Note || Alpha Order

Loveless swallowed softly as she continued to stare, unmoving from the swing. Thoughts of running quickly fled. That was considered chase to a wolf. Which was stupid, he was clearly of the four-legged variety while she was of the two. That would not end well. And Vic would be so pissed after all of the new clothes he had just bought her.

She heaved a small sigh and swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. A slow warm tingle settled behind her ribs. Loveless felt her hands grip the chains tightly as she did her best not to run.

Deep brown eyes tracked her movements as the gentle breeze moved the swing every so slightly. His eyes studied her hair, watching the wind play with it. He moved closer, shrinking down on his haunches as he did.

Loveless felt a laugh strangle in her throat. Was he trying to seem less imposing in stature? A cold sweat broke out across her skin. "There is a part of me that knows I should run."

'No, you need to stay, Firefly.'

A slightly hysterical laugh fell from her throat as she watched the wolf cock his head to the side. Is he listening to me? She blinked owlishly and tried not to jerk suddenly. The wolf seemed calm at the moment, and he needed to stay that way.

"But, there is a chance that I am going completely insane." Her voice was soft as the wolf edged closer. The warm tingle settled low in her body, spreading through her stomach as it eased nausea that had curled inside.

The wolf edged forward.

It's getting closer! Loveless let a small burst of laughter push from behind her lips. "Just stay there."

'Paul, should you be doing that?'

The wolf shook his giant head, the fur shifting too and fro. 'I'm curious, besides, we should learn now how she feels about this.' He sat back on his haunches, he didn't want to scare her away. Didn't need to scare her, it wouldn't do them any good - not in the long run.

'Paul . . .' Jared called out through their link. 'That doesn't mean tonight is a good night.'

The wolf did his best to not out-right sigh like a human. His pack was cautious little puppies sometimes, he still questioned how he became the leader at times like this. But then again . . . It was better he took the risk and protected the pack first. If anything was going to hurt them, it was going to need to go through him first.

'Tonight was just a regular patrol. But we've had a couple of incidents. The last thing we need is for her to be uncovered.' Sam injected after a few moments. 'They've already gotten close once, we don-.'

Paul cut them off from his mind link as he returned his focus to the woman in front of him. The wolf in him purred deep in his chest as her eyes stayed glued to him. His wolf liked that, eyes just on him, no one else.

"I'm going crazy." Loveless murmured. "First the voice in my head that even gave me a nickname, then the outburst at school . . . now a giant-ass wolf that I think can understand me." She groaned and let her head fall to rest against her chest. She had to be going crazy.

He frowned but stayed in place. What did she mean voice in her head . . . And what the hell had happened at school?! His snout scrunched as he let out a snort. His ears flicked as Paul listened to her voice wash over him. He was going to have some serious questions when he got back to human form.

"Well," Loveless heaved a soft sigh and pushed against the ground as she started to sway back and forth once more. "If I'm going to die, I might as well enjoy what time I have left."

'He isn't going to hurt you Firefly.'

She twitched slightly before shaking her head. She had about had it with the voice in her head. It wasn't that useful, hadn't done anything for her yet. A bunch of secrets and morse code filled sentences. "I have no idea why, but this voice inside of my head - and no, it's not an inner voice - keeps telling me that you are safe." She snorted and shook her head. "I wouldn't give myself a nickname - there is no way it's an inner voice."

Paul's head cocked to the side as he flicked his ears, letting her know that he was listening.

"I've had the voice for a while." She swayed on the swing, the wind giving her a gentle push. Her nose scrunched. "You are too far away for this kind of conversation." The curls bounced as she nodded her head and reached out for the wolf. Now or never. "I'm going crazy."

Paul's wolf lips pulled back in a wicked grin as he stood and moved forward. He trotted forward and off to the left, before sitting down in front of the unoccupied swing. He tilted his head to the side and flicked his ears once more, it was the easiest way to communicate with her without frightening her.

A soft smile pulled at the corners of Loveless's lips. "You are quite beautiful." Her icy eyes roved over his fur. "In this light . . . You are dark silver." A soft murmur fell from her lips. "I didn't think this color was possible." She wanted to touch soo bad. "I've always seen gray and what people try to call silver."

