How is everyone?  Thank you to TsukeLavire for reviewing!  Now, on with the story!

Quote of the Chapter:
"You do realize you just mixed Disney metaphors, right?  Disney metaphors.  Wow, Calla, now I'm just sad for you."
~Shay Doran from Nightshade
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Chapter 5: Fire Rose

Arya

Dinner was much more enjoyable now that she knew Ren was staying at the compound.  Arya wasn’t sure why she loved having him around so much.  Maybe it was because he seemed to fit in with the pack as if it had always been his.  Maybe it was the fact that she could relate so easily to him since he was an alpha.  Or maybe, it was because he was the most gorgeous guy Arya had laid eyes on.

“You do not want to hear this joke.  It is way too corny,” Frank assured.

“Come on,” Ren prodded with a grin.

With a defeated sigh, Frank said, “What is the most vulgar character in Hollywood’s history?”

“Who?” Melinda inquired.

“R2-D2.  They bleeped out every word he ever said,” Frank said, putting his elbow on the table and covering his eyes as everyone started laughing.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding,” Ren acknowledged. “That really is bad.  On the bright side, even though it was corny, I found it funny as hell.”

“Thanks,” Frank mumbled.

“Who’s ready for dessert?” Mia shouted over the clamor of everyone talking.  There was a loud agreement from everyone at the table and she disappeared into her house.  A few seconds later, she came out carrying five apple pies.  Arya’s stomach, although she had thought she was full, magically emptied at the sight of the pie and at the enticing aroma of it.

“Mia, you outdid yourself,” Arya said, eyeing the pies with anticipation.

“Thanks Arya,” Mia replied, “but they were really easy to make.”

“For you,” Amy said with harrumph. “If I tried to make them, I’d burn down the whole town.”

Everyone got a piece of pie; all the guys had seconds while the girls refused to eat anymore.  Ren tried to force Arya to eat a piece of his because he had unfortunately seen her eyeing it longingly.  It had ended up with both of them falling out of their seats, laughing hysterically.  Everyone but Shiloh joined in.

“You shouldn’t have fought,” Ren said with a grin, sitting up and offering his hand for Arya.

“You shouldn’t have tried to force me to eat it,” Arya countered, taking his hand.  Then facing Mia and Walter, she said, “I’ll do the dishes tonight.”

“Are you sure?” Walter inquired, looking at her.  Arya nodded and went to the kitchen.  Ren followed her.

“Can I talk to you about something?” Ren questioned, coming to stand next to her.  She grabbed a dish and started to rinse it off.  Ren started putting dishes in the dishwasher.  There were eight dishwashers total.  They needed that many since they had so many plates since they had so many mouths to feed.

“Sure,” Arya said nonchalantly.

“About Ansel… I’m worried he knows I’m lying about leaving here,” Ren admitted. “I don’t know what I’ll do if he comes here because he’s smart and can trace phone calls which he so annoyingly and cheerfully pointed out to me.  It wouldn’t be hard for him to find me since he’s a Guardian too… I guess what I’m asking is can you help me if he does come?”

Arya turned to look at him. “Of course I’ll help you.  But we should probably have two different plans… and we’ll need to talk with the pack about this so they’ll know what’s going on.”

There was a tic in Ren’s jaw. “Are you sure they’d be willing to help me out?  We might be friendly with each other but that doesn’t mean they’d be willing to lie for me.”

“They also have no reason to not lie for you.  They’ll do it, trust me.  Shiloh won’t be keen on it but he rarely defies orders from me,” Arya assured.

“Rarely?”

“It was once.  I told him not to go out by himself because there was a trio of cougars that were hunting together.  I had never heard of cougars doing that but no Guardian, no matter how strong they are, can take on three cougars.  Well, he was out hunting with Derek, Melinda, Leyla, Amy and me.  He separated from us and we had no idea.  For such a big wolf, he is certainly stealthy.  He followed the noise and was ambushed by the cougars.  We barely reached him in time.  I barreled into the cougar that was about to break his windpipe.  Even with drinking blood, it still took him a week to fully recover.  I was so unbelievably mad at him but the fact that he was alive topped being mad.  However, he did get an earful from me when he was better.  Let’s just say he hasn’t disobeyed me since.”

Ren whistled. “Did you get the cougars afterwards?”

