Much as I fought it, I could see his point of view, a free society falling in line behind a person who, in our time, was practically considered a dictator wasn't the easier pill to swallow. 

I had wondered which side would be accepted, and how these civilians would respond to an approach that, at times, was rather harsh and unyielding. What caused us to thrive in our time might not stand in this one, yet they seemed to stare at him as if he had lost his mind in the same way that I'm sure they gawked at him when he killed his father for a chance to rule. 

Johnathan had been the most outspoken, for following a 'child' was not on his agenda; I couldn't blame him. These people were spoiled with their freedoms; they didn't know what awaited them as soon as they revealed their true identities to the public, coupled with the horrors of what the government intended to do to them. 

It didn't take much to put two and two together that a full-scale breeding program was potentially underway, given the success of Marisol's insemination. What they intended to do with their lycans was anyone's guess, but if history had any merit, humanity's cruelty knew no bounds. 

While assurances were high, I could see the reluctance in the faces of people who looked like ordinary individuals. Blinded by the lust for a new army, I had seen a handful of soldiers among these commoners. Now, looking at them sitting before me in their borrowed clothes, I saw scared people of a variety of ages who knew nothing of what we were asking of them. 

We wanted them to follow an admittedly inexperienced leader to their deaths while one of the only tested people bowed out. Verando would follow me, leaving Helen behind to run things as I made my tour to France. This seemed to be the rub; their only hope was to leave and follow me.

These people had little reason to have faith in him, little reason to have confidence in any of us. We were telling them things that made little sense, propaganda for all it was worth in their minds. But their options were slim. 

It was to join us or be cast out to their deaths or inevitable capture. 

They could not control the wolf. As much as their human side might wish to leave, the wolf clung to the one true leader that they knew, and I was relying heavily on that loyalty.

 But, as he stated later that night, when we finally managed some privacy from prying eyes, no one would ever be pleased with his retirement, but following me meant he needed to make a decision. 

We could not drag a pack after us once more; he wouldn't make that mistake again. 

Until we left for France, he would continue to train Helen, and I would continue to train Tyler. In a short month, we would need to make a move to save Fergus, but for now, this was the path we were on. We were maintaining and implementing measures to ensure that systems would continue to run smoothly when we departed. 

In reality, we were preparing our family for a life without us, as it was something our past family had been denied. There was no guarantee we would return from France, no promise that there was a world to return to, even. 

Helen would be the leader whether they liked it or not, and truly, they should be grateful for Helen over Legardo. 

As much as it killed me, I did offer for Verando to stay. But we both agreed his place was by my side in this last attempt to bring peace to this crumbling planet. The next day is spent in the throes of political warfare, a thing that I find I still thrive in. 

I can hold my own against the onslaught of questions and accusations. We all had lives to live, and we would continue to do so as long as possible. Johnathan and Verando had been missing from the public eye for too long, and the news was starting to become concerning; Senator Campbell had been last seen leaving the benefit not feeling well and hadn't been seen since. 

It was time to release him, but not without help. 

Verando had a concert scheduled back in Long Island; it would be a quick drive and a couple of days' stay before he could return to continue Helen's training. While I could see the desperation for him to remain, disappearing from the government's radar wouldn't bode well for any of us. I had obligations to fulfill, even with David Malcom currently at the bottom of my list.

 Just as I was starting to get comfortable, it became time for Verando's date with Mistress Corina. As if she wished to boil my blood that much further, she had been seen talking about it on the morning news as they interviewed her for the latest 'miracle' she intended to perform. I couldn't help but scoff, she was messy, talking more about her desire to bed my lover than proving she could be trusted with the life blood of the planet. 

Still, it never ceased to disappoint me who people continued to flock to her. Even with the world ending all around us, people still sipped their coffee and watched their soap opera drama, went to their everyday jobs, and gushed over the next celebrity to cross their paths.

Perhaps ignorance indeed was bliss, as things seemed rather bleak from this end of the spectrum. 

"Are you ready?" Verando asks, beginning the trail of buttons as he fastens his shirt. 

"I suppose. Are you sure you wish to go through with this? I'd like to remind you we were told you could decline the date." 

The feeling climbing into my chest was an odd one, not jealousy but something more sinsister. He was a grown man, and his appeal for anyone other than me and Marisol, on a platonic level, was minimal at best. He disliked most people, Red considerably more so than others. In a way, being trapped in a dinner date with him might be more of a punishment than a prize. 

I smooth out his tie with a sigh, she could see for herself how unpleasant he could be when his hand was forced. 

Yet, the thought still ticked away in the back of my mind like an annoying clock that wasn't even set to the correct time yet still dared to beat away as if it were relevant. 

His promiscuous nature never ceased to worry me; he was a man who did what he wanted, and it could be downright terrifying. 

Finishing the buttons up to the center of his chest, he makes a face, packing up the remainder of my clothes so I would have something to wear at home, though I had grown quite fond of his outfits.

 Marisol and I raiding his closets seemed to be getting on his nerves, considering her breasts stretched his shirts, and my cuffing of his pants meant ironing, which was somewhat emasculating. 

