"Can I ask you a favor?" Isaac chewed on his lip, avoiding Nash' curious eyes
They've been meeting the past few days, on most occasion accidentally, his Beta instinctively tracking her Alpha. Most of his day would be spent with her, talking about the most random things and midnight strolls in the woods. It was a relief that he didn't feel so alone in such a new town.
He knew that he didn't have to say it out loud because she can hear his thoughts. She did say that one time that she'd rather hear it said to her, something about intimacy rather than intrusion. So he said it out loud.
"What is it?" her eyes expectant, as if she didn't know
"Can you put me on lockdown tomorrow, during the full moon?"
"With gags and chains?"
He smirked at her question, "Sounds kinky"
Nash rolled her eyes and stuck a tongue out at him, "I think I can fit in one more werewolf in my babysitting service"
Isaac gave a sigh of relief; maybe he wouldn't come out in the news after all.
"We're leaving early tomorrow though"
"For?"
"London" she gave a mischievous smile
Isaac checked the time on his phone; he'd been waiting for 20 minutes She told him to meet her at the Gare du Nord Station at 6:30 AM. He already texted her and even rang her a couple of times. Impatiently, he tapped his foot glancing around ever so often to see if Nash was there.
Suddenly, his hand was being pulled and before he knew it they were running across the platform. It was an inexplicable rush.
"Hurry" Nash looked over her shoulder with a delighted smile
"We didn't have to hurry if you arrived on time" he managed a quip remark
"I'm here now, aren't I?" she said breathlessly, "And I bought the tickets, so stop complaining"
A man was calling out for the last passengers of the 7 o' clock train bound for London. Nash waved her free arm holding two tickets, stopping suddenly. Thank god for his super werewolf reflexes or else he would've tripped.
He then noticed that she hasn't let go of his hand. At first he wanted to writhe away from her hand, the thought of someone touching him made him cringe. Made him look back at the time his dad beat him up.
Isaac felt a small squeeze from Nash as she guided him inside the train, and it soothed him. Then she let go.
She hasn't said a word to him since the train left for London, meekly looking outside the window with earphones plugged in her ear. The only other time she talked was when she asked for pudding from the cart-lady.
It bothered him, why wasn't she talking to him? He'd been mentally screaming hoping that she'd at least talk to him through thoughts. Nothing.
A couple of minutes, maybe half an hour, he wasn't really sure how long he's been looking at her. It startled him when her eyes met his; he fumbled with his phone pretending to be occupied.
A breath of laughter escaped her lips, "Here, so stop making so much noise"
Before he knew it, she was leaning across the table that separated them plugging an earphone, music flowing in his ear. A small blush crept up his face, embarrassed to know that she heard him all along.
"So?" she lightly rested her elbows on the table, propping her head on her hands after a couple of tracks played
In reply, he mimicked her position a brow raised in question.
"The song" her eyes flickered in eagerness, "What do you think?"
"Hipster" a listless remark that earned him a frown, "What? It is. I haven't even heard most of what you've been listening to"
"Its called indie" she pursed her lips and reached for the earphone in his ear, "If you don't like it, I'll just listen by myself"
Isaac held her hand in place, "I didn't say I didn't like it"
Nash cleared her throat, with a swift move pulled her hand away and looked out again. Isaac raised his brows and gave a lopsided smile. And they stayed like that until the train reached St. Parcas International Train Station.
"What are we even doing here?" Isaac tugged the scarf he was wearing before shoving his hands in his coat
"I'm going to tour you around London" Nash shrugged
"Tonight's the full moon," he grumbled, "Shouldn't we be preparing for lockdown?"
"You're going to be tied up to a pillar with chains, what's to prepare?"
Sighing in resignation, he followed her. Although he didn't see the point of touring London at first, he did enjoy himself. Something he hasn't felt for a while but soon guilt crept up inside him.
"It's okay to want to feel happy and enjoy yourself" Nash gracefully hopped on one of the benches, walking at pace with him, "You can't punish yourself with guilt and melancholy forever"
So she's been listening to his thoughts again. It troubled him that she can easily pick his brain, no privacy at all. On the other hand, she made a good point.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude" Nash pressed her hands on her ears, "Sometimes I wish there was an off button to this"
They continued their tour around the city in silence. Silently, he pondered on what Nash said to him. Should he allow himself to be happy, when a good number of the people he cared for are dead?
