Eddward groans as he wakes up the next evening, his whole body sore and bruised. Kevin slowly opens his eyes, he immediately feels sticky and gross. Flashed of the previous night and day bombard him.
"Oh god... everything hurts... literally everything. I think I sprained something..."
"I'm going to kill you" Eddward groans trying to move his stiff and sticky muscles.
"You keep promising that but never delivering" Kevin sasses as he shakily stands and moves to help Eddward. He guided them to wade into the warm water. "My penis hurts... that's your fault, ya know?"
"My ass hurts, that it your fault you know" Eddward says sinking into the water.
"You asked for it! How is any of this my fault?!" Kevin feigns being accosted.
"It's your hormones and dreams that triggered it" Eddward snickers.
"You have no proof of that, sir!"
Eddward chuckles and slowly slips over to Kevin licking his neck eliciting a moan from him. "I don't have to have proof."
"You said your ass hurt, sir, so I don't know what you think you are doing" Kevin said through gritted teeth, holding back a moan.
Eddward chuckles "Mine does, but yours doesn't."
"My hips and back hurts" Kevin pouted, pulling his lover close and wrapping a leg around his waist.
"But not your ass" Eddward smirks pressing close to him.
"Not that I mind, because I don't, but shouldn't we be getting back to the house? God knows what Daniel has destroyed while we've been gone."
Eddward groans "Yes I suppose" he says pulling back.
"Then let's get back and I promise, I'll ride you all tonight" Kevin smirks, giving a teasing kiss and nip.
Eddward growls "I will hold you to that."
"Come on then! Let's get home!" Kevin said excitedly. Getting out of the water and quickly drying himself before putting his clothes on, he turned to heckle Eddward. "You're so slow..."
"Am I?" Eddward asks already completely dressed and was waiting for Kevin at the entrance.
"Fuck you..." Kevin takes off through the trees, flitting and getting faster and better at keeping his balance and not falling out of the trees. Eddward smiles and catches up easily 'You are getting better, mon amour' he sends through their bond. Kevin stumbled as he landed right outside the house. He panted and watched as Eddward landed gracefully. Shockingly, the house was still standing and nothing seemed to be amiss. Nazz and Marie came around the back with Daniel hanging off of the blonde wolf, biting and clawing at her face and ears.
Eddward chuckles. "You seem to have a ferocious little beast attached to you" he says in greeting.
"I know! And we have a new house guest! His name is 'Someone' and he broke a kitchen chair. Broke the leg right off."
Eddward sighs pinching the bridge of his nose. "Daniel…" he says in a warning tone, making the young wolf freeze and drop off the blonde to hide under her.
"It wasn't me, Eddward!"
"Who was it? Casper?" Marie asks sarcastically.
"Maybe it was you!" Daniel sasses.
"I don't have tiny wolf teeth" she sasses back.
"Daniel, come here. You are being disrespectful" Eddward says patiently.
Just the, Lucas comes outside with tools in hand. "I saved your furry little butt, Daniel. Don't be an ass" Lucas called out. Daniel sighed and moved over to Marie, nuzzling into her thigh, in a silent apology. Kevin watched "When did he get so tall?! We've been gone for one night!" he laughed.
"Mon amour, your kind go through growth spurts around his age" Eddward says matter of factly, making everyone look at him in surprise. "What? I was an Elder, it's basic knowledge" he shrugs.
"I didn't hit my growth spurt until I was 14... he's 10!" Kevin pouts.
"Almost 11!" Daniel cried happily.
Eddward chuckles as Lucas shifts uncomfortably "You were a late bloomer, son."
Kevin glares at his father "You can shut up, thank you."
Eddward begins laughing so hard he cries "A late bloomer!"
"The both of you can kiss my ass" Kevin growled out, crossing his arms and walking away into the house to see his mother.
Eddward regains his self-control and walks in after him "Mon amour..."
"What?"
"I am sorry, my love, but you know it was all I'm good humor" he says gently.
"He's going to be taller than me! That pisses me off..."
"Why does it piss you off, Kevin?" Eddward says cautiously reaching a hand out and running it through his lover's hair
"Because he's supposed to be smaller than me! He's my little brother!"
"And you are still the older brother whom he loves. Don't worry" Eddward soothes.
"Whatever... we are supposed to meet up with the fledglings and go over some new weapons."
Eddward sighs "Yes, very well and Kevin…?"
"Hmm?"
"You are still bigger than him and he has yet to best you when you spar so calm yourself, I love you."
"And I'm going to make sure there stays a gap in our abilities. And I have one thing he'll never have..." Kevin smirks.
