Hunter reborn.

"He's not sure of himself."

He let her have her say......waited until she was done. Julian even allowed her the occasional pause as she shifted topics unexpectedly from his question, to her raping, to his own private life......

"I've never seen him so worried. That's why I wanted to know....."

He didn't attempt chivalry, it just wasn't in his roguish style as he helped her to stand once more......his gaze openly admiring the nude and shimmering surface of her body.....his own interest obviously piqued, yet held carefully in check.

"You don't fit his profile of what a fox vixen should be. More importantly, you don't act like an underling at all, and that's what drives him absolutely crazy, Celeste. I don't want you to endure any more than what you already have.....so please......even if its not you......the real you......don't provoke him again. Even if you are a hunter that Michael's turned......you've never hunted anything like my father.......I guarantee it."

Julian noted her temporary silence, wincing inwardly. They hadn't been the words she wanted to hear, he was sure of it. And yet.....he had to change the topic.

"I.....don't have any mates."

He wasn't sure, now that he thought of it, just when he stopped looking brazenly at her glorious body. His gaze fixed on something vague in the distance, Julian did his best to shrug off the uncomfortable though.

"Kira was to be my first.....I think we both know how that ended."

Surprisingly the air in the room filled with a pleasant chuckle.

"You should have seen the look on his face, Celeste. To be outwitted by a bitten......that little slap from Michael may have hurt just as much as anything you said to him to his face. I endured his lectures for days.....and it was soooo hard to not laugh through them. And I was the one who got drugged!"

He turned, and gave her a warm smile.

"Best night of sleep I've had in months, actually. Well then....should we get you dressed and on your way.....preferably without another run in with father? I'll caution you only one more time, as a potential friend. Be mindful of how you speak here. In my father's eyes.....your raping by so many......was a show of mercy. Don't think he won't kill you for continued rebellion."

Tossing his head side to side in a vigorous shake, his dazzling smile belied the gloomy words.

"Enough of that. We're going to get you back in top form and back to your Master. Let me fetch you some clothes.....how are your bruises healing? And the rope burns on your wrists?"
 
She forced a smile at his words, simply because it wasn't what she was expecting, and she stood shivering, though quite glad to be rid of the cum that had so covered her body. When he did change the subject, she slowly focused back on him, nearly flinching at the laughter that escaped his lips as she stepped from the tub.

It was nice to be spoken with in a manner that left her not feeling like the underling he spoke of. That entire thought process nearly made her pout. But instead he was treating her more like a person, or..an equal anyway.

She actually had to turn her eyes away at his smile, shutting her eyes briefly and forcing herself to rid her cheeks of the blush.

"Not a potential friend, Julian..you are considered by me a great friend. But I fear I won't be seeing you for a long time. I refuse to come in contact with that man ever again.."

Her reserve seemed to be failing, that calm demeanor so plainly wanting, needing to crumble. But she wouldn't allow it..not here.

The question of her wrists made her look down, shrugging somewhat. "They're..better. I have a long drive ahead of me they...they should be nearly gone by then."

It was insanity that they were nearly trying to hide the entire thing. Michael would know something was up - he wasn't an idiot. Even with her best acting he would know..he always did.

Cringing somewhat she moved back into the room but stopped in the doorway, seeing for the first time what the bed did now look like from what it had before.

She shut her eyes and turned her head slightly, away from the bed, attempting to catch her breath, a hand lifting to cover her mouth. She had to stay calm..strong..but how would she manage such things when Michael wanted to touch her..and if she told him she was terrified of the consequence. But should she not tell him and he find out after days..weeks...what then. He would be so incredibly upset with her she wouldn't know what to do with herself.

"What am I going to do.."

Her voice trembled as she spoke and she pressed herself against the nearest wall, looking incredibly small..fragile.

Amber eyes gazed upward at him briefly before she shut her eyes tightly.

"What if he won't touch me...wh..what if he'll get rid of me..or send me back here..I won't come back here.." Panic began to rise and she sunk to the floor, drawing her knees to her chest. "He won't want me anymore..and then what do I do.."
 
"What am I going to do..?"

The young lycan looked at her curiously. He had unconsciously stiffened just a little with pride at her mention of considering him a friend. But now, the look on her face.....well....it seemed Celeste was back to being miserable again.

Julian took on a much more serious note as she leaned heavily against a mortared wall, shivering as if struck by some stray and chill breeze. When she finally did look up at him, the fox scion was struck by the level....the depth of the despair he saw in her eyes.

"What if he won't touch me...wh...what if he'll get rid of me..or send me back here...I won't come back here...He won't want me anymore..and then what do I do...?"

When she sagged suddenly, he moved to her side in an instant, kneeling beside her with a kind hand of support, despite a soft sigh of frustration. Things like this were never easy.

"Look....he doesn't have to know about this, ok? And if....if for some reason Michael does find out, and the worst happens...."

A strained pause.

"Look, he's a better man than that, isn't he? He wouldn't really kick you out, would he? I mean...its not your fault that you were assaulted....well....sort of not your fault I guess. Anyway, I want you to know that I'll help you out any way that I can....as a friend of course. But its not going to come to that, Celeste, you'll see. You'll be just fine...."

Pulled into a soft and comforting embrace, not for the first time, the young lycan wished that she were his. Yet with her already having been claimed.....

"I....if he's really that cruel, Celeste....."

His eyes closed slightly, feeling each shudder and tremble in her body....each one steeling his own determination. What he had to say could be recieved a great many ways, and not all of them pleasantly.

"If it worries you that much......I could kill him."

The body in his arms stiffened suddenly.....just as he knew it would.

"It would hurt you.....I won't lie.....you would feel agony unlike anything you ever felt as a human as you felt him die. But....when its over....I could take you as my own. And then....not even father would hurt you."

He released her then, standing tall once more, with a soft frown on his face. Part of him couldn't even believe he'd said what he had....
 
She slowly looked up at him, practically trembling against him, unable to even stop herself from doing so. It was a terrible fear that she had and she wasn't sure what the fear actually was anymore. Was it fear of her dreams - her visions of what was to come? The thing in her dreams wasn't hurting Michael, it was hurting her - so it made her wonder even if it was the loup garou that she had been dreaming of.

It became apparent that she was having obvious difficulty focusing on what exactly was happening, what exactly she should be doing and thinking about, but when he mentioned something..something she thought was unmentionable, she simply stared at him.

She had been incredibly comfortable for a moment - up until that moment. He had so easily pulled him against her and she did feel protected, safe against him. But she wondered if it was merely because of what they were, that commonality that they shared.

When he released her and pulled away to stand she stared at the ground, brushing her hair out of her face. She wasn't quite certain of what she should say..or how she could take that.

"Thank you.."

Quiet words from trembling lips, and with obvious difficulty Celeste got to her feet, her body still protesting.

"I..should be on my way..shouldn't I.."

Perhaps forgetting it was said was the best course of action. Though really she didn't know so she simply looked up at him for a few moments, stepping up to him. She rose on tip toe and pressed her lips against his cheek before standing flat-footed again, swallowing hard.

"Clothes...only thing I need.."

She nodded slightly, pushing damp curls from her face.

She noticed easily that he was still frowning and it made her cringe. "He won't...I know him...I worry but...but I don't think he will..just...punishment..I'm certain of it.."
 
He watched her go. Really....what else could he do? Still, she hadn't rejected him....perhaps.....there was some love there after all.....or loyalty at least. Though it pained him to see her in such misery and fear. Punishment, she had said.....she would be punished.

Not a single soul bothered her during her departure, as if she didn't even exist in the compound itself. Eyes remained steadfastly on destinations and didn't even wander in her direction. Only Julian remained at her side, making sure the false calm of the coming storm didn't suddenly erupt around her.

With a gentle slam, the door of the Corvette closed behind her, and all too soon she was fading out of sight. Yes....there was something there.....if there wasn't.....no way would she be driving that fast. Certainly not when she knew that "punishment" awaited her.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

It prowled, waiting.

So what if the panther whore had escaped. He had figured out the plan....

So the lone male had figured out what he was, had he? And had sent his three little bitches to get help? The woman was out of reach now behind so many competant warriors. But that didn't mean he couldn't beat them all back to where she had come from. A weak little bitten and two viable mates.

This should be easy. As easy as outdistancing his pursuers had been.
 
She glanced up at him as she made her way to the corvette, standing at the door and smiling somewhat before getting inside.

Quickly, easily she made her way from the compound, heading just as quickly as she had come as though there were nothing for her to be afraid of at her destination yet of course there was - there seemed to be always something to be afraid of.

