Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters! This is fanfiction. It's not the real thing.
Note: This chapter is not edited or proofread. I had it somewhere on my computer for quite some time. I'm trying to find a couple of other chapters I had on my old computer, very sexy things. I'll post them if I manage to recover them. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Thanks for reading.
Scent
The Arrows poured into the designated spot between Dark River and Snow Dancer just about the wake of dawn. The small meadow hummed to the beat of men and women at work.
Sascha Duncan, happy to serve as an emphatic advisor to the Arrows, enjoyed spending time with Ivy Jane. The young woman proved to be wise beyond her age, with a sharp mind, ingrained strength and friendly demeanor. The two strode around the grounds side-by-side, giggling all the while.
Rabbit, Ivy's dog, ran in circles around each Arrow until he got their attention. Sascha watched in awe as each one of the Arrows stopped what they were doing and engaged in a short play of "stick" or gotten a belly rub with the small dog.
"It looks like Rabbit has become a member of the squad," Sascha said, giggling as Rabbit padded up to another Arrow and dropped a stick on the ground in front of him.
"Of course, Rabbit is loyal," Ivy said, "and he's very protective, which are fundamental Arrow requirements. He's also a good company."
"You never told me how you found Rabbit," Sascha said.
"I found the little thing sick and battered," Ivy said, a frown replacing the smile on her face. "I was so close to breaking, but I nursed him back to health, and he did the same for me. I think he goes the same for the Arrows."
"Have any of them considered getting a pet?" Sascha asked, but her gaze focused on the interaction between the canine and the scary-looking Arrows growling the territory.
"I'm not sure," Ivy replied, "but that's a great idea."
Sascha followed Ivy to the Arrow's headquarters, where Lucas stood with Vasic. She wrapped her arms around her mate, finding comfort and a feeling of safety in his arms. Rabbit trotted happily to her side with a stick in his mouth, dropped it on the floor, and sat back to look up at them. Sascha laughed, threw the stick and waited for him to come back with wagging his tail.
"He likes to make everyone feel included," Lucas noted, watching the pup carry the stick back and dropping on his feet.
"Ivy says he was fundamental to her mental health and growth," Sascha said.
"Dogs are often loyal and friendly," Lucas responded. "Pets are often used during trauma therapy and to develop socialization skills with children."
The thought that struck Sascha's mind had her looking up at Lucas with a manic glint in her eyes. The panther arched a full brow and stared at his mind with a knowing smile on his face.
"We should get a dog for my mother," she pathed her mate, knowing that their psychic bond allowed for clear communication.
Lucas responded with raised brows and a grin on his face. He kissed his mate's forehead and nestled her closer into his chest. "I don't see Nikita taking care of a dog."
"We can tell her it's temporary," she said, "until she recovers."
Sascha's heart ached for her mother. Nikita had been shot only three weeks before, an assassination attempt that had left her weak and temporarily bed-bound. Nikita was now home, but she was still recovering from major surgery, and she was alone.
Nikita and Sascha had a moment in the hospital. The moment had lasted over five to eight minutes, but it was genuine.
"We can get her a guard dog," Sascha said.
"We can?" Lucas chuckled. Sascha slapped his shoulder suppressing a smile.
"Let's go," she said, taking his hand and pulling out of the small meadow. There was a song of joy in her heart, which accompanied a small flame of hope. Lucas, as she expected, let himself be guided out of the small campsite.
An hour and a half later, Sascha was guiding her mate into a pet rescue shelter near Chinatown. Lucas sniffed the air and grimaced. Sascha could only imagine all scents he was able to register. The shop was big, filled with the sounds of cats, dogs and other animals hosted in the shelter. It was a small zoo of domesticated animals.
"What breed would make a good guard dog?" She asked her mate.
"Dogs are not my area of expertise," he answered, amusement enlaced in his words. "I have a preference for cats."
"Hawke?" She wondered.
"He might know," her mate answered, digging for the cellphone in his pocket.
The conversation was brief.
"Sascha's is looking for a guard dog," he asked a statement that was followed a growl that made the other patrons in the store stare their way.
"I can take care of my mate, wolf. It's for Nikita."
"What did he say?" She asked.
"German Shepherd," Lucas answered the phone back in his pocket. Sascha walked through the isles of the kennels. The small and sad faces staring back at her from behind the bars.
"Can I help the pretty lady?" The throaty question came from an elderly man with wide blue eyes hunched over his cane.
"We are looking for a German shepherd," Sascha answered. The man cleared his throat before answering.
"A guard dog," he said. "German shepherds are very loyal and intense animals. They become to be very protective of their family, their pack. Are you sure?"
"Yes," Sascha nodded.
"Very well," she said, slowly turning, and dragging his feet slowly, he walked to the pen at the back of the store. Sascha and Lucas stared into the pen only to find a small pup with black and brown fur. He looked up at them with wide and sad puppy eyes and give out a moan. They circled around in his cage before turning onto his back and showing her his soft belly.