"What's that?" Eddward asks kissing his cheek.
"You" Kevin grins and pulls him close by his hip. "Let's go see what weapons we're working with."
Eddward smiles "Let's go, even though I will not be using them."
Kevin rolls his eyes with a chuckle and goes to the back of the house where everyone was training with a wide range of weaponry. Nazz and Lucas were working on guns, Daniel was getting fitted for arm guards with the hidden blades and a set of his own knives.
"Curious... what made you decide to use knifes?" Eddward asks the small wolf.
"You make them look cool and fun!" Daniel responded happily, grinning widely up at Eddward.
This makes the vampire smile softly at the small ginger. "If you wish, I can teach you to wield them."
"Yes!" Daniel cheers and walks away with Eddward as Kevin smiled and grabbed the cross bow, talking to Kev about the different bolts he had.
The next three months are spent training and for Edd and Eddward tending to Victoria. "So how are you this evening, madam?" he asks walking into the room.
"Still sore and I tire easily. I'm assuming the smaller raven hasn't come up with a cure yet?"
"He tells me he is very close" Eddward says sounding hopeful as he leans across her to check her bandages.
"I don't see there being a cure... I appreciate him trying but Alistar was a cleaver man, as much as I hate him. I'd let him have all of my blood if it would make a cure. You need to be concentrating on protecting everyone else."
"I am protecting them but you are important to my mate, so there for, important to me" Eddward says absentmindedly as he begins checking her vital signs.
"I understand, but I-" she paused as she gasped and started at Eddward with wide and confused eyes.
"What is it? Did I hurt you?" Eddward asks worriedly checking her over.
"N-no... Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, I am feeling fine. Why do you ask?"
"I... It must just be me... I'm sorry for being a burden, thank you for taking care of me, God knows I don't deserve this kindness" Victoria gently touches Eddward's hand and feels a resonating pulse.
Eddward sighs "I'd rather put that ugliness behind us madam" he says patting her hand.
"Just watch over my boys and..." her words where cut off by Daniel's cry of Eddward's name. Victoria smiled tolerantly "That's your queue..."
Eddward chuckles "Yes so it appears do you need anything else?"
"No, dear. Go be with Kevin and Daniel. I have a sinking motherly feeling one of them needs some tending to" Victoria friendly warned as she laid down and covered up. Eddward chuckles as he head out to do damage control.
"Eddward look! I drew first blood! That means I win!" Daniel cheered as he giggled and spun in excited little circles. Kevin rolled his eyes with a laugh.
"Shut up..." Kevin sighed.
"Human form please, let me see" Eddward sighs.
Kevin took to his human form and let his mate tend to him. Daniel had just gotten him in the face rougher than he expected... he had three cuts from his little claws, running from over his eyebrow and down below his cheek bone. "He got in a cheap shot..."
Eddward sighs and chuckles. "You left yourself open" he says before licking the wound close.
Kevin continues to sulk as his mate heals him and his brother bounces around them and the kitchen.
Eddward smirks. "It was your own fault, quit sulking and be happy he is getting better."
"He didn't just try to gouge your eyes out did he? Noooo"
"He almost slit my throat the other night."
"How did he get that close to you?!" Kevin asked astonished.
"I wasn't paying attention for a single moment because I thought I heard something in the woods, false alarm by the way, and he took advantage."
"Good job, survive some of the most dangerous circumstances, one to die from a 10 year old pup" Kevin chuckled.
"Eddward! You promised me training tonight!" Daniel called out from by Eddward's feet.
"We also still have to go over the layout of the labs so we can destroy them with Kev and Edd" Kevin reminds him.
Eddward sighs and nods feeling a bit stressed out. "Let's do that first so then I can give my full attention to Daniel. In the meantime, I want you doing your exercises and warmups" he instructs the small wolf.
"Alright..." Daniel whined yet obeyed dutifully. Kev and Edd came inside and tossed the blue prints on the kitchen table, spreading them out. One by one, Kevin and Eddward went through each print, marking places that would bring the building down. They had a distinct advantage with the fledglings and they were going to take it. Edd heard the back door open and shut and smiled as he saw a small red tail wobble in and stalk behind Eddward.
Daniel lunged for Eddward who side stepped and grabbed him by the back of his neck. "What did I tell you to do Daniel?"
"I did! And then I got bored and I'm itchy! Will you scratch me please? It's driving me crazy!"
"Short drive..." Kevin mused as he marked another place in the map.
Eddward snickers and smacks at the large ginger. "Yes, of course." He says beginning to scratch the small wolf as he pays close attention to the plans.
