Together

Women of the Otherworld Fanfiction

Singingfrogs

No copyright infringement intended

When Nick heard the creaking of the upstairs floorboards he simply lowered his newspaper, unsure as to who could be stirring considering Elena, Clayton and his father had retired for the night. Sure, it could be Jeremy heading to the kitchen to prepare his evening tea but from the sounds of the footsteps the perpetrator was far too light. Normally within Stonehaven walls there really was no set bedtime, with Clay and Elena getting up to activities he really didn't need to think about while Jeremy tended to excused himself to his studio for hours at any given time. But, during a potential hostile situation, his pack always seemed to find excuses to disappear or to console their partners or family.

Which was why Riley's seclusion hadn't come as a surprise. He knew that Riley was struggling to deal with the several different aspects of the situation at hand, what with the murdered girls, the bodies at the motel, the police scrutinizing the Pack's every movement and finally the realization that this whole thing revolved around her. For the first time in her life she was the centre of attention and she hated every second of it. But, Nick had a nagging feeling within his heart that she was hiding from the people she considered her family; Jeremy and the others had acted very differently compared to the pair of them as they discovered the mass grave for themselves. Riley had been the only one to physically and emotionally react to the data illustrated on the walls of the cavern, more so when Jeremy had discovered the possibility of Werewolf involvement in these ancient battles. However, it wasn't a revelation to Nicky when he surveyed Riley from a distance as she dealt with the circumstances with the calmness of any Doctor about to undergo a surgery they had completed many times before, but Nick also knew that Riley refused to show her weaknesses in front of Clayton or Karl in fear of being classed as fragile minded and imprudent. Nevertheless, Nick feared that Riley thought she was the only one feeling this way when in actual fact Nick was horrified by the mass grave and anxious about what was to come.

A few years ago he had heard footsteps this early in the morning, he would have figured it'd be Pete provoking Clayton as he teased him about Elena's isolation; but considering the footsteps were not thundering booms echoing in the hallways it wasn't Clayton brooding. These days, his first thought was Riley and was she about to slip away to do something stupid or disappear for months without even a text or an apology. Deep down Nick knew he was being senseless for Riley never went back on her word to the point of being stubborn; he also realised he was misjudging the young lady for he trusted her with his life and he knew that she would die to protect her family and her Pack.

However, as the padding footsteps grew ever closer the werewolf closed his paper and folded it in half before reaching for the mug placed on the table top in front of him. He knew he should have headed to bed hours ago, but a nagging feeling at the back of his mind knew he was waiting up in hopes Riley would emerge from her bedroom seeking council; after all his desire to see her never diminished during the hours she locked herself away.

His sentiments surprised him, clouded with emotions as he sat on his own with a paper and a mug of tea. Had he been back in New York he would have been out having a drink, before being accosted by a faceless but beautiful woman before realizing he wouldn't be heading home; that being the time said woman undid his zipper. A sigh tumbled from his lips as he came to understand that too many women had gone down on him in the back of moving vehicles. It seemed that as he thought back to the events of the last few days he couldn't care less about the trivial affections of the woman he once pursued because his heart wasn't in it anymore; that realization left him terrified at the idea considering he knew the troubling truth.

But, he was bitterly pulled from his pondering when his iPhone started ringing from its position on the table; the strong vibrating caused the phone to clatter against the wooden surface before Nick cautiously picked up the offending object and simply looked towards the unknown caller ID.

"Are you going to answer that?" said a voice. It was a woman's voiced, a voice he would always remember. Nick looked over to see his friend, Riley was clinging onto the blanket she had wrapped around her shoulders; it seemed the tepid temperature outside was getting the better of her. Nick however just cancelled his call before he flicked his eyes back towards Riley with whom he smiled.

"I don't know the caller." Nick stated with a smile "Besides, who would be calling me at three in the morning?"

"A very eager client?" Riley asked with a very small smile, Nick granting her a smile of his own because of the truth in her words. Her casual acceptance of his womanizing ways still amazed him; sure, when she had first arrived and became part of the Pack Nick was possibly sleeping with two to three different woman a week, but back then he didn't understand how to be with just a single woman and he sure as hell couldn't have imagined himself falling in love. He didn't know just how much he would rely on her friendship and companionship. He just thought it was because she was a werewolf and unconsciously believed that she would hook up with Clayton due to his standing within the Pack and he was the logical mate, but their first meeting had not gone well and then five years later he met Elena. It was during those five years that Nick had really come to know her, never having had a woman as a best friend. Sure, in the beginning when he realised Clayton wasn't interested he had tried to seduce her, however Riley had squandered any chances he may have had with her when she hid her emotions within herself. It seemed her emotions were locked up tight and she refused to show them to anyone. Nick quickly gave up and fell into the arms of another woman, but that never stopped him from trying.

