Things went back to normal after that, or as normal as things were around the Avenger's tower. You went back to work, happy in your new role as Pepper's assistant. The worst you'd had to save her from was a pickpocket. He gave up quickly when you grabbed him and threw him ten feet straight into the air. You caught him and Happy and the security people held him until the police could collect him and you and Pepper continued on your way to get coffee.

You were called out on a mission with the entire team about a week and a half after you got back from the meeting with Fenrir. "There's a whole group of robots attacking downtown," Cap explained as the team assembled. "Jarvis, find out who or what is controlling them," you heard Cap's voice over the comm device in your ear.

"We're going to need the wolf for this," you told Loki. He was driving the SUV the two of you were in. He'd picked you up from work when the call came in, teleporting into the office. By the time you'd run outside with him, the SUV was waiting out front.

"Sounds like it," he agreed. This is why he hadn't teleported the two of you directly into the battle. You kicked your shoes off and climbed carefully to the backseat. You hated buying new clothes all the time because yours got ruined when you changed to wolf, so you stripped and changed to wolf in the SUV with it's blacked out windows and a boyfriend who was very carefully watching the road. You scrambled back to the passenger's seat when you were wolf, Loki reached over and scratched behind your ears. "We're almost there," he told you. It was less than a minute later that he stopped behind the other SHIELD SUVs. He got out of the SUV and you followed him, bouncing across the seats and out the door he held open. "Stay safe, little wolf," he told you as his battle armor shimmered into place. "I shall be quite cross with you if you are injured," his voice was light and teasing, but you heard the concern in his voice. You licked his hand reassuringly and headed off into the battle.

Tony was keeping the robots in the area that had been cleared out for the battle. Hawkeye was picking off stragglers. You ran in and grabbed one of the robots, throwing it to the ground and pinning it there until a bolt of magic shot through its head and destroyed it. The damn things were fast, but so were you. They also didn't take well to having a hundred pound angry wolf on their backs and were pretty easily thrown once you got a grip on them. The others could kill them pretty easily once you had them pinned.

You pinned one and Tony shot it with a repulsor, blowing its head off. You sniffed the air and grabbed his booted ankle with a snarl, pulling him to the ground. "Bad wolf!" he yelled over the comm device. He and Bruce had come up with one that wrapped around your ear so it stayed on no matter what form you were in. "The bad robots are over there, put me down." You growled again and pinned him, even in his suit and shifted back to human while you were on his back. The second you were human again you grabbed a silver metal spider off of his back and squashed it.

"They almost turned you into a bad robot. Stay away from them," you told him firmly.

"Thanks. Better put your fur back on," Tony said when you let him up. He rushed back into the battle, pointedly not looking at you before your boyfriend killed him for looking.

You looked down at your outfit. Loki was getting closer to fixing the clothes issue, but wasn't quite there yet. He'd worked a tricky little piece of magic and attached it as a charm on your charm bracelet, which was equally impressive. At least you got some clothes when you shifted back to human now. Unfortunately, the spell was only up to creating undergarments, and worse, you never knew what it was going to conjure. This time it was a black lacy pushup bra and matching panties. You sighed in exasperation at your silly love who insisted you needed to look nice and have nice things. You would've been happier with pants than fancy undergarments. Still, it was better than being completely nude, so you didn't complain. Much.

You shifted back to wolf and got back to work, noting that Tony stayed high above the robots so he didn't get attacked again. It didn't help. They were after him. You grabbed as many as you could, throwing them off of him and yelped with one grabbed you by the throat and threw you into Cap and Nat, knocking you all over. You snarled when you carefully made your way back to your feet, making sure your claws stayed away from your friends and rushed back in to help Tony. The team got all of the robots off of him and he held still while you sniffed the suit for more of those metal spiders. You ran off to get back to work and he took back off to the sky.

Finally you held down the last of the robots and Loki came up to stab it in the head with a dagger. You were both panting. "Wolf! Help! Take down the suit," Tony yelled over the comm, his voice breaking up. You ran and grabbed his suit in your jaws. He let you throw him to the ground and stand on his back while you sniffed out the metal spider. You found it and shifted back quickly to reach your fingers in the crevice where it had wedged itself to destroy it.

"I think that's the last one," you told him as you scrambled off of his back. The battle was over, so you didn't bother shifting back to wolf, no need to waste the energy. Shifting so many times so quickly still took more effort than you liked to admit.