But Celeste didn't know really if there would be punishment. She had been defending herself...her body, the child that she had lost protecting her clan, protecting her Master. Defending any offspring that should come to be of fox clan. Yes, she had been defending them all.

And even now, her amber eyes were focused on the road, her breathing uneven as she attempted to figure out what lie ahead of her.

Not even thinking, she reached back and grabbed the box she had brought with her, fingers toying with a golden dagger only to set it back down again. She constantly looked at the ammunition before looking back at the road, almost certain that she would see lights behind her - but she never did.

And she never slowed down.

Celeste was bound and determined to make her way back to the manor as quickly as she possibly could and without interruption. She had to give news of who was coming to help them - and that means that she had to be back with as much speed and distance as possible - to give everyone a chance to prepare - to ready themselves for what was to come.

It was frightening how many people it actually took to take down one beast, but this wasn't any normal beast, and Celeste was more than terrified to actually come face to face - to see if in fact it was the same that she attempted to kill. A simple scar on the chest would be a judge of that.
 
The stillness of the night was tantamount as she drove, interrupted only by the muffled thumps coming from the trunk, and the occasional plaintive moan. It was just enough to remind her that she was not alone....

It was the perfect night for uninterrupted speeding, the highways and back roads devoid of all but the rarest of travellers. White lines blurring before her headlights, it was dizzying enough to be almost hypnotizing.....

-------------------------------------

The trip back to the manor was long and arduous, made more so by his own sense of failure. He could still taste the panther whore's blood, smell her fear as clearly as he could smell her sex. She had been tainted however.....yet even tainted meat could prove tasty, when its not snatched from your very jaws.

The occupants of the home were unsuspecting, yet they were not unaware. Even now, the faint scent of gold reached his nostrils. So what else was new? A cut or two would be an acceptable price for seeing himself covered in gore once more, hearing the screams of the severed as they experienced life without their master....a life that existed only to serve his cock until the day his own progeny devoured them from the inside out.

He could already hear the screams.....
 
The white lines blurred all into one continuous line, her eyelids becoming constantly heavy but she was always reminded to keep her eyes open be it by the near veering off of the road, or the headlights in 'her' lane when it wasn't her lane at all.

Hours of driving both behind her and ahead of her.

She pulled up at the manor countless hours later, simply sitting in the drivers seat for a few moments, staring at the door. The gate allowed her access and now she was simply waiting..hoping to be accepted into the home.

"Fuck..."

What was she waiting for. Laying her hand on the horn she honked it once,..twice. Only then did she open the door, stepping out with a groan before reaching in and snatching up the box of weaponry, her fingers still toying with the dagger in hand, the box nestled under her arm.

Sighing heavily, Celeste shut the door to the Corvette, glancing around once more - though there was visible panic in her eyes. Something wasn't right. Her grasp upon the dagger was a bit tighter as she made her way toward the door, waiting for someone to open it - to greet her. At least she would have that.

She could smell something off in the air and that fact in itself was enough to terrify her - enough to make her want to get inside. What was worse was that she hadn't even slept.

It was a necessity even for her, even when she feared what she would see when sleeping, but right now all that she wanted to do was get inside, get the weapons to Michael...and explain what happened. It was always better to tell him first. Not wait.
 
Why did things always seem to complicate?

Just as he had grown bored with waiting, with terrifying the occupants of the simple looking manor, and had begun to advance.....

Headlights. He had barely retreated to the shadows in time. That had been close.....

Turns out he had nothing to fear. Though he had just barely beaten the fox bitch back to her craven little hole....strange.....the panther was no longer with her.

Of course. He had known from the beginning that the other one was fat with the bitten's spawn. He had sent her to safety....if there was such a thing from him. And now, the much more visually appealing of the two was returning. Just looking at her made his cock throb, a tiny pool of virulent pre-cum forming on its waiting tip. He could already hear her screams.....

So what was he waiting for? Something was wrong. Something was holding him back, a tiny word of caution in the deepest recesses of his savage mind. How fun it would be to make them all here her scream as he mated her brutally, dooming her to the finality that mothering his child would bring her. So dammit what was wrong here?!

Another stray breeze and he had it, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he regarded the female in a new light.

Gold.

This was no simple bitch either. Just what the fuck kind of females was this bitten son of a bitch keeping here?! A claw tipped paw raised of its own accord to stroke his own darky furred muzzle with a gentleness that seemed every bit a parody of his own nature. He still remembered the other one before he had finally gotten the best of her......how the force of one kick shook him on his feet.....a thunderclap of defiant force that stunned where it would have broken a lesser creature.

He wouldn't underestimate another of these strange females.....certainly not now. Let her run.....run to him.....

She could be there when he died.
 
Celeste looked around cautiously, her fingers holding the box of weaponry with extreme care. It was obvious that the girls was attempting to figure out what was happening around her when she had very little clue.

It was obvious in a matter of moments that they were not alone, and she very quickly made her way to the front door, standing on the doorstep await someone opening it - letting her in.

She knocked twice, but after that her back was again to the door, and she was again staring out into the darkness, her voice a whisper that barely could be heard, certainly not by normal..human ears.

"You should understand something and understand it well. You will have none of us breeding your spawn. And you will instead have a lovely piece of gold through a few vital organs."

She paused only to tilt her head to the side, her eyes narrowing somewhat.

"I will kill you this time."

She turned slightly as she heard the door open behind her, once again facing the now open door, fully ready to get inside and away from the possible threat.
 
"You should understand something and understand it well. You will have none of us breeding your spawn. And you will instead have a lovely piece of gold through a few vital organs."

If there were any question at all that he was out there.....that he had heard her.....it was answered almost immediately as the surrounding woods echoed with a menacing growl that widened the little fox whore's eyes enough for him to see them even at this distance. The pathetically thin manor door slamming behind her seconds later.....her last words still echoing in his ears.

"I will kill you this time."

This time? What the fuck...? He'd not felt the pleasure of a fox in years, and when he had.....she certainly hadn't lived more than nine months afterward. So who the fuck did this whore think she was? And why.....why?!....did she look so damn familiar to him?

It mattered little in the end. They were always full of bravado until he made them scream and beg, always carried gold like they thought themselves capable of killing him. In the end....her scent was just as worthless as his was.....a bitten. There was only one true threat in the household.....and such a small one that it took some effort to keep from laughing.

It was time for some fun.

Moving across the clearing towards the manor in great loping strides, he kept his senses alert. The fox bitch was no doubt rushing the gold she carried to her worthless shit of a master. That in itself....provided a distraction.

He could have tore into the house, shredding the door like so much paper despite the obvious lock that held it shut against him. Instead, he prowled.....there was always another way in.....always.

A lone tool and gardening shed provided no clues....it only made him struggle against the urge to sneeze as a billowing of soil and dust rose to greet him. One by one, windows were silently checked.....every single one of them latched tightly shut.

The root cellar.....

It took some doing to find it, squirreled away as it was yards from the house....its doors nearly concealed by moss and other overgrowth. Grinning, he had no problems exerting a little force and ripping the padlock away. It would make nowhere near the noise that shattering one of the house enterances would make. If he was lucky.....he would only confirm suspicions that he was prowling around outside without anyone actually knowing he'd found a way inside.....

If he wasn't lucky? Oh well. Blood would fly that much sooner.

It took long and careful minutes of navigating however, for him to find his way upward. A cellar like this would most likely be connected to the actual house in some way.......and this one was no different.

A wooden door creaked softly as his thick frame entered the room beyond. His eyes adjusted quickly, what he saw surprised and amused him somewhat. A makeshift little dungeon, huh? A wooden X over there......a sawhorse over there.....handcuffs.....nylon rope....leather straps.....and much, much more. Well....well....it seemed that maybe the little fuck knew how to treat his mates after all. This certainly wasn't the training he'd expected to find them undergoing after his beating at the female panther's hands.

A glance up revealed a pulley system, block and tackles, the more he saw....the more he appreciated. That was until.....he realized.....he wasn't alone.

As needle like fangs sank into his neck.

It was her. A feeble attack at best, she was barely able to penetrate the cords of muscle around his vitals......but she had been close. A quarter inch further and she might have nicked an artery......not that the wouldn't wouldn't have closed over a few seconds later, but still. If there was one thing he wasn't going to tolerate.....it was a female thinking she had a chance against him.

Siobhan fetched hard up against the rough hewn wall of the chamber....easily dazed by the force of the impact as he ripped her off of him....allowing the little warrioress the pride of taking a chunk of his flesh with her.

"I...won't....let you...."

"Shut up."

