What you give is what you get,
and it doesn't make sense to make do.

Neck Deep - Gold Steps

The car ride to the city seemed oddly edgy. Kael kept clenching his fists in his lap, or rubbing his knuckles, no trace of his puppy-ness present. Nevaeh kept coiling and recoiling her whip around her wrist, a small frown lining her pretty face. And then there was James, driving. His eyes didn't leave the road the entire time, but I saw his fingers tense on the steering wheel before relaxing more than once, a small curve at the end of his lips, a little unconscious smile.

I wondered what was in his head, but I kept my Gift off, I didn't want to invade the others. As quiet as the car was, it wasn't a nervous tension in the air, almost an excitement, though Kael seemed possibly nervous, most likely for my sake. He had told me before we left a little of what was going on. I knew we were going to a man named Ace. Kael had said he was a Shifter, a wolf and the head of the pack in the city. I assumed that meant a Werewolf, and after meeting Jevin, I was interested to see how the real thing would differ from the myth. James had apparently employed Ace's pack as his personal watch dogs and clean up service for any evidence a Darkling might leave behind in the city.

Kael mentioned that there weren't only Shifters in the city, but also hunters of these creatures, of all creatures, though they were rarely foolish, bold, or radical enough to attempt to take down Darklings. Some people thought 'cursed' beings, like Vampyres and Werewolves, didn't deserve life and apparently Ace's pack had been caught off guard on two previous occasions. In return for the pack's help, James had promised protection from hunters, and this was him making good on his word.

Kael's eyes narrowed when he told me that the first time I had seen James after one of his 'nights out', when he had pretended to be drunk, was after his first repayment to Ace's pack, distracting the hunters until the wolves could get to safety. Kael quickly changed topics, after saying a little bitterly that he was glad James wasn't trying to go it alone again.

I snapped back into the present as the car came to a rolling halt. James gave a little nod to Kael, which apparently was in some kind of brother language I was not fluent in because Kael swiftly opened his door and was out and ushering Nevaeh from the car within seconds. James and I sat in silence for a moment before he spoke.

"Watch your back tonight. This is the same group as last time," I saw something like a wince as a memory passed across his face, "they aren't the reasonable kind. They don't care that this pack isn't violent towards Humans, they don't care that they are under the control and protection of a non-cursed being. They just want blood and they will take anyone down that tries to stop them."

James breathed a couple words too quiet for me to hear, but the rush of power I felt made me able to guess at them. I flipped the switch in my head and felt a second rush from his current, even greater than the Angel names, as I opened the car door. I paused when the feeling intensified and I felt his mind touch mine.

They're Human too. They don't look like Demons or monsters. I don't kill Humans anymore unless they are evil. Some hunters aren't evil, just misguided...but this isn't that type of hunter. Kill on sight, they'll do the same to you, to anyone between them and their targets.

A shiver ran up my spine as I walked to the sidewalk where Kael and Nevaeh were waiting, James joined thirty seconds later. I looked around for the first time, taking in the decrepit suburb we were in. The sidewalks were cracked and there was garbage strewn along the fences and yards. Calling the place a dump would have been too complimentary. The street was deserted, even though it was only early evening.

James adjusted something on his wrists before walking toward a house two yards farther down the street. I felt something strange in the air, almost like a brittle fear, but it was familiar. Suddenly I understood why James had grimaced when he spoke to me in the car. The last time he had a run in with these hunters, I distinctly remembered him pulling a bullet from his leg, his calf more specifically, which meant he had been shot from behind, as he ran away. James glanced back at me a second after the memory passed through my head. Our eyes met and I saw the closest thing to fear in his dark depths I ever had.

"They use guns?" I asked quietly, watching James' face for any signs. His lips tightened before he replied.

"A lot of people use guns. I don't freeze anymore. I'm not a child anymore."

He sounded mildly insulted that I would even think he had such a weakness, but under his defensiveness, I knew he was lying. He was afraid.

You're allowed to be afraid, you know. Kael even told me fear is something that Darklings should have, self-preservation, caution. You don't have to hide it, I can tell when you're lying anyway.

I continued watching James as I slunk into his mind, but he ignored my comment, the muscle in his jaw jumping each time he clenched.