“Oh it was full on war.  The pack and I were out for blood.  I had killed the one that was going to break his windpipe but the other two escaped.  They started attacking the townspeople.  That was the last straw; the townspeople have been nothing but kind to us, even if they are scared of us.  We don’t want anyone attacking our town.  This is our home.  No one is going to take it from us,” Arya declared.

“God help the person that decides to cross you,” Ren said with a chuckle.  Realizing she had been ranting, Arya blushed.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.  Back to Ansel.  When we finish the dishes, we’ll go talk to the pack,” Arya assured with a smile.  The two of them fell silent and finished the dishes.  When they went back out, Derek was spraying everyone with a water hose.  Except for Derek, everyone else was in wolf form.  The water was soaking everyone’s fur, and it also was dripping off the roses planted around the fountain in the middle of the courtyard.  Ren noticed the roses changed color each day.  Today, they were yellow with red tips.  He wondered what the colors meant.  Ever since Arya had explained that the colors had different meanings, he had found himself surprisingly interested in them.

“I hate to ruin their fun…” Ren mumbled as the two shifted forms.

“I don’t think Ansel will come tonight but if he does, I already have a plan so you’ll just have to go along with it.  Think you can handle that alpha?” She challenged with a gleam in her eyes.  Arya knew Ren wouldn’t back down from a challenge.  She was right as he gave her a slight growl before nipping her ear and racing off to join the fun.  Arya chased after him.  Derek, not wanting to miss the fun, turned off the hose and changed into a wolf.

Race you down the hill! Arya shouted to Ren in his mind.  She bolted off and Ren was right at her heels.  However, being who she was, Arya gracefully leapt on rocks and over fallen trees down to the bottom of the hill.  Ren landed next to her after taking a massive leap from the top of the hill.

His tongue was hanging out and Arya knew that if they were humans right now, he’d be grinning.

The pack was soon to follow.

Want to take a tour of Estes? Arya asked Ren.

I would love to... are we going to do it in wolf form? He inquired drolly.

We have to give the tourists some entertainment. Arya joked.  She ordered her pack to split up and patrol the territory.  They did so without any hesitation.  Ren noticed they broke off in pairs except one was a trio: Walter, Mia, and Melinda.

Melinda doesn’t have a significant other.  She and I both, so we usually hunt together.  Of all the girls in the pack, I trust her the most. Arya explained, seeing Ren’s gaze.

We need to find her a man… Ren decided.

I’ve tried but she doesn’t want one.  She’s stubborn for an omega.

She’s the omega of the pack?

Yeah, her and Walter, which is why I’m surprised they aren’t together.  But, I think Walter likes Mia because she shares his love of baking.

It would make sense.  Like attracts like… which should make us attracted to each other if you think about it.

Are you trying to say you want to date me? Arya asked jokingly as she started to trot off towards the town.

You’re the one that just implied that that’s what I meant.

It sounded like that’s what you were implying. Arya bantered.  He nipped her shoulder which she proceeded to bump him with.  She led him through an underground tunnel which they ran through since neither of them liked being underground.  It was two miles the tunnel, but because they were Guardians, they had a heightened endurance and both of them were just barely breathless.  The lights of Estes greeted them below.

There it is.  Estes Park.  Population… actually I have no idea.  It’s somewhere in the six thousands.  I was trying to sound intelligent just then but that didn’t work out so hot.  Come on.  Arya said, trotting down the mountainside.  Ren followed her closely.

So the people here just let you roam around town? Ren inquired curiously.

Yeah.  The Searchers aren’t so keen on us doing it but they let us.  We don’t do any harm.  We just give visitors one hell of a trip to remember.

I could imagine.  Well, we are both two stunning looking wolves so I’m sure that plays a part in it.

Oh totally.
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Ren

They were near a park and some elk were grazing in it.  The herd glanced up at them but Arya ignored them, so they ignored her and Ren.  A traffic jam was already starting to occur at the sight of the two wolves; there weren’t even that many cars out.  Cameras were flashing and it was only until a policeman ordered the onlookers to either pull over or start driving that the traffic jam began to clear.  Ren and Arya waited patiently to cross the road; the policeman apparently recognized Arya because he gave her a slight head nod.  In return, she gave him a wink.

I’m guessing you know him? Ren queried.

That’s Paul James.  He’s the coolest policeman you’ll ever meet.

Where are we going?

I thought you’d like to have a snack at the Stanley.  I know we just ate but they have amazing appetizers!

If we weren’t wolves, we’d be on The Biggest Loser show. Ren joked

Are you calling me fat? Arya asked indignantly.