Claws raked his forearms as a massive paw grasped her delicate throat, immediately silencing any further protests or chances to call for help with a firm, delicious squeeze. With ease, he hoisted the little white haired catgirl up into the air.....trembling thighs desperately clenching as she hovered over his hard cock.

It wasn't like him to mate before killing every male in the house.....even now, he couldn't wait to see her writhe in pain as she suffered the Sundering. But his battle with the panther had left him frustrated.....mentally and sexually.....and what better to take it out on than a lowly little catgirl.....the weakest and most pathetic of the lycan races. The fact that she was trueborne would only make it sweeter......

Slowly, her struggles waned.....until even the fear and horror in her eyes began to dull.....gently, he let her have more air.....surveying the damage she'd done and registering as inconsequential. It was a small price to pay to see the look on her face....her mouth opening in silent and sudden horror as he dropped her roughly downward......her slack thighs splitting easily around his turgid manhood and allowing for a smooth, gratifying burial of his lust.

There was nothing she could do. And as long as she was prevented from alarming the others....he had nothing to worry about. Yet he was in a hurry, his frenzied coupling with her only inciting his bloodlust. He was in no mood to torment right now......only breed.....

The music of her gentle sobbing was a pleasant one indeed as he ascended the steps, more than enough to dampen the annoyance he felt as the occasional wooden plank creaked beneath his great weight. He had cum a lot for the little trueborne.....

Now there wasn't a soul alive who could save her.
 
Perhaps it was understandable how Celeste moved into the house, sulking somewhat - considering she had left rather quickly after Michael told her she literally had no choice in the matter and if she did love him she would come back.

Well now she was back, and she had to suffer some sort of consequence. Then again she wasn't really certain how he would act..or perhaps he had planned something like this all along.

Surely Michael knew how Vargas was...and with Celeste's sharp tongue really it was no wonder she got some sort of punishment from him. Though perhaps the extremity of the punishment wasn't foreseen.

Celeste held the box of weapons in her hands and looked up at him with cautious eyes.

"Angel is safe..and..I picked these up from my apartment..I was careful...quick. No one saw anything..and these certainly wouldn't be missed.."

She had averted her gaze as soon as she started speaking, holding out the box to him, waiting for him to take it before taking another step back. She was at least three feet from him.

"As I said..Angel is safe. Vargas is assembling his...his men. And they will be here to assist..but.."

Already she was choking up, unsure of what to say - how to say it. She struggled to keep herself calm, her heart already racing at speeds that were probably ridiculously unsafe.

"He didn't like the way I spoke to him.."

She hoped it would be that simple, but one glance upward to see a raised eyebrow in her direction made her cringe.

"..Apparently I have too much authority..or...act as though I have too much authority for a female..and..thought I should learn my place.."

Slowly she lifted her wrists, bruising still clearly visible from the rope.

"..He was going to let me go with a warning..but..I..."

Pausing, she shut her eyes tightly, obviously having trouble continuing.

"...He practically called me useless.." Her hand fell to her stomach, a stomach that would be showing by now, tears filling her eyes. "In every sense...and I couldn't help it...I..I lashed out. I'm not good at holding back and when you say something like that...I...I couldn't.."

In an instant she had turned from him, covering her face with her right hand. "There were so many...I don't even know...h..how long..they joked whose child I would have...th...they covered me..Julian..he cleaned me up..he...he gave me something so I wouldn't....get pregnant from them.."

Still her heart was racing, the tears staining her cheeks but she quickly wiped them away, wanting no evidence of crying.

"If you don't...if you don't want me...I understand.."

Celeste wasn't going to face him - not now, shaking her head slightly. "I'd understand."
 
"That twisted....chauvanistic....fuck."

He had known something was wrong of course. Almost immediately. He had been nearly overjoyed to see her, the time spent apart from her spent worrying, blaming himself for possibly sending her to her death. It was harder to convince himself that it had to be done than it had been to do so with her....despite his show of control in the den as he had done just that.

So when she had found him, gun in hand and scowling with a worried Kira hovering over him, both rushed at her with full intent to embrace her and welcome her home, thanking the dark gods that she was safe. Yet she had shied away.....and he knew.....he knew there was much more to her visit than he had anticipated.

Even then, he had dared to think that maybe, just maybe....Celeste was afraid he would punish her for going outside of his orders. In fact, as the box opened beneath insistant and nimble fingers, he marvelled at her resourcefulness. This was enough to not only arm herself.....but perhaps there was an extra weapon or two that Kira might use. He had his gun....and he was comfortable with that.....but his mates had been pretty much defenseless.....until now.

"He raped you. Taunted you, and then raped you."

The box dropped with a clatter to the floor. There was nothing in there that was going to break anyway. Was this his fault too? He'd fucked Vargas over by getting Kira back....was this his supposed "ally's" way of getting back at him?

Wiry muscle trembled beneath his fury, Kira ignoring Celeste's flightiness to pull her close against her own warmth. The cheetah's emerald eyes spoke volumes of her own condemnation of the act as she looked over the fox mate's shoulder to measure Michael's reaction.

"He'll kill you."

The words were soft, and by no means meant to lessen his anger at all, simply more or less put it into perspective. Still trembling just a little, Michael forced himself to calm down somewhat. No matter how much he wanted to, how many lycan hearts he devoured, it would never be enough. Yet he wasn't powerless.....not all retribution had to be physical.

Leaning forward, he brushed Kira aside, feeling Celeste shudder just a little at his own touch as he took her in his arms. His concerned and frustrated sigh was warm on her neck as he simply held her for long moments. She smelled of lavendar.......no doubt this....Julian's doing.....to cover the scent of her abusers. Yet she had abandoned her own dignity......and told him the truth anyway.....though it obviously pained her to do so......a pain that would continue on until she heard the words she needed to hear.

"You're not going anywhere, Celeste. I need you here with me."

If he thought she had stiffened at his touch, it was nothing compared to her reaction to his words.

"And you're not useless. Just look at the chance you gave us with these weapons. And I know better than to ask if you plan on fighting with us. I doubt I could keep you back, could I? Fuck Vargas.....in this house.....its your right yourself and those you care about. You're not just a whore to be bred, no matter what he thinks......"

Kira whimpered softly at the words.....still not far from either of their side, worry shimmering clearly in her gaze. It was hard to not think about so long ago when she herself had forced her love upon Celeste......and in light of things.....holding up the excuse that she was only carrying out Master's orders seemed shallow indeed.

"I'm sorry...."

Neither of them turned to look at her, despite the cryptic whisper. Not even when she straightened suddenly.....the look on her face changing, yet another reflection of her tempestuous nature. One day.....at least she hoped one day.....she would redeem herself......and enjoy Celeste without having her ordered to take it.....indeed, perhaps even reciprocate. But for now.....she owed a debt.....

As far as Kira was concerned, there was now two members of the household she would protect until her dying breath.

"Just promise me, Celeste......don't do anything that will sever you from me, again. Think of consequences before you act or speak rashly. I spent two years trying to find you again.......I don't want to lose you now.....or ever. Let me deal with the assholes who try to jerk you around, or even better.....we'll deal with them together. Just promise me you won't run around half-cocked on your own....."

When she stirred in his arms, he merely tightened his hold on her, hugging her as firmly as she could handle and hoping......hoping.....that she could feel the earnestness in his words. If she wanted to defend herself.....so be it.....he would be there to make sure that nobody ever touched her again.
 
Celeste looked up as he spoke, confusion..fear, perhaps joy flicking over her features but disappearing just as quickly as he continued...as the box fell to the floor. She jumped at the sound and couldn't help but tense under Kira's embrace, her slender figure trembling somewhat against her.

When she heard the words spoken quietly to Michael she seemed to calm down somewhat, be it only because she knew that Kira was right..and because Julian had done the same.

Though things seemed to be happening far differently than she had anticipated..she was grateful. She was in his embrace and while...more than hesitant to respond, she couldn't help but shut her eyes tightly, pulling herself on tip-toe and wrapping her arms around his neck.

She heard Kira's words..and was somewhat confused for a moment by them - obviously not understanding what it was that she was sorry about - but her brain wasn't working in the logical sense. Had she been properly thinking about the entire thing she would have realised immediately but at this point she was content.

Michael continued then and she managed a slight nod at his words.

"I'm sorry..I didn't think...I didn't think he could touch me...make them...make them do that. I didn't think he would...I didn't mean to put anything in jeopardy...I was there longer because of it..I..I wasn't thinking clearly.."

She was hugging his neck now, holding herself closer. She actually lifted herself rather easily, wrapping her legs around his waist and burying her face into his neck.