Paul couldn't help but preen under her gaze. He pushed himself up to be taller and puffed out his furry chest. The wolf in him purred.

"The voice," she paused as her hands tightened around the chains once more before her feet pushed against the ground. "I've been hearing it since I came to this place." Her nose scrunched. "It's not mine - it sounds older, wiser." She breathed out into the night air and swayed. "It told me to turn back the night I blacked out."

He growled softly in the back of his throat. He hadn't liked that night. Paul did his best to keep his upper lip from pulling back to reveal sharp white teeth. Heat swam through his veins as his fur prickled down his spine. Paul let out a snort and shook his giant head. He needed to focus on the woman before him, and do his best not to scare her.

"It almost seems like you don't like that." Her voice was soft as she mused, to herself really . . . "The voice also told me you were safe."

Paul's ears flicked at that statement. His front paws dug into the dirt as he stretched, muzzle lifted towards the sky. He opened his mind link once more. 'What kind of voice would be able to do that?' He reached out to his pack, selectively choosing Jared and Sam before closing the link once more. Paul would let them mull it around and check-in with them later.

"I think . . . I think I might have heard it once when I was a child." Her brows pulled low as she stared up at the night sky. "There is this fuzzy memory." Loveless let out a soft breath. "I don't remember everything." She swallowed softly. "It was cold, so cold. I think . . . I was underwater." She bit at her lower lip. "Everything was so blurry, and I couldn't get to the top."

Paul did his best to steel his spine. He didn't need to upset her.

"Someone saved me." She swallowed and breathed in deeply. The memory always made it hard to breathe. She couldn't remember how she got in the water. She couldn't remember where she was at the time. But she did remember it was hard to breathe and her skin burned. Like she was on fire, but there was so much water. "I know that the one who saved me and the one who took credit for it are not the same."

He snorted softly. How do you know that? He had so many questioned he wanted to ask. But there was no way he could do that.

"They didn't feel the same." She squinted as she stared out at the sky. "It's like I can feel the trade-off from one set of arms to the other." Loveless let out a soft breath. "I do recall the voice though. 'Don't be scare Firefly they will protect you.' And then I think I blacked out."

Paul edged closer and laid his head down on her knee. This was the best he could give for comfort in this form. He hoped it would help. Paul did his best to breathe softly. His body melted as he felt her hand come down on top of his head, fingers starting to sift through the fur. He let a soft purr bubble in his chest.

"That was when I noticed the scars on my back." Loveless swallowed softly. "Everyone just assumed they came from my father." Her voice was timid as she spoke, afraid to voice it too loud. "Some thought it was my mother . . . It wasn't, neither of them." Loveless breathed in slowly and continued to card her fingers through the wolf's soft fur. "I let them and that doctor believe it was one of my parents - it was her deduction and I didn't see a reason to change her mind."

He huffed out a little breath and nuzzled closer. Where did the scars come from then? His muscles spazzed as he did his best to stay in place.

"They thought it was the reason I was with my father . . ." Her nose scrunched as she did her best to let the memories glide over her - she didn't want to dig too deep. Loveless took a moment to focus on running her fingers through his fur. "When he committed murder/suicide the doctors noted newer scars."

"The voice was also there when I woke up. . ." Loveless swallowed hard and took a deep breath to focus her wandering mind. "It kept repeating 'I'm sorry' over and over." Her gentle voice carried out over their little bubble. She carded her fingers through the soft fur and a sort of meditative comfort. "I get new scars every couple of months, and three new scars on every birthday." She chewed on her lower lip. "It's slowed down as I've gotten older."

Paul rumbled deep in the back of his throat as he nosed at the hand that had stopped massaging his scalp. Come back, sweetheart. His shoulders dropped as she continued to focus on the distant dark sky. Paul's tongue lulled out of his mouth and reached for the hand in front of him.

"Oh!" Loveless blinked a few times. A soft smile covered her lips as she focused back on the wolf in front of her. "I'm sorry about that." She heaved a soft sigh. "I didn't realize I needed to get that all off my chest." Loveless's smile stayed in place as she started running her fingers through his fur once more.

Paul keened softly as the ability to pull her back to the present.

Loveless let out a sigh.

. . .