"The poor thing lost his family," the man said. "My daughter found him abandoned in a garbage dump."
"We'll take him," she said, feeling a pull of affection for the small dog.
"He had a wound on his paw," the man continued, "and he's still recuperating. It needs proper care."
"I'll make sure of that," she said. The man grabbed the dog by gruff of his neck and deposited him on Sascha's arms. The little thing greeted her with a long lick on her face and a yip.
Nikita POV
Sascha walked into her mother's penthouse apartment charged with dog food, medicine, and other accessories.
Nikita stared down at the large dog sleeping soundly in her arms.
Sascha's presence, she had to admit to herself, was not unwelcome. However, it was unexpected. She continued to hold herself up, making an effort to appear stronger and healthier than in actuality. The pain around her shoulder and neck was blinding, but she couldn't turn off nerve receptors. She couldn't and would not appear weak.
"Why are you here?" She asked her daughter, her mind revisiting the memory of their last interaction.
"I wanted to see you," Sascha said, shrugging her shoulder. "Shouldn't you be in bed resting?"
"No," she said, but didn't elaborate. Sascha's question only required a yes or no answer.
The young empath sighed and ran her hands over the head of the small dog in her arms. The pup's eyes blinked open, and with a yip, he jumped up and licked Sascha's face.
"Mother, how do you like my new friend?" She asked with a chuckle and deposited the canine on the floor.
The dog looked up at Nikita with narrowed eyes. Then, he sat up prowled around the councilor in a circle, sniffing loudly.
"He is a canine," Nikita noted. "Pets are not authorized in the net."
"Well, now they are," Sascha answered.
"What is he doing? Nikita asked, watching the dog speeded up his prowl into a stride. The animal circled her once more, stopped in front of her and yipped.
"He's assessing you," Sascha said, "and I think he likes you."
"Then your dog has no sense of self-preservation," Nikita replied.
Sascha laughed, and Nikita held against a throbbing pain in her chest.
"Well, the dog is yours," she said, "I got him for you."
"What am I supposed to do with a dog?" Nikita asked.
"A guard dog," Sasha replied, "to guard you."
"He's small," she said.
"Of course, he's a pup," Sascha answered, "but he's already big for his age according to the seller."
"No." Nikita couldn't take care of a dog. She didn't know how to take care of anyone, not even a self-sufficient pet. "You shouldn't be here."
"It's too dangerous, I know." Sascha shook her head. "It's too late. I'm already here, and if you don't accept the dog, then I'll make sure to come every single day."
"I could kill him," Nikita replied, intrigued by her daughter's blackmail. "You wouldn't like for an innocent thing to die."
"Stop fighting it, I brought everything you need," Sascha replied. "Give him three months, a probationary period."
The silent leopard next to Sascha grinned and dropped a large bag on the floor. "I'm sure Anthony will help you take care of this new friend."
Nikita stared at him for a few seconds until his smirk on his face faltered. He turned away his gaze like a child that had been reprimanded.
"Where is Anthony?" Sascha asked.
"How should I know?" she asked.
"Mother," Sascha rolled her eyes. "You smell like him now. You won't be able to hide your relationship from changeling."
Nikita blink and found Lucas' eyes.
He nodded.
"Anthony is in a conference with a changeling conglomerate," she said. "If my enemies find out about this…"
"He's a force to be reckoned with," Sascha grabbed onto her mother's hands before she could finish her sentence. "Your union, it only makes you and him stronger."
"This is not a union," Nikita unclasped her hands from her daughter and talk over to her organizer. "This needs to end."
"No!" Sascha marched up to her mother and removed the device from her hand. "This is not how it works, mother."
"If I may give my unsolicited opinion," Lucas said, coming around to face the women. He wrapped an arm around his mate and draw her closer.
The pup padded around Nikita's legs before barking up at her to assert his opinion.
The older woman looked down at the dog, "everyone is a critic."
Lucas smiled, "you need to talk to Anthony about what's next in your relationship. In any other situation, the nature of your relationship is inconsequential. But the reality is that your lives are tethered to the financial markets. Not to mention, you have become figures of public interest."
"What are you trying to say, leopard?" Nikita asked.
"All of our lives are already intertwined," he said, dropping a kiss on Sascha's forehead. "It doesn't matter whether you are in a relationship with Anthony or not. You just have to let people know that he's also under your projection. I know you're already under his protective hands.
The pup at her legs grunted and scratched the top of his ears with his hind legs. He stared up at Nikita with wide eyes and tongue out.
"What's his name?" She asked.
"You name him," Sascha said, "he's yours."
"Is that so?" She asked. "Let's call him Leopard."
"You are short of calling him Lucas," the alpha said with a grunt.
"I thought about it," she said. "It would be too confusing."
"She likes you," Sascha pathed at her mate and stroking his cheeks to smooth out the frown on his face.
Note: This chapter is not edited or proofread. I had it somewhere on my computer for quite some time. I'm trying to find a couple of other chapters I had on my old computer, very sexy things. I'll post them if I manage to recover them. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Thanks for reading.