"I thought you were going to be so angry with me...I was so afraid that you wouldn't want me...there were so many, Michael.."

She was speaking quietly against his neck, shutting her eyes tightly as she remembered the countless men..literally countless. One after another using her trembling, shuddering frame simply because they could. Screw an order to do so. They did it because they wanted to - because she was bound and available.

"I don't want to go back there anymore.."

She pulled back somewhat, as though suddenly in alarm, her amber eyes searching Michael's face briefly before looking around the room.

"Where's Shio?"
 
(OOC: On behalf of TieMeTightly and myself, we would like to thank everyone who voted for us on the Smexy Awards, it was very humbling to recieve an nomination. Thanks as well to our readers.....as well as a personal thank you to TieMeTightly......for putting this thread at 2800 views......the most viewed thread I've ever written. Hope you've all had a fun read.)

"You don't have to."

The words were blunt, straight to the point. It pained him that he had sent her into that nightmarish hell to begin with, but what could he have done?

He could have sent Kira. No...that wouldn't have gone any better, not after his last fast one he had managed to pull.

"Where's Shio?"

"Shio?"

For a split second, the unfamiliar name coupled with the abrupt change in topic proved to be quite confusing to him before Michael finally realized what she was asking. Even as his mouth opened to answer, the manor itself seemed to shudder, the unmistakable sound of cracking and shattering wood reaching all three sets of ears.

"What the fuck?! How'd it get in the house without us hearing it?! Dammit, Siobhan said she was guarding the nursery......we have to get there!"

Moving quickly, and without thought, it was at least somewhat comforting that twin shadows followed his rush as the master of the household reached to rip open the door......

"Hello."

He barely had time to acknowledge that anyone was even there, much less move.....before the massive fist sent him careening backwards......a hard grunt and a somewhat softening of his landing sending signals to his adrenaline laced brain that one of the girls had gone down with him.....as the room filled with the monster's laughter.

"It's no fun if I kill you that fast. I haven't heard you scream yet......protecting the nursery, huh? Good....that means there's some really sweet tasting meat around here if I can find it. I hope you weren't referring to that sad little catgirl....I'm afraid she won't be coming to help you....."

It was humiliating....how the creature waited for them.....Celeste.....so it had been Kira he had been knocked into.....Michael slowly rising to his feet, the sound of a gunshot ringing through the room......

The monster snarled as its forearm exploded in a spray of blood, eyeing its attacker warily. It knew all too well that the girl had been aiming for his heart.....and she could heal anyway......so why not make a mess of her?

There was the male to contend with yet though, a task made much more interesting by the twin pair of blades he held reversed in his hands.....

A blur of gold and a flurry of punches drove him back as surely and suddenly as they blocked line of sight.....the loup garou snarling in annoyance at the sudden score of claw wounds laid deeply across his chest.....

"Pitiful wretch!"

Another furious charge by the enraged cheetah was halted suddenly with a hoarsely strangled cry.....an outstretched arm.....an attack that never connected. Massive digits closed around the slender girl's arm, spinning wildly, Kira's eyes widening for only a second before blood and brain matter spattered the wall behind him as he slammed her into it with everything he had.....the plaster and mortar cracking and splitting beneath the blow.....her wrist twisted and mishapen where he had squeezed it until it shattered.....

She would heal too.....he wasn't done having fun with her......in the meantime.....another explosion of true pain as a gold bullet found him once more, tearing through his body.....reminding him of the true danger. He was going to have to do something about that fox bitch......

Grinning, he sent his new projectile at her with almost the speed she had first launched at him. This was fun! Watching the two bodies tangle up in a mess, now there was only one he had to keep an eye one......the one he really came for......

There it was again......that strange scent......so familiar......yet alarming......

Of course the panther came at him.....Michael grunting once more as already strained ribs cracked under the weight of another colossal blow, somersaulting awkwardly back to strike the far wall with a sickening crunch. To think.....one kick was all this creature needed to take him out......

Yet he wasn't done. He couldn't be. Kira....Celeste......not again......

His first attempt to rise again was total failure, muscles and tendons refusing to respond.....

Forcing his eyes to focus.....what he saw before him was a nightmare......a bloody nightmare ripped out of the recesses of the darkest of minds. The monster was toying with them.....a clawed hand having ripped though Kira's back....spine and all......to pierce Celeste and hold her pinned as its claws penetrated the hardwood floor beneath her as she bore the brunt of its blood frenzy......the creature's fangs mauling her flesh.....stripping it from her to the bone as her screams filled the room......

It was so fast.....its fury unparalleled as it completely ignored the downed cheetah.....seeking instead any and all of Celeste it could from around the broken body......knowing full well that such a thing wouldn't kill.....yet relishing the chance to lavish sublime agony as it bellowed its fury through the room.....

"YOU STUPID BITCH! YOU THINK THAT BECOMING LYCAN WOULD MAKE YOU ANY STRONGER?! YOU THINK YOU CAN FUCKING KILL ME?! NOBODY CAN KILL ME! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ALL! I ALREADY RAPED THE SHIT OUT OF THAT SACK OF SHIT CATGIRL, BUT YOU.....I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU WITH ME. I WANT TO SEE YOU WRITHE, I WILL HEAR YOU SCREAM AS YOU FEEL YOUR GUTS TORN APART BY MY OFFSPRING! OH YES, HUNTER, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER QUITE WELL."

How long he could have gone on remined to be seen.....the sound of soft laughter reaching his ears.....infuriating him even more......the capillaries in his eyes bloodshot enough to make all but the yellow irises turn blood red.....

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU LAUGHING AT? AT LEAST SHE LIVES NINE MORE MONTHS......YOU'RE SO WEAK, YOU'RE NOT EVEN WORTH BREAKING."

"So you raped, Siobhan........that's funny......"

Yellow eyes widened slowly......confusion setting in as the panther before him continued to chuckle.....rising slowly, staggering painfully. The wretched man was no doubt moving on willpower alone.....but he hadn't dropped those knives yet......

"Are you some kind of sick fuck? You're happy I raped her? What the hell?"

Michael grinned through the pain just as the room filled with another gunshot.....the bullet slamming hard into the monster's side, provoking a sudden and alarmed howl of agony. Spinning, the creature rose with blinding speed, fear more than rage now prompting his movements.......that had been close......

A sudden lapse of movement, a breath cut short......a sideways glance towards the doorway......

The catgirl.

"I thought it was funny how you might leave her for dead......the only one of my household who is barren......she can't carry child, no matter how much she wants to. Mine......or yours."

A feral snarl....

"TRUEBORNE......"

Eyes narrowed to slits, Siobhan fired again, the gold projectile blasting the creature's kneecap from existance in another brilliant explosion of pain.....

"Not so quick with a hole in your lung, are you?"

The words were soft, true Siobhan style, but laced with a malice that few of them had ever seen. Limping heavily and supporting itself on its good leg, the monster before her howled in fury and pain as its other knee followed suit.....bullet after golden bullet emptied into the creature's legs.....a pair saved for its arms......blood and gore permanently staining the wooden floor.....

"You wonder why I'm not just killing you?"

A wet wheezing cough, a parody of a laugh....

"You think.....I'm stupid?"

A thin, white eyebrow raised....

"You're....going to eat.....my heart......"

A pencil thin smile....

"It's not my place to eat your heart. That honor belongs to my master....who's home you defiled. MY HOME."

The hammer clicked against an empty chamber......the gun empty......

A soft smirk......the teen sauntered towards him.....surveying her handiwork while keeping some of a distance from arms that most likely were still quite functional.

"Oh....and by the way......you were a lousy lover."

A cocky grin.....a coquettish placing of one hand on a hip.....

"Just kill him."

Glancing to her right, Siobhan frowned suddenly....

"I offer him to you.....after all.....it was you who used me as bait to draw him out. You knew he wouldn't kill me, and you knew I was immune to his......purpose....."

A tinge of sadness in that soft voice, even now.....

"Yes....I shot him.....but its.....its your gun, Master......"

The mighty chest heaved as it struggled to draw in air.....an effort cut short as the tormentor became the tormented......his chest exploding in a spray of flesh as the catgirl laid open the way to his heart......plucking the fiercely pounding muscle as if it were a delicate flower.....

"You must, Master.....how else will you get strong? I told you it was foolish to take a creature this powerful.....but you wouldn't let me die.....you wouldn't let me buy time for you to flee to Lord Gerald's.....please....Master....."

"Tend to Celeste and Kira......"

Reaching for the grisly trophy, he glanced at the monstrosity that should have been the death of them all......the creature too proud to beg even at the brink of extinction......