Instead you glanced at your outfit and stomped over to Loki. It was a corset top, matching underpants, a garter belt, and thigh-high stockings. "Why? Why are you like this?" You demanded exasperated while Tony roared in laughter and the others pretended not to notice or see. They failed in their pretending when they were all laughing too. At least SHIELD was keeping the press away and Jarvis would scrub any image that somehow managed to get recorded.

"It's not on purpose," Loki replied too innocently. It was on purpose. Silly Trickster. He didn't even have the grace to look ashamed of himself either. "You look gorgeous, darling, and my lady deserves nice things," he replied, still completely unashamed and obviously enjoying the view, but he did summon your robe. You yanked it from his hands and put it on quickly, tying it shut.

"Your lady also deserves to not be dressed in sexy lingerie in public," you grumbled, your cheeks bright red.

"I'm sorry, love," he finally realized that your feelings were hurt. "I didn't mean to embarrass you, truly. I swear I'll get that spell up and working properly," he added as he wrapped his cloak around you too.

"Thank you. I'm sorry, I know that you're doing me a huge favor by making this spell in the first place..." you told him and stood up on your toes to kiss his cheek.

"Anything for you, love," he replied and leaned down to kiss you properly.

*

You were out on a date with Loki about a week later. You'd gone to see a movie and had a nice dinner out of the tower. The two of you were walking back to your usual borrowed car of Tony's when you smelled the other wolf.

You just stopped dead, disbelieving your nose. "What is it?" Loki asked, looking for the danger as you both reached for a dagger. "Jareth?" he asked. He still hadn't learned to smell a werewolf.

"No, a different wolf," you told him. You sniffed the air again. "Two wolves. This way," you gestured with your dagger and took a step forward, keeping a firm grip on his hand.

"Darling, why are we going towards the strange werewolves?" he asked, his tone amused as you stalked toward the werewolves in a dress and heels, dragging your Loki who was wearing a perfectly tailored suit and looking damn sexy in it. He didn't protest, though.

"I never said they were strange wolves," you told him "but I have to check. I can't believe they would let her out of the compound." The wolves were standing by an SUV at the back of the parking lot, away from any other cars. You gasped in shock when you saw them. You hadn't quite been willing to believe your nose. Your dagger clattered to the ground and you would have ran to them had Loki not kept a firm grip on your hand and his feet firmly planted. "It's my mom," you told him, trying to wrench your hand out of his grip.

"I don't care if it's the Allfather himself. You aren't running into potential danger unarmed without me," Loki told you firmly. You sighed and knelt to pick up your dagger again and walked calmly toward your mom. She and Dan both held out some kind of weapon to place on the ground when you approached, and both recited the invocation of parlay.

You followed suit and accepted the parlay. "Put up the dagger, Lo," you reminded him. He grumbled about it, but the dagger vanished. You turned to the others. "I speak for Loki of Asgard," you reminded them. "Do not invoke the Silence, or this meeting ends here," you added firmly. You weren't letting yourself and Loki be at a disadvantage if this meeting turned sour.

"I won't invoke the silence," your mom promised. You dropped Loki's hand then. You ran to her and hugged her.

"Mom!" you explained, holding her too tightly. It had been four years since you'd seen her. Loki wasn't pleased with your actions, but at least he understood and didn't try to stop you.

"We've missed you," your mom told you as she held you too. "Come home," she bid.

You stepped out of her arms. "That's what you came to say?" you demanded. "Mom, I'm not going back to the compound, ever. I'm free of the pack, finally free of Jareth. I'm not going back there."

"Y/N, you could have status in the pack. It would raise all of our statuses,"

"Mom. I left the pack. I left because of Jareth and his father. I left for how I was treated for years, how you let them treat me. Literally, I'm not part of the pack anymore, didn't you feel that? Fenrir took me into his pack,"

"I want what's best for you. Living with those freaks instead of your people-"

"Is what I want and what's making me happy," you growled at her. Loki placed a hand on your shoulder, a reassuring presence. He and your misfit family had your back, even if your biological family did not.

"And you've chosen this human over a wolf?" she shot back, glaring at Loki.

You laughed. "Mom, you're as delusional as ever. You only want to see things how they'll best help you. This is Loki son of Laufey the Frost Giant, adopted son of Odin the Allfather, brother of Thor of Asgard; he's the god of mischief, chaos, and lies, a master magician, and a literal prince. He's hardly human. And yes, I've chosen him for as long as he'll have me," Loki kissed the top of your head and you smiled up at him. Dan gave you a real smile, though your mom looked pissed.