Fine, don't answer that. But why were you smiling then? If you are afraid of their guns - I put special emphasis on the word - then why did you look like you were trying to hide a grin in the car?

James glanced to me at this point.

Yeah, I saw the smile, don't act surprised.

He looked ahead again but I saw a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.

"I have some unfinished business with one of the hunters, that's all," he finally replied, aloud.

"So you're excited to kill the guy?"

James slowed and looked at me when I said this, his face unreadable.

I'm excited too.

I spoke honestly. He smirked again as he heard my thoughts before we quickened our pace and turned up the sidewalk of a yellowish house with dead flowers in pots on the porch.

The door opened before we were to the stairs. A man in a red shirt and dirty jeans stood barefoot before us, his hair a whiteish blonde. He wasn't a big guy, and for some reason that surprised me. He was leaning on the door jam in a casual pose that reminded me of James in some ways, but his eyes jumped around too much to fully give justice to the comparison.

He ushered us in without a word and closed the door behind us. He turned to us once we were all inside but James spoke before the man had a chance.

"I'm sorry you lost one of your group. He was a good man. Poison is a coward's weapon."

The man looked to the ground for a moment, his teeth bared on one side, before shaking his head and looking back at us.

"He shouldn't have stayed back with you, he should have left with us. I don't blame you for his arrogance. You aren't supposed to save us from ourselves, just give us time to escape. My pack understands that."

The man's voice lilted with an English accent. He seemed to really look at us for the first time then, and when is light blue eyes came to me they paused. He stuck his chin in my direction before speaking.

"She's new."

I immediately looked to James, expecting him to answer, but he merely looked back at me. After a couple seconds of awkward pause I realized he expected me to answer.

"I'm Jordan, and I am new. I've been with the Clan a couple of months now."

The man nodded to me but replied to James again.

"I heard rumors you had a new member. Let's hope she lives up to everything the whispers have been saying, we'll need it. My men report that the hunters are coming tonight to our woods, I don't know how they found our home, how they possibly could have gotten that information, but they have and they're coming. All of them. The children have been moved, but all the adults are staying. We aren't asking you to fight for us, but with us this time. We need to end these hunters once and for all."

Ace said the last words through his teeth. Even though he was only as tall as me, and hardly heavier, the way he spoke, and the way he was close to growling at times made him seem a lot more beast than man.

James seemed to be pondering something, and Kael spoke up next.

"You have all of us here this time, you don't have to stay. We can take them alone, no risk to you. You've lost enough to these hunters, Ace."

If I thought Ace seemed canine-like before, now he looked like a true wolf. He barred his teeth and his lip curled back involuntarily before he closed his eyes for a moment and regained control.

"I apologize, the moon is close and-"

James cut him off.

"We understand, all our Shifts are close under our skin tonight. You don't have to explain."

James sounded oddly understanding and Ace looked surprised.

"Thank you, King, I appreciate your words, and yours," he added the last part to Kael before continuing, "but we will stay, I gave the choice to all my pack, the ones that are of age have all chosen to fight."

James nodded.

"Then let's go. Where is your real home? I can't say I'm disappointed that this isn't where you reside."

Ace smiled at this and itched his ear, more like batted at it.

"Did you drive?"

James jingled the keys and Ace's smile widened.

"You aren't going to stick your head out the window, are you? Cause that would be embarrassing."

Ace let out a few mocking yips before opening the door and strutting out. James followed, with the rest of us close behind.

Ace sat in the backseat with Nevaeh and me. He was trying hard to be friendly, but I could tell he was nervous, both about the fight imminently approaching and the people he would be fighting with. I had to remind myself that it was probably pretty scary to be in a car with a Clan of Darklings, especially one that included James. I could relate in a small way. I distinctly remembered my own fears of James, on many occasions.

As if I didn't pick up on his wariness to begin with, Ace's knee was bouncing continuously during the drive and I was amazed by the amount of heat he radiated. The side of me next to him was breaking into a sweat. He hadn't grabbed shoes or a coat before we left, but I could see why. They didn't seem necessary for someone as warm as him.

Ace gave James some short directions, but after a few attempts at brittle jokes, the car was silent for the majority of the ride. Finally, I couldn't stand his knee-bouncing anymore and laid my hand on his leg to still him. He froze and looked down at my hand for a moment before he spoke.