With bloodstained lips......he joined her moments later......the room finally falling still once more......
 
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(I would also like to thank everyone! You're all incredible to be such devoted viewers. Never have I had so many compliments on a thread. And of course, thank you Dryfter. You're amazing and it's obvious I couldn't have done this without you. I very much enjoy this thread, I must say it's probably my favourite, and I hope that we can keep it going strong!)

She realised immediately what had happened, and immediately followed after Michael only to see him sent hurling into Kira. But she wasn't going to let him win - not this time.

She heard him easily, the words that both terrified and comforted her. Mostly because she knew she could be of help. It was the only true comfort there. And she was immediately prepared, a slender forefinger pulling the trigger.

Her breathing was uneven, heart pounding. She wanted it dead. She didn't want the filth's heart - she wanted it dead and only that could actually fully make her happy.

Kira was going at him and Celeste advanced immediately, unable to help herself from gasping in response to seeing the girl slammed into the wall, her eyes wide just at seeing the shape she was left in after only that.

"Bastard.."

Again she fired, again stepping forward, only to have Kira quite literally thrown at her, causing her to land quite hard on the floor, groaning in response.

She had to rise - had to continue - to get up and fight and win. It was necessity that she didn't give up this easily, but she couldn't quite move with Kira on top of her.

And then everything was brought to clarity - pain..pain and screams. It was all too familiar, it was what had her heart racing, had her mind tumbling from fear - body trembling each time she woke. This was it - and until he spoke - she thought that he was going to simply kill her.

Her entire body was arching, screaming for him to stop, her fingers struggling to find any sort of weapon, bloody fingers attempting to push him away but it was far from the realm of possibility. She was not strong enough. And things were already starting to go dark - her body aching to give up from the pain.

But it stopped.

So quickly the onslaught stopped. Not the pain, but everything else - there was no attack.

She struggled, turning her head somewhat, breathing heavily through parted lips as she attempted to figure out what the laughter was..it was difficult..she was literally looking through a haze of red, her entire frame covered in blood, Kira still atop her. It was not a pretty sight.

But the gunshot drew her attention back to what was happening - seeing Siobhan standing there - she managed some form of a smile.

She didn't know how long it lasted..the bit of torment to the creature, and wasn't certain of the amount of time that she had been down. But Shio was at her side and she struggled to focus up on her - reaching out with bloodied fingers.

"You're okay.."

She paused enough to swallow - struggling for even breath.

"Kira's hurt.."

It was that simple. Everything that she had dreamt had come true - save for the painful end. There was no end. Pain, yes - but she was still there..perhaps not in a very good way but she was certainly not dead. The stinging..the ache was the reminder that there was no death.

Michael was at their side next and she looked pained..more emotionally than physically suddenly.

"I'm so sorry.."

Seeing the confusion register on his face she forced a smile - albeit sad, her eyes scanning the room cautiously.

"If I had killed him..before...none of this would have happened..Kira's hurt..Shio..a..and what he did to her..and you.."

Perhaps it was the emotional state that she was in from everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours, but when she again opened her eyes after squeezing them shut, it was obvious there were tears.

It hurt to breathe..hell - it hurt to think. So that was all that she said. All that she managed before cringing, eyeing the mess of blood on the floor beneath her, a whimper escaping her lips.

"I'm bloody."
 
The room was a disaster......

Barely able to stand, it was behind the sturdy oaken desk of his study that he let both lycans glare at him....each for different reasons. The soft and silent shadow of the buxom Alexa hovering softly behind Lord Gerald's shoulder.....much to the continued aggravation of Lord Justin Vargas. An aggravation that seemed to only increase by the fact that Michael too was watched.....the normally submissive Siobhan suddenly fiercely protective as she watched them all from one of the closer corners of the room.....

"Let it be, Justin....."

A toss of red maned hair as the nobleman spun with incredulity towards the panther lord.

"Let it be?! He calls our aid, then decides to take the monster on himself? What is this? Some sick show of strength? Like he has something to prove?"

"Doesn't he?"

The soft and feminine purr filled the room, totally nonplussed by the furious stare of the fox lord as even Gerald cocked an inquisitive eye towards his consort.

"You both think he's weak, Master's just more polite about it. And you're both right......he's a bitten, not true.....and only been that for two years. By all rights, everyone in this house should be dead."

"I'm not the one who killed the loup garou. I simply said that we killed it when it broke through our defenses and attacked us. Now can I please go back to tending to my mates?"

The image of Celeste and Kira sprang to the forefront of his mind once more, his normally healthy color paling dramatically once more as a soft shudder rippled through him......drawing a look of concern from the panthers.....and a look of disgust from Vargas......

"I'm bloody."

It was everything he could do to even look at her.....his beautiful Celeste.....chunks of flesh torn from her face until bone remained......her arms....her shoulders......anything that monster could reach around the fallen Kira he had mangled beyond belief.....

Michael had never seen anything so vicious.....so sick.....in his life. And yet, he wouldn't look away, wouldn't show her his horror when she had done so much to help defend.....it would be a long and painful healing for them both. For Kira especially.....the regeneration of nerve systems was excruciating.....and to regenerate a whole new spinal cord and column.....

He owed it to them both to be there for them.....

He spoke nothing of the new strength that flowed through him......giving him hope.....hope that he would one day be able to protect them without having to rely on being saved himself....without having to put one of them in danger in some risky plan that only had a marginal chance of success.

He had been lucky.

"What do you mean, Michael?"

Gerald's voice snapped him back into reality, his sapphire blue eyes raising to meet the old panther's kind grey ones. At least he had managed to earn a level of respect with this one.....a genuine respect, not just the offerings of pity he had recieved before. Not like he deserved it.....

"Siobhan killed him."

Michael winced as the fox lord choked suddenly, wincing again as the brandy the man had been imbibing splashed wetly on one of his minor scrapes.

"Come on! Do you take us for fools?! The catgirl?! You're joking. The same one you have crawling around your manor like some kind of S+M bitch.....now granted she's the only one of your mates I think you've trained correctly, but seriously?"

Fortunately, Michael didn't have to respond to that....

"You've always been an idiot, Justin. If you weren't so wrapped up in your mentality that women are just for mating and breeding, you'd have realized the catgirl's nature a long time ago."

Amber eyes narrowed at the insult, yet the nobleman's temper stayed held in check.....especially when Gerald seemed completely nonplussed by the sudden flareup......his lovely consorts eyes narrowing slightly instead.

"Is that so?"

The question was an admission of sorts to Gerald, whos serious face broke into a pearly white show of teeth.

"Of course. Here....let me show you."

With an almost imperceptable nod of his head, Alexa slid silently from behind the panther lord.....moving with increasing speed towards Michael....

Surprise only lasts so long however, icy blue eyes narrowing as both women shifted at the same time. No screams.....just a hiss of warning......and a single attack.....Alexa's claws stopping just short of an completely impassive Michael......three tiny scarlet rivulets running their course down the dark furred wrist to splash their art against the polished wood of the oak desk....

Reddish eyebrows raised....

"Now how is that possible? You told me yourself Alexa is trueborne, like you and I!"

Gerald smiled as he nodded, his warrioress love looking up to smile at a now confused Siobhan, despite the girl's claws lodged deeply in her wrists. Leaning forward, she gave the white haired teen a tender kiss on one cheek......waiting.....as the hold on her vanished in deepening confusion.

"So is Siobhan."

Vargas' jaw dropped.....the room exploding into a flurry of sound and debate about lycan castes.....

If any of them witnessed Michael slipping from the room......nobody moved to stop him.

------------------------------------------------------------------

They lay side by side......his own bed spread out and given to the two most noble women he had ever met. Each had sacrificed so much......

He had met warrior after warrior on his way here......male and female alike nodding at him with respect while they waited for their lords to finish here. It was all so fake.......he hadn't been the hero......

Their blood soaked the bedsheets, blood that he saw now was well on the way to drying.......the more superficial of the wounds healing more rapidly than the truly garish ones.....

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"Lord Michael?"

The panther turned towards the softly spoken sound, frowning softly at having been disturbed.....by a young fox warrior none the less.

"I'm no lord to you, sir......what is it that you want of me?"

For all his slight build, the fox seemed quite determined....

"Well for starters, I'd like to make sure she wasn't punished......what what my father did at our estate."

Punished? What the fu...this must be Julian....

"So you're the youngest Vargas boy, huh?"

For a second, the youth seemed taken aback that he had been identified. Just as quickly though, he regained his composure......scowling deeply.

"Answer my question!"