"Always, my darling," Loki's voice was a whisper against your hair.

"Mom, shut up. She's not coming home. You know damn well that Jareth is an abusive asshole. Stop trying to use Y/N to increase your own rank in the pack. You lost that chance and you shouldn't have tried it in the first place. She's a person, not a pawn for your schemes," Dan told her, finally growing a backbone. She stormed off back into the SUV without a goodbye to you. It hurt, but you'd been expecting it when you refused to do what she wanted to increase her status. Dan turned to Loki. "You better treat her right. I couldn't kill Jareth because of stupid werewolf politics, but I can sure as hell come kill you if you don't,"

Loki snarled. You leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Hush, love. He's my brother, he has to make the threat. You'd do the same thing to the man courting your sister if you had one," you reminded him.

Loki relaxed at your logic and offered Dan a formal bow. "I swear on my honor that you will find no fault in my treatment of your sister. She is precious to me and I shall allow no harm to befall her, and treat her as the queen she is,"

Dan smiled. "Good. I think I might actually like you. If you weren't dating my sister that is. Y/N, Ethan wants to meet up soon. We'll leave mom at home. Sometime after winter's moon? I'm sure things will be pretty hectic until then," he asked.

You nodded and went to give him a hug. "I'd like that. We'll make the arrangements after winter's moon. You know I won't go back to the compound."

He nodded and kissed the top of your head. "We'll see you after Winter's Moon. Take care, little sister."

"I always do," you replied. He laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Since when? Don't make me tell him about the porcupine," he teased. You stuck your tongue out at him, slipping out of his hug. Dan turned to Loki and offered his hand. "Take care of her, Odinson." Loki clasped Dan's hand and you rolled your eyes at the male theatrics.

"Parlay has ended," you and Dan said at the same time and you took Loki's arm to walk back to your car. It was sad how things with your mom ended, but Dan and Ethan seemed like they were going to be reasonable.

"Are you alright, darling?" Loki asked as you walked.

You nodded. "It sucks that mom's the way she is, but she's been like that since she realized she could use me as a pawn for her own agenda. I'm sure you know how that feels," he inclined his head. He'd told you of Odin's lies about him and how he'd been a pawn in Odin's schemes. "At least Dan and Ethan sound like they're going to be reasonable. There's hope there," you told him, focusing on that and not your mom.

*

"Y/N, you look like death, just go home," Pepper told you the day before the full moon.

"But it's only three," you protested, staring at the notes you were taking as you walked. You were managing to keep up, barely. Classes had started again this week, so you were back to picking up shifts after class. You'd only been here for half of your shift.

"And you nearly passed out following me around the building," she reminded you.

"I'm your assistant. I'm supposed to assist. I can't give up like the last two weaklings you had," you protested again. You'd kept up with your obligations today. You were bound and determined not to let your condition keep you from your work. It was bad enough you had to miss a day every month, you didn't want to miss more than that.

She sighed and gave you a very familiar exasperated look. She used it a lot on Tony when he was being stupid. "Jarvis, ask Loki to come here, would you? Ask nicely, you know how he is." You opened your mouth to protest again, but it was too late.

"Yes, Miss Potts," Jarvis replied. An instant later, Loki teleported into the room in front of the pair of you.

"Jarvis said you needed me here?" Loki asked Pepper, surprised. She rarely spoke to him or saw him, and didn't go requesting his presence.

"Yes, thank you for coming. I hate to impose, but would you mind taking Y/N home? She's not feeling well and being stubborn. She won't bite you if you take her home," Pepper asked, ignoring your protests that you wouldn't shirk on your job.

Loki placed a hand against your forehead. "Darling, you're burning up. Stop trying to kill yourself every month. No one is going to think less of you. Your job isn't on the line, the team doesn't think less of you. We all know what you're going through. You don't have to prove yourself to anyone. We know how strong you are," he told you while you melted against him. You nodded wearily.

"Your job isn't on the line, go feel better," Pepper told you firmly. You nodded.

"Will you have someone drive her car home?" Loki asked Pepper while you laid your head on Loki's chest.

