying to be diplomatic. Her first instinct was a more aggressive approach but she didn't want Cian to go into full defense "But please… don't put Ben in a situation like this again by telling him to behave." She looked at a confused Cian.
"Well… he is quite unrestrained and has a loose mouth. I didn't want to chance…" he stopped midsentence and frowned "What happened?" he wanted to know, getting a feeling he might have messed up.
"One of the visitors - a Belinda - just tried to hit on him, not taking 'no' for an answer. He didn't dare to tell her off or go away because he didn't want to cause you or the Tribe trouble and she gave him the impression to do just this if he doesn't indulge her." She sighed "When I arrived he was all tense and stiff because she nearly sat on his lap..." She paused a second "Cian, Ben respects you a great deal. He'd rather suffer through something like this then to disappoint you." She explained.
Cian looked shocked, silent for a moment "Shit… I really didn't get Belinda doing this." he finally worded causing Anya to raise an eyebrow because he seldom swore "…thank you for telling me." He added and leaned back.

Ben returned and sat beside Anya again, putting an arm around her shoulder "Cian, when do you think it would be acceptable for us to leave? Anya is tired and I…" he was trying to find a way to tell his Chief that he didn't want to meet Belinda again but Cian just nodded.
"Go home…" he said with a smile "... and I'm sorry." He held Ben's eyes "Anya told me about what Belinda de Santi did. I know I said to behave but you don’t have to take someone harassing you."
Ben looked at Anya for a second, who just shrugged and hoped he wasn't mad at her for stepping in unasked. Ben nodded at Cian "Will keep that in mind." He got up again and offered his hand to his mate to help her up and Anya took it "See you tomorrow, Cian…" they waved and went off home.

"That's why you wanted to talk to Cian alone… to chew him out for my sake?" Ben had his arm around her shoulder again while they walked to the car. Anya's arm was around Bens back.
She smiled at him "That's what mates are for… watching out for each other." She answered and Ben chuckled "God I love you…" he kissed her head.

Belinda watched from a distance how the two walked away entwined. Her face was a scowl - how could she get rid of this human bitch?