"No.....I didn't punish her. I blamed myself.....for sending her there to begin with. I should have known better."

As he turned to stroke a ragged and unconcious cheek, he missed seeing the look of surprise on the young man's face.

"I....I see.....will she.....will they be alright?"

A worried frown crossed Michael's face.

"Physically? Eventually. Mentally......?"

For his part, Julian was at Michael's side in a flash, concern framing his handsome features.

"What do you mean?"

"Well Celeste should recover.....but she blames herself......much as I do. I sent her to your father for help.....and she was raped within an inch of her life, wasn't she? She told me about it."

Silence......shame.....Julian's eyes scoured the still Celeste for any sign of movement.

"She blames herself for not killing the loup garou when she last hunted it.....if she had.....it wouldn't have caused carnage like this. Her grief will only deepen when she sees Kira I think....."

"What do you mean?"

"Kira....is a cheetah. But you knew that. As a cheetah, she loves nothing more than to run.....and be free.....and passionate about everything she does. When she wakes up, she's going to be paralyzed.......at least until her spine mends itself. I think....I think that's going to be really hard on her."

This time.....when he finished speaking.....there was nothing but long silence with each mean gazing down upon the women they had come to love and admire......

There was nothing else that could be done except wait.....
 
Celeste felt..numb.

For the longest time she was numb. It wasn't that she couldn't feel - no that was far from the issue. Her mind was the one refusing to let her open her eyes. She wanted to - with all that she had she wanted to wake up, insist that she was fine, and move on. But she couldn't.

She hadn't heard the exchange between Michael and Julian..hell she didn't even know that he was there. If she had she would have probably protested him seeing her like that - he had already seen her in a pitiful state, this was much worse. At least Michael had seen her in a less..than healthy state.

And Michael..she knew he would be there, and she didn't want him to be...to see them healing. It couldn't really be a pretty sight. No, he had more important things to worry about. Cleaning the place was one of the smaller ones but she was certain the fox clan would be there, and that Vargas would be far from happy.

She didn't know when her eyes actually did open, and when they did all that she saw at first was darkness. Darkness that faded slowly to blurs of colours.

She groaned immediately, only then beginning to feel the true onslaught of pain - as her unconsciousness had protected her if only slightly from it. Yes, most of the wounds - the superficial wounds - were healed, but she was still healing. That much was obvious.

She inhaled sharply, swallowing repeatedly, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips before she actually managed to scan the room. Her eyes first fell on Kira's figure and she tensed horribly at the sight of her, looking away immediately with a whimper.

Everything she was around seemed to get damaged..people included. Lycans..included.

She lifted a trembling hand to her lips, groaning in pain, both physical and mental. How long would she take to heal? And Kira? Was Siobhan alright...was the fox clan angry. Were they out of danger? And what of Michael, was he holding up? Was Angel back from the safety of Vargas's manor,..was she back home.

Too many things were coursing through her mind and she couldn't even manage to force out any words - still working on seeing properly. She couldn't even tell how long she had been out, what the damage was to her own body.

All that she remembered was blood and pain. And an obvious hatred with her as the target.

"Michael..?"

She barely managed a whisper, but was already trying to force herself to sit up - wincing as newly formed tissues protested any sort of movement. She didn't care...she'd been still for too long.
 
The flat of a palm pressed her right back down again. Twin sets of eyes scolding her with their gaze as both Julian and Michael leaned over the laden bed. Kira had yet to stir.....but at least it seemed that Celeste was coming around.

Michael sighed as he folded a warm, still dripping towel across her forehead. The first thing that he had done was have Julian swiftly remove the full length mirror he had always kept in his room. The last thing either of them needed right now was for one of these valiant ladies to catch a glimpse at just how truly awful they looked. Even with all the mending so far, Michael could still see Celeste's cheekbone clearly.......and there were several spots on her arms and shoulders that were just as bad.....

"Don't be stupid. You've done your part well, Celeste. You need to rest......please......for once, just trust me to take care of things from here. I need you to heal.....and.....it's going to take some time."

"I can drug her again if you like, Master.....if you think the pain is too much for her to sleep."

Both sets of eyes turned towards Siobhan.....the crafty catgirl standing poignantly in the doorway. How long had she been there....?

"Please do. I think she can handle the pain just fine.....its her stubborness I don't want to deal with right now. It's just not.....the opportune time for that."

Nodding, Siobhan moved silently towards the bedridden Celeste.....cooing softly, soothingly even as she slid a familiar yellow box out from beneath the bed....

"Lord Gerald kindly left this here for us.....I watched Angel treat Master with it when he lost his arm....."

A little fumbling not only had the box open.....but produced a small sealed jar.....and a syringe. The tiniest of punctures didn't compromise the seal, even as Siobhan drew out the necessary dose. She highly doubted Celeste capable of struggling too much.....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Celeste?"

No answer.....

"Celeste?"

Her voice couldn't contain the soft tremor it held this time.....the soft whisper cracking softly......the room filling with a gentle snort.......the beginnings of a losing struggle. No matter how she tried.....she knew she was going to cry eventually.....

"Celeste!"

Desperation......hope.....as the fox girl beside her stirred just a little. How long had she been laying here. Was everyone dead, and the two of them mated by that.....thing? No....no it couldn't be.....if that were true, they'd both have its scent all over them....

"CELESTE!"

It was no use......tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes, her heart leaping despite all that.....the auburn head laid next to her own rolling over slowly.....amber eyes meeting her own emerald gaze. And now....that she had woken up.....how could she proceed. Did she dare ask the question when she was so scared of the answer?

When her mind focused once more on her awakening companion, a soft shudder racked her body, the first true sob to escape her as its tremors left her in a wave of agony that only furthered to break the dam of her emotions.

"Celeste.....I can't move my legs.....why.....why can't I move my legs? Please....please tell me he didn't tear them off? PLEASE? He didn't....he didn't eat my legs did he? Or are they all broken and mangled.....Celeste.....I can't FEEL THEM."

Blinking back the tears, the cheetah gasped.....seeing Celeste's own injuries for the first time before her vision blurred again.

"Oh....oh.....oh my god, oh Celeste, what did he do to you?"

At least she could move her arms, a trembling hand raising to cover her open mouth in a look of pure horror. She was hardly the housemate she even knew.....her face, a patchwork mess of flesh both mended and not.....and openly gleaming bone.....

Her mind retreated in on itself......fear......pain......and still more fear......serving to drive the last semblances of her sanity for now.......leaving the young cheetah blank faced and staring......the struggles of her body ending as she sagged back into the bed under the watchful and concerned gaze of Celeste......
 
She winced immediately at the touch, managing to focus on Michael first, feeling the heat of his hand against her skin to force her back to laying and she managed a weak glare in his direction - though just as quickly she found Julian standing there as well and she couldn't help but wonder exactly why he was in the room with them.

She would have been quick to insist she was fine had he not managed to distract her with the warm cloth, her eyes closing briefly before opening again. While it may have felt good..she wasn't thrilled about the present situation - being in the same room with Kira when the cheetah looked awful.

As Michael spoke she again managed to bring back her glare, though just as quickly upon hearing Siobhan's voice..the words that took a moment for her to actually register and comprehend - her body tensed.

"No.."

She turned her head slightly as Shio attempted to comfort her - but drugs..she didn't want drugs.

"Michael I'll be good.."

She was speaking quickly - quietly, following the words with a whimper and again attempting to sit up. They didn't seem to understand that she didn't want anything to do with the drugs..perhaps they didn't care.

"Tell her no!"

Her eyes fell on Julian now, desperation in her wide amber gaze but she was only rewarded with a sharp sting followed by a mild burning sensation in her arm.

She fell still almost immediately, her chest rising and falling rapidly as though she was attempting to fight of whatever had just been injected into her arm. But already it was harder to keep her eyes open, her vision fading quickly.

Her brows knitted in what seemed to be frustration with the entire situation, her eyes slowly slipping shut as she lost the small battle she had been attempting to overcome.

Again she didn't know how long she had been out. Her entire body was being stubborn. Refusing to wake - to stir for however many..hours. She guessed it had been hours.

But something was drawing her back - a panicked voice that seemed so quiet, even when she began to stir.

She struggled to open her eyes. They felt heavy, not wanting to listen, protesting her consciousness, and with obvious difficulty she rolled to face Kira, unable to actually focus on her face for the time being.

When she did finally manage to fight off a bit more of the sedative she blinked repeatedly, attempting to keep her voice calm.

"You have your legs.."

She spoke quietly, slowly.

"It's my fault..God he did everything he could to try to kill me and you were in his way.."