"Of course. She drives one of Tony's right?" Loki nodded, but was busy fretting over you. "Jarvis can drive it home. I'll have Happy bring her schoolbag by the tower on his way home. Everything's taken care of. Get her home,"

Loki stiffened a little at the order, but wrapped his arms more firmly around you and teleported both of you back to the tower, more specifically his room in the tower. You stumbled when you reappeared. "Easy, love, easy. Breathe. I'm sorry. Teleporting is an experience the first time," he told you as he steadied you. "I didn't think to warn you. It's been quite a long time since I've had a passenger,"

"I'm ok," you told him as you found your balance again. "That is definitely an experience," you agreed. Loki placed his hand on the back of your neck and you melted against him again. He chuckled.

"Have you eaten anything today?" he asked softly.

"Oatmeal for breakfast, sandwich for lunch," you murmured.

He sighed. "Good enough." He wasn't convinced that it was actually good enough, but knew that was the best he was going to get out of you the day before the full moon.

"Loki, did you find out what Pepper needed?" Cap's voice came through Jarvis' intercom system. He sounded concerned, since Loki was never called by Pepper for anything.

"Yes, she wanted me to bring Y/N home. Moon fever," he replied, loudly enough to be heard. The AI system was really nice to have around the tower. "I'll be downstairs in a minute." He turned back to you. "Sorry, darling. I have to get back to work. Why don't you take a nap? I'll wake you for dinner,"

"Ok," you murmured. He chuckled and tilted your chin up to kiss you, his lips were blue when they touched yours and you breathed frost when the kiss broke. He smiled at your dazed look.

"Go lie down," he told you warmly. There were clothes laid out on the bed for you already.

"Ok," you submitted and made your way over to the bed. He vanished when he was convinced your were going to lie down in his cool room and rest. You stripped off your work clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor that you swore you'd clean when you felt better and slipped on Loki's tunic before you climbed into bed to take a much needed nap.

*

"Darling, wake up, you need to eat something," Loki told you gently when he returned to the room later.

"Not hungry," you grumbled and rolled over to find a new cold spot on the pillow. Loki sighed and pulled the thin blanket you were using off of you. "Loki~" you grumbled, reaching for the blanket. You shrieked when he lifted you off of the bed instead of handing over the blanket.

"Dinner, sleepy little wolf," he told you firmly, but lovingly. He carried you down to dinner despite your protest that you weren't wearing pants and could walk on your own. You didn't protest too hard, since every inch of his cool skin that touched you help ease the moon fever.

He set you on your feet when you reached the main floor. You were feeling better after a nap, now that you were finally waking again. You smoothed the tunic you were wearing, making sure you were covered, not that you needed to worry, it went down to your thighs, and the entire team had seen you in lingerie thanks to Loki's spell.

"What were you two up to?" Tony teased at your messed up hair and clothing choice. You knew exactly what he was insinuating. You snarled at the accusation, grabbed Loki's dagger from the sheath on his back before even he knew what you were up to and had thrown it at Tony before Loki could decide it he was going to help or stop you. Tony yelped and fell backwards out of his chair to avoid getting stabbed.

"Tony, that was dumb. What do you expect when you try to embarrass her?" Nat commented dryly as she proceeded to post the video of Tony falling out of his chair to the internet. "Nice throw, valchonak," Nat added to you.

"Little wolf," Loki whispered in your ear, translating. All-speak meant that he could understand any language, which was really useful. You gave her a mock-curtsy in reply, accepting the praise. "Why did you feel the need to try to kill shell-head? Not that he didn't deserve it," Loki added quickly and led you the rest of the way to the table where the plates and such were already set out for dinner.

"He was trying to insult you," you told him, glaring over at Tony, who was scrambling back into his chair. "Ooh, steak night!" you exclaimed distracted when you saw Cap come out of the kitchen with the plate of steaks. Loki chuckled at how adorable and easily distracted you were right before the full moon.

"Pick one," Cap told you, offering the plate of steaks. You chose one and consented to the yucky green things and potato stuff that were also served. The wolf only cared about the yummy steak. So you ate the green things and potato stuff first and then let the wolf focus on the yummy steak while you swung your legs and were generally adorable.

"How is the most vicious terrifying creature at this table also the most adorable?" Tony asked, watching you.

"Nice to know you think I'm adorable, Stark," Nat replied with a malicious grin. Tony fought to backpedal quickly while the entire table laughed at him.

