Parker

In the couple of weeks since the Rogues have attacked, things have returned to some semblance of normal. The Rogues have retreated into the woods to lick their wounds, leaving only relative peace between the packs. The Rogues did a lot of damage to the pack lands, though it seems as if everyone is okay.

Kohl has been an exemplary Alpha. He's quickly becoming the Alpha I knew he could be. The pack, as well as the other packs, are finding favor with him. The respect he's garnered is not by luck. He also seems less stressed now. His main source of stress appears to come from his family, Mickey specifically.

Mickey decided to stick around after the attack. He is a polarizing topic. The pack wasn't keen on having him on the lands nor were the other packs. Rylan has been the most vocal against him. We explained how he helped stop the Rogues and it assuaged some of their fears. Only time will tell if this is enough to convince them. I doubt this will calm Rylan.

I doubt much could calm Rylan.

I, on the other hand, have finally been able to relax. My dreams have stabilized now. I haven't had the nightmares since the Blood Moon. The nightmares have turned into dreams now. They are strange dreams of people I don't know but anything is better than watching myself die continuously. My only complaint is that my heat hasn't gone away completely. While my scent has died down significantly, it appears that the undercurrent is still strong, or so I've been told. The pack doctor, Pavius, promised that he would investigate this for me.

I find that my mate is still gone.

Kohl told me he was going into town today to get me a present earlier today. I thought it weird as he rarely leaves the pack lands. I wonder why he didn't send someone else. By the time I wake up from my nap, the day is half gone. I head downstairs to find that the house is quiet. I descend the stairs to see Mickey at the door. He has a knapsack on his back but stops, sniffing the air. He puts the knapsack down on the ground and turns to me.

"Going somewhere?" I ask as I walk over to stand in front of him, "That was quick."

"Are you going to bust my balls?" Mickey asks.

"Do you want me to?" I ask.

"It's been a real treat but I need to go now." Mickey explains, "You wouldn't understand."

"That you've been on your own for so long that being back here is...restrictive?"

Mickey examines me. He seems confused about something. He clearly believes he is more complicated than I can comprehend, as do most of the wolves here. Underneath the wolf exterior, he's much like any human.

"I get it."

"Do you? You've got a cushy life here. You wave, kiss babies and satisfy the Alpha." He smirks.

I laugh, "I feel like I rarely satisfy him, depending on how you mean."

"The douche loves you."

"The douche loves you, too." I remind, "Are you coming back?"

"What do you care?" He asks.

"You saved my life. We saved each other." I say with a nod, "You're family."

"I can't tell if you're insane or just a really good person. I don't see a difference between the two, really." He sighs, "Besides, you smell like honey and cinnamon. It's distracting."

"Yeah, Alpha Kohl has told me that a few times. No less annoying now. Not something I can help though." I say with a shrug. The two of us laugh before I say, "I hope you come back. They need you."

"They need me?" He asks, "For what?"

"To keep them honest. You may be an asshole but, like I keep saying, you're family. So, go and get your shit together but come back." I say as he picks up his knapsack, "And take care of yourself."

"You too, human." He says as he exits the pack house.

The Clinic

"Gaius, I'm not sure what you're hinting at." Doctor Pavius says as the two men enter his office. Pavius waits until Gaius is in his office before shutting the door. He crosses the room and takes a seat his desk. He waits for Gaius to sit opposite him before speaking again, "I cannot explain his heat. I can only say that it is not affecting the wolves as it had been."

"So, we're not sure if it will ever die down?" Gaius asks.

Doctor Pavius reaches down and opens his drawer. He withdraws a folder and pushes the folder towards Gaius. The former Alpha pulls the folder to him and flips it open to reveal pictures of Kohl, McKennon and Parker. There are many references to Parker's Demi-Godhood. There are many pieces of research, leading to a question of Parker's heat.

Gaius stares back at Doctor Pavius.

"I've been researching Parker."

"And my sons." Gaius says irritably, "I can understand why Kohl is part of your research but why is McKennon in this folder?"

