Chapter 13

Harmony

On my laptop, I tried signing up for a program to help the homeless through the city. The Bison Cares Homeless and At-Risk Project were civil work programs that would have me helping seniors, inner city teens, as well as those without. This program gave me a chance to spend time with humans in a controlled, safe environment. My hope is that I could also have my mate see them, and maybe lighten up a bit… I know he hated humans. It was a distaste I could feel.

I also had to think about this in a productive, strategic way. I had a feeling I shouldn’t invest in a position that was too permanent in case we did move. I also felt like they needed me more than the hospital. There was also the problem of me being a field medic, and that wasn’t recognized in the human world. In the pack these things didn’t matter, but here they did…

There was also the biggest factor that I didn’t want to admit to myself that if my mate was High King…. I was High Queen. Soon the world’s leaders would look to him if they already weren’t, and through that extension…. Me.

I should have taken school and Luna training more seriously, but I never thought I would ever Actually be here in a human town, or mated to Xaxas. To be a nurse, I’d have to go back to school. It was something I thought about too, but ultimately not what I wanted... and now I hit a snag in the application anyway.

It was all smooth until they asked for the location of my work history… I internally sighed.

That address would lead them to the pack if any Hunters ever got my records, and that was very possible. They lived and usually worked regular jobs to cover their illegal dealings…. What if they looked it up because I slipped up, and then used GPS to find the pack? This was entirely possible, being at the outer edge of the living district of the pack, but I really wanted this. It didn’t feel right to let six and a half years’ worth of experience and training be undocumented…. I grunted with a little frustration, calling my parents. I worried for their judgement…

I opted to call my dad, the most level headed of my family. It rang once before he answered. “Do you miss us already?” He asked with a smile in his voice.

“I’ve only been gone like two days dad…. But I do miss the pack. A Little!” I giggled.

“Awe. When the snow thaws, come visit, but I know you didn’t call your old man just to say that.” He chuckled lightly.

“No…. I wanted to volunteer for the city’s at risk programs, but I don’t want the pack’s address on anything.” I admitted. I used the condo’s address for mine, but I couldn’t fake the pack hospital’s information. I could hear light pecks of him tapping away on his phone, texting someone, while my heart filled with a little bit of dread…

“Use the address to the prison and document you worked there. I’ll have father fudge papers if need be.” He said casually, and I could hear keyboard clacks now. He must have been in his office.

“I thought… I thought you all were against this…” I mumbled.

“We are, but we also know realistically the strongest being ever born is protecting you now, so it wouldn’t make sense to hold onto this worry. Now go save humans.” He said as if he were smiling.

“…But I swear… I feel like you knew that.” I mumbled, and the line was quiet a while.

“…. I did… father did, your uncle Bryson too along with a few others, but it was kept secret for your sake. I know grandfather would have had to take you from us if we all out right admitted it… which meant you wouldn’t have lived a normal life.”

“And I thank you for that… I live my life the way I want… instead of feeling forced to perform a birthright.” I didn’t show it, but I was a breath away from tears…

“Don’t thank me. It’s something any father would do… but also turn on the news…. Don’t leave your mate’s side for a while.” He said ominously, and we said our goodbyes.

It was 4:38, so I could catch the 5 o’clock news and see whatever story they had that concerned him. It was probably bad for dad to sound worried, seeing as how he was never worried about anything. But while I waited, I could at least make dinner like I said I would.

I got out some chicken and pasta. I’d cook tonight, so when Xaxas got back we could share a hot meal while watching The One Ring. I wished there were more, but unfortunately there weren’t. I sighed…. I REALLY loved that series.

I watched the news while I made the pasta for the alfredo. Since the concept of the condo was open, I could see the TV from the burners. Apparently, the Church had caught fire, melting the wax in the building, but miraculously nothing else was damaged. The Cardinal of the region himself was coming to investigate, but they said they would keep the church open. If I were human, I would go pay respects and help the wounded, but as a supernatural, they would most likely turn away any non-human, no matter their sentiments. The leading priest, and a few others, were severely burned from the hot melting wax while evacuating the monks and nuns. But this didn’t sound right.

All of it sounded suspicious.

Why was only the wax melted? Paper is just as flammable, and I know that church had to be full of texts, hymn books, wooden seats, and Suns…. Why and How was that the only thing that was damaged? They also wouldn’t show the inside of the church. The reporter stood in front of it… I hoped my mate was ok.

I knew it sounded silly, but I did worry for him even though I knew if anything I should worry for the mortals around us. He didn’t seem to care about anything other than me, because he lorded over everything else… and I know he did this. Something told me to confront him about it sooner rather than later, but he wasn’t the kind of person to lie.

For now, I had to focus on finishing dinner. I was hungry, and there was literally nothing I could do about something already done, or what he would do if they continued to harass him. I felt in my heart he would make good on all the ominous warnings he’d mentioned to me so casually.