After dinner the team decided to play Mario Kart. It was a team favorite. You were feeling well enough to stay up for at least a race, which made the team happy. There are no friends in Mario Kart, and Nat was the queen of the blue shell. Cap started cursing, actually cursing at the game when Loki and Thor worked together long enough to shove him off of the track. Loki knocked Thor off about three seconds later, which left the road clear for you to win.

A few races later and you were nearly dropping the controller in exhaustion, the fever returning after the short respite your earlier nap and Loki's cold had provided. You set your controller down at the end of the race and stood. "I'm going back to bed," you told Loki and gave him a kiss.

"Mine?" he asked. You nodded.

"Unless you don't want me there," you added quickly. He shook his head.

"I just wanted to make sure. Want me to walk you there?" he offered.

You shook your head. "I'm fine. Hang out with the others. Go kick Thor's ass at that stupid fighting game you like. It's too early for you to be remotely tired anyway." He stood anyway and walked you to the elevator. His skin shimmered blue and he kissed you deeply while you waited for the elevator to arrive. You shivered in a mix of the ice and the wonderful kiss.

"Go feel better, little wolf. I'll try not to wake you when I come to bed," you nodded and waved to the others as the elevator doors slid shut.

You smiled when you got back to Loki's bedroom to find that there was the usual pot of tea left and chocolate cake left for you, and a book in case you woke and got bored, but didn't want to leave the sanctuary of his cool room. Sweet thoughtful boyfriend. You poured a cup of tea and took a few sips of it, and a couple bites of the slice of chocolate cake so he knew that you'd appreciated the thoughtfulness before you curled up to go back to sleep.

You stirred just enough to curl yourself around Loki when he joined you in the bed. "Incorrigible cuddler," he teased. You mumbled something incoherently in reply and settled back to proper sleep.

*

You woke the next morning to Jarvis' voice over the PA telling you that you had to get up if you were going to get to class. Your phone and therefore alarm where wherever Happy had left your schoolbag. You cursed as you sat up. "It's the full-moon, love, skip class," Loki told you.

You shook your head. "I only have one class today, but they take attendance. I have to go. Drive me, please?" you asked. He sighed, but opened his eyes. "Thank you, it's just one class," you promised, giving him a kiss. You climbed out of bed, grabbed your pile of work clothes you'd abandoned and headed back to your own room to get dressed for class. Old clothes went in the hamper, clean jeans, and a t-shirt, shoes, schoolbag, hair tied up and you were ready to leave.

"You should not dress faster than I do, little wolf. I used magic," Loki told you when you left your room about a minute before he joined you in the hall.

You shrugged. "Werewolf. I have lots of experience dressing quickly," you replied, but took his arm as he took your school bag from you. "Did you pack the duffel bag for Sarai's?" you asked. You'd meant to yesterday, but had forgotten when the fever spiked.

"Yes, darling. I took care of everything," he reassured you as you headed downstairs. You checked your phone for the time.

"J, you could've woken me sooner," you grumbled and hit the button in the elevator to go straight down to the garage.

Loki gave you a disapproving look. "Breakfast?" he asked.

"After class. I don't have time without being late," you told him as you walked to your car in its usual spot. "I'm planning on giving you directions to the coffee shop and asking you very, very nicely to get me a coffee and breakfast sandwich while I'm in class,"

"I remember where the coffee shop is. And your order," he took your keys from you. "And how to get to the school. Your fever is back, little wolf, let me drive." You nodded and relented. You didn't much feel like driving anyway. You directed him to the parking closest to your class and let him walk you to class. The boys from your major cat-called when they saw you walking hand-in-hand with Loki. Loki stiffened, but you grinned at them and jovially flipped them off.

"Don't hurt the silly college boys. They're teasing. They're just glad I found someone since I haven't dated anyone since I started school," you told him. "They're good boys. I've been in most of the same classes with them for four years, so my Omeganess has worn off on them. I've set most of them up with their girlfriends and heard more of their woes than anyone else ever will. No need to be jealous," you added quickly. "Seriously, Lo, I love you and have no interest in any of them," you reminded him firmly.

"They are interested in you," he protested defensively. You rolled your eyes.

"As if. They all have girlfriends, except Tom and Mike who are dating each other, and I'm boring because I don't party or drink or play the stupid video games they like." By then you had reached the classroom. You pulled your wallet out of your bag and pulled out some cash for Loki. "I have to go to class. Please, will you go get us breakfast? And coffee? And stop trying to kill the silly college boys when I'm already an emotional mess?" There were tears in your eyes when you'd been perfectly happy about a minute ago, and a stressed mess a few minutes before that. The full moon was making you terribly emotional.

