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O’ Champion Mine [FxF] (Clearsight x Javorcek)

Things were not simple. Perhaps Tessa held onto the illusion that they would be, but she knew the truth. She wanted to be with Alex, and she truly did believe that, in the grand scheme of things, that part could be simple; the details wouldn't be, though. The details of Alex giving up the life she knew for something unfamiliar. The details of them suddenly sharing a life together when neither had so much as been with another person from what she could tell. The details of that life together being very dependent on past lives and a short, albeit strong attraction.

It all meant hardship. Perhaps not in food being on the table of having a place to stay, but emotionally and spiritually. They would have to figure out who the other person was without the influence of their past lives. They would need to come to terms with the expansive past they shared. And, eventually, Alex would need to figure out who she was. After all, while Tessa threw out the idea that Alex could protect her, she knew that would only take them so far. It wasn't like she wanted that to be all the other woman had. So yes, there would be some difficulty, and it wouldn't all be simple, but it didn't have to be overwhelming. They would figure everything out as long as Alex decided to take the chance! She knew it!

Tessa even caught a glimpse of how happy they could be when she healed Alex's back. She heard her squeal and watched her light up in delight, and as she was tackled into the snow, they both started laughing and kissing. Tessa knew - she was certain - that they could share a wonderful life together. Well, another wonderful life.

What she never expected was just how far Alex would go to show her thanks. When they returned to the den and Alex decided to show her just how thankful she was, Tessa found herself swept up in the moment, completely unable to resist the eager woman crawling between her legs.

Of course, Alex's enthusiasm seemed unstoppable, leading to their quick session, a few kisses, and some gentle discussion about what all Alex wanted to take with her before they started packing. From there, they simply loaded up a sled and took off, both of them having everything they needed; Tessa had the Glacial Rose, and Alex packed her treasures, all of which were to be sold. Tessa tried to tell them that it wasn't necessary, that she didn't need to worry about things or money, but she insisted, and Tessa didn't see a reason to fight against her pride. Plus, she seemed so excited that it seemed pointless. Tessa even got a free sled ride!

---

When they arrived at the village, Tessa decided to quietly follow Alex. They seemed welcoming when she arrived the first time, but she wasn't blind enough to miss their wary glances this time around. Clearly, they feared Alex, perhaps just werewolves in general. She found it strange, but Alex was an adorable existence with fluffy ears and a charming smile in her mind. Even her current form did little to change how Tessa saw her, aside from the obvious physical change. Even then, she looked kind of cute, at least to Tessa, who knew the silliness of the girl inside the beast.

Tessa watched as that silliness shone through, though it still seemed that not everyone understood that. The boy secretly watching from the other room seemed nervous, despite the fact that Alex was grumbling and being all ridiculous while giving the Seer gifts from her "treasures." Though, just maybe she understood a little more when Alex had a proper set of clothes on. She looked dashing, beautiful but heroic. Maybe not heroic, not yet, but she definitely had the makings of a very sexy badass! Even if there would always be an asterisk that spoke about her goofy side.

After being snapped out of her daze by the Seer's voice, Tessa nodded, realizing she should give them some time. So, she turned to the rather cowardly apprentice that entered the room and smiled. While Alex seemed used to the looks she received, Tessa was not, so she smiled amicably but refrained from speaking any niceties. She simply gathered a few items as well and followed the apprentice, prepared to haggle until she got more than they wanted to give! Of course, without using her magic. If she really wanted to... well, she always avoided using it for that very reason. For all of their beauty and rarity, her kind had also been hunted for other reasons throughout history.

---

The Seer looked at the nervous wolf, a soft smile on her aged face. What she saw had happened, but it was clear the child in front of her had other concerns. The deep fears brought upon from lives passed went along with the love and affection; one could not be held without the other.

"Amaroq, all things die. They live as long as they are supposed to, then perish. You know this, and I know this is not your question, but it is the truth. Instead of worrying about what has or might happen, appreciate the many days ahead and the fact that you are fortunate enough to have someone whose very soul seems linked to your own."

The Seer saw many things, but she also felt something odd, interference perhaps. So, to her, any definitive answer held as much chance of being right as it did wrong. Therefore, she gave the nervous wolf advice, not from a prophecy or vision but as an elder.

