Chapter 20

Harmony

I shared a soft pretzel with my mate, going into the theater section of the mall. It was about 3:30 already, and I’d window shopped at a few other places before wandering in here. This was another thing I’d wanted to do, and apparently, he did as well. We would watch the new adaptation of the Manbat. This one would be about his nemesis Three-Faces, but for reasons unknown, he only actually had two.

We got tickets, standing in line while he still held the bags I got from shopping around. It wasn’t much, just about two shirts, a jacket and some shoes, but it was honestly more for the experience. This was too. Wolves didn’t get to do these things. It wasn’t impossible, but it was… kind of dangerous to leave the pack for this kind of activity. In a crowded, human filled area such as this, one mistake could mean you got followed home… I kept that warning as a reminder for myself and my wolf. As we walked up to the top row of seats, my wolf spoke up.

What about the pack theater? Asked Lummi, and I mentally freaked out. My eyes darted around to see if anyone saw, but I don’t think anyone did. It was dark in there, hopefully dark enough that no one noticed.

Shh! I mean like it Does but it’s not the same thing. Here I’m experiencing it at a real theater, not just a dark room and a projector… I said it like that, but felt immediately guilty. My parents tried with our small makeshift theater. We couldn’t get new movies, but we did often have a weekend theater upstairs in the tattoo parlor. It was big enough up there to fit quite a few wolves because Mr. Nells didn’t live in his store, which made it possible to do in the first place. It was never that crowded though unless it was an action movie…

I looked at my hands, glad that it got darker to play the commercials. “You’re fine my lovely.” He whispered, bending down to kiss my forehead. It was crowded in here, but I didn’t care who saw him show he cared.

“I’m fine.” I half lied, unable to get really comfortable. I watched the movie leaning on his side while he ate popcorn. How he got it I had no idea, he hadn’t left, but I was soothed by his light touch.

ManBat was trying to save the city as Three-face made a deal with the Flightless Bird. He would catch fire to the city hall as a distraction for Three-Face to frame Manbat, to show the city that they didn’t need a vigilante. They would make it look like Manbat caused more damage than good, and with him being hunted by the police, or gone because he was fed up, they would take over the city. They didn’t expect him during the big fight to put their monologue on display for everyone to see in the town square the entire time. Manbat also could have killed Three-face, but he didn’t. He chose to tie him up and leave him to the police, but the credits at the end showed his cell was empty with a large, clawed whole in the wall…. and alligator noises… Set up for the sequel.

After the movie, I went into the bathroom while Xaxas waited outside. I thanked the Lady that the only people were women talking about their girl’s night out. So far so good, I thought to myself. I didn’t want anything to go wrong on this outing we had, because I knew my mate. He would probably do something over the top… I walked out after washing my hands to see Xaxas had gotten himself more popcorn… it was so greasy I could smell it from a distance… How much butter did he ask for?

“We might have a chance to stop by McDarrel’s on the way home.” He sang.

“You aren’t even done with what you have!” I laughed, and he grinned, showing fangs… both of us were terrible undercover creatures….

“I’ll finish it before we get out there.” He protested, and I rolled my eyes.

“Alright, but don’t blame me if you get too full.” I warned. He rolled his eyes.

“As if.” His hands were full, but it didn’t stop him from putting his head in the bowl like a goat as we walked to the car. He gave me the keys and sat in the passenger side, eating with two large handfuls.

“I suppose I have no choice but to give the king what he wants.” I joked.

“Yup. Now drive woman Drive before they close!” he pointed, putting the bags in the backseat.

“…. They’re 24 hours.” I complained, cranking up the car, pulling out the driveway. I saw men of the cloth walking around the lot as I pulled out, but I was thankful that I was the one driving this time. Knowing my mate, he would have run them over or something. His fun playfulness was replaced by aggression. He wasn’t to be played with, and I could feel my wolf getting nervous.

“They were probably doing something else.” I said not even convincing myself.

“You and I both know they were here to confront me after I warned them.” He said with a small growl. He then closed his eyes, taking a breath. “It would benefit no one to get out the car…. Plus I still wanted to snuggle with you. Last night was nice.” He admitted.

“Yes… Please stay again.” I mumbled, feeling him calm down.

“And your heat didn’t act up at all.” He mentioned.

“I don’t know why, but I’m grateful…. The last thing we needed would have been to get kicked out for screwing in the mall.” I mumbled, feeling him gently touch my cheek. His hands were dirty, absolutely slathered in butter, but the tingles made me not want to scold him about it….

“I will do whatever is needed to have you well… but I must admit you put an idea in my head now that I want to try.” He chuckled.

“You aren’t mating me in public.” I shot him a small glare, to which he leaned back into his seat.

“Wanna bet?” He challenged, and I submitted. “I kid.” He chuckled.

“Yeah right you big liar.” I ordered our food and went to the window to pay.

“You’re really easy to tease Harmony. As if I’d let someone besides myself see those perfect tits.” He said as soon as the cashier came back with our order. She snorted a laugh.

“Xaxas!” I said flustered pulling off.

“What?! They’re the perfect size to squeeze. It doesn’t matter how many times I see them either. I see them, and I say to myself ‘mmm Titties’ every time.” He admitted…

“…. Gods damnit.” I facepalmed pulling into the driveway, getting the garbage while he took the bags out the backseat.

We went upstairs, needing the key to get up the elevator since it was locked now. Security was there, but I would rather not talk to him if I could help it… he seemed like the kind of guy to not bother unless you had to, because every time I saw him, he looked annoyed on his phone.