Every word she spoke caused pain to rack her slender frame, but she was again sitting up, glad that for the moment she couldn't see or hear Michael..because if he wasn't in the room he couldn't yell at her.

She reached forward and pulled back the blankets, scanning Kira's frame with difficulty before slowly focusing back on her face.

"You're going to be fine..once you heal...but..the damage done to..to your spine.."

She could feel her own heart pounding, speeding up in her ears and she slowly managed to get out of the bed, stumbling really, doing her best not to make noise though she wanted nothing more than to cry out in pain.

"Maybe you should rest more..they'll drug me as soon as they see me..but...but you are upset..and..and maybe you should rest.."

The truth was that she couldn't stand to see her like that. Where she usually would push her hair from her face, Celeste allowed the curls to fall in her eyes, to hide the pain she felt..the guilt.

Her legs were trembling as she stood there, and she swallowed hard, leaning against the bed momentarily for support. It wasn't smart - getting up and moving around especially from all of the blood loss. But she couldn't stay still - and she certainly couldn't stay there.
 
"Is it that bad?"

Her voice was soft.....full of tears. She hadn't....couldn't look. She hadn't wanted to see her legs all mangled and twisted, her pride shattered. Yet they were still there at least....though Celeste's horrified look mirrored her own earlier one. How could she have known that the pillow she lay on had to be changed on an hourly basis as the wound to her skull slowly mended itself?

With alarm, she watched as the fox slowly struggled to rise from her position in the bed, the sheets slipping from around her to reveal the sensually nude body that had been so attractive to her just mere days ago.....

At least the creature hadn't struck below her arms.....

A thin hand shot out to grasp her wrist tightly.....

"Please....."

When she turned, Kira could only hope that she could see the desperation.....the fear.....in her eyes.

"Don't leave me...."

Was it unconciousness? Or was it the feeling of a warm body next to her....its comforting glow leaving her with a sense of security.....driving away the visions? The attack was too fresh.....it had been so fast.....what if.....what if it was only playing with them, and it was still alive? No. Not possible.....Celeste had mentioned she had been drugged. If the master had done such a thing, then he had to be alive, right?

"Please? It's not your fault, Celeste!"

Tears welled up in her green eyes once more as she opened her soul, just this once, to the lovely fox.....the grip on her wrist weakening as she found herself struggling once more against the agony of her own growing need to cry....

"Why? Why can't I be strong and just defend my home....my Master? Maybe the other lords are right.....maybe all I am good for is being bred. The werewolf.....then this.....I was.....I was so ineffective.....worthless. Don't blame yourself, Celeste.....I rushed in.....I rushed in to my death."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The sedation should be wearing off, Master."

Michael frowned, his decision made none too easy by the numerous sets of eyes on him. Vargas had yet to see just how bad the damage was, yet the foxlord seemed quite content to hear about it from Julian. Meanwhile, Alexa paced nervously behind her own consort.....

"Let her be. She will no doubt hate me already for drugging her already."

Vargas sneered, much to the displeasure of his son.

"If she's hurt that badly, dose her again. It's not like any of us would enjoy being interrupted right now, Michael."

The ex-hunter frowned, scowling in mounting frustration and anger.

"That's right....you just do whatever you want, right Justin? Including raping the messenger girls that I send to you? Strange way of accepting a request for aid. I had no idea that such a thing would come with a price."

Julian paled. Vargas snarled.....and Gerald bristled.....

"What's this, Michael?"

The panther lord's tone was deep and solemn, his eyes narrowing dangerously. To accuse a clan lord of something like this......was a damning thing indeed.

"I'm saying that I sent Celeste to Vargas for aid, much like I sent Nastaja to you. You had the good hospitality of not only treating her wounds, but apparently driving off the creature before it could have its way with her. I'm....saddened at the price we had to pay for this.....but I'm eternally grateful that you managed to save her. Celeste on the other hand, apparently overstepped her bounds and spoke a little more beligerantly to Justin than what he felt was appropriate. And so he ordered his men to rape her.....repeatedly."

Well that had been enough to stop Alexa's pacing.

"You little shit! You think you can accuse me of something like this with no proof? I should tear your heart out!"

"It's true."

Golden eyes widened, the lord of the foxes' head slowly swivelling.....as if in denial......knowing full well who had spoken. Julian stood there....his head hung in shame as Gerald's own eyes widened in disbelief.

"A full 30 warriors were entertained by her at my father's orders. I....I didn't think she had the courage to tell him about it though....."

He glanced at Michael.....

"She was so afraid of being punished. And you.....you're trembling.....you really think my father is going to kill you......yet you confront him anyway......"

It was amazing.....what was with the people of this house? A catgirl that stops a panther's attack......a bitten hunter houselord who confronts the scandals of a trueborne.......and the women......secretly.......Julian hoped he could find a mate as fierce and loyal some day.....

"It's never been my way to back down."

"And look where that's gotten you."

Vargas sneered, striking a pose.

"You think I don't remember your taste, you little asswipe? You're just lucky that dick, Jauron bit you first.....the idiot always did have a problem evading hunters after a bloodbath. Perhaps you don't remember my fangs.....should I......"

A much darker....much larger form, interposed itself between the two men. He may be old.....older even that Vargas himself......but damned if he was going to listen to this blatant threatening of one of his in front of him! Justin's lips peeled back almost instantly in a warning snarl at the very aggressive stature of Gerald.

"You'll do nothing of the sort! Furthermore, unless you want this tenuous alliance of ours to end very abruptly and with much bloodshed, I suggest you....and your men.....take your leave IMMEDIATELY. Preferably before I have to remind you just how good of warriors my men....and women.....are. You violated another's mate?! You're supposed to be above that, Justin!"

A decidedly canine show of teeth....

"The bitch actually thought she could kill me! That she could flaunt herself in the face of all our ways!"

"I DON'T CARE!"

Gerald's voice thundered through the room.....though the manor itself.....

"There are a thousand other ways to punish someone's insolence than the one you chose. And you chose it for a reason, didn't you? Because she had a mind of her own perhaps? And didn't just want to show up and spread her legs willingly for your clan? You fucking idiot, there is so much more to a woman than that....."

Both men stared at each other in mixed fury.....the much larger panther's body shuddering softly beneath the rage that threatened to consume it. It must have showed......because the much smaller fox sighed suddenly, as if to get a grip on his own emotions.

"Come Julian."

The door to the study slammed shut behind them.....leaving them all in silence once more......

"Where......where's Alexa?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

She could feel the fox shudder beneath her touch....the cool moist cloth gently cleaning the edges of her garish wounds. With a look of sympathy, Alexa glanced over at the stricken Kira who watched her every move. It was a good thing that by now she had gained the trust of the stubborn blonde, the pantheress had no doubts that the bull headed girl would pull herself right out of that bed if she thought for a second she might be causing Celeste any undue pain.

"You're wounds are healing, love. But they have a long way to go."

She didn't have the heart to say that Celeste would be up and functioning again long before Kira would. The fact that she was even on her feet now, accepting her ministrations said a lot for the poor girl.....

She knew better than to repeat anything that she had heard in the office. This girl was strong....yes....but every woman had her breaking point.....and she had just gotten her calmed down too. Alexa smiled, again it had proven beneficial that she had been recognized....

"You're in worse shape than when I saw you last. Maybe if she saw you now, Nastaja would quit her complaining..............though I doubt it."

Her voice dropped sadly at the end of her sentance. That mate too, had been an emotional wreck when they had left her in the hands of a capable medical staff. Yet everyone knew....no amount of medicine was going to reverse all the damage the loup garou had done. Michael hadn't taken it well....finding out that he'd lost yet another child.....

"We need to get you up and running again soon, Celeste. I'm sure Michael would want that....he's been so worried about you.....about you both."

She could see Kira flinch in the bed, tearing up again despite herself.....

"The house is secure.....I promise. Can't I convince you to lay back down again?"

She wasn't going to force her to do anything she didn't want to. While she didn't agree with Siobhan's tale of drugging her.....once she had laid eyes on the stricken Celeste......she had to agree that perhaps it had been the correct decision.....

Her voice dropped once more.....leaning forward just enough so that her words were only heard by her, no matter how hard Kira strained to listen. It was just as well.....the cheetah had her pride after all.....

"Michael is well.....he's surrounded by our clan, and Vargas is being shown the door right now. I'm sure your Master will be here soon to check on you.....won't you wait for him? Lastly.....Kira.....I don't think she should be left alone......do you?"
 