"I'm sorry, love, I don't like your kind like that." His grin showed more teeth than I thought was possible.

"I knew it!" Nevaeh exclaimed on the other side of me, before clapping a hand over her mouth.

"Knew what?" Ace asked in a confused tone.

I had never seen Nevaeh blush, but she flushed from her long neck all the way to her high cheek bones before answering.

"Well...that you like men."

She sounded almost defensive now and she looked to Kael for affirmation. Instead I heard him try to stifle a laugh from the front seat, which he quickly converted into a cough. Even James' shoulders shook in a silent chuckle. The only man in the car who didn't seem to see the humor of the situation was Ace.

He leaned forward in his seat until he could look past me to Nevaeh, who looked even more uncomfortable now.

"And if I do? Why do my bed partners concern you, Shade?"

To Nevaeh, Ace probably looked threatening, but I saw a twinkle in the corners of his eyes that made it clear he was toying with her. I kept my observation to myself though.

"You just don't seem interested in women, so gay was my running theory, that's all. I don't care who you sleep with to be honest."

Nev had gone from embarrassed to bratty in a seamless transition. She spoke with a sneer now where she had seemed worried only a moment before. How seamlessly she could change moods was almost impressive, in an annoying kind of way.

Ace held her gaze for a moment longer before a grin spread across his face.

"I'm actually not. I'm not interested in you firstly because I don't date broken Angels, but the truer reason is because I'm betrothed to a woman in my pack and frankly, you just don't compare, love."

Ace gave her quick wink after his polite insult before leaning back and settling into his seat with a self-satisfied smirk. Nevaeh had her signature pout painted on her lips for the rest of the car ride.

We had been driving through the nondescript woods for close to a half-hour and besides one, small old-timey bar, I hadn't seen anything to help me remember our path, even before the labyrinth of dirt trails Ace lead us down. Finally, a large cabin loomed ahead of the car. It almost looked like a ski lodge in a rustic, homey way.

"Is this yours?" I asked from Ace's side.

He nodded and a small smile was back on his lips. It looked like he was looking at an old friend. I was almost jealous of the love he seemed to have for the house, his home. I loved the manor in a way, but I still didn't feel like it was my home. I still didn't feel how Ace did for the log house before us.

"This is not just my home, but my entire pack's base, our den, you could say. It's been with this pack for generations, regardless of who the Alpha is. I'm honored for it to be mine." A moment later his eyebrows came together and I saw his jaw tense.

"The hunters coming here today are not just coming after my people, but attacking the only home many of us have ever known. We've never been found, never had to defend this place. You are the only outsiders to ever lay eyes on our den, and live."

Kael spoke up again at this.

"Then let's prepare, I'm sure we'll need a little planning, especially if the hunters are coming with all they've got. By the end of the night, there won't be a single one left to tell the location."

Kael's words seemed foreign to him, but he said them so casually, so naturally, it reminded me that he wasn't the puppy I often likened him to, he was a warrior through and through. It was easy to see James as a killer, and Nevaeh was such a bitch I suppose I could imagine her fighting almost anyone, but Kael? It still seemed strange to me, despite his size, his looks, despite his past.

Inside the house was surprisingly warm, in every meaning of the word. It was pretty and rustic and seemed like a cozy home a grandmother would live in, baking cookies and knitting her days away - if considerably larger than any one grandma would need. It was far from the Clan's Victorian-style castle, and with the enormous amount of people inside, it seemed like a holiday gathering. When Ace had said his pack was waiting for us, I assumed he meant five or ten. I assumed wrong.

As soon as we walking into the house, we were met with bellows of laughter and the loud chaos of many people talking. The first room was just an open area, like a large meeting room or mess hall. It was full of people, probably close to twenty-five, men and women and some older teens.

I was shocked, and then doubly shocked when I saw a boy who had been in one of my college classes years earlier before I dropped out. I had a class with a piece of the world I craved years before I'd ever learned what was really out there. He caught my eye and a look of surprise passed across his face as well, matching my own. He walked over slowly, I met him halfway.

"Jordan, right?" He said in a cautious tone.

"Theo." I nodded in like greeting.

"I didn't know you were part of the Overworld Clan we work for." His tone was still suspicious, but respectful and not unfriendly.

"Neither did I. I just...discovered my kind a couple of months ago actually."