"We can't turn down this oppertunity to interogate her. I'm hoping I can get some clue on what she's thinking. She wouldn't have bid on me if she didn't want to talk."

"That's what I'm afraid of. She wants to talk to you." I remind him, crossing my arms over my chest. "Nothing good comes from that woman wanting anything. She's up to something, I don't need you to have dinner with her to know that. I just.. keep thinking of Haryek and that love poition. What if she tries something?"

"She'll give me back, darling." He kisses my cheek as he carries my suitcase to the living space, and I follow reluctantly behind him. "Nobody wants me besides you, and even that is a stretch at times."

I smack him on the ass, shaking my head at his ability to downplay just how desireable he could be. While I agreed he could be a handful, I hardly felt like I deserved him some days. It was cute when I had the interanl monolgue, but he was in no way allowed to downplay what belonged to me. 

"Only I can talk about you that way." I remind him shortly.

Tyler and I will be doing some light work to show activity, though we decided it was best not to be separated from Helen since he seems to keep Malka calm. We've assigned him the task of doing water purification for the inner cities and keeping an eye out for more lycans. With a concert coming up, this time on a larger scale broadcast, there would no doubt be another outbreak.

 "My appologies, Your Grace." he teases, chuckling at my heavy eye roll as he curls his arm around my waist, kissing my cheek and creasing my lip with a smirk, only to pause as Helen appears. My warlord had no interest in reliquishing me, no matter how I squirm. 

Her lips are pressed, her eyes glossy, she kicks at the ground as she waits patiently for her orders."Helen." Verando greets, "Or have you finally decided to accept the title of Alpha?"

"Helen's fine." She whispers, the large eyes glancing up at him, concerned. She didn't want him to be alone with the devil either. 

A commander giving her his orders, he straightens, releasing me. "You're going to go with Tyler, keep him safe, and stay alert. You're going to remember that you don't phase unless you have to; all your clothes will be gone if you shift unless you take them off. All you have to do is keep your pack exercised, give them tasks, and figure out who they are. You're going to be too busy to wory about me.

They're going to need to see your humanity, you're going through the same thing they are, and your humanity is just as essential as your blood, don't be afraid to show them that you bleed, too." He tells Helen as she stands hesitantly between us and the door. 

Johnathan appears, ready to leave with us. 

Helen folds her hands in front of herself, trying not to shrink up under the prying eyes of the Senator. "But do you have to go so soon? We only just got started. What if I can't do this?"

"I'll be back in short order. Nic isn't going to let Tyler out of his sight for too long." 

Tyler is responsible for himself and learning his craft; I didn't see the need for a pep talk. The man had helped me turn a hurricane while almost being devoured by his wife; I think sanitation is the least of his worries.  

The southern man puts his arm around her reassuringly. "Don't worry, baby. We got this. There ain't a gal out there who tries harder than you."

 Marisol glowers at him from the kitchen, and he clears his throat. 

"Well. You know what I mean. Can't please 'em all. A little bit of talk, a little bit of cleanin', we'll be back before ya know it." 

Helen smiles at him, though it doesn't touch her eeys, accepting the mental fluffing. Sometimes their relationship made me feel I needed to recheck my standards. 

Was it possible for two people to be so sickeningly lovely to each other? I wasn't sure I could stomach Verando talking to me like that, or that I could keep a straight face.

But, thankfully for them, Legardo made up for their kindness with glaring hatred and a sour attitude. It would seem there would be no forgiving his father now that he'd cursed his daughter with life as an 'Alpha'. 

"Good to know you're already breaking your promises." The white haired version of my lover snaps.

Verando pays him little mind, and Rhea waves their child off, taking any excuse to put her hands on the sire to her bastard progeny. She pats his chest, much as he steps out of her range with disinterest. "Don't mind him, Rando, he's just pissed because you didn't pick him. This will be good for Helen." 

Marisol thumps her out of the way as deliberately as possible. 

Bagel in hand, she sneers at the red-haired woman. "Are we done stroking each other dicks? Can we go?" She takes a massive bite of the cream cheese-covered pastry as Rhea gives her a dirty look.

"Good to see nothing's changed. Still chasing after a lost cause, are you, Marisol?" 

"Nah, not ever since I heard he's gay. Must have been one of the bitches he slept with that turned him." Marisol retorts shortly, smacking my warlord on the ass, only to be met with a look that questioned her audacity. "Vamos! Vamos! Estoy harto de mirar a esa perra."

I crack a laugh, quickly covering my mouth, spying Helen stifling a giggle. "Well you heard the woman." I mutter, gesturing him to follow her.

"Nos vamos. Cálmese." Verando responds, giving Johnathan a look. "See, I don't control shit, so yesterday was, frankly, moot. You'd been better off asking this one to storm the castle for you." He raises his hands in defense as Marisol flashes him a harsh look, clapping her hands in firm command that she was ready to leave. Her words were quick and furious, undoubtedly explicitives.

 "I know. We're leaving, look, walking towards the door right now. No one likes you when you sppeak like that." The english man reminds her.

