Disclaimer: I do not own the Fable universe. Characters you do not recognize were created by me for the purposes of this story. Balverine culture, beliefs and characteristics have mostly been made up by me, as there is not a lot of information out there. Most of what I describe are wolf characteristics, but not all as I have taken some creative liberties. Story contains scenes of a very mature nature, do not continue if anything of that nature could offend you (sex, violence, sub/dom, non-con).

Any and all feedback is always appreciated! Thank you for taking the time to read! All the best! - Fallon.

Chapter Fourteen

Maya laid awake on her cot in the resistance bunker. She was in the woman's wing, so it was practically empty. Even in standing up against a tyrant, men seemed to dominate the field. It made Maya sad, but also happy because Page was worth a dozen men, easily.

She sighed as she stared at the ceiling.

She wanted to sleep, Avo knew her body demanded it, and yet she couldn't - she was thinking about him again.

He had stayed close to her as Page laid out her plan on the map table, to make for Aurora at extreme haste. Swift, Avo rest his soul, had been able to pass them one last message before Logan had him killed.

"You will find allies in Aurora."

It was simple, but getting there was not.

It involved stealing a ship from Logan and hurrying out to sea, not an easy task by any means.

She had been looking at the map table with Page, a worried look plastered on her face, when she felt his eyes on her. Maya had glanced up, certain she must have been imagining things, only to find his white-blue eyes pointed right at her.

Even now she felt the weight of his eyes on her, and she searched the room, expecting to find him lurking in a corner. All she saw were the few other women in the bunker, all sleeping soundly in their cots. After a few long minutes, she laid her head back down and gave a long sigh. She found herself looking over her shoulder more often, expecting to see him standing there.

When she wasn't looking over her shoulder, she was trying to find his face in the crowd. But she never found him, not when she searched.

Instead, he sprung up just as she forced herself to stop, seemingly as if he had been there all along. It was confusing, frustrating, yet exhilarating all at the same time.

Unable to take in any longer, Maya jumped out of bed and got dressed.

Von sat alone in the resistance tavern, a full tankard of ale in his hand that he hadn't even taken a sip from.

He was exhausted, but nightmares were preventing him from finding an ounce of meaningful rest.

"Von?"

He grinned, having heard her approach and, admittedly, happy to see her, "Good evening, Princess." He said without turning around, he knew her scent too well.

She smirked and stepped around him, taking a seat across from him at the table, "You're up late..."

"Hmm," he muttered apathetically, "nightmares..."

She sat her elbows on the table and held her head between her palms.

A small smile cracked his stony lips, "Did you not think balverines dreamed?"

"I hadn't thought about it, actually."

"Well, we do." He swirled the ale in his tankard, "About the same things as you people do, I suppose."

She arched an eyebrow, "You people?"

A chuckle vibrated deep in his throat, "Royalty."

"Oh, well I hardly feel like that anymore." She had traded in silk for rough linen and rouge for mud and dirt. Maya thought hard, but could not remember what silk felt like on her skin.

Von watched her as she stared off into space, as she often did while thinking, "I suppose I'll not recognize you once you become queen..." he offered her a friendly smile, "you'll actually be clean then, and smell like something other than filth." And Ben Finn, he thought. The Captain's musk was still on her and it boiled his blood.

"Do you smell me often, Von? You sure complain about it a lot." She glared at him, albeit playfully.

Von pushed aside the tankard, "Not intentionally."

She looked at the tankard, "Not a drinker?"

"You seem to have a lot of questions this night," he eyed her suspiciously, "why is that?"

Because she couldn't stop thinking about him and wanted him to speak so she could be lost in the comfort of his voice - but she wasn't about to say that, she simply couldn't. Maya bit her bottom lip and looked down, pretending to be interested with the carvings of the table.

Von pushed his chair back and stood, "Then good night to you, Princess."

She glanced up at him, "Von, I -"

He stopped and waited for her to continue.

Maya laid her hands down on the table and sighed heavily, "Can you just talk to me?"

"Only if you say what you mean," he said sternly, "I tire of trying to guess. It makes for a poor conversation." He sat back down, not having really wanted to leave in the first place.

She rubbed the scar across her palm, the one Ezra had inflicted, and shook her head slowly, "It's just...everything is happening so suddenly. One minute we were bickering about how to retrieve your father's pelt and now...now we're about to sail to Aurora." She brushed her hair behind her ears, "I feel like it's almost the end."

"End of what?"

She looked around him, "This. This revolution. And I'm not sure I'm ready for what awaits me at the end..."

"It is too late for doubts, Princess. Do you not think, after all you have been through, that you are ready?"

She stared past him to the small fire in the corner of the room, "I suppose. But it makes me feel better to hear you say it." She smiled a little and glanced back to him.