I saw Theo's eyebrows rise in surprise for the second time before he nodded. After a moment, Kael appeared by my side. He nodded to Theo before glancing between us.

"You two know each other?"

He sounded friendly, but I could tell he was feeling protective. Brotherly affection practically poured from his mind. I smiled at him and nudged his arm before replying.

"Yeah, we had Criminal Law together back when..."

"Back when you were Human or thought you were?" Theo chimed in with a small smile. "Things change quickly, don't they? Aren't you the one who fell asleep the first day, in the front row? I was almost impressed."

I merely shrugged.

"I never liked Legal Studies."

This gained a chuckle from Theo and Kael alike.

"Well, your new life suits you, you look-"

"Theo!" One of the men in the corner of the room called out and Theo smiled briefly before turning and striding away.

James and Nevaeh walked up as Kael began making kissy noises at me, but he stopped when I glared at him.

"What? First that hunky barman at the club and now wolf-boy-classmate. You little heartbreaker."

I hit him with the back of my hand, but smiled. Kael always made me smile. James had a smirk on too as he watched Theo's back retreat, but it didn't look near as pleasant.

The teasing was quickly discarded as a loud outburst came from the corner Theo had joined. Nevaeh's hand moved toward her wrist where her whip was coiled but James batted it away just as quickly. He positioned himself in front of us though, just slightly, almost like he hadn't even meant to, just a turn of his shoulders, a shift in his stance. I took a step to the side also, to get a better view.

"We don't need Demon-spawn crawling around our home helping us! This is a family matter and I don't want some broken little seraphs waving around enchantments and acting like our friends. They have four fraction-Angels and we have a whole pack. We don't need them and I don't want them here. I'm not the only one either."

A tall man with dark tangled hair and a partial beard was yelling at Ace, waving his hand in our direction all the while. He continued after a moment's pause when Ace said nothing.

"I didn't like the deal you made with that boy they follow, but I bit my tongue, but this...this is too far. You've brought them to our home. You've asked for help? Did you beg? Since when do we let others fight for us? Where is your pride?"

The man's face was now red and along with his scruffy facial hair, he looked older, though he was probably only in his late-forties. He looked over and his eyes met mine for a moment. I sent out my Gift, to just his mind like Kael had taught me.

Bloody Angels trying to take us over, trying to own us. Stupid children who think that just because we both Shift, we're somehow the same. We may be cursed but we aren't yet damned. We are nothing like these monsters. I don't want Hell in my home. I don't want their stench and stain anywhere near me. Ace shouldn't be leading, he has no pride in this den, this pack, in his own kind. I would never lay down at these disgusting creatures' feet like a lap dog...

The amount of malice in his mind made me straighten where I stood and my fists ball at my sides. Though James was in front of me, he half-turned at my movement, a question in his eyes. I switched my focus to him and the heightened electricity welcomed me, making my lips curve slightly. He was like a flame near my skin, sometimes burning, but others just warming me. Then I remembered what was going on around us and was pulled back from basking in the feelings of him.

What does he want? What did you see?

James' mind filled mine and I was glad he assumed I had already used my Gift on the man. I felt oddly pleased.

He doesn't want help, or to look weak. He wants Ace's place and he doesn't trust us. He doesn't want to be controlled by us, or by Ace. He thinks we're damned.

James' eyebrows raised at my mention of being damned, along with a little shrug of agreement.

"Then let's ease his mind," he spoke out loud now, but in a low voice just for me. He glanced to Kael and Nevaeh, smiling slightly, but it was all lethality at the edges. His eyes were dark when he looked back to me, black pits in his beautiful face, and then he was across the room.

The angry man took a shocked step back at how quickly James had appeared before him, but when he saw James' Shift he stepped forward again. I heard his thoughts, that he couldn't back down with everyone watching, I felt James' thoughts too. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Hello, friend. Would you like to discuss your worries outside? This is such a lovely home, I'd hate to break something of sentimental value," James smiled as he spoke, carefully, as to not show much of his teeth.

Two of the man's friends stepped forward to back their companion, but he waved them off. Ace stood then and raised his hands as if conceding.