Loki gave you a hug when he saw your expression. "Yes, darling, don't cry. Go sit through your class. I'll get you something to eat and not stab the nice people who work in the coffee shop, or the stupid college boys even if they look at what is mine," he couldn't keep the snarl from his voice and you sniffled fighting back the tears, as the whole morning felt like it was spiraling out of control. "Hush, love, please don't cry. It'll be alright. Go to class, then we'll go see Sarai. Everything will be ok," he told you gently. He placed his fingers under your chin to tilt it up for a kiss. He kissed you deeply and placed a hand on your back, under your shirt. After a moment there it turned even more ice cold. You realized he'd changed it to Jotun in such a way that passersby wouldn't see what he'd done. You melted in relief. He broke the kiss and smiled. You giggled when he kissed your nose. You waved and ducked into class thirty seconds before it started.

You managed to stay awake through class, but it was a close thing. The second the class was over, you bolted out of the room to find that Loki was waiting outside with a large coffee for you and a bag of breakfast sandwiches. You greeted him with a kiss, to the cheers of your friends from class. You ate as you walked back to the car, after confirming that Loki had already eaten.

You sipped on your coffee while Loki drove you out to the preservation where Sarai and Joshua lived. It was a long drive and you fell asleep on the way, luckily after you'd set your coffee in the cup holder. Loki just chuckled when he saw that you were falling asleep and summoned his cloak for you to use as a blanket. You smiled sleepily at him and curled yourself under it.

Loki didn't bother waking you when you arrived, he just came around to lift you out of the passenger's seat. You murmured something and laid your head on his shoulder. "So, she escaped the pack," Joshua greeted Loki when he had walked up to the front door of the house. You opened your eyes at that.

"Yes, I did," you told him with a smile. "Lo, you can put me down,"

"I could," Loki agreed pleasantly.

"Loki~" you grumbled at him. He laughed and set you gently on your feet, keeping an arm around you to make sure you stayed that way.

"Come, little Omega, Sarai's up and lunch is ready. Come tell us how you escaped the pack," Joshua bid you.

"Sarai's up already? Can you do me a favor before we eat?" you asked.

He nodded. "Of course," he replied, not even bothering to ask what you were up to. Omegas rarely got up to too much mischief unless it was in helping someone.

You took Loki's hand and pulled him inside toward the diningroom and the barely awake Sarai. You'd be in the same state as soon as your excitement over your plan wore off. "Love, what are you up to?" Loki asked, concerned at seeing you this awake on the full moon. He knew it was only strong emotions that could fight through the wolf's lethargy and desire to rest until it was time to play.

"An experiment," you told him as you reached for the dagger sheath at the small of your back.

"Darling?" his voice was really concerned at that.

"Hush, love. It's nothing dangerous," you replied. You reached up and cut a lock of your long hair, a piece at the back where no one would be able to see it was missing. You resheathed the dagger and went to Loki. "Trust me?" you asked. He nodded.

"Always," he replied. You reached up and braided the lock of your hair into his, just behind his left ear. "A lovelock?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course you'd know what it's called," you teased, sticking your tongue out at him. He gave you a smile in reply.

"They are popular on Asgard, a sign of love," he explained. You had a feeling that even if your plan didn't work that someone would have to fight him to get that lock of your hair out of his. And they would fail.

"I know how you feel about your hair. We can find another way if this works, if not then no harm done," you told him.

"If what works, darling?" Loki asked.

You took a few steps away from him then looked at the other two wolves, making sure you had their attention. "Joshua, will you invoke the silence?" you asked. He nodded and did a moment later, catching on to your plan too. Loki came over to you and steered you toward the table. You grinned as you took your seat. "It worked!" you told him excitedly. He laughed and kissed your cheek.

"Yes, it did. Now eat something, darling," he told you with loving exasperation. A lock of your hair was enough protection for him to keep him safe from the spell, so he would be safe without having to hold your hand in the future. Joshua broke the spell of the silence and you all settled in to eat. You told them as you did about meeting Fenrir and being brought into his pack.

You and Sarai both managed to fall asleep while you were eating lunch. Loki caught you before you ended up face first in your plate of food. He and Joshua both sighed in exasperation at the same time and carried you both to bed grumbling about puppies. Loki used his ice magic on all of the wolves. When you woke for the full moon, you found a lock of Loki's hair braided into yours. Silly Trickster.