Vic let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't like him being that close to her." His lips twisted into a frown as he glanced out the window once more. "He should not be around her while in animal form." Vic did his best not to outright snarl. He was aware of the animal's super hearing. He was also aware that they could get around it if they stayed quiet enough. Though, Vic wondered at this moment if Paul was even aware of any of his surroundings.

"It's too late to try and keep them apart," James murmured from his side of the bed. He stretched before pulling the covers back. "Princess is already getting attached." James hummed softly as he wrapped his arms around Vic's waist. "Besides we both know he's fully aware of everything around them." He breathed in softly as he nosed at the other's neck. "That is the safest bubble possible until she rebirth."

Vic huffed softly. "I know that." A pout marred his lips as he glanced out the window once more. "She's speaking with him." He chewed on his lower lip and leaned back against the male behind him. "Lovely doesn't even realize how much she has begun to trust him."

"I know." James tightened his grip as he comforted his lover. "This just means our princess will be safe and strong." He hummed softly as he tugged the other back towards their warm bed. "She needs to experience love both family and thereafter." James placed Vic on his side of the bed before tucking him. "That was what her mother wanted."

Vic curled towards James as the other joined him in bed. "I know, she's told us many times in the aeir." He let out a slow breath and wrapped his arm around James' stomach. "But he will burn if he's not mean to be her thereafter."

"Of course you will baby." James grinned and tightened his grip around Vic's shoulders. "And I will help you." His warmth swirled as it mixed with the other. No one was going to hurt their Princess, not like that. "Now, get some rest and let them bond."

He murmured a couple of choice words under his breath as he settled down and closed his eyes. Vic breathed in the warm scent of spices and burning wood. His senses tingled as he let the scent consume him fully. "Sleep well, and keep an eye on our Princess." Vic's voice faded as he let sleep guide him deeper into the dark.

"I will," James whispered before placing a soft kiss on Vic's forehead. He let out a deep breath as he let his system slow. He focused on the one beside him as he calmed into a soft daze. James wouldn't mostly fall asleep until his Princess was back inside.

It was the protector in him, a resolve that he had promised to himself long ago, inside of both of them. Neither of them slept fully when it came to protecting their princess. A part of them was always awake; keeping track of their princess to make sure she was safe. The only time one of them could even try to fully sleep was if they were both together watching over their Princess. James usually kept watch, Vic needed bribery on his side to get James to let go and sleep.

James was the oldest of the three. Much, much older than the other two. James had traveled the world for ten years before coming across anyone. The Queen has given him a mission - Find my Daughter, your Princess. And that was exactly what James had set out to do. It had been difficult, nothing but the Aeir to keep him company.

He had moved across the world, from Italy to Cube, from France to Brazil, from Scotland to Africa. James searched the entire world looking for the Princess. He had been confessing his fears of never finding her when their Queen had spoken to him of finding his Thereafter.

James had frowned, "That can be done after!"

"No," She whispered as she floated down beside him. Her spirit shimmered in the soft moonlight. "No, it cannot." She swallowed softly. "I'm fading." The words fell from her lips with a soft tremble.

He swallowed hard as his eyes widened. "What?"

That was never a good thing. There was only one reason you would fade once entering the Aeir. Your loved one was hurting; growing closer to death. It was a special trait all Pheorians had. The ability to tap into the essences of their ancestors in the Aeir. A Pheorian could use the essences of their ancestors to stay alive, to keep breathing.

"It's okay," her voice was gentle as she tucked a couple of strands of hair behind his ear. She was growing weaker as more of her essence was passed to her child to keep her safe. "I know you two will find her." She smiled sweetly. "I know you will keep her safe." She let out a soft breath as she shimmered and her spirit dimmed. "And as she grows stronger and no longer needs me, I will return to you."

That was the first time he had cried since the passing of their Queen. He was failing. James had one job to do and he was failing. A calming warmth settled in his bones as resolve washed over him. He was going to find his Thereafter and he was going to find their Princess.

James let out a soft breath and hugged Vic closer. It hadn't been long after finding Vic, that together they had found their Princess. He focused on the two heartbeats that soothed him to his core. He had found his family. A soft smile covered his lips as he listened to the lilt of Lovely's voice more so than the words. She was safe.