She shut her eyes as Kira spoke, trying not to listen to her blame herself. Celeste never would let it go - the fact that they had thought they killed the damned thing. In her mind it would continue to be her fault that it had managed to get as far as it had - and even then, she hadn't even killed it - Siobhan had.

"Kira.."

She listened to her go off, staring now down at the bedspread before shutting her eyes again, shaking her head slightly. "Stop.." She shook her head slightly opening her eyes reluctantly to look up at her, swallowing hard. "You rushed to nothing..and you're not dead. You'll heal..you know you'll heal. And don't even dare think you were..worthless. Since when do you listen to any other lords anyway?"

She forced a laugh - one that had very little real emotion in it - though her thought was interrupted when the door opened, Alexa slipping into the room. She was rigid at first, squinting to focus despite the fact that she recognised the scent.

She allowed the touch, albeit reluctantly, wincing at each touch to the wound, and slowly looked up at her - as though attempting to gauge her reaction - but the woman seemed rather good at hiding from her what she actually looked like.

"..In worse shape."

She spoke the words carefully, but managed only to listen for a moment, glancing back to Kira only to shake her head at the mention of laying back down.

Celeste flinched when she leaned in toward her, having not expected the movement, though the words - the words she should have been able to guess - save for the mention of Vargas being shown the door.

She raised an eyebrow and frowned somewhat after a moment.

"Shown the door..."

She was trying to piece it together without being told much of anything - and was failing miserably. He could be simply escorted out, or perhaps instead he was being thrown out. But there would be no reason to throw him out unless something was mentioned about what had happened..and even then - Michael should have said nothing in fear of what would happen if he had said something.

The confusion was apparent as was the frustration and she didn't seem as though she was very much in the mood to have anyone speak in some code or have more knowledge about something than her about a situation that involved her.

"..I'll wait for him...but I won't lay down..I've been laying.."

She was still wholly using the bed for support - her legs aching from being used when it was obvious she should still be resting, amber eyes still looking exhausted - but more than anything the pain was evident.

She lowered her voice to match Alexa's, shaking her head slightly. "..I did this to her...y..you don't understand how hard it is to see..that a cheetah cannot use her legs...you don't..you don't know what I've done.."

Her back was to Kira now, and her eyes were again closed but now it was simply due to the fact that she was terrified that opening them would lead to tears.
 
A soft chuckle escaped her lips at the words, despite the obvious pain in which they were delivered. It was cute how Celeste turned, denying Kira the sight of her tear filled eyes. Just as cute in fact, as the look of astonishment and denial on the cheetah girl's face after hearing her housemate's words.

"Michael told me to expect this."

She could feel her stiffen slightly at the words. Celeste didn't completely trust her.....and why would she? They had only met twice....both time after the poor little fox had been hurt and traumatized in the most demeaning of ways. Gentle fingers took her wrist....feeling a slight submission from her as she followed, that was....until she realized where she was being led.

She was in reach......and weakly, Kira reached for her.....gentle fingers softly sliding up and over a bare knee to curl inward.....hoping more than anything to pull her closer......

"Not....your....fault....."

Her head pounded, its brilliance echoed through her vision as throbbing pulses of white. Yet the fox girl wasn't the only stubborn one in the house as she exercised just a little more effort....loathe to let her go now that she had her. Silently, Alexa watched them both.....making sure neither hurt each other....even accidentally. Easing herself just a little off the bed did little for her condition, perhaps even worsening it.....but it was worth it.....her dry lips pressing gently against the smooth skin of Celeste's thigh. Not in a sexual manner, though there may have been a time when the bi cheetah would have hoped to turn the lovely fox on by just such a thing......but because it was the only part of her, Celeste had allowed her to reach just now.....

She still held on......as consciousness slipped away......Alexa moving swiftly to move the sagging girl back fully onto the bed.

"Well that was a surprise. I knew she wanted support, but....."

The door opened silently.....a pair of dark shadows slipping inside.

"So this is where you ran off to."

The soft baritone of Gerald was kept to barely a whisper as he glance at the bed to his left. '

"Yes, Master."

Alexa moved in closer to the stricked fox, offering herself as a support even though Michael frowned, obviously displeased that she was even out of bed. Slowly.....she helped her away from the bedside.....Kira's fingers having lost their purchase and gone limp as the darkness claimed her.....

Michael sighed....

"Siobhan would be here as well, but she's afraid Celeste is mad at her now for drugging her. She was so against it earlier......yet I insisted that it needed to be done."

Gerald nodded softly, letting his own eyes roam over the lovely fox girl. She was stubborn, this one. Stubborn and hurt incredibly bad. No matter how hard she tried to stand tall, she stood without shame before both of them.....as if completely oblivious to her total and complete nudity.

Ahh well.....no matter.....she probably won't remember most of this anyway.

Gerald bowed respectfully before her, gracing Celeste with a soft smile.

"My apologies for not getting here sooner. We came as fast as we could. You and your mates fought well....."
 
She tensed at the bit of laughter - not expecting nor really liking the response to her words. Though of course the mention of Michael knowing this would happen made her feel worse still.

Celeste didn't know what was happening, really, until feeling Kira's hand, muttering something unintelligible under her breath. The words 'Not your fault' didn't seem to have very much hold on her.

Even still her heart was pounding, her mind racing as she attempted to figure out everything that was happening. She was not doing well to concentrate - and the small act from Kira..well it wasn't helping. Someone was blamed..always. And be it not Celeste, Kira would blame herself. Or Michael. Or someone else. It almost seemed to be easier for her to just take all of the blame and internalise it, try to ignore it and move on. She did well to hide her emotions - and despite the build up that often happened..she could still hide them.

Amber eyes lifted slowly from Kira to the door, again having difficulty focusing in the dark room. She rather quickly averted her gaze from Michael, instead looking at the other male in the room.

"I am mad at her.."

The brief mention of Shio's drugging already had her heart pounding again and she pulled away from Alexa to simply stand - not seeming to care about the difficulty. Her body was already protesting, may as well give it a good work out.

Though when Gerald bowed she looked more than confused, stealing a glance toward Michael before looking back to him.

"We didn't fight well.."

She spoke quietly, but did not look away from him this time.

"Kira fought well..Michael fought well. Shio fought smartly. I was a target.

She forced a smile then but there was no happiness behind it - it was in fact rather bitter.

"And now..look at the mess left behind. Kira...thinks she is worthless..and she cannot move. We...got Angel off in time...Siobhan was attacked..there's not even a mirror in the room."

She was frustrated, but really didn't mention herself at all in the equation. It wasn't about her - that was her perspective anyway.

"And they drug me because I don't want to lay down anymore."

That was the only mention of herself, and she glared up at Michael briefly - obviously fighting any sort o desire to give him a piece of her mind.

"Kira needs it..keep her on it until she can feel her legs..I'm fine.."
 
"Gerald.....Alexa.....could you please leave us for a moment."

The elder panther holding Celeste up stiffened suddenly, responding only to a soft nod from her own Master. Silently, the two of them left the room without a sound.....

His whole body.....every muscle.....ached and twitched. Anger....confusion......concern.....boiled inside him like a pot ready to bubble over.

"Will you stop being so fucking stupid?"

Her eyes widened softly at his words, though he was hardly done.

"What's it gonna take? Do I have to slap you until your teeth rattle in your head to get you to wake up? You always do this Celeste! You've ALWAYS done this! You claim you were nothing but a target, forgetting how you made yourself a target to begin with. Don't be an idiot.....that.....that.....monster was here for me. I owe you my life, dammit......all of you....."

Michael sagged suddenly.....a sadness and weariness unlike any he'd ever shown her before overcoming him.

"All I want to do is love you....."

His eyes reflected all that he felt.....for himself......for the other four.......and for her.

"But I can't.....not when you're wallowing in self-guilt and pity all the time. You shot it, Celeste.....you shot it twice. And you tell my Lord that you didn't fight well, that you were worthless? What kind of shit is that?"

Yanking open the door, he did something he knew he probably shouldn't have. Siobhan stared at him.....ignored from the far end of the hall, her eyes as big as saucers.....as he reached for the full length mirror he'd dragged out of the room himself. Muscles rippled despite the cracked bones and the bruises that were still healing, the plate glass lifting easily before being slammed back down before Celeste.....giving her the first.....real.....look at herself.

"LOOK AT YOURSELF! YOU'RE NOT OK!"

He didn't know how she would react.....and a part of him didn't care. He was rapidly coming to a conclusion of his own.....

"You sit.....or lie down.....or.....dammit, something. And don't glare at me because I care about you!"

If she couldn't begin to share responsibility for bad things that happened around her.......then perhaps she really was as worthless as she claimed......
 
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