Chapter 11:
Andromeda
The last two weeks had been the longest, and most enjoyable, of my life. When I wasn't enjoying Garrus, I was sleeping. When I wasn't sleeping, I was enjoying Garrus. He forced me to eat by denying me what I wanted most. Forced me to take my medications by denying me what I wanted most. By the time I felt some semblance of normal, I had become the most submissive wolf ever. When he said to do something, I immediately did it, no hesitation. When he said not to do something, I immediately stopped myself. I wanted him to reward me. I wanted what he would give me if I was a good girl. I wanted to be a good girl for him.
I woke up surrounded by darkness, my eyes taking a moment to adjust. It was a little after two am, and I was wide awake. And feeling back to normal. Rolling over, I got up to go to the bathroom. After staring at myself in the mirror for an insanely long time- trying to see if I looked any different after the time I'd had- I returned to the bedroom. Finding him awake and watching me.
"Hi." I greeted softly, climbing onto the bed and lying beside him.
He chuckled. "Hi." Reaching out and touching my cheek.
I leaned into his touch. "Was it good for you?" I was a little worried, because this wasn't something he was used to.
He looked at me like I was crazy. "Did I enjoy having my bond-mate go absolutely feral with her need for me? Like I said before, I'd be crazy to be upset over that."
Relaxing, I let out a sigh of contentment. "I'm glad."
"How are you feeling?"
I thought about it for a moment or two. "I feel refreshed. Like- I've never felt this good before."
"I'm glad." A wicked glint entered his eyes. "Juno told me that heat happens every year. Which means I'll get to have you like that in the future, too. Which is good. I'm looking forward to it."
I blushed, my smile wide. I was so glad he was accepting all of this so easily. There were wolf-human couples who went through hard times, because the human was unaccepting of the wolf side of their partner.
"I love you." I breathed.
"I love you." His nose rubbed against mine, and I giggled.
I pulled a face at a thought. "Although... That day, with the challenge... It does mean that I can still have more than one mate, even though we're fully mated." A frustrated whine escaped. "Which means I'll still have to deal with males demanding my attention."
"If the other encounters are anything like that..." A nip at my neck. "I could watch that again."
I laughed, leaning my head to the side to give him more room. "Noted."
"Oh, that's right." A pause. "Richard got a hold of your agent and rescheduled your fan meeting."
"Oh, no." I pouted, before a quiet moan left me as he continued his ministrations. "I was looking forward to that."
He rolled us so he was looming over me, a hungry glint in his eyes. I swallowed hard, the look sparking a fire in my body. Even with how we'd spent the last two weeks, he wanted more. I wanted more.
...
I sat there, listening, taking in every word. My father and Darius had talked to the most trusted warriors in the pack, pouring over every option they could think of, and they had come up with one that they were presenting to us today.
If I ordered food, they wanted me to order it from places that had at least one werewolf employee- which I was more than happy to do, there were plenty of those on the Citadel. They said it was good that my agent had someone look through my fan mail and that they wanted him to keep that up. They wanted me to either always be with Garrus or with another officer. Or a warrior. I was not to be left alone. Though that irritated me, I couldn't argue- someone had broken in while I was alone and taken pictures of themselves touching me. Yeah, I wasn't going to argue with that one.
Everyone in the room waited, barely breathing, while they waited for my response to the carefully laid out plan.
What do you think? I asked Garrus.
We don't order out much, so changing where we order from won't be an issue. He mused. I don't want you out of my sight since the pizza incident. I nodded slightly. Makes sense. I would feel better if someone was with you, even just outside the door. As for your fan mail, as long as that's already being looked through, I won't waste time worrying about that.
Alright. My gaze swept the room. "Alright."
A collective breath of relief filled the room.
"I don't want someone standing outside the door, however. If I'm to be watched by someone when Garrus can't be there, they will be in the apartment with me. If it's an overnight gig, they'll stay in the spare room. And I am formally requesting a female warrior." A pause. "A female stealth warrior."
"Stealth?" Darius asked, confused.