Displaying her middle finger in defiance, Marisol storms off to the exit, where Marcello has pulled the car around, shouting over her shoulder at a speed that doesn't seem human. 

"I pity any cat with the balls to attempt anything while she's around." I allow as loudly as I dare as we follow after her. 

"She'd tear the whole city down if we let her. Rough night, I'd say. Another month of this, and we won't need a lycan army. Poor things miserable." 

It makes me sigh as I resist the urge to wrap my arm around his. The intimacy of sharing something like this, mixed with the fact that we hadn't discussed what we would do with Marisol while in France. 

Frankly, the woman terrified me, and I didn't want to be the one to tell her I didn't want her to go, yet I feared my warlord would meet his match if he dared to bring it up, either. 

Yet, where would she go? 

She would be due in a few months, and our timeline was short. It felt wrong to deny her the rights to her husband, even if her husband was my own; he was the father of her child. The whole thing just made me ill all over again. 

At least the Senator had the common sense to stay out of it. 

The drive is tense, with an angry and uncomfortable female crammed in the back of the sports car next to a Senator trying to decide if he's safer outside than locked in this space with her. We dropped him off at his residence, with Verando promising to see him at the event this evening, where the Senator would appear, and Verando would be there to keep an eye on him. 

With him gone, Marisol stretched out over the back and yawned in contentment. "I'm saying it now that Captain Sugartits is gone; your granddaughter and her husband make me want to puke. I bet that's the most boring sex ever. 

I love you. 

No, I love you. 

Please... get choked or something." 

Verando purses his lips in amusement, but it's all I can do not to revert to full-blown hysterics at the woman who managed to settle back into my good graces all over again.  

"Don't be all high and mighty on me now, Doe. Nic gets it; it doesn't mean I love them any less, but damn. I bet they cuddle for hours, could you imagine? It makes me uncomfortable."

"I tend not to think about it," Verando responds, in mock sophistication. "Being that she's my granddaughter and all."

 "I agree. That's as far as I'll go." I allow, relieved that I'm not the only one with such lude thoughts.

"You're both boring. Women think about sex so much more often than men do. Well. Maybe not. I've never fucked anyone over a loudspeaker before. That was hot." Marisol giggles, effectively making Verando choke and laugh all at once while turning me eight different shades of red. 

"Crash the car; I'm ready to die now," I tell him with a groan.

"Alpha, I can't!" She moans from the back seat, dramatically clutching her and giggling. "Dios Mio!" 

And all over again, I allow myself to hate them both and wonder if a fall from this speed would kill me. Jumping out the door into oncoming traffic probably wouldn't be the worst way to go. I don't know what about Marisol brings out the street urchin in him, but at least he seems happy. 

___________________________________________________

I fixed his tie for the third time to allow him to reset it now that I've messed it up. After the painful car ride from hell, I'm not quite in the mood to entertain him, but with Marisol sleeping on the couch, I can't help but feel as if this will be the only time I'll be alone with him tonight. 

 "Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"

"I'm going on a date afterward, remember? Turn the telly to the entertainment channel, and you'll see me for most of the night. I'll keep you posted with the texting messages if that pleases you."

 If he had any ability to send them, as slow as he was and as short as they could be, it would be rather useless save for assuring me that he was still alive.  

"But the next event will be in France, and for that one, you will surely be there." He teases, sliding his arms around my waist to pull me closer. I tug at the edges of his jacket; a black suit, left unbuttoned, with a white button-up shirt underneath and a tie. 

"Are we crazy for doing this? Do you think this is a waste of time?" I ask, making him pause as he slips his hand into one of mine to bring my knuckles to his lips.

"For freeing a unicorn? Perhaps. For trying? No. My last moments will be spent with you; that is all that matters." The taller man gathers me in his arms, pulling me close, lightly leading me through a half-hearted slow dance. 

I rest my head on his chest, enjoying the last few moments of closeness as he hums me a teaser for the night's performance. I never thought of him as a performer of any kind, though I suppose it does make sense in some ways; I often felt his talent was wasted on casual tunes for my amusement alone. 

 "When we get to France..." I begin, trying to form my words. "Can we finally make this official? It feels right, even if it is four hundred years too late." 

His step slows, and I can practically feel the grin at the corner of his mouth. 

"The world is ending, and you want to get married? We ask each other so often, I figured it was just common knowledge by now."

"If I'm going to die, I want to die Mr.Mercer. I'm just sorry it's taken so long." 

His lips brush my hair, kissing the top of my head before dipping me down despite my protests. 

"I intend to see you live a long and happy life, Mr.Mercer." He captures my lips with his own, and I sigh as I tangle my arms around his neck to not mess up his hair. 

How am I supposed to let him go now? 

Straightening, he breaks the kiss and brushes his nose against mine. "Think about the details, and I'll do whatever I can to make it happen. But I do need to leave before I'm unable to, you've got me quite smitten this evening." 

Slipping my knee between his thighs, I grope his ass, much to his disappointment that we all seem to be partaking in fondeling his person. Appologetically, I kiss him, chuckling at the groan of disapproval.

"I have to, as an act of defiance towards your ex-wife. Nobody smacks that ass but me."