You spent a wonderful night out in the woods playing with the other wolves and Loki. You and Loki took a nap in your clearing and woke after dawn. "Seriously, Lo, why are you like this?" you asked, gesturing at the latest sexy lingerie that his charm had conjured. Your voice was teasing and full of sarcasm and fun.

"Because I love you and you're beautiful," he replied with a grin.

"Silly Trickster," you grumbled halfheartedly. You accepted his cloak from him and let him carry you back to the house where the hot shower, clothes, and breakfast were waiting.

*

Fenrir kept his word to not interfere with your life. You had a phone call with him once a week to check up on how things were going and you told him stories of your adventures the previous week. You started keeping a journal just to have things to tell him about. He seemed interested in your silly, chaotic, wonderful life with the Avengers, in your classes, your work.

Near the end of February he called you to tell you that he'd brought Ferris in to face justice for his crimes. The trial had been going on for nearly a month. Fenrir was being extra careful to seem as fair as possible.

Ferris was convicted and executed. The pack fell to Jareth, since he was next in line, even though he hadn't found a mate yet. Fenrir was giving him one single chance to prove himself a capable ruler. He'd sworn to Fenrir that he had just been following Ferris' orders, and even Fenrir couldn't detect a lie, so he had to give Jareth one chance. That didn't mean he wasn't taking precautions. One of Fenrir's sons, a wolf named Samuel, was moving to the compound to keep an eye on Jareth and his actions while Jareth was on probation. Fenrir also confirmed that his son outranked Jareth, so he could keep Jareth under control if it came to that.

"Samuel, would like to meet up with you for dinner and check up on you in person for me. I have given your number to him, he arrives on Friday. Your mate would also be invited of course,"

"Of course I'll meet up with him," you replied automatically. Loki raised an eyebrow from his end of the couch, looking up from his book. You held up a finger and he nodded, knowing you'd explain when you got off the phone. You exchanged a few more pleasantries, then got off the phone. You settled yourself back on Loki's lap where you were before you'd be interrupted from your making out with him, since the tower was empty for once. He grinned at you in replied, obviously enjoying the seating arrangements. "Ferris is dead. Fenrir killed him for the crimes against the werewolves. Jareth is taking over the pack on a probationary basis. He claimed that everything awful he did was on Ferris' orders and Fenrir couldn't prove otherwise. Fenrir's son Samuel is moving into the compound to keep an eye on Jareth until he proves himself or is dead. Samuel is coming to town on Friday and wants to have dinner with us soon so he can check up on me for Fenrir," you explained quickly. Loki took all of the words in.

He sighed and looked put-upon. You kissed his nose before he could get too sarcastic. "I'll meet up with Samuel with you," he finally said.

"Good," with that you ran your fingers through his hair. He smiled and purred softly; he loved having his hair brushed and played with, as long as it wasn't threatened with scissors.

"Before we get back to the enjoyment of our wonderful previous activity..." you sat back on his lap, your attention on him when he hesitated. "I know you don't want to talk about it, darling. I know you're embarrassed and ashamed of what is going to happen, which you do not need to be. I know you do not wish to speak of it, but winter's moon is coming in just a few days," you stiffened and looked away, flushing in embarrassment, nearly climbing off of his lap, except that he held you there firmly, so you would have this conversation, one-sided as it was. "One comment about it and then you can go back to ignoring it until the day of if that's your desire," he told you gently. You nodded, but still refused to look at him. "Darling, I want you to know now that I'm willing and able to help you through it. I wanted to make sure I told you now that I'm willing so you won't feel I've been coerced or forced when the time comes. I hope you'll let me help instead of suffering through it alone, but I won't force you either."

"You know?" you asked softly, fear of rejection in your voice.

He nodded and held up the story you'd written him for Christmas. "I read between the lines of what you couldn't write," he reminded you. You'd given him that story so he would put the pieces together. Somehow, you still hadn't quite expect him to succeed. "You don't have to make a decision now. I said what I needed to on the subject, now let's see what we can do to get you to relax again," he grinned and leaned up to kiss you, his fingers rubbing the tense muscles in your shoulders and back.

With that, you slowly, then when he didn't bring the subject of winter's moon up again, gladly returned to your previous activity of kissing your Loki. It was a very pleasant activity and a wonderful way to spend a free afternoon.