Max put the pan in the sink and let the cold water run over it before turning back to her coffee mug and wiping the counter down with a rag.

'This domestic shit is for the birds,' she thought to herself walking past Victor's piled plate of sausage and eggs. She'd left the meat a little on the raw side since she was used to cooking for herself. If he didn't like it, that was too bad. He should have told her how he wanted his food instead of molesting her in bed.

'You liked it," a voice sneered from the back of her head. Max frowned as she walked out onto the back porch to sit on the steps in the sun.

'No you liked it. You've been unusually chatty this morning,' she returned. Professor Xavier had told her that the best way to coincide with her animal had been not to talk back to it when it addressed her. The poor man had gone white when he'd entered her mind only to be mentally and verbally attacked by the figurative being that kept guard there before being forced out. The look on his face had been amusing but she gave her apologies all the same.

'Well someone has to guide you through this shit fest you've landed yourself in. If you wanted to be of sounder mind then you shouldn't have forged a gap between us to begin with.'

'That school was no place for you to run wild in. If I would've given you free reign we'd be right back where we started, on the streets! It might've been fine with you but it wasn't for me.'

'And being shut up in that school did us a lot better. You nearly got us killed and now you've saddled us with an Alpha that won't let us so much as take a shit without his say so.'

Why she was sitting here arguing with herself was beyond her. She sighed and supposed she should be great full, even if she only had herself at least she didn't feel like she would have to figure out this thing with Victor alone. She loathed to admit it but she had no idea what the hell was going on, her baser instincts were her only guide to navigating through this mess.

'You certainly seemed to like him well enough an hour ago,' she mused.

'Of course I did. He's the only male that you've let within 50 feet of us! If you didn't act like such a ninny there wouldn't be all this sexual frustration to deal with!' her animal snarled.

'I don't feel any sexual frustration,' she replied blandly.

'Well no shit! That's because I'm the one that's been holdin' it back!'

Max frowned.

'Why would you do that? I thought you were mad at me.'

'Because you flamin' idiot I have enough to worry about you fuckin' up without havin' you strut around like a bitch on heat. I've saved you from quite a bit of pain ungrateful bitch!'

Max frowned harder, becoming increasingly more confused. Exactly how much did she not know about herself? And why didn't anyone have the decency to tell her?!

'Maybe because nobody knows dip shit, how many other ferals have you ever seen much less known? And how many of them have been female?' She had a point.

'Even I don't understand how it works just that it's uncomfortable as hell. But all that aside, what's your game plan for the Alpha?'

'Alpha?'

'For fuck's sake, Creed, dumb ass!' She was getting tired of this mental abuse.

'I don't know, but quit fuckin' talkin' to me like that! I run this outfit not you! Not until I say you do! I'm sick of feeling like I'm tearin' in two, and I'm sick of fightin' with you! You were right, Xavier didn't give us the help we needed but maybe Victor gets what's goin' on. I don't know what I'm doin' but Godamnit I'm trying to get us put back together, that's what you want isn't it? So either help me get through this or sit back and shut the fuck up!'

She was breathing heavier after raging at herself but, strangely she felt a little better. The presence in her mind was quiet before it busted out laughing. Maybe she really was going crazy.

'There's that old spark I've missed so much. You're right I'm sick of being cooped up in here, but you better listen up 'cause I'll only say this once. You're gonna have to grow a pair, I'll be damned if I allow some hot-shot male walk all over me. We are NOT a coward, I can't believe you let him push us around as much as you did! Never the less you can't push him to far either, you have to be smart for both our sakes. I f you die I die and I ain't goin in the ground until we rip out the throats of those fuckers that killed our family.'

Max physically nodded. Her father taught her she didn't have to take anyone's shit especially a man's because he thought he thought he had the upper because she was a girl. She'd been born and raised a fighter, and she was ashamed to admit she'd been doing a piss poor job of showing it. Instead of running he would have told her to make a stand and kill those assholes for so much as looking at her the wrong way.

Angry resolve washed over her. How could she have almost forgotten who she was? She hardly recognized herself now. God he and Mom and especially Grandma would be so disappointed.

'Save the pity party for later darlin' you need to focus on the issue at present.'

'Right. So, what should I do?' Her animal was silent again. Good God if she'd just endured all that for her to sit here and not know-

'For now, let's stay alive. Creed's been playin' nice so far but don't be stupid and let your guard down. He hasn't really hurt us but he is not somethin' to fuck with ya hear? We'll take it a day at a time but you've GOT to start listenin' to me. You might find yourself in a position where I'm the only thing that can save your rotten neck. If it boils down to a fight you let ME handle it. You don't have the skill to take him on your own, the only thing we've got is our healin' factor which you better start takin' car of. I got this feeling we're gonna need it.'