A familiar silver Porsche screeched to a halt beside them breaking his trail of thoughts. As the windows rolled down, a face he knew too well met them.
"Where the hell have you been?" Jackson rudely called out, his brows knitting upwards looking at Isaac, "And how did you end up here?"
"Strolling around" Nash tilted her head, before Isaac could reply with a witty remark, "Isn't it obvious?"
"I've been calling you since this morning"
"I know" she dangled her phone in front of Jackson, his jaws clenched in irritation
"The sun's almost setting, get in" Jackson through his teeth
Nash sighed and climbed in the backseat, Jackson scowled at Isaac.
"Are you just going to stand there?"
Still the arrogant bastard, Isaac scoffed at the thought. He took his sweet time getting inside Jackson's car. He could hear the other boy's restrained breathing and the grinding of his teeth.
"You should take anger management classes" Nash said flippantly, "You'll get really bad wrinkles if you always frown"
"My genes are too good to make me wrinkle badly," Jackson snottily said
"So the Catholic school girls across your boarding school must be going wild for you"
"No one can resist me"
"London hasn't changed you one bit," Isaac rolled his eyes
"What are you even doing here?" Jackson shot at him
"I'm babysitting him too" Nash interjected, "So be nice to each other. This is pro bono, so don't make me worry about you guys ripping each other's head off"
They arrived at an abandoned warehouse, not too far from the city. Isaac watched Jackson toss a neatly wrapped box towards Nash.
"Before I forget, happy birthday" Jackson gave a surprisingly sincere smile
Isaac felt his cheeks burn. It was embarrassing that he'd been spending the past few days, heck even the whole day today, with her and was not even aware it was her birthday.
Watching her unwrap the gift silently, an excited gasp came from the girl. It looked like a really expensive watch. Nash' eyes twinkled as she inspected the gift.
"This is really pretty" she chimed at Jackson as she locked it on her wrist, "You, sir, have great taste. Thank you"
The sun was still up when they made their way inside. There was a table with a lamp and a chair. Other than those, it was practically empty except for the thick pillars and chains.
"Go get yourselves cozy before I tie you both up"
"I didn't expect this to be a threesome" Isaac let the chains he was holding drop to the floor, "Still kinky though"
Jackson shook his head snickering; Nash just rolled her eyes as she scrolled through her phone.
"You sure you can handle this by yourself with just these?" he kicked the measly looking chains, he knows he can break them easily
"Trust me, she can handle us just fine" Jackson cracked his neck, "If you break free, she'll just beat the crap out of you"
Incredulously, he looked at Jackson to Nash, who was nodding with pursed lips, then back at him. Nash explained to them that if things get out of hand and all else fails, she'd rip their heads off. He wasn't sure if she was for real or not, and he was banking on not finding out.
"Can't you just go Alpha on us? Scott did it a few times before" Isaac rubbed his nape nervously
"Nope" she shrugged, "For one, I'm not your Alpha. Second, it kind of defeats the purpose of you learning how to control your wolf. Case and point Jackson. Besides, I'd enjoy it more beating you guys up"
Jackson nodded, "That, I know she does"
It was already dark out when they were chained to the pillars, sitting down. Isaac watched Nash from across the room. She looked preoccupied, eyes glued on her phone; she probably didn't want to spend her birthday like this.
"I thought Derek taught you how to control your transitions?" Isaac rested his head lazily at the pillar behind him, turning to Jackson
"He did, but—"
"But Jackson has anger management issues" Nash interrupted from afar
"So I got into trouble recently" Jackson clenched his jaw
"And was in serious need of disciplining," Nash indifferently commented
Jackson scoffed at her. "Derek asked her to keep an eye on me for the past full moons"
"The joy it brings me" she mocked, eyes still fixated on her phone
Jackson stretched one of his leg, "Why are you here anyway? I thought you're in Scott's pack"
Isaac's expression dimmed and he remained silent for quite sometime. Jackson seemed to have understood what it was and didn't press the question.
"Have you heard what happened to…?" Isaac choked on Allison's name
"Yeah, from Lydia" Jackson's voice gloomed, "I always thought if anyone was ever going to go first, it's going to be Stiles"
Laughter escaped his chest, not a hundred percent sincere but laughter nonetheless. Jackson joined in.