"Yes." Another, sharper nod. "I want someone who can blend in and not be seen. I'm asking... for one of our assassins."
He exchanged looks with dad, the warriors in the room murmuring to each other.
"Those are my conditions to all of this."
There was a bout of silence, before Father's eyes met mine. "Would you like to pick who you get?"
I shook my head. "That's not necessary."
"I will get this done."
"Thank you." I smiled a little.
With that, the rest of us- those not in on the actual planning of it- were dismissed. As we were walking out of the packhouse, a group of children ran past, bumping into me. I chuckled, helping the one that had fallen to her feet.
"Where are you guys going?" I asked, amused.
"We're going for a run!" The youngest, maybe ten or eleven, burst out.
"Oh, yeah?" I grinned. "Have fun!"
We watched as they sprinted off.
"How early do werewolves shift?" He asked quietly.
"Between eight and ten, usually. Some are late bloomers- they don't shift the first time until they're around thirteen." A wave of sadness swept over me, and he slid an arm around my waist, feeling it hit suddenly through the bond. "I was sixteen, when I first shifted. And I'm about the size of a first-shift wolf."
"It gives you an advantage in fighting, though." He reminded me.
What a turian thing to say. The thought made me chuckle, his words chasing away my melancholy.
"I love how you do that." I murmured.
"Do what?"
"You know just what to say to help me feel better."
"I'm glad I can be of service." A peck against the top of my head. "Do you want to run with them?"
Please?
I blinked. Gen. There you are. Where have you been?
Pleasantly sedated. A wistful sigh.
I suppressed a laugh. You wanna go for a run?
Yes!
"Gen wants to, so I guess I am." I smiled up at him. "I'll see you in a bit."
He opened his mouth, hesitating, before closing it again.
"What is it, love?" I asked, stroking one of his mandibles lightly.
"Can I watch?"
"Oh. Of course. I usually go to a little secluded space by the lake." Taking his hand, I walked into the forest with him.
"You're not joining the kids?" A curious lilt to his voice.
"Nah. They would be too overwhelmed having a royal in their group to really let loose and play."
A few minutes later found us standing on the edge of said lake.
"It's beautiful out here." He observed.
I nodded, slipping my dress over my head, feeling his gaze snap to me. "I agree. It's the perfect backdrop."
Without preamble, I shifted, letting Genesis take over.
Garrus
Her eyes were purple, indicating that Genesis was in control, if I remembered correctly. She looked up at me, eyes wide and roaming my form. The next second, she was launching herself at me, knocking us both to the ground. I let out a laugh as she started wiggling around happily, lapping at my face and neck. Like this, she reminded me much more of a lapdog than a ferocious wolf.
I ran my fingers through her coat, ruffling her fur roughly. She ate it up, whining whenever I would pause for too long.
A twig snapped in the brush behind us, and she froze, instantly on alert. Sniffed the air, before bounding of me, stopping just shy of the bush. Jumping around like an excited puppy, growling playfully. Another wolf, Isadore, launched herself from the forest, tackling her sister. They tumbled and rolled until Genesis was on top, pinning Isadore down.
Another female wolf lazily walked from the treeline, regarding me for a moment before laying down and watching the two play-fight. A male wolf joined her, licking the back of her head and ears- signs of affection, from what I'd read. I wondered who they were.
Turning back to my girl, I found she was on the bottom now, Isadore snapping at her face. It didn't look playful. When Genesis snarled, I realized they weren't playing anymore.
The male wolf let out a long, drawn-out growl, and Isadore whimpered, climbing off Gen and lowering to her belly on the ground. Was this wolf Darius? Isadore tried to slink toward the couple, but the female wolf snapped at her, an annoyed expression on her face.
Genesis slowly got to her feet, advancing on her sister. Through the bond, I felt a powerful rage slam into me.
Meda! Genesis! I called out to them.
There was no answer.
What's happening? Talk to me.