"Gallipolis, I understand you are upset with me. And I know your eyes are on Alpha," he gave him a poignant look, "but these are not our enemies, and they are not truly so far from us. We're all monsters here, so don't play judge. This boy, as you say, has helped us before, or have you so quickly forgotten his actions? This is partnership, not ownership."

Ace stepped nearer to James but made a point not to touch him.

"Please don't Shift in the house," he said in a quiet, polite voice before turning to the rest of the room, which was riveted on the discourse in the corner.

"We have our real enemy in our sights, it would be foolish to not use all the forces in our arsenal, including this Darkling Clan. And I will not act foolishly just to cater to my pride. This is the situation I had in mind when I agreed to work with them. I knew we would benefit from this relationship, and if anyone would like to speak with me about my decisions as your Alpha, please do so...outside."

Ace gave another dog-like grin before he took his seat and continued talking to a woman near him in a voice too quiet for me to hear. James' eyes were back to their natural navy, but he hadn't moved from his spot in front of Gallipolis. He looked over to me and his meaning was clear. I shifted my eyes to Gallipolis, who was still glaring at Ace.

You think you will always be at the top, but you'll fall sooner than you think. I'll fight tonight, but your end is coming as sure as the cycle's, and then our partnership with Heaven's garbage will be over.

I matched Gallipolis' glare at Ace with my own at him before I relayed the information to James. James' eyes snapped back to the man in front of him, a sneer on his lips.

"My Clan houses some unique Gifts, you would know that special attributes are common in my kind if you had done your research. Regardless, I'd advise you to keep your mind on track this evening, 'garbage' is a little insulting, don't you think?"

Another hard smile touched James' lips as he turned to Kael, Nevaeh and I. He turned back after a few steps and spoke to Ace again, in a loud voice meant to be overheard.

"Oh, and since we are all friends here. Gally is planning on making a stand for Alpha sometime during the end of this moon...thought you'd like to know."

He winked at Gallipolis as he turned, leaving the traitor's face turning red with anger as he stared at James' back.

"Let's go outside and scout a bit," James said amiably to us as he walked past.

I looked back to Gallipolis when we were to the door, he had a look like murder in his eyes, and then understanding broke across his face. He began to stalk over and my Shift rolled under my skin. I took a step toward him but then Theo was standing in front of him, stopping him with a hand on his chest as he said something quietly, trying to calm him. His eyes still had fire in them as I walked out into the brisk evening air.

"Well, that went dandy," Kael said once we were away from the house and making a slow loop of the grounds, looking for signs of previous spies.

"So do I have to worry about some disgruntled wolf trying to bite me in the ass while I fight his enemies for him? Cause if I have to watch out for hunters and the mutts they're hunting all at once, I might just take myself out of the middle and let them have at each other."

Nevaeh had hardly spoken since our arrival and she seemed in a bad mood. I wondered if it was from the car ride still.

"We've promised to help, so we will. I doubt he would actively try to attack us during the fight, but it wouldn't hurt to keep an extra wary eye on your surroundings tonight. Think of it as additional training for your focus."

James said the words sweetly, but Nevaeh scowled and strutted off ahead. Kael shook his head and sighed before following his partner, leaving James and I alone.

"You know he wants to kill you, right? Me too. We called him a traitor in front of his entire family. Not the best way to make allies," I said calmly as I walked next to James.

"You scared, Angel?" His voice was teasing but his eyes were serious as he looked at me. He sighed when I declined to answer.

"I wasn't just being overly-independent when I came alone to help the pack last time like Kael thinks. I knew the more of us present, the more on-edge certain individuals would become and I wanted to cause as little strife within the pack as I could, but I'd rather have Gallipolis angry with me than Kael, hence, the entire Clan's presence. Plus, you need the practice."

He still sounded teasing, but I stopped walking and turned to him regardless of his playfulness.

"What am I supposed to expect. Are we just going to be sitting here waiting and then these hunters will come running out of the woods like target practice? This just seems...disorganized, especially for you."

In all honesty the entire vague plan for the night seemed very informal, very unlike every story Kael had ever told me of James' perfectly organized and orchestrated battle plans.

"Well, you're right in some ways, this is strange. And we don't have a solid plan like we usually would because I don't want to give you a solid plan. This is your first, and you need to be able to use your instincts. This isn't a Demon or a Fallen, these people are trained, sure, but they are only Human. We don't need any tricks."

