Marcus

It had taken him a moment to understand what she was trying to tell him. A funny analogy, really. Mosquitoes meant vampires, and that was nasty business to be involved in. And a year? Christ. That was a long time to be stuck in a menagerie. He hadn't known people could be kept alive that long, hadn't wanted to really consider the people that the vampires had to use to feed. They were all supposed to be from the underbelly of society; homeless, runaways, addicts...people that still didn't deserve that fate - but were far easier to live with than the alternative.

He searched her face, which was withdrawn and tight, the fear starting to roll off of her in waves. The wolf in him surged, as if he too had made the connection, grating against his nerves like an itch that he couldn't reach.

"How did you get involved with...mosquitoes?" He asked, shifting his posture against the counter. He still held his fork in one hand, but the stack of pancakes had been forgotten for the moment. She took a deep breath and seemed to be steadying herself, shuffling her half eaten plate away. He probably should have waited until she was fed before asking about the bitemarks. The wolf, however, had not been willing to wait.

"I was working a story on drugs. There had been an influx lately, and the city I'm from isn't known for being...well...drug infested." Nadia said, drawing her hands back into her lap. He couldn't see the way she picked at her hands nervously, but he could hear it, a gentle picking sound against the base of the nail. "I was jumped. And when I woke up again, there they were."

He wanted to press for more details, but she was being intentionally vague. No doubt they were looking for her. She had to have been resourceful to escape, even more so to have stayed on the run long enough to find him, but they would want her dead. She was a liability. Humans were unaware that vampires existed, although he failed to see how at least one of them had not figured it out. Shouldn't someone have known that if one nightmare, or two, were true then it was likely that every other monster in the night was too? He set down the fork he'd been holding, pushing away from the countertop until his hands were holding him up against the marble almost as if he were going to do a push-up against the surface.

"I won't lie to you." He said slowly. "They will find you, no matter where you go...especially if you've been theirs for a year." He watched her stiffen, a fresh blast of fear enough for the wolf to send him a flash of irritation. They could protect her. Vampires were tough, but they had won the last fight with bloodsuckers. He wanted to protect her.

I don't think you can count that a victory. He told the wolf, shaking his head.

They are dead. We are not. The wolf countered, rising to the challenge.

Marcus knew it was of no use arguing with the beast. He glanced up, finding that the girl was watching him, those green eyes silently looking for hope. He sighed, straightening up. God, he'd need a stiff drink after this.

"You are under my protection. I'm not going to let the Vam…," He hesitated. "Mosquitoes...get you. I swear it to you, as Alpha of Detroit, that none shall harm you while you are within my territory." He let the authority of the decree roll through the room, though there would be none that could feel it. He was essentially a lone wolf, only an Alpha in name. He lead no one, which was a requirement of being an Alpha.

She visibly relaxed, her shoulders loosening for a brief moment before tightening up again. He could hardly blame her. Using one monster to get away from another didn't sound like the greatest of ideas.

"Relax." He murmured. "You're making him anxious." He gave a wave in her general direction, a flash of gold in his eyes indicative of who he was talking about. Nadia straightened in her seat, picking up her abandoned fork and cutting into the pile of half-eaten pancakes. He watched as she swabbed them in syrup, keeping her eyes down, and brought them up to her mouth. A strange satisfaction swept over him, watching her eat the food he had prepared.

Marcus brushed a hand against his head, feeling the reality of what he had agreed to start to sink in. Now he was the one having trouble breathing. He shoved himself off the counter, watching himself walk away from above rather than consciously. His thoughts turned to Bran. Ever since his daughter had declared the sovereignty of a pack's claim, he had cut ties with her at least for appearance's sake. He doubted the Marrok would actually turn from his flesh and blood, adopted or not, but Marcus was neither. He had staked a claim on his territory, and that included a human woman who had put her nose a little too close to the shit. He also didn't have the benefit of a pack to back him up on that claim. Hell. What was he thinking?

You can not send her out there for the slaughter. His wolf said, his presence less reassuring that he had made a smart choice. She is ours now. Mine.

Oh and when the hell had that happy little revelation come about? He posed back, the muscles in his neck starting to strain as he tried to organize his thoughts. He thought about his contacts, those with stronger ties and resources that he could send her to. Hauptman was an easy choice, he was a visible presence and one of the strongest Alphas in the country...if not the world. What was he again? Fourth...fifth? He couldn't recall.

"Hey...uhm...Devato?" A small voice, drawing his attention. When he turned, he noticed Nadia's recoil and quick drop of the eyes. Doing a mental check, he could tell the muscles in his face must have been twisted into one of those resting bitch faces things. Alana had teased him about that often, a twinge of pain twisting his heart as he shoved the thought away.

He passed a hand over his face, giving the scruff of his jaw a scratch and forced his eyebrows to unclench.

"Yeah?" He said, his voice like gravel. He cleared it, and tried again. "Yeah?" Better. Slightly.

"Look...uh...I don't want to be a bother. I can go, if this is too much for a stranger to ask. I get it, I really do." She said, shifting her posture so that she crossed her arms over her chest.

"No." His voice more firm than he intended. He tried again, feeling flustered and frustrated by the feeling. "No, it's okay. There are just some...things I have to prepare. People to call."

"Your pack?"

Well wasn't that just a kick in the balls. He dropped his eyes to the floor, studying the wood grain.

"No. There is no pack here anymore. Just me." He said gruffly, his tone indicating the end of the conversation. She did not seem to pick up on that hint.

"What? There's no way just you can protect me." She started to protest, unaware that she had just given him an insult. He swallowed against the anger in his throat, feeling his hands curl into fists at his side. His wolf raged within as well, hence the need for concentration. I can protect her. I. I. He howled, the thoughts slamming against his brain like a battering ram and splitting him in two.

"If you really believe that, then get out of here." He said sharply, his feet heavy on the floor as he took leave towards his office.