For years he had flirted, for years he had teased her and even though at the time he thought it was fruitless he could never have been more wrong; from his incessant teasing and flirting Riley had accepted him for who he was and still she chose to become his closest friend. His attentions had also allowed Riley to grow into the woman she was now because she ultimately stood up for herself and showed the Pack the fire she possessed when she was in the right frame of mind and the sharp wit that she directed to counter Nicks banter. Riley was the most important person to him now and he would do anything he could to protect her for his playful advances in the beginning had changed to a scorching desire to be with her. It was in that moment that he noticed her shivering and the wolf within him stirred, his mind purely focused on comforting her.

"Come here." Was all he said as he spoke to her gently, his voice pulsating through her body as Nick held out his hand for her, guiding the freezing young Doctor towards him before directing Riley to his lap. Riley in turn leant on his chest, her head resting to his shoulder as she pulled the blanket over her figure a little more and draped the corners over Nick's knees. Riley collapsed further into Nick's embrace when she felt his arms curling around her figure, his arm supporting the bottom of her back while the other covered her hands. "How are you fairing after today?" Nick asked her gently as he cupped his hand on her cheek, moving the hair from her face in the process as Nick cuddled her closer to try and warm her.

"A little overwhelmed if I'm honest." Riley expressed with a weak smile, her eyes moving from Nick and towards their clasped hands as she gained the comfort she had been desperately seeking during her time of solitary.

"Hardly surprising considering the information we gained today."

"Not forgetting the unanswered questions."

"Yes, them too." Nick chuckled as he rested his forehead to Riley's hair. "I have no doubt that we will work it out eventually." Nick finished and cautiously looked down towards the beautiful woman sitting on his lap who seemed lost in her own thoughts to reply.

"Do you ever get the feeling that you're meant for something important?" Riley asked, her eyes frantically searching Nick's features and his eyes as she tried to seek out the answers she required, oblivious to her complete change in conversation. "That something's fighting it's way to the surface but remaining hidden until the opportune moment?"

"Sometimes." Nick voiced with confusion etched into his voice. "When the occasion calls for it. But I don't think that's what you meant." Nick finished with a frown as he craned his neck so he could get a better look at Riley's expression. The small smile that was on her lips made Nick understand that his answer wasn't the one she was looking for. "Do you?"

"Every single day of my life." Riley stated, the young Doctor letting out the air in her lungs as she finally moved her eyes to gaze up at her friend. "I guess seeing my tattoo on the cavern wall just reminded me of that fact."

"Today was very difficult for all of us sweetheart, you can't blame yourself for reacting the way you did. Now I know you're kicking yourself for getting all emotional because you're not an emotional person, but I don't judge you because of it. If it helps to ease your mind I'm a little apprehensive about what's going to happen in the coming days." Nick voiced to her gently, his words easing Riley's nerves as she felt the pressure of Nick's hand squeezing hers.

"Last time I felt this way we lost Pete, I don't think my heart can take another loss." Riley expressed quietly, her voice so low Nick would have missed her sentiment, but due to watching her lips move Nick understood just how deeply and how emotional she was feeling throughout this whole thing.

"Surely you know in you're heart that even though our numbers have diminished the Pack is at its strongest? We're all together, we're protecting each other and we're not taking any unnecessary risks?"

"I know that." Riley started. "I guess I just can't shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen."

"Maybe it's your minds way of telling you to follow your heart, to try and figure out what your heart is trying to tell you and to uncover the secrets of your dreams?"

"But that's what scares me. The last time I followed my heart and left it in control something terrible happened."

"More terrible than a motel full of murdered people?"

"Things happened Nick, things that I wish I can forget and never speak of it again because it was those circumstances that led to my mother and sister's death." Riley said painfully, the young werewolf moving her features away from her companion so she was looking into the flickering flames of the fire that was burning brilliantly in the furnace of the living room fireplace. Her mind was momentarily occupied as the disturbing images of the bodies of her family flooded the front of her mind before the lifeless eyes of the people found in the motel mass grave quickly replaced them. Riley simply closed her eyes, shaking her head a little as she struggled to shake the images from her mind.