Daniel leans against Eddward's chest and rested his head on a shoulder and his back arched into the claws scratching down his spine. "And this..." Kev grabbed Eddward's attention "...is where all the chemicals are kept. We get here and clean him out, there's a very good chance we can cure Marie of the brainwashing and create a cure for Victoria."
Eddward nods "Perfect, Kevin and I will take lead on that lab" he says looking at his mate for agreement. Kevin nods as Daniel sniffs and catches a new smell. Not wanting to move away from the scratches, he tilts his head back still smelling the strange new smell. He smells Eddward's shoulder, neck, hair, and flipping over he smelled under his chin, pressing his cold nose to Eddward's skin.
Eddward pulls back, "What are you doing?" he asks the curious pup.
Eddward swipes the boy's nose away. "Nonsense, l do not" he says dismissively.
"Kevin! Smell Eddward, he smells weird..." Daniel cries. Kevin leans over, purely to entertain his brother when he caught a whiff of something new. "You do smell weird..."
Eddward rolls his eyes "I need to feed and Daniel needs to train" he says trying to stand up and freezes looking down in horror at his fur covered clothes "Daniel..."
Daniel tucked his tail down and tried to reason with him. "You itch me so good though! I can't get as deep as you can and Mommy doesn't feel good still and Nazz and Marie are sleeping..."
Eddward sighs softly "Outside then, let's go" he says gently. "I'll finish brushing you out with my nails."
Daniel hops down and trots outside waiting. "Forewarning, he may have never had a full and proper shed. You'll have to get really deep, I'll come out in a few and take over" Kevin warns.
Eddward smiles and nods following him out, he begins brushing the small wolf getting large chunks out of his hair.
By the time Kevin was done talking with the fledglings and came outside, Eddward was just finishing up and Daniel started shaking violently.
"Feel better?" Kevin asked with a chuckle.
"Yes! Thank you Eddward!"
"It was nothing, little one. What of you, mon amour? Do you need help?"
"If you want, otherwise I can take care of it with rubbing against the trees and rolling in the dirt" Kevin grins, knowing Daniel can hear him. "Yay!" comes an excited cry and a small dirt cloud rises from the ground.
Eddward groans. "Sit down, you perpetual pains in my ass."
Kevin shakes once and sits in front of Eddward. Once Eddward got going and sunk his claws into the thick platinum fur, Kevin almost purred.
Eddward chuckles. "A wolf that likes to purr? My, you are peculiar."
"It feels really good..." Kevin looked up to see Daniel slide out from under the bushes, his front half on the ground and using his back feet to push himself forward. Kevin laughs loudly hearing Eddward's groan.
"Do you have any idea what I am going to have to go through to get him cleaned?"
"I can always take him to the lake with me when I'm done...?"
Eddward sighs "Yes, very well." Kevin smirks, evilly knowing that the chances of him and Daniel coming back clean are really slim to none. It was finally getting warmer after all!
Eddward stands up a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach "I am going to find something to eat then go lay down and read or sleep" he says wearily.
Kevin watched him walk away before turning a smug look at Daniel. Daniel locked eyes with his brother before squeaking and running off to the lake with a laugh. "Get over here!" Kevin happily growled.
"BIG BROTHER LET ME GO!" Daniel whines splashing about.
Kevin gives in and lets Daniel get up and move about before he is attacked by said redhead. "You little cheater!" Kevin called out going further out in the water to make Daniel swim to get him. Suddenly the forest got deathly silent and Kevin's blood ran cold...
Just before sunrise, Kevin burst through the front door and called out for a healer. "Mom! Nazz! Eddward!"
Eddward scrambles out of bed being woken up and rushes to the front door. "What happened?!" he asks feeling the panic and fear from his lover.
Victoria and Nazz rushed out behind Eddward. "Nazz, please take care of Daniel. Kevin is worse" Victoria commanded gently. At least Kevin was able to place Daniel on the table before collapsing against the wall. Kevin was held out a bloody hand to Eddward as his mother approached. Lucas, Marie, and the fledglings stayed to the side and out of the way. Kevin was literally torn up. He has bites and claws marks littering his entire body as well as bullet holes. His arm was broken and had huge gouges taken and his breathing was painful and labored. Daniel was a bit better but still in rough condition many of the same injuries plagued that small ginger but at least nothing was broken. It looked like they were both used as a chew toys for a pack of wild dogs. "I got him out... I wouldn't let them take him... they were not going to take him from me again..." Kevin muttered to Eddward between gasping breaths.