I gave a skeptical look and James laughed.

"This won't be like last time. I was outnumbered and baiting them, trying to distract them to give Ace and his group time to get away. I couldn't exactly bait them without letting them think they had caught one of his pack though. So I let them get a couple of shots in. A few shots in.

I had heard from Ace that they weren't the type to listen to reason, but I wanted to make sure myself before I killed them. So, between trying to let them think they had me, and being hesitant on killing them until I knew for a fact I should, they dug into me pretty decently. Plus, I didn't Shift because I didn't want them to see I wasn't a wolf. So I had it pretty rough last time. This time will be different. I'm here as a Darkling this time, not bait. I'm here for blood. Which is why, yes, I'm excited. This is payback."

We began to make our way back through the grounds to the house. We were still far off when I saw a group on the porch, and by the tall frame of the man closest to us, I was sure it was Gallipolis. James raised his voice as we approached.

"Oh, don't worry, there's no need to apologize. We aren't very forgiving creatures really anyway." He spoke as if joking with an old friend. Gallipolis didn't crack a smile.

"I don't want her in the house, prying into everyone's mind and stealing our thoughts. It isn't natural and I don't want such a siren anywhere near me or mine."

He had a look on his face like I was a rotting carcass as he spoke, and his height literally made him look down his nose at me, only intensifying his glare's effect. I took a page from James' book and replied sweetly, but I kept my eyes locked with his, daring him to come closer.

"I'm sorry, did I upset you by showing Ace your disloyalty? I didn't mean to out your little uprising, though I'm sure he was already aware of it. You don't seem near clever enough to keep something like that very well hidden."

"Muzzle your bitch, King," Gallipolis said with a snarl on his lips, ignoring me completely.

I felt something like an electric bolt run through my mind, a flash of something, but then it was gone. I was sure it hadn't originated in my own mind though. When I looked to James his jaw was clenched and I saw the muscles slowly working as he chewed on his teeth.

"I pity the man who tries to collar her actually. Seems a lost cause to me." His voice sounded light, but something sent a warning through me, and I was unbelievably glad that whatever he was feeling wasn't directed at me.

"But if you would like to try, to prove what Alpha material you truly are, well, she's right here. A new little baby Darkling who can't even use her Sign, has no Gifts for pain or any tricks, nothing besides knowing people's minds, and was never even trained before my Clan. If you want her muzzled, then be my guest...unless my bitch scares you."

James had his hands behind his back now, and I saw his fingers flex against his wrist before relaxing and flexing again. His mind filled mine a moment later, anger boiling through, almost making me flinch.

He needs to learn some respect, not just for me, but for my Pair and my Clan...teach him.

I felt his electricity intensify as he spoke, and the violence in his mind made my Shift jump. I let it free and soaked up the feelings of power. The world went black and white in luster, except for Gallipolis, he was tinged a slight red, and then he was shaking, vibrating.

I always imagined if Werewolves were real, they would change gradually, sprouting hair and morphing into something more canine but still Human, like in campy, old horror flicks. I was wrong.

Gallipolis was standing before me with venom and pride pouring from his mind one moment, and then the next he was a wolf, without a single Human attribute, without a single second of transformation...at least that I could see, even with the heightened senses of my Shift. He bounded from the deck faster than any animal, his eyes set on his prey, his mind completely closed to me. I breathed an Angel name a second before the impact.

The wolf was larger than a regular one, at least, that's what I assumed. I had never actually seen a wolf in person, but this animal seemed impossibly large to be natural. He was hard too, not like I had thought he would feel, it was almost like a brick wall covered in coarse fur was attacking me. There was no give, no compromise, nothing soft.

I focused on Gallipolis' teeth mainly, keeping myself at a safe distance from their snapping points. I found it surprisingly easy, not easy as in taking no effort, but easy compared to the concentration and exertion it took when I sparred with Kael...or argued with James. My Shift helped, everything seemed slower, each movement predictable. After a moment of wrestling, I threw the dog away, he rolled once before regaining his footing and shaking his head.

"Come here, boy," I said past pointed teeth.

He snorted once before charging again. I pulled one of the knives I had equipped for the evening and held it backwards in my hand, so I could deal a shallow blow without worrying about possibly severing anything vital or accidentally gutting him. Before I had the chance to begin though, a white blur knocked Gallipolis back, sending him sprawling and yelping from the force.