"Tell me?" Nick asked, his eyes heavy with emotion as he lifted his hand to Riley's chin, pulling her attention back to him unknowingly helping to erase Riley's mind with the images that had momentarily plagued her.

"I can't, because I don't want thing to change between us." Riley implored, her heart heavy with emotion but her features were as vacant as a vampire.

"You will have to tell me eventually." Nick sighed, his features dropping a little but as he curled the loose tendrils of Riley's hair around the shell of her ear his heart trembled within his chest when he felt Riley moving into his embrace.

"Not tonight." Was all Riley said as she smiled a very small smile, her other hand coming to intertwine with his fingers. Nick just nodded his head soothingly before placing a kiss to her hair once again. "Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you were a normal human being instead of a werewolf?"

"I've not really thought about it." Nick expressed. "I mean I'm a hereditary werewolf that has grown up in the Pack so I've never really considered anything else."

"So falling in love and having kids never crossed you mind?"

"When I was little the idea of a female werewolf was laughable; we never thought it would happen. Until we discovered you and then Elena was bitten. I guess back then I knew that if I was ever gunna have a kid it wouldn't be from a loving relationship. How could I even consider that seeing as I would have to take the child from his mother."

"It must have been so hard on your father." Riley implored as she searched Nick features with her eyes.

"He doesn't really speak about my mother and I don't ask. I know how much he loved her and how long he struggled with not being with her. Maybe that's why I don't seek out a relationship because I've seen the devastation it can leave if it doesn't work out. Besides, I doubt I can ever shake my reputation now, I've been at it to long."

"Have you ever tried?" Riley asked with a smile.

"No" Nick laughed. "No I haven't. I guess I've just not found the right woman yet." Nick finished before turning his attention directly towards Riley who smiled at him comfortingly before she shivered and pulled herself closer into Nick's side; Nick mirrored her movements and hugged her closer before the pair of them fell into comfortable silence.

0-0-0

Deep down Jeremy knew that his desire to speak to someone was somewhat stupid; he was the Alpha of the North American Werewolf pack for goodness sake, he didn't have to justify his orders to his wolves, and he certainly didn't need to discuss a potentially disturbing newspaper article with them at half three in the morning. Inwardly he was kicking himself for his momentary distraction earlier that morning. Usually he would study the local newspaper, scouting the words from the Journalists for anything potentially hostile directed towards Stonehaven with only the odd suspicion or rumor being noted, but it seemed with the plans and strategies he was concocting for the days hunt had made him forget his routine coffee and newspaper session; and now he was kicking himself for it.

The newspaper was inundated with pictures of a missing woman, the headline causing the dread in Jeremy's stomach to freeze like a glacier from Antarctica as he read the spiteful words concerning the police and the possible suspects hidden away at Stonehaven. Normally Jeremy would have batted away the words, but as his sharp eyes studied every single word and every single line his concern only grew. It seemed the locals were demanding the Police to make an arrest or blamed them for their complacency concerning the evidence gained at the murder sights or their general attitude towards the whole case that had Bear Valley fearful and angry. But it wasn't just the harsh words pointed towards the Police that had him worried, but the text directed punitive suspicions at Stonehaven; none of the usual alleged Sex Cult or demonic worshippers that were usually used to describe Stonehaven, instead Jeremy read the awful words stating that each and every one of them were conducting the murders for their own pleasure, mutilating and exploring the bodies of the woman they have killed for fun. He even had the guts to doubt Riley's prognosis and autopsy results she had given to the police; it seemed he had been given all the relevant information considering Riley had been given help by a local nurse to make sure she wasn't bias or hiding anything from the local PD. Jeremy had been surprised that she had been able to keep the poison a secret considering she had found elements of it at the murder site, claiming it was just another part of mutilated flesh.

Nevertheless, the article could possibly hinder their investigation; with the natives angry and thirsting for blood he knew that they could potentially get in his Pack's way as they wonder through town trying to pick up any indication of the creatures movements and Jeremy was also concerned about Nick regarding the Deputy since the officer had seemed to take an instant dislike to the Graphic Designer. He also worried about the local diner that provided the essential service of providing his pack with the food they required if they were hunting for a long period of time. It was no lie that the young woman who was missing was in fact the woman Riley and Nick had found as a sacrifice in the cavern at the motel and he was also certain that she was a waitress at the diner, knowing that she had served them on multiple occasions during their visits into town.

