Notes | Inner Wolf | Alpha Order | Italic 'Talking in Mind Mind'


She breathed out deeply and continued to run her fingers through the wolf's hair. It definitely was a soothing process. Loveless stared up at the night sky, counting the stars. Her body hummed, she could feel the exhaustion seeping through her veins but it wasn't enough to get her to go inside. She picked up one of his ears and rubbed it back and forth between her fingers.

Paul let out a breath and nudged her softly before easing back. As much as he wanted to stay with her, he was an alpha and had a job to do.

"This is goodbye?" Loveless cocked her head to the side and smiled softly. "Well thank you for talking with me." She hummed softly as the wolf took a couple more steps back. "You made a great listener." Loveless chuckled softly and wrapped her hands around the chain links once more.

Paul stood there for a moment longer. He didn't like that she was out here by herself. He yipped softly before turning and merging into the forest once more. 'How is it going?'

'I think I've got a scent trail over here by the beach, boss. . .' Seth spoke softly through their mind link. 'It's fresh, this wasn't here this morning.'

Paul did his best to not outright growl. His claws flexed as he picked up his pace and moved towards the beach. They had a bigger leach problem than what they hoped for. 'She mentioned a couple of new people at school.' His snout scrunched in distaste. 'Jared and Sam, check out what Seth has found - I need to check in with Billy.'

'Yes, boss.'

Paul cut the link once more as he transformed back into a human. He blew a breath through his nose as his senses changed. Paul slung on a pair of cut-off jean shorts. They had learned long ago to keep a pile of shorts around the rez. The wet earth gave under his feet as he moved off the lawn and towards Billy Black's side door.

"It's a bit late Paul."

A smirk covered his lips as he snorted. "Said the old man outside smoking."

"Keeps the joints from freezing on me." Billy smiled widely, the moon gleamed off his white teeth. "I'm not spry anymore."

Paul smirked. "Were you ever?" A laugh fell from his looks as the other flicked embers and ash in his direction.

"I know you didn't come over here to question my drug choices." Billy gruffed out before taking another hit of the herbs. "How can I help you son?" He shifted slightly in his wheelchair to get a better look at the hulking male beside him. "You . . . have a lot on your shoulders." He sat the blunt down in the ashtray before taking a sip of his warm honey lemon water.

Paul let out a long breath and eased back into the chair. He nodded softly. He did, there was a lot on his shoulders. And most of it didn't belong to him. "I need another in-depth dive done into the legends." He ran a hand over his face. Paul was tired. The wolf was tired. "Have Nahuel help you." Paul chewed at his lower lip. "Have him reach out to the other tribes in the area. . . and up north."

"Done," Billy murmured. "And what am I looking for?" His voice carried softly over the wind as they spoke. He picked up the blunt once more and brought it to his lips and inhaled. He watched the smoke dance in the air as he blew out.

Paul let out a sharp breath. "I don't honestly know." He let out a hollow laugh and slouched in the chair. He glanced up at the star-littered sky. Paul breathed in the secondhand smoke. "You added lavender?"

"Supposed to be calming," Billy muttered as he inhaled once more.

Paul glanced at the burning embers on the edge of the blunt. "I met with the Cullens recently." Their name left a bitter taste in his mouth. "They spoke of another species. Other creatures besides the Cold Ones." Paul yanked a hand through his hair and let the quick sensation of stinging pain ground him. His thoughts were too fast. "Fire, they are born of fire."

"That sounds . . ." Billy exhaled softly. "I've never heard of anything like this."

He nodded. "I hadn't either." Paul's lips pursed. "They were scared of them, Billy." His voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke. "The vampires were terrified at the prospect of James could be." Paul stretched his legs out in front of him along the porch. "This civilization terrifies vampires - to the point they most likely have tried to wipe them out."

"That. . ." Billy snuffed out the burning end of the blunt. "A third Kind?" Billy swiveled his wheelchair to face Paul more directly.