NO! Ren assured sternly. You are perfectly proportioned.

Perfectly proportioned.  Sheesh, and you’re supposed to be a ladies’ man?  How did you get them with those arguments?

Hey! Ren laughed.  They walked into the parking lot and after making sure no one was looking, changed into human forms.

“It’s chilly tonight,” Arya commented, looking up at the moon and wrapping her arms around herself.  It was bright and lit up everything in sight.  Ren ached to put his arm around her and warm her up.  However, he wasn’t sure if she would appreciate the affection.

Since when had he never known what a girl did and didn’t want?  Arya was like Calla in this sense, Ren thought.  He never knew what Calla wanted.  Now he didn’t know what Arya wanted.  Maybe he should just give up on girls…

Pfft, like that was ever going to happen!

“Ren?” Arya’s voice broke his thoughts.  He looked at her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just thinking…” Ren replied.

“I’d ask what but I don’t want to pry,” Arya admitted. “More because I’m afraid you were thinking of something perverted.”

“I’m not always thinking of something perverted!” Ren snapped lightly with a smile. “Just for the record, I was contemplating on whether I should put my arm around you to warm you up or not since you’re obviously cold.  I was just wondering if I should do it without your permission because I do believe you would kick my ass if you thought I was doing something wrong.”

“Since when do you not know what a girl wants?  My goodness, hell must’ve frozen over,” Arya said with a laugh. “But just for your record, if you see that I’m cold, you have my permission to put your arm around me.”

And Ren did just that.  Arya leaned into him as they entered the side door to the hotel.  Her hair smelled fresh and the scent was very calming to Ren.

They walked up a flight of stairs and into the main lobby of the hotel.

“Evening, Miss Lightwood!” A man greeted with a wave.

“Evening, Ivan,” Arya replied airily. “How are you?”

“I’m good, and you?”

“I’m doing really well,” Arya said with a smile.  They walked into Cascade, the name of the hotel’s restaurant and ordered all the seafood appetizers which consisted of crab cakes, smoked rainbow trout, and tuna tartar.  Ren thought it was delicious.

“Do you want any coffee or tea?” Arya inquired as she waved over a waiter.

“I could go for some coffee,” Ren replied.  She told the waiter their order and also asked for the check.  When she reached in her pocket and pulled out a wad of bills, Ren stopped her.

“Oh no, I’m paying,” He declared firmly, pulling out his credit card.

“No you’re not.  You’re my guest and I don’t let my guests pay,” Arya argued.

“I’m also a gentleman and this is the least I could do for you letting me stay at your place and giving me the most incredible meals,” Ren countered. “You.  Are.  Not.  Paying.”

“Hardhead…” Arya muttered but she put away her money.  Ren smiled triumphantly as he paid the check.  After drinking their coffee and tea, the two left the Stanley and walked into the woods before changing forms.  With his tongue dangling out, Ren ran with Arya.  They raced each other to the underground tunnel, jumping over obstacles in their path.  At one point, they jumped over a stationary car which caused some stunned onlookers to immediately start snapping pictures of the two wolves.

Although Ren could’ve forced Arya out of the way so he could enter the tunnel first, he allowed her to go through first because he was a gentleman.

Thank you.  You weren’t kidding about being a gentleman. She acknowledged.

I’m offended you thought I wasn’t. Ren said in mock hurt.

Most alphas I’ve met are complete asses… excuse my French. Arya added as they delved into darkness.  The two mile tunnel took much longer walking but Ren didn’t mind.  He liked hanging with Arya.

Twenty minutes later, light entered the tunnel as they neared the exit.  It was that small sight that sent Arya running.  Ren immediately followed.  He nipped at her tail, urging her to go faster.  She yelped at the surprise before stopping completely and making Ren crash into her.  The collision stunned him but Arya seemed unfazed and she took off again.  Ren chased after her.  When she bounded out of the tunnel’s aperture, she was immediately tackled by a brown wolf.  Ren barked in fury as he barreled out of the tunnel and charged after the attacker.  Arya was handling her own fantastically though.  Her teeth were bared as she lunged at the wolf; it barely got out of the way of her attack.  Ren came to stand beside Arya and he growled at the newcomer.  The brown wolf seemed stunned by Ren’s sudden appearance, and he shifted forms, holding his arms up in surrender.

Ren felt himself shift, almost involuntarily.

“Ansel,” Ren said in shock.
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Okey doke, hope you enjoyed the chapter!  Please review!  They make me oh-so happy :P