However, he was abruptly pulled from his thoughts when he heard a quiet knock on his study door before the image of Antonio came into view. He could see the deep purples shining under Tonio's eyes, but with his bleariness Jeremy couldn't help but inwardly smirk, as it seemed Antonio must have been dozing until he woke in some place that wasn't his Stonehaven bedroom.

"I saw the light, I thought you could do with some company." Was all Antonio said as he emerged into the room, closing the door behind him before coming to stand in the middle of the room with his hands resting by his hips.

"Thank you, but it's getting late we should all be getting some rest." Jeremy expressed as he closed the paper and laid it to rest on the desk tabletop.

"Nick and Riley were still awake when I walked passed and I dread to think what Clay and Elena were up too." Antonio expressed as he folded himself into one of the large armchairs positioned in front of the burning hearth that warmed the study. "Besides, I doubt sleep is on anyone minds considering the day we had today."

"It was a very trying day for all of us, especially for Riley." Jeremy countered as he moved around the side of his ancient desk, two glasses held within his hands as he prepared a drink for the pair of them.

"Maybe that's why she's discussing something with Nicky when I woke." Antonio replied as he took the glass he was being offered from his Alpha.

"Or that fact you're just getting old my friend." Jeremy said with an uncommon smile on his lips as he too moved into the chair next to his friend and took a large sip of the whiskey he had placed into their glasses.

"You'll be a Grandfather soon enough Jeremy, then you'll understand my predicament." Antonio replied with a large smile, one that only grew when he noticed the sudden colour draining from Jeremy's slightly Asian looking skin.

"That is something I would rather not think about." Jeremy voiced in return as he took a small swig of his drink.

"They're the future of our Pack my friend and I know for a fact that Nick is not thinking of kids and doesn't plan on having them." Antonio smiled, "Besides, you've never had a problem with children before? Why so worried?"

"I'm not worried, I mean it's been so long since we've had cubs running through the Stonehaven halls, I just don't think Elena or Clay are ready for kids, and they may never be."

"It's been a rough couple of years for them, but they've never been stronger. You never know they might surprise you." Antonio answered back, his eyes searching the face of his alpha as they discussed a topic they very rarely wanted to face.

"I guess our hopes lie with Riley." Jeremy countered nothing but seriousness in his expression, an expression which was mirrored on Antonio's expression.

"I do hope you're joking."

"Come on Tonio, she's not that bad. I mean, she's a very attractive young lady, a little bit of a recluse granted, but she's very loyal and very gentle towards those she cares about. She would make a very good mate in the future."

"Besides from the fact that she's extremely shy, has a hard time standing up for herself and struggles to let anybody in." Antonio argued, never once having uttered those words about the woman in question considering he thought of her more like a daughter than a pack mate; Jeremy knew that Riley relied on Antonio's comfort.

"And the fact she's completely in love with your son." Jeremy said with an uncommon smile as he lifted his glass to his lips and drank, inwardly smiling at Antonio's balking.

"What did you just say?" Antonio questioned, momentarily hesitating, his glass hovering by his lips as his mind struggled to comprehend the words Jeremy ha just spoken.

"Come now Antonio, don't pretend you haven't noticed. " Jeremy chimed and he rested his wrists to his knees. "They spend nearly all the time they can together, Riley is far more confident when Nick is around and she hasn't even looked at another man. I was hoping that she may have partnered herself with Pete but it was obvious that the friendship she had with Nick was far stronger than anything she could possibly have hoped to have gained with Peter."

"But Nicholas has never mentioned anything regarding his affections for Riley, hell everyone in the Supernatural community considers him the Pack's playboy whose amorous exploits are all he's known for."

"You're telling me that you haven't noticed the radically reduced number of woman brought back to you home in New York; that he's taking a more active role within the Pack Antonio and he has far more contact with Riley than anyone. He's becoming a fighter Antonio, and a damned good one."

"Well when you put it that way." Antonio said with a small smile, embarrassed that he hadn't picked up on the obvious signs in his son's behaviour.

"He may not even mentally think that he's changed, I doubt he's even registered the fact that his heart is no longer into seducing woman and instead he's looking for stability and a life that Clayton and Elena have made for themselves. I have no doubt that is because of Riley, a woman who is just as lost and empty as he is."