“Knock Knock.” Said my mate, unlocking the door with keys. His timing was impeccable…

I walked to him, and slowly hugged him. He smelled as if he’d been at a bonfire, though there was no soot on him. It made Lummi nervous, but thankfully since at least one of us wasn’t afraid I could greet him without issue.

“Where did you go?” I asked, not thinking I would like the answer.

“Oh, I just drove around and spoke on the phone.” He smiled. I couldn’t tell if he was lying. His heartbeat was too steady.

“…. Why do you smell like fresh burning pine wood?” I asked, and he stiffened a bit.

“I forgot you were half wolf. You smell only my ire little lovely. Nothing more.” He patted my head, walking to the couch.

“Mind talking about it? And come sit at the dining table to eat.” I said, plating us both some, while he looked like he debated on it.

“Well…, I spoke with the Council of Kings. They wish for me to lead, accepting my birthright in this realm. The police wish to recruit me as well. It’s as if no one gives me a chance to do anything other than work.” He mumbled, looking at clawed hands.

“Why not accept it?’ I asked, setting a plate in front of him once he sat, and getting some canned sodas.

He stuck his thumb in the can to open it, and poured it into a glass that appeared from nowhere. “No.” He said without an explanation. “I would much rather spend my time with you.” He said, seeing the look of my dissatisfaction with his first answer.

“Xaxas if we have to, I don’t mind you claiming your birthright.” I smiled; my desire was unrealistic at best… I was to be Queen…. As much as I would like to, if need be I would have to drop everything in exchange for serving the High Kings’ Council.

“I heard that. I already told you that I wish for you to be happy. Take a decade or two for it.” He pointed his fork at me. “When we leave, I won’t be able to realistically enjoy your food, or see you every day… I may have to exercise my right as king on those who refuse to fall in line.”

“….But that won’t mean anything if inaction creates the war everyone has been trying to avoid. Tension has been rising for the past half century. It’s to the point of either side starting something over nothing until you came along.” I said looking at my plate. He hummed.

“Then I will at the very least join the force since they’re a neutral party… It’ll put me Here so you can learn more about mortals for the both of us.” He smiled, wiping his mouth with his shirt. I passed him a napkin…. Good Lady.

I smiled at him, shaking my head lightly. This boar of a King was mine to tame, and I hoped I’d convinced him enough to try and keep peace in this world rather than raise it.

He washed the dishes, as he’d seen me do, and put them in the dishrack to dry. I got the One Ring ready, so we could binge watch it, then Parry Popper once I sat on the couch. I also planned on heading to the state park tomorrow with my mate to shift. He’d see my wolf for the first time, and I’d get to stretch my legs. Living in a pack village was boring compared to now, but it had the benefit of just going outside and shifting whenever you wanted. No one cared, because everyone was a werewolf…. Here if I did that there would be a problem.

I looked up to see him placing a small throw blanket on my shoulders. In the time it took me to mentally map out our day, he’d sat down next to me, finished a small bag of cookies, took off his shirt, and my cheeks heated up. “If this place smothers your true nature, I can arrange something more for you.” he smiled.

“No Xaxas, this is fine.” I blushed. Now I knew how mom felt with dad always hearing her.

“Tell me,” He pressed me to his chest… I noticed he had a balanced scale tattoo over his heart... One side held the sun, the other held the sign of the Horned One. All of it was inside of a circle of what looked like a Greek design you see on the borders of vases. I’d ask him about it later.

“What is it you like about these movies?” He smiled while I looked down… he was teasing me a bit by flexing his pecks because I was caught staring.

“They’re spun by humans, so they usually aren’t accurate at all… but they’re so imaginative. Far away places, and magical worlds with heroes doing the impossible, and the motivation to save the world make it interesting enough to forget that.” I mumbled.

He kissed my forehead. “Would you like then to go on an adventure my lovely?”

“I imagine if I said ‘yes’ we’d be teleported to some magical place far away and in the cold?” I smiled. He chuckled.

“It’ll be a surprise for later then.” He leaned into my ear. “And later you will see something better.”

“And what would that be?” I asked, putting a hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes and made a growl I couldn’t translate. It was a different language altogether.

“Oh no, a true gentleman never reveals his gifts.” He smiled.

“You were literally eating like a wild animal at dinner.” I giggled. He laughed.

“No I wasn’t!” He lied. “Come here and take it back.” He nibbled my neck under my ear, and I squealed giggling. We were no longer watching the movie, because I grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it.

“No fair!” I yelled when he took it the second swing, only to pin me down and lick my forehead. “Ew! No!” I complained, but he did it again!

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He grinned on top of me completely. He pinned me to the couch with no effort, but to rub it in, he leaned into my face. Our eyes locked, but I still tried to wiggle as futile as it was. “You should’ve known I wouldn’t let you win.” He smiled letting me go. I had as of yet to ‘take back’ my comment, but I think it was more that he enjoyed messing with me.

“I’m… I’m gonna bite you!” I warned, though he only raised a brow.

“If you do, I might like it.”