Eddward pets the ginger's hair "Hush, my love. You can speak after you are healed" he says gently before putting him in a trance to reduce the pain as he was being healed.
Eddward, Victoria, and Nazz worked through the rest of the night and well into the day before they were able to rest. Both of the ginger's had some fresh scars and the cracking sound that was heard from Eddward popping his lover's bones back into place made Lucas himself gag but they were alive, stable, and for the most part healed before everyone went to bed.
Kevin slowly woke up to his mother's and mate's face in front of his. He tried to move but was incredibly stiff and sore still, not to mention the pain in his head. He groaned and laid back down. Eddward sighs and slumps back in relief. "How are you feeling?" he asks tiredly not having a very peaceful sleep.
"I hurt and I'm stiff but I'll live... what about Danny? He okay?" Victoria smiled and brushed his bangs back
"Yeah, he's fine. He woke up a bit ago asking about you so he will be happy to know your awake and okay." Kevin relaxed further into the bed before reaching out for Eddward's hand, squeezing with all the strength he had.
Eddward smile wearily "What happened?"
"We were swimming and playing around... I swam out a ways to let Daniel follow me and I heard the forest get silent" Kevin shuttered. "He just got to me when everything started. It started with the bullets, I couldn't get out of the water fast enough and we both got hit. As soon as I got to shore, they attacked. Everyone was there... both of you, Dad, Nazz, Marie, Kev, Edd, and even Daniel and myself. All lead by Caleb. He tossed Daniel around like a rag doll, held him in his jaws and threw him..." Kevin stopped to breathe. "We fought them off though. Danny used some of the things we taught him... You were right, he is getting better" Kevin chuckled.
Eddward smiles gently even though his stress levels are rising. "I am just happy you both are safe" he says before Victoria pats his back gently. "You look tired, Eddward. Why don't you get some rest?"
'Rest with me?' Kevin pleaded through their link, looking at the Vampire with sad eyes.
Eddward smiles and pets the ginger before moving him to lean against the vampire's chest and continuing to pet him.
Against the warmth of his mate, Kevin quickly fell into a deep sleep. Victoria looked at Eddward worriedly "Are you okay with his weight on you? Do you need to eat?"
"Yes, I'm fine but I suppose I do need to eat... are you alright madam?" Eddward asks suspiciously.
"N-no, I'm fine. Once Edd finds a cure, I'll be better. I just know that when Lucas laid all his weight on me it would be a lot when he was in his prime. Werewolves tend to be denser than other species" Victoria explained quickly.
"I still am IN my prime, woman!" Lucas growled while carrying a bandaged but sleeping Daniel back to his room.
"Yes dear, of course" she said with a smile and an eye roll in Eddward's direction. "And now you know who Kevin gets his stubbornness from. He comes by it honestly."
Eddward snickers "Yes, I see... No, I am fine, I assure you. He isn't that heavy to me however I must feed I find that I have been needing more and more blood as of late. It's rather strange but it is probably the stress or something" he says gently sliding his sleeping mate off of him.
"Yes, or something..." she muttered, covering Kevin up. "I'll try to heal him again soon. Since his capture, it's harder for me to heal him but I will continue as long as someone is injured. That's the healer in me. Go on and get some food, Eddward. Nazz and Marie are keeping watch."
Eddward nods and dashes out of the house so that he could return sooner on the hunt for fresh blood for him and meat for his mate. Kevin slept hard but was plagued by nightmares. Victoria asked Edd if they had anything to help calm him down and he gave Kevin a low sedative.
"He should sleep better now" Edd smiled.
"Thank you" she sighed.
"And this... is for you" he dropped a small vial in her hand. "I know you're getting weaker. Using your healing abilities is making the poison work faster."
"Well, I am not NOT going to heal my children."
"I understand, I wouldn't dream of asking that of any parent. Just please try to take it easy and drink that. I'll be back to check on you later on" he bid her a good night and left Kevin's room. Victoria downed the vial and sat back to watch over Kevin.
Eddward returns after feeding again on two victims dragging a third paralyzed one into the house. "Any changes?" he asked Victoria.
"I was able to heal him some more so he is sleeping a little better. I requested that Edd give him a very low sedative since he was having horrible nightmares and thrashing around. He opened up a few wounds on his stomach and chest but those are healed and he is resting peacefully now" she reported sleepily, before coughing harshly.
Eddward stiffens seeing a bit of blood "No more healing him, let Nazz and the fresh blood I brought him do the rest" he says gently. Victoria groaned as she nodded and left defeated. Edd met her in the hallway and brought her to her room to do an examination on her. Eddward sighs and lifts the ginger into his chest again, petting his hair slowly drifting to sleep.