Max silently agreed. Alright, that settled it, the game was on. Energy flowed through her like she hadn't felt in a long time. It was either her new resolve or trying to be closer to her animal. Either way she was ready, she'd put this off for far too long, it was past time to get down to business.

Victory curiously sniffed the food on the table. He didn't think the frail was stupid enough to try and poison him but he'd rather not spend the next two hours puking his guts out. Just in case she was a little pissed about almost succumbing to his manly charms earlier.

He quietly snickered to himself.

Speaking of the frail, where the hell was she? He followed her scent to the back door and saw her on the top step with the morning sun shining off her dark hair. She was a pretty thing he figured. He stepped forward only to stop and shift through the new smells surrounding her.

Resolve, determination, a faint layer of anger, and acceptance laced with something a little… wilder. She'd been thinking, and apparently conversing with her inner feral.

'Ah shit,' he swore to himself. He had a feeling he was about to get pissed.

"What the hell did I tell you about steppin' outside of this house?" he asked coming through the door. Max turned to regard him calmly over her shoulder.

"You said not to step outside while you were gone. I didn't know the rule applied to while you were here. I like to be outside, it's soothing. You can't expect me to stay cooped up in the house all day," she replied calmly. He growled.

"You'll stay wherever the fuck I tell you to, smart ass."

"Better to be a smart ass then a dumb ass," she said daringly. She wasn't going to him bully her into giving up one of the few things that brought her peace.

Wrong thing to say.

She was jerked up by the back of her neck before he slammed her against the rail of the porch, teeth bared inches from her face. Well fuck.

"It's still too early for you to be dishin' out sass pup. Don't write a check your ass can't cash," he snarled. Her fear was satisfying, and she surprised him with her own growl, the rims of her irises flashing gold. Conversing with her inner feral indeed. Looks like little she-wolf was waking up.

"It's too early for you to try and man-handle me all over the back porch," she snarled back. He tightened his grip on her throat. Who the fuck did she think she was?

"I'll man handle that sweet little ass of yours all up and down this fuckin' property of I feel like it. Yer cute frail, but not cute enough to get yer way out of an ass whoopin' if I have mind to give ya one so DON'T. TEST. ME," he finished with a roar. Her fear intensified but with it came anger.

She kept growling, she scared shitless but she'd die before she showed it. She was riding high off her little pep-talk to herself. If he thought he could slam her around her around and then expect her to take it he had another thing coming.

'Idiot! What'd I just say about being smart?! You'd better learn to pick and choose your battles, so far you're off to a shit start.'

'I got this! You said not to let him push us around, and that's what I'm doing.'

'I meant when you had a chance of winning you fool!' Max's growls increased and she dug her nails into Victor's arm.

"I did as you said, I didn't leave the house when you left, and I didn't. I figured it'd be fine since you were just inside. Take your hands off me! You're violating the conditions of the deal."

"That bullshit deal doesn't exist if I say it doesn't. We do things my way."

"If that's the case, I'm gone! Take your fuckin' hands off me!" Max screamed in his face. Victor brought her off the rail only to slam her against the wall of the house. She grunted when the breath was forced out of her lungs.

"You ain't goin any fuckin' place unless I tell you. I already told you you're mine. We're the same frail, which is a fuckin miracle in itself, and if you think I'll just let you walk away then you're a lot more stupid then I pegged you for."

She glared murderously at him and he couldn't help but admire her. The girl had brass ones, he'd give her that. He pressed his hips against hers and leaned in. She could feel the stiffness through his sweat pants.

"Gets me hard how wild you are right now baby girl," he rumbled in a low voice. "You best believe nothin' would make me happier then to bend you over that rail and fuck you 'till you howl. But do not make the mistake of thinkin' your cunt won't be just as sweet if the rest of you is in pieces."

Max fought to gain her footing. She had no doubt his words rang true, but she had needed to see how far she could push him. Apparently not far. She lowered her gaze and slowly released his arm, watching the holes reseal out of the corner of her eye. He could heal faster than her, but not by much, if she started eating right she would be even closer. She forced herself to relax and quietly waited.

Victor snorted.

"This is yer last free pass little girl, next time I won't be so generous," he said removing his hand but bracing it on the wall beside her and outing his face in her neck. Without hesitating he bit down into muscle and she gasped and whimpered loudly trying to get away from him. He caught her arms and pinned them on the wall before going still.

Soon her struggles ceased when she accepted there was no escape, he had her and she'd have to wait him out.

When he finally let her go, her knees were weak and she watched him lick her blood from his teeth as her body repaired itself.

"Don't forget your place pup," Victor warned. "Now get cleaned up and get dressed. We're going to get you some clothes."

She blinked stupidly before slowly nodding and sliding past him with her eyes down. Victor watched her disappear into the house and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He reached down to re-adjust his pants.

'Damn.'