"It's almost time, you guys ready?" Nash tossed her phone on the table
They both nodded watching the moonlight spill closer towards them. As the minutes pass by the two of them could feel themselves slowly being consumed by their wolf. Both struggled in the chains as they fought to gain control.
"Find your anchor" Nash calmly reminded
Isaac always used his father as his anchor, the good father he had before Camden died. But it seemed to him all the good people around him are slowly leaving him behind. What's the point of keeping people around, if in the end he's just going to lose them?
Nash walked over to him, sitting down to level with his gaze.
"Isaac, listen to me" he thrashed around trying to keep the focus on her, "It doesn't have to be someone else, do it for yourself"
"I can't" Isaac said through gritted teeth
"You're scared to lose someone again" she placed her hand on the chains above his chest, "But aren't you terrified to lose yourself?"
"Fight for yourself, Isaac." And something clicked deep inside him. He could feel control inch by inch.
A guttural sound came from across the room; Jackson broke free from his chains and eyeing them to attack. Nash lowered her head and sighed, Isaac caught her eyes crimson and bright as she looked back.
"This one's always been a problem child" she caught him mid-jump and slammed him on the pavement, "This is why I tell you to take anger management sessions"
Nash pinned him on the floor, sitting on top of his stomach. Jackson thrashed underneath her. Her fist connected to his cheek and he stopped momentarily.
Isaac writhed against the chain; he could hear the chains give in. She needed help; her tiny frame couldn't possibly keep Jackson at bay for so long. When he got up, Jackson wasn't fighting anymore.
"Jackson" she called out to him, burning red met ice blue, "Get a grip"
There was a moment of silence between the two. He knew she was talking to him telepathically. Before he knew it, she was helping Jackson up.
"Now this is progress" Nash clapped her hands together
"What did you do to Jackson back there?" Isaac curiously probed
"I went through his thoughts and memories…" Nash sounded disgusted at what she said
"You don't look pleased" Isaac's brows bunched together
"I usually do it for last resort" Nash lowered her eyes, "I don't like going through other wolves' minds, it's invasive"
"Did you tell him to fight for himself?" Isaac joked referring to what she said to him
"No" Nash simply said, "He doesn't know who he is to be able to fight for himself, he needs to resolve his issues"
"Oh"
Yes, he remembered that Jackson despite his lavish lifestyle has a dark history. Orphaned during infancy. Possibly his parents were murdered. Definitely, in need to get in touch with his past.
Nash yawned as she stretched her limbs. The sun just rose and they haven't had a wink since yesterday. She couldn't risk letting them out her sight just yet, to avoid any possibility of maiming and killing.
"You look tired" Isaac tussled her short soft hair
"Wonder why" she blew off the hair that fell on her face
"Sit and wait for me, I'll buy us breakfast"
Like a sleepy child, she closed her eyes with a pout and nodded taking a seat. Who knew that petite girl could pack a mean punch, Isaac mused as he walked out the train.
When he got back to their seats, he found her sleeping quietly, head leaning on the window. Isaac smiled and took his seat across her; gently he reached out and shook her lightly.
"Oh," her eyes fluttered open, "I dozed off"
"Here" Isaac slid the coffee and bagel across the table
"Thanks" Nash gave a sleepy smile and took a sip of coffee
Curiously she eyed the box beside Isaac's arm, "Is that cake?"
"Ah yeah, this is for you" he opened the lid and handed it over to her, "Belated happy birthday"
She didn't say anything; he gauged her look as she reached for it. A small smile formed on her face, but there something about how she looked at it.
"I know it's not much" Isaac warily apologized
"No, its not that" Nash chuckled, "Its just… I haven't received a cake for my birthday in a while"
"Well, let me top it off with a song" Isaac grinned and started singing 'Happy Birthday'
It was a simple gift but her smile was different and her laugh had a special ring to it; nothing he's ever seen or heard her do. For a moment too, he could've sworn her eyes glistened.
"Thanks" before Isaac could even protest, "You don't know how much it means to me"
The rest of the trip was quiet as the two fell asleep. They had to be woken up by the inspector when they got back to Paris.
Author's Note: Your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated! It would really help me improve my writing.