A snowy dog stood in front of me and it was shocking how close to Ace he still looked in his non-Human form. His eyes were the same light color and his unique silvery fur made him actually seem more like his true self as a wolf than he had as a man. He seemed more at ease in this form and I found it beautiful. He positioned himself in front of me and took a defensive stance as Gallipolis regained his footing beneath him.

A snarl came from Ace, low and dangerous. I saw Gallipolis pause for a moment, like he was listening to something, then he leapt. The noise of the collision truly sounded like just that, a collision. Like a car hitting a rock wall, or a landslide beating down around you. My Shift sank under my skin again and color leaked back into the world around me as Ace and Gallipolis rolled over each other, their huge jaws snapping as they tried to sink into the other.

Finally, it looked like Gallipolis clamped down onto Ace's leg but he was shoved over a second later, and then Ace was on him, digging into the other's chest and stomach. The smell of blood hit me a moment later. Gallipolis' snarls quickly turned to yelps and then whimpers as Ace ended his assault. He stalked away, leaving Gallipolis clearly alive, but undeniably defeated. Ace's paws and jaw and the longer fur near his chest were stained a bright red, like fake blood from a costume shop. He shook out his fur like a dog shaking water from his coat as he approached us. He stopped in front of me and sat, his head bent. It almost seemed like he was inviting me to touch him, but I wasn't sure and the last thing I wanted to do was insult him by treating him like a house pet.

After a moment he looked up and took a few steps closer. He nuzzled my side, close to my shoulder because of how tall he was as a wolf and I smiled, finally taking the hint and putting my arm around his blood-stained neck. He was even warmer as a wolf than he had been as a man.

The same woman I had seen Ace speaking with inside earlier now walked up to us with shorts in her hands. The Alpha shivered next to me and then the wolf was gone and his slim Human frame was standing at my side, my arm awkwardly around his naked, blood-splattered shoulders. The woman handed him the pants and he pulled them up before speaking to the crowd that had gathered outside.

"I know some of you do not appreciate my decision to have an alliance with parts of Overworld, but it is my decision and it will serve us well. Gallipolis is entitled to his opinion of my leadership, but we are a pack and I will not allow fighting with our partners. He will not fight with us tonight. Bring him to the safe house with our children, he can be their watch tonight."

Some murmurs ran through the group as Ace spoke. Apparently getting sent to the kids' table was a harsh punishment, which I found strange since none of the crowd seemed to be upset by the actual fight. Or the fact that their leader was standing before them bare-chested with a fellow pack member's blood running down his throat and chest.

He turned to face me then and nodded, a thank-you for not hurting Gallipolis during my short spat with him. I nodded back and he turned, wiping some of the thick blood that was still dripping from his chin and flicking his wrist towards the ground, shaking the blood from it. He began to walk back to the house before he stopped and lifted his head, as if smelling the air. His shoulders set into a tense line a moment later.

"They're close, I can already smell them...take your posts!"

Ace's voice boomed through the cold, quiet grounds, and even the air seemed to quiver at his order. Without a second's pause, the group on the porch scattered, and then others came pouring out of the house. Men and women all running to different points around the perimeter of the clearing. I looked to James just in time to see him adjust something on his wrists, a shining knife jutted from just above his hands. Our eyes met and he smirked before disappearing into a group as they rushed past.

You're on your own, Angel. Have fun.

Remember Ace? Remember the night before the Serpentine debacle? Well now you know what James' 'barfight' really was. I wonder what other single-chapter characters are lurking in future pages...

And just in case ya'll are wondering, its 4:35am over in Seoul right now, and I'm on my second iced hazelnut americano at this awesome 24 hour cafe (called Cube) just one subway stop from mi casa (in Bonghwasan). So naturally, I will stay until 5~ when subways open again so I don't have to walk the 15 min home. It cold and I lazy.

Additional behind-the-scenes: remember the friend who told me about Adestria, and In Fear and Faith (Squirrel?) weeeeellll, Gallipolis got HIS name from a road trip to see said friend. I saw a sign that said Gallipolis (or something like that) and immediately knew it would be this character.

Interesting, no? No. Not really. I'm sleep deprived, be nice.

T