The next evening, Kevin woke up slowly and breathed his mate's scent in deeply. He nuzzled into his neck gently before giving a few licks and sinking his teeth in. Eddward wakes up with a moan then swats the ginger away. "You are injured, you insatiable beast!" he scolds lightheartedly.
"But I need you to heal me..." Kevin whined with a grin, then a wince.
Eddward chuckles and shakes his head. "That is not why you bit me but yes, you are correct, you do need heal so have at it, my love. I also brought you some meat."
Kevin grinned and bit down onto Eddward's shoulder, drinking greedily. Immediately he felt himself grow stronger and wounds heal. He felt his energy regenerate his blood flow evenly again.
Eddward moans softly and pets the ginger's hair as he feel blood follow out of him before something in him panics. "Kevin…!" he says urgently.
Kevin quickly detaches and looks back, annoyed "What? What's wrong?"
The panicking feeling disappears and he sighs. "You were drawing too much from me" Eddward says gently.
"I don't understand... sometimes it's fine but others it's not?
"No for some reason I just panicked" Eddward says confused himself. "At least you're healed."
Kevin hummed in agreement before nuzzling into Eddward's neck for a moment before trying to sit up. "I'm still hungry... and I wanna see Danny. He's okay, right?"
Eddward nods "Yes, he is fine and I have something for you to eat."
Kevin wobbly got up and found the body in the kitchen. He drank and ate his fill and started to feel even better before he heard a tiny voice from behind him. "Brother?" Daniel asked quietly. Kevin turned around and grinned widely.
"Yeah, kid. It's me" he chuckled before he had Daniel in his arms. "I'm sorry..." Kevin muttered into red hair.
"You saved me!" The small ginger says shaking. Eddward smiles softly watching the two. Kevin lifted him up to save his back, feeling Danny wrap his little arms around his neck, he held on tight. Kev approached Eddward in the hallway. "Danny in there?" He asked with a harness in his hand.
Eddward nods "Yes, but give them a moment."
Daniel leaned back and looked to the side seeing their company "Eddward! Kev!" he cried happily.
"Hey Danny, I got something for you. Something to help you not get grabbed and taken anymore" Kev responded with a grin.
"Really?! Cool!" he pushed out of Kevin's arms and ran over to Kev.
"This harness will give anyone that grabs you a quick, yet painful, jolt" Kev hooks the harness on, noticing the careful gazes of the two alpha males around him. "see? It runs down your spine, protecting it, and it has spires that come off and around to protect your sides. And these bands will protect your arms and legs. You can also transform and the harness and leg bands will adjust to your body."
"Cool! Thanks Kev!" Daniel cheered.
Eddward nods "Why don't you go do your warm ups and exercises? Kev can watch you to see what needs to be adjusted" he says wearily, still entirely exhausted and stressed out from everything.
Daniel gives an affirmative and runs off with Kev trailing behind. Kevin and Eddward watch as Daniel takes his wolf form excitedly, and after Kev makes some adjustments, the dark forest lights up and a pain yelp comes from Kev as Daniel chases him around. He kept sparking up every time Kev went to grab him from different angles. As long as Daniel could tell which direction Kev was coming, he could spark up and deliver a shock.
Kevin looks to his mate "Are you okay?"
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"Because you seem stressed out. Keeping it bottled up ain't gonna help, ya know?" Kevin made his way to their bedroom to change and join Kev and Daniel outside. Eddward sighs softly and then braces himself as a wave of dizziness comes over him, followed by nausea.
"Is that you or me?" Kevin called from the bedroom as his parents emerged from their bedroom.
"Me" Eddward says braced on the door way to the kitchen.
Kevin approached him and cupped his cheek, lifting his head. "Are you sure you're okay? Why don't you come outside with me and just rest?"
"Yes, that is for the best after all. You should be resting and eating" Victoria toned out.
"What? Why? If anything I should be training" Eddward says standing up straight after it passed "I actually do feel like I need to eat again."
"Kevin or Lucas can get you something... you really should be taking it easy, Eddward. Come outside and do some light training?"
Eddward grits his teeth. "I am fine. I am not a weakling and I refuse to be treated like one!" he snaps before slamming the door open and flitting off into the night.
"Awesome, thanks Mother..." Kevin rolled his eyes and walked off.
"Kevin! Wait!" Victoria sighed as she was ignored and felt her husband's hand on her shoulder. "What's going to, Tori?" he asked. She looked at him and sighed before explaining everything.