---

Tessa spent very little time bartering, getting exactly what she wanted and then some. It seemed that, apart from her excellent charisma and negotiating skills, the fact that Alex would leave faster if her business was completed spurred them on. They wanted to be rid of her as fast as possible, which was very rude but also incredibly helpful when it came to getting the most out of her treasures.

As she headed back, excited to hand over her hard-earned spoils of war, she told the apprentice she could find her way back and allowed him to leave. She then went for a short stroll, making sure to give the two time to talk about whatever they needed to discuss. Only after spending a bit of time meandering about did she return, and when she did, she wore a smile on her face, somehow already missing her big wolf after their very short time apart.

"Alex, ready to go?" she asked, looking at the wolf and then the Seer. She wasn't sure how close they were, but it was clear that they had a bond, and she felt endlessly thankful, having a feeling that their meeting might not have been as much of a coincidence as either of them thought.
 
Alex let out a soft disgruntled huff at the Seer’s words. She wished for something more concrete...but she knew that wasn’t how things worked. Seers saw the paths available to a person; sometimes there were many, rarely was there was only one. The further out they had to look, the more tangled up with paths the future became. Never was there a guarantee of one outcome over another, especially when seeing the future for two paths so intertwined.

“I thought people came from miles around for the advice of Seers,” the wolf huffed.

“They do, but usually they come with grand gifts or money,” the old woman teased.

“I never ate your apprentice, that is a pretty impressive gift in my opinion.”

The Seer laughed at that, “You would never eat anyone, Amaroq. While my apprentice is so inexperienced as to be blinded by the potential of what you may become; I can see what you already are, what you -truly- are.” The old woman grinned. Once upon a time, the wolf’s past life had had the potential to be a warmonger...but having the Siren to temper her had made her soft. This would be the fate of this girl as well; as long as the two were together, the sensitive and tender side of this young woman would be allowed to grow and balance the powerful wild wolf that lived inside of her.

Alex frowned at the Seer’s grin, feeling like a playing piece in a game she didn’t understand the rules to. Fortunately Tessa came back soon enough and all of her worries and frustrations seemed to melt away. “Yeah, I’m ready. Thanks, Seer.”

“Have a pleasant journey, dears.” the old woman waved them off. “Do not forget your roots in the big city, Amaroq. Nor yours either, young Siren.”

———————-

It came as a sudden unwanted surprise that Alex did not like flying.

Well, really it was her wolf that hated it.

Getting on the private plane had been fine...she had needed very little encouragement to do so. In fact Alex was curious about it, having never been on a plane before. It didn’t seem so bad: get on thing, take a nap, magically arrive at a new destination.

The wolf hadn’t realized the level of unnatural technological abomination that she was being roped into.

When the engine kicked on, the panic started. The wolf’s sensitive ears didn’t like the noise. It was dulled by magic, most humans probably wouldn’t even notice it, but the wolf head it quite clearly. Having only heard the wild music of the Northern Territories for years, the sound of metal whirring around startled the wolf.. And the unnaturalness of the plane was starting to get to her. Metal and plastic, processed filtered air...it was a far cry from the dirt under her paws or the woods that had surrounded her for the past few years.

Alex was finding her wolf’s reaction a bit silly; it wasn’t like this was the first time they had been exposed to such things! They hadn’t always lived in a den. Alex had grown up on a modern farm that was part of a small town. The biggest, noisiest piece of tech the wolf had experienced were the tractors which were arguably way worse and waaayyyy louder than the plane. But the tractors could be turned off! And we could come and go as we pleased!

Tessa had said the plane ride would take hours - hours!!! They were going to be in this death trap for hours! They were going to die in this obscenity of human engineering that had no business being in the air. Wolves were made to be on land, nowhere else!! ‘Shh...it’s fine, stop that.’ But the wolf didn’t stop, and as the engine roared and the plane started to move on the runway, the animal in her head howled. The wolf’s fear became Alex’s fear. Her eyes darted about wildly looking for an escape, but they only felt more and more claustrophobic when she saw none. Her heart picked up speed, her face lost several shades of color, and her hands turned cold and clammy. She had been holding Tessