The next morning Kyle, Isaac and a sleepy grumbling Paul are jogging through the forest. "Shouldn't there be snow?" Kyle says after several minutes. "It's coming." Isaac says "We always have a bit of snow by Christmas. "Snow cover will make it hard for me to jog back here, we'll have to use the road." Paul says hoping over a fallen branch on the rough trail they are following. "That's fine." Isaac says. "Safer for us back here but we'll figure something out. Quit stalling." He says with a swat to Paul's backside as he speeds up. "Let's get a move on money ass." Kyle laughs placing his hand on Paul's back and pressing as he picks up the pace. Paul laughs and increases his speed winking at the amused look Isaac gives them over his shoulder.
Later that day the woman is standing in line at Starbucks. Somewhere… She thinks. She'd felt the presence of the supernatural in the area of this and a few other businesses in town. Feeling a tug she turns and focuses on Paul who is walking through the lobby. She watches as he glances over towards an empty table and grins. "Odd." She says to herself. Leaving her place in line she starts to follow him towards the elevator bank. "Hold the door please." She says speeding up. Paul holds his arm out blocking the door. He greets her with a smile. "Thanks." She says. "You're welcome." He replies. Curious. No spark. Must be in very close proximity to have such an imprint. The elevator stops on the next floor. As the doors open her face sours as she steps to the far back corner of the elevator. Looking down she pretends to busy herself with something in her purse. "Morning sunshine." Danny says with a smirk stepping in to the elevator. "They nearly killed me this morning. Don't hold it against me if I pass out before lunch." Paul says shaking his head. "How's the arm?" Danny says placing his hand on Paul's shoulder gently. Paul winches slightly. "Still tender." Danny pulls his hand back trialing his fingers along the side of Paul's neck. "Sorry I thought it would be feeling better by now." The door opens again and they both step out. Fool! Letting that animal scent mark you in public. She thinks darkly. She holds back a second and then follows them down the hallway. They turn a corner chatting quietly. She focuses on them and amplifies their conversation. "Come back to my office a few minutes let me help you. I can't believe they let you leave if you were in pain." "I didn't tell them. They spend all day every day worrying about me I just wanted to give them a break." They turn a corner then and their conversation is cut off. Turning the corner a few seconds later she sees they have entered an office suite. "Cerberus." She whispers to herself. As she is heading back to the elevator she pauses as she feels a spike in supernatural energy. A cruel grin forms as she waits for the elevator. "Pack human. Making this too easy."
In Danny's office Paul is sighing and slumping against the wolf in relief as he siphons his pain away. "Thanks." Danny frowns in concern. "I had no idea you were in so much pain how are you hiding it?" "I mostly just try not to focus on it. Beyond the smell of my being in pain most of the packs ability to sense it on me seems to come from the bonds. So long as I don't focus on it it's harder to sense." Paul looks at Danny with a frown. " I was honest with you because you asked. Please don't tell Kyle and Isaac. I'm not in danger. There is no reason to tell them. OK?" Danny is silent for a moment before he nods. "OK. You did tell me though. So promise you'll let me help you?" "Sure thing. I'd take the stuff the doctor prescribed but….." Danny sighs and finishes for him. "Everyone hates the smell. Paul it's not fair for you to be in pain for the sake of our noses. It's not like it's a terrible stink it just covers up your normal scent with an artificial chemical smell." Paul straightens up and pats Danny on the arm. "It's really OK. Not a big deal." "OK." Danny says after a moment. "How are you coming on the SAN upgrades?" Paul grins glad for the change of subject. "Should be done by the end of the week. Hit a snag adding the extra trays but we tracked it down to bad firmware. The vendor is supposed to get us an updated patch today that should let us add the trays and get the capacity to where we want it." "Good, come see me later if you need me to…" Danny holds his hand out towards Paul and wiggles his fingers. "Will do. Thanks Danny." Paul gives his pack mate a quick hug then exits the office and heads to his cube. Danny walks over to his window and raises the blinds. He looks at Paul thoughtfully for a moment a slight look of worry on his face. Eventually he goes to his desk and gets to work.
Looking up a time later Danny sees Jeff talking to Paul. Respecting his pack mates privacy he doesn't listen in. He does however growl slightly when he sees Jeff touch Paul's arm and shoulder repeatedly. He is standing behind Paul leaning over him slightly appearing to show him something on his computer. Jeff eventually laughs and moves off. Danny walks out to Paul's cube and rubs his hand subtly over the spots Jeff had been touching. Paul looks up and smiles. "Thanks, he doesn't realize he's violating wolf law by touching me." Paul whispers. "Didn't you tell him you were taken?" Danny asks. "Yeah, that's just how he is. I've noticed him being a little touchy feely with other people. He never says anything inappropriate. It's just how he is." Danny nods and says quietly. "If he starts to bother you let me know. A mate smelling of another interested party is never a good thing." Paul chuckles. "Yeah believe me I remember what will happen to me." Danny freezes and then kneels down so he's eye level with Paul. He places his hand on Paul's leg and squeezes. "Hey. I didn't mean to bring that back up. You know he would never…" "I know." Paul says bumping Danny with his wrist. "It took a little while but I feel completely 100% safe with him. With all of you." Danny smiles. "You're our human we'd never let anything happen to you. How's the shoulder need any help?" "It's OK. If you take too much I'll get foggy brain and have trouble concentrating." "I don't know how good of an idea it is for you to be jogging so hard after dislocating your shoulder." Danny says with a frown. "It really doesn't hurt. It's just when I'm doing things that puts a strain on it like getting dressed, carrying things, opening doors." "OK." Danny says gruffly. "Just don't let anyone pressure you. It's not like we're at war the chances of you needing to take on half a dozen wolves in one night are pretty slim." Danny whispers with a grin. He stands back up and gives Paul's good shoulder a soft squeeze then walks over to someone else's cube to talk to them.
Later that evening Paul pushes back from his computer and stands. He rolls his neck and both shoulders. He's slow and ginger with the healing one wincing as the angry nerves make their presence known. Shutting his laptop down he reaches for his things. His hand pauses a blank look on his face. After a few seconds he shakes his head slightly and grabs his phone. Tossing it in his bag he heads for the door. Being the last one out Paul turns the alarm on and locks the entry. Out in the nearly empty parking lot he is almost to where Kyle is waiting at the curb when he pauses. Turning he scans the parking lot. Around the corner and out of his field of view the woman from before crouches pulling the hood of her black coat up over her head. She backs further in to the darkness and seemingly vanishes. "Paul?" Kyle calls. Paul looks back and sees Kyle standing next to Bumblebee looking tense. With a grin Paul resumes and is met by Kyle at the front of the car. "What's wrong?" Kyle says hugging Paul firmly and kissing him soundly. "Nothing. Just felt like I was being watched for a minute." Kyle peers over Paul's shoulder and sniffs the air. "Come on let's get you home. Better safe than sorry." He puts his hand on Paul's back and guides him towards the car placing himself between Paul and the building. "How's the shoulder?" He asks. "Not bad, Danny kept things under control." At the car Kyle opens the door for Paul and waits for him to get in before closing it. Just then the wind shifts. Kyle picks up the faintest hint of something in the air. What is that? He looks over his shoulder but sees nothing.