-----Xaxas-----

I sat on the couch in my sweatpants. They were above all my most comfortable article of clothing, and I wished I could walk around and do everything like this barefoot, but I could only assume I would get looks and attention from other females. I didn’t want that. The only one I wanted to look at me that way was Harmony. I wondered to myself when had I gotten like this…. I’d told her I’d loved her a few times, but really… I’d never known what that word meant until I held her hand… I wondered did she feel the same?

A foolish sentiment. She may like me, but she does not love a monster. I needed to call my brother about something anyway. I shook the thought from my head. Jerold had his number, and gladly texted it to me. Thankfully, he answered the third ring.

“Alpha Bryson, this is BeastMoon.” He said stoically.

“That has a nice ring to it brother.” I chuckled.

“I’m not joining any councils.” He said firmly, but he misunderstood it seemed.

“For your sake, I too refuse any council position. I call to ask questions.” I hope he heard the smile in my voice. I could only assume he thought ill of me, as I’d never done much for him. Selfish, yes, but I wanted a mate. He would have done the same.

“But you are king. To my understanding it literally floats between your horns.” He said amused. “But ask away Xaxas, I’m not doing anything at the moment.”

“TELL HARMONY I SAID HI!” Shouted a female in the background.

“I will.” We both shared a small chuckle. It seemed his mate was a ball of energy. “I just wanted to ask something a little personal…. Did your mate receive a heat?” I asked.

“She did, about a week or so. Is everything alright?” He sounded a little concerned, but I looked at her direction. She was fine.

“Yeah. Everything’s fine. Honestly I was using this as an excuse to call.” I half lied, and he saw through it.

“You have a right to have concerns over your mate. She’s small, excitable, and pure hearted. So long as you both don’t overdo it’ll be over soon, though she might get pregnant.” He chuckled.

“Yes, well I have that handled.” I smiled. We said our goodbyes, and I looked her direction.

She bathed in healing water while I was already finished. She’d put her new things away, so happy that I got her something so simple. It was just clothes, I knew it meant more than that since she’d never been allowed to leave her small village, but if I could help it, she would do more than be confined.

“Who was that?” She yelled from the bathroom.

“Bryson.” I yelled back. “His mate said hi, but I didn’t catch her name.”

She squealed. “Can we visit?”

“If you want, but get ready. Jerold said he’d be over tonight.” I smiled. Hearing her happiness made me warm. I would do anything to have her stay that way….

I was texted by Jerold earlier that he would meet with me tonight. He’d seen the priests driving around the city today, but wanted to speak to me before I did anything more. I would hear him, though ultimately, they should have known better. I would talk to their leader regardless of what he wanted.

“Xaxas I really don’t want you to leave…” She said looking down. She put her small hands on mine, whining as she did so.

“Please. Anything to not ever hear that again.” I said pulling her into my chest. Her heart thumped to her ribcage, aflutter with a nervous assortment of shyness. She must have seen my sulking disgruntled face and put it together I planned to have worms eat the Holy Seat from the inside out without killing him. I needed to get creative first, violent later. This was all in an attempt to avoid a war they could not win, and when I settled it, I would allow supernatural creatures to walk as they pleased like in the old days because this was starting to annoy me.

She snuggled into me while I sat on the couch, and sure enough, Jerold came early. I figured he would. “It’s unlocked.” I growled, and he came in with a curt bow along with his small human mate.

“Grandpa!” She screamed jumping out of my lap to hug him, and he made noises in his native language to which she responded. It sounded like growling snorts. He’d asked her if she got her jacket, and she’d told him thank you. He loved her as if he were her blood, that was for sure. She even hugged the little human. It seemed Arviel made an exception because of my mother, as I could sense that he had the blessing of a Champion. He could die, but he would revive…. I did not sense that from my mate.

“To what do we owe the pleasure?” I asked, motioning them to sit.

“Your majesty I know the Church has been annoying you against the council’s decree, so I came to check on you before you committed an act of wrath.” He said with a frown.

“The only way you would know this was if you were watching me.” I snarled, but he held up both his hands.

“I know because I’m an officer.” He retorted truthfully. “It’s my job to understand and mitigate human- supernatural clashes. I know it doesn’t sound convincing, but you know I speak the truth.”

“I still don’t get why you came.” I said with a smaller snarl.

He sighed. “Yesterday you were so silent, I didn’t sense you. Today I can damn near could see the anger you radiated earlier.”

“I didn’t sense or see anything.” Said Harmony, and I looked at her with a raised brow.

“My guess is that the Goddess made you like me. Humans for the most part can’t tell. I didn’t either, but everyone else who aren’t at the office noticed.”

“No that isn’t it… I pick up on others… but even then, a werewolf’s instinct is to kneel to who is stronger. I don’t get that with him.” She tried thinking of any time she’d ever been afraid of me. I startled her wolf a little bit once or twice but never any fear. I was glad for that.

“Be thankful. His true aura would probably make you throw up.” Said Jerold.

“Sorry.” I said with a light smile. I never realized how much of an affect I’d had on mortals.

“It was years ago.” He said taking off his officer’s jacket. “Just if you wish to speak with them, talk to the Holy Seat hmm?”

“He thinks himself above me. There are no words I can share with him that would be beyond a waste of breath.”

“You aren’t wrong…,” Said Noah.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle this after my mate heals.” I looked at her. She looked a little pale, but she felt fine through our bond… she was only just a little bit warmer than yesterday.