Paul grunted and sat upright in the chair once more. "A civilization that the vampires might have tried to wipe out in fear because they were stronger." He stood from the chair and stretched before turning and leaning back against the railing. "Billy," he trailed off.

"I get it, son." Billy answered. The heaviness of those thoughts he couldn't put into words.

"I don't . . ." Paul let the statement hang in the air for a moment. "Talk with Nahuel and reach out the the other tribe's elders - but do so quietly." Paul's lips pursed. "Cause either this Kind never existed and was just a legend passed down." He breathed out softly and stood straight. "Of this Kind existed and Vampires did everything they could do to wipe them from it." Paul's shoulders dropped. "And if they did . . . James shouldn't exist. This puts everyone at risk."

Billy let out a long exhale. "This. . . This will be done by Nahuel and I alone." His head nodded in confirmation. "This is not something every tribe should be worrying about." His lips pursed for a moment.

"Their Bloodline is Phoenix," Paul whispered. "I'm assuming they phased with the creature . . ." His words trailed off. "Like ours?" It was a question. Paul honestly had no idea. This was beyond even wolf depth.

. .

"Did you sleep good?" James questioned as he placed a kiss on Loveless' temple before reaching for the coffee mug that Vicktor held out for him.

Loveless nodded as she sipped her orange juice. "Took me a while to get there though." Her nose scrunched for a moment as she eyed the coffee cup. Gross. "I had a lovely chat with a wolf though." She mused softly. "I slept pretty good after that."

"Did you now?" James let the amusement he felt color his tone of voice. "I'm glad he could help you rest. Very gentleman-like."

Vic snorted and stole a sip from James' coffee mug. "I know we are in the 'forest' territory of sorts. But be careful." Just because the wolf was nice this time didn't mean the wolf would always be nice.

"I will," Her eyes sparkled. "Though I know you'll protect me.

'So will Paul, Firefly.'

Vic frowned as he watched their princess flinch. "You okay Princess?"

"Fine." She replied. A groan fell from her lips as her phone went off once more. "Claire is really trying to make this thing possible. "

A laugh fell from Vicktor's lips. "Claire is trying to make group dates a reality. And Angela agreed to start a war if it did." He shook his head in amusement. Teenagers. "I'm on Angela's side." He winked at a giggling Loveless.

"She wants us to go to Port." Her lips were pursed. Did she feel like spending that much energy?

James held back a frown. 'Port will be easier if the Wolves are there too.'

'Yes, Especially with the newcomers.' Vicktor held back a sneer. 'We need to talk anyway.'

"Claire seems to be winning this group message debate." Loveless snorted. "I'm going to take a quick shower and raid your closet.

James shook his head. "The closet in the guest room should have a few things for you that Vic already picked up." He smirked behind his coffee cup. "For instances like this." He waited until their Princess was out of earshot before turning to his Thereafter. "It seems the Major is still alive."

"Hmm," Vic murmured in reply. "It's actually a pity he wasn't one of us." He reached for his phone before leaning against the male beside him. "I'll send a message to Castel." He let out a slow exhale. "The Major has been quiet for some time."

He nodded. "This means Aro hasn't gotten his teeth back into him." James brought the coffee to his lips once more. "The Major could be a problem if he does."

"We handled Maria, we can handle one of her children," Vicktor murmured.

James smiled and placed a kiss on Viktor's temple. "I know you can." He breathed out softly. "I'm more concerned about the others Aro might awaken in his stupid fear." His voice was soft as he spoke. "I don't think our people can handle another culling - as Aro had called it." His jaw tightened. "Not before our Princess has finished her turning."

"I'm going to step outside and call Castel - forget texting." Viktor pushed away from the other and moved towards the back door. 'I want to see if Castel can get into contact with the Major.'

James stood from his chair and placed the empty plates into the dishwasher. 'Good, tell him to make sure his People are in place and to be careful.'