Pavius leans back in his chair, "Parker's heat seems to come in two varieties and manifested in two instances. One is overt and overpowering. It's irresistible and it drives the people around him insane. This happened after he was marked by Kohl. The other seems understated and is always around. This occurred when McKennon appeared in the pack lands. I believe this is part of his Demi-God physiology. I can't be certain because we've never been able to examine another Demi-God. I also think it's more than that."

"What does this mean?"

"It means that his scent isn't exaggerated. It means that this amount of scent will always be present in him. His scent is naturally stronger to supernatural creatures, in this instant, werewolves." Pavius points to the folder, "I started taking surveys among the pack. The consensus between the wolves are split. Some say his smell is akin to honey while some say it is akin to cinnamon. I thought it was originally a male/female result but it is not. All wolves smell one or the other...all except the two wolves in the folder."

Gaius stares at the doctor before his eyes fall to the folder. His mind wanders through the data in front of him, piecing small bits together. He understands all of the data except the last bit. He, himself, smells cinnamon but he doesn't smell honey. It seems certain that Kohl would smell something more in Parker. The question that stands out is the very question that should be asked.

"Gaius," Pavius asks calling his attention, "Kohl can smell both as his mate and a wolf attracted to a Demi-God. Given. But why can McKennon smell both?"

Parker

I've been worried. Kohl has been gone for close to two hours now and the sun is setting. I jump when I hear a knock on the door to the Alpha Quarters. I quickly run towards the door as the door opens and Kohl squeezes through, closing it behind himself.

I regard him with curiosity, "What—did you just knock? Where have you been?" I ask.

"I wanted to make sure you weren't naked."

"Naked and waiting?" I smile, "If you go out and try again, I'm sure I can achieve—"

"I have a surprise. I need you to be clothed for this." Kohl says taking my hand, "I know we've isolated you. We took you from your home to protect you and you haven't exactly been as welcomed as I'd have liked."

"Rambling."

"I want you to stay here, with me, forever. It's why I marked you. I had no hesitation in marking you."

"You mean werewolf-marriage?"

"But I need you to be sure. Are you sure?" He asks.

I stare at him. Kohl doesn't ramble. He must be very nervous. I thought we'd gotten past being nervous around one another. I've decided that I am staying and I thought we were on the same page about it. I wonder if this has to do with the surprise.

Of course it does.

"Kohl. I love you. You're my werewolf-husband. I think." I take a deep breath, "I'm not going anywhere. What's this about?"

Kohl doesn't speak. He walks over and opens the door to reveal a woman that looks suspiciously like me. She's joined by a woman that favors her slightly but reminds me more of my grandfather.

"Mommy?"

In the Woods

Ania stares at the pack house.

Ania has watched all the events unfold just as they should have. The hubris of the Rogues to think they could go against an alliance of werewolves headed by a couple of hounds and a Demi-God was almost laughable. Their idiocy of thinking they could best her was even more comical.

In a list of creatures that could defeat Ania, werewolves would not be contenders. Only Gods can kill Gods and Viceres was not a God. He wasn't even an Alpha. He was a broken wolf who put up a good fight. Same as McKennon. It appears that another type of supernatural creature could step in to huff and puff and blow their worlds down.

"Mistress," A woman's voice says as she appears beside Ania, "It has been done."

"Good. You and your coven are ready for this fight, correct? If the wolves feel that they are in danger, it will set everything in motion far before you are ready." Ania says, "The wolves are on edge now but they are calming."

"They are idiotic, primal creatures. All it took was a carnal interaction from a ghoul, of all creatures, to gain favor with the she-wolf." The woman says, "We will not fail you."

"Marya, your father was a powerful creature of darkness. His death at the hands of Van Helsing was, above all, tragic." Ania turns to her, "If you fail me, his death will seem tame."

Marya nods as she turns and disappears into the darkness. Ania feels a wolf coming. The wolf sniffs around but she doesn't flinch. After a few seconds, the wolf takes off towards the scent of Marya. Ania smiles.

They've never truly seen her coming.