"And what will you do when I am not here to boost your ego?"

Her look turned to one of surprise, "You're leaving?"

"Once you're on the throne, I'll be returning to Silverpines." At least that was what he suspected he'd have to do.

"To live out the rest of your days?" A sad smile spanned her lips.

"So it seems," he fought to keep the disappointment from his voice, "I do not exactly blend in with this world. At least in the Pines I am not openly hated."

"You're not hated here," she said quietly, almost in a pout.

Silence hung between them and Maya pushed back her chair to take her leave.

What she had said startled him, but he managed to gently grab her arm as she passed him. She stopped, but kept her eyes on the door just beyond him.

"Amaythea..." He pleaded in a whisper.

"Don't call me that," she demanded with a trembling lip, "I don't like it."

"You wanted me to talk to you," he stood but kept ahold of her arm, "so at least have the decency to listen."

She pushed against him, trying to free her arm from his grasp, "Please...just let me go."

Her scent was overloading his senses, "And if I don't want to?" He pressed his forehead to her's.

Maya's lungs tightened and she struggled to breath in deep. It felt good having him so close, but she feared what that meant, "I-I don't know what you're talking about -"

"Yes, you do." He said in a hoarse whisper. She was scared and trying to run, he understood it but he wasn't about to let her go, not when he was so close to breaking through. "Amaythea -"

She made a pathetic attempt to punch him, "I said stop calling me that!"

He looked at her with pained eyes and reluctantly let go of her arm, "I...I am sorry."

But Maya did not leave, did not even take a step back.

"You can go," he assure her, his voice laced with shame, "I won't stop you, and I certainly won't hurt you..."

She wiped the tears from her cheeks, "I'm scared, Von."

"Why?" He asked desperately, resisting the urge to touch her again.

Maya thought of Elliot and choked on a sob. He was long gone, but still her heart was conflicted. But Von should have felt the very same! He had told her about his lost family, about the son he never had a chance to know. So why would he want her? Did he want her? Or was it all just a sick game?

The numerous thoughts made her dizzy, "I...I need to go to bed."

"Yes, of course, Princess..." It was not the response he was hoping for.

Still, he did not stop her as she headed for the door, and didn't chase after her as she ran to her room.

"Something needs to be done," Loki demanded with a hiss.

Before him stood a dozen other balverines, and a very badly beaten Vienna. She had come to him after cleaning herself up, and told him everything, despite her embarrassment. She knew doing nothing would cause the Family to fall into ruin, and she loved it too much to let it die without a fight.

"But what, Loki? A Kaiser has always been Alpha!" An older balverine questioned.

All had been disgusted with the state Vienna was in, and all were in agreement something had to be done. Mates were never treated in such a manner, even those who had been abandoned by their partner. Which made what happened to Vienna all the more disgusting.

Loki looked at Vienna, "Von must come back! Our future depends on it!"

"He is with the Princess, surely she will help us!" A young female declared.

The others nodded in agreement.

"Even if she helps us, and Von returns, are we prepared to do what is needed to ensure our longevity?" Loki asked those gathered. All knew what he meant - Ezra had to be eliminated.

The balverines looked at one another. An Alpha had never before been forcibly removed by the pack, they would be breaking every law they lived by.

A large balverine landed on the ledge above them with a thud. The group looked up, and immediately fell to their knees.

Ezra had found them.

Loki backed up, keeping Vienna behind him, and addressed his Master, "You have shamed the Family beyond repair!"

Ezra snarled, drool falling down his chin and coating his neck.

"You have made a mockery of our ways and abused your mate!" The young man continued, already knowing he was a dead man. "Death is too good for you, Ezra Kaiser!"

Ezra growled and the rest of the group scampered off, leaving Loki and Vienna to face his wrath.

Vienna clutched Loki's arm and rested her head on his shoulder. Her tears quickly soaked into his coat, "I love you, brother."

Loki glanced back to her, "And I love you too, dear sister. I am sorry..."

"As am I." She muttered into his shoulder, "So sorry."

Ezra leapt down to their level. Loki and Vienna knew running was impossible, they just hoped their deaths were swift.

Clinging to her brother, Vienna stared into the eyes of the man whom she had once loved. Ezra glared at her, and Vienna cringed as his hate smacked her like a wave.

"Avo save you, Ezra." She hissed, "For you are doomed to the deepest hell!"

Ezra bellowed and sauntered forward, seemingly content to take his time with them.

Loki stared down the crazed Alpha and grasped his sister's hand. She squeezed back and closed her eyes, whispering a silent prayer that Shiloh would be alright.

Ezra pounced on the brother and sister.

Avo looked down on the scene and wept, for Ezra did not give them the swift death the desired.