'Done.'

James hummed softly as he listened to the familiar Italian language flow from Viktor's lips. He missed their time in Italy. It was a beautiful place. He couldn't wait to show Lovely. Italy was special. It was where he had met his Thereafter. His Viktor.

. .

"Why are you here?"

A smile. "Where else would I go?" His head cocked to the side as he flashed a disarming smile at the other. "This is where you are."

"Stop!" He snarled in reply. "I left there because that's where you were." His nose flared as he settled on glaring. His honeyed eyes darted to the left as a raven caught his attention. "You are not supposed to be here." The trees cracked around them as they swayed in the breeze.

A smirk. "Don't be like this." His voice was velvety as he cooed gently. "I missed you." He stepped closer only to smirk. "We both know you missed me."

"Stop patronizing me, Damon!" He snarled once more. Venom pooled in the back of his mouth causing him to swallow hard. "I did not miss you."

Damon chuckled and took a soft step backward. He held up his hands in mock defense. A show. "Don't lie to me, brother." His voice was low as it carried over the wind. He twisted toward the side, letting his younger brother have a sense of separation. His deep red eyes followed the footpath shown in the opening of the glade they stood in. "Remote place you've found."

"I didn't miss you," Devon whispered.

He glanced at his brother once more before turning away. He chose to study the wildflowers that covered the ground around them. "Okay." The wind howled through the trees. "We are not on Cullen Territory." Damon mused softly. He let his boot-covered feet guide him, moving aimlessly. "You wandered quite far this time, Devon." His voice lulled over the swaying flowers. "I wasn't sure I was going to find you this time." His lips pursed.

"I-"

Damon's thick brows furrowed as he lost himself in his thoughts for a moment. The thick black ends of his hair fluttered over his lashes, feathering against his neck in the breeze. "I missed the smell of wildflowers." He mused to himself. A smile covered his lips as Devon stayed quiet. "That's very human of you," Damon uttered as he caught the other rolling his shoulders to lessen the tension he felt.

"Why are you here?" Devon tried once more. His skin itched. It was such a human thing to say, but it was the best way to describe it. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he looked at his brother's back. Gooseflesh would have covered his arms if he had still been capable of such an act.

He twisted around quickly, inhumanely. "This is where you are." Burgundy red clashed with honeyed yellow. Damon smiled. "Am I not allowed to miss you?"

"I-" Devon's brows furrowed. No. He was not going to fall for that. He'd seen Damon's tricks before. "You didn't miss me." Devon pushed his shoulders back as he squared them. He was not a child. He was a monster . . . just like his brother.

Damon sighed, letting a hum carry out into the open. "I did." He shook his head and watched as his boot-covered feet crushed the wildflowers beneath them. "Why can't I miss you?"

"Stop this toying bullshit." Devon snapped. "I am not your prey."

"You have never been my prey," Damon replied with ease.

Devon stopped. This was going nowhere. "Besides missing me, why are you here?"

"We both had access to Aro's library, Brother." Damon frowned. "Don't play stupid."

His brother was frustrating. "I'm not being stupid." Venom pooled in his mouth as anger took hold.

"I never taught you this." Damon pointed up and down at his younger brother. "Is this something the Cullen's have taught you?" His brows furrowed. Lips pursed in disapproval. "You know how to control your emotions." Damon flashed another wide and disarming smile.

Devon's shoulders sagged. "Is she really?"

"There you go, brother." He smiled widely and clapped proudly. "No need to act like a Cullen." Damon chuckled softly and flitted closer to his brother. "You smelled her." Venom pooled in his throat. "You've tasted one." His dark eyes gleamed manically. "Don't you remember?"

He did remember. It was why he struggled so hard. It was why the diet was so difficult. He remembered the taste of their blood. The Cullen Way . . . it wasn't all the hard. Practice makes perfect, Carlisle always said. But Carlisle had never tasted one of them. He didn't know. But Devon did.