Isadore turned just in time to see Genesis launch herself at her. My girl grabbed her by the scruff of her neck, blood trickling through the older girl's fur. The other two wolves leaped into action, trying to get Genesis to release her. She only shook her head violently, threatening growls escaping her.
Without thinking, I rushed forward, grabbing her by the tail. "Genesis!"
She froze, slowly releasing her sister. She gently pulled her tail from my grasp, tucking it between her legs, and curled in on herself. Very clearly understanding she'd done something wrong, by the look of her actions.
I crouched so I could meet her gaze. What happened?
She tried to look away, but I caught her muzzle and guided her back to looking at me.
Genesis. My tone was ominous, even to me.
She said you wouldn't want us, if others kept coming out, saying they were our mates. She said you would abandon us. A whine left her as she whispered. I was angry. So angry. I'm sorry.
I ran my fingers through her fur. I'm not leaving you. I'm never leaving you. Okay?
Okay.
I am never going to abandon you. You're mine. And you always will be. Now. I'm not the one you need to apologize to.
She shifted in front of me, and I gathered her up in my arms, before walking her with me to grab her dress. I slid it over her head, while she looked on at the others, who had shifted, as well. I'd been right- Darius and Juno were looking over Isadore, and they were all dressed already.
Come on. I murmured, guiding her over to them.
Isadore's eyes slowly rose to Andromeda's, filled with tears.
"I'm-" My girl started.
"I'm so sorry!" Her sister burst into tears. "I was joking, and I took it too far! I'm so sorry! I never meant to upset you!"
Meda got down on her knees, pulling the other woman into a tight hug. "I shouldn't have gotten upset. I shouldn't have let Genesis keep control. I know better than to let an injured wolf have control. I'm so sorry."
Their brother and his mate watched with exasperated expressions.
"These two..." Juno sighed.
Darius nodded, letting out one of his own. "I know."
"Are they always like this?" I asked, bemused.
"Yes, unfortunately."
"It's hard to believe Isadore is older than her." I said without thinking.
"They're twins." He explained. "They don't look the same, but they are. Isa is thirteen minutes older than Drama."
"That... explains a lot." And it really did.
It also made her words from earlier, about her size, hit harder. With her twin being as large as she was, it was no wonder she felt the way she did.
She glanced over at me, tilting her head. What's wrong?
I blinked, confused, before realizing she must have felt my sadness on her behalf through the bond.
It's nothing. Just an errant thought.
She graced me with a soft smile, before squeezing her sister and coming over to us. To me.
"She'll be fine." She murmured, grasping both of my hands and intertwining our fingers. "It's already healed a lot. Superficial, mostly."
It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself.
I squeezed her hands gently, earning her eyes meeting mine.
"It's time for dinner." Juno said, getting everyone's attention.
"We'll head out." Darius gave Isadore a look, and she stood, going to him.
"I'll see you later." She smiled sweetly at Meda.
"Okay. We'll be there soon."
We watched them leave, until they disappeared into the trees. She let out a heavy sigh, letting go and sitting at the edge of the water, her bare feet slowly kicking at the water.
"What's wrong?" I asked, sitting beside her.
She leaned her head against my arm. "I just wish Isadore was more careful about her words. She's constantly getting into trouble over what she says- you'd think she would learn, after a while. But she's always been like this." A snort left her. "Yeah. I agree."
I tilted my head, curious. "With what?"
"Sorry. Gen said she's being a spoiled baby today." She raised a hand to the sky, squinting at the sunlight streaming through her fingers. "Juno told me that it might have something to do with me finding a mate that I want to be with, because I have the choice. And Isa hasn't met her one yet. She thinks she's jealous of me. Which, given what the conversation was about, I agree with her."
Anger filled me, coming from her, once again. I kissed the top of her head, and it dissipated.
"Sorry." She said sheepishly.
"I don't blame you." I assured her. "If someone had talked about you like that to me, I would have done more than just lightly injure them." A threat. A promise. A vow.
She relaxed against me and, before I'd realized it, she'd fallen asleep. It made me wonder how much of her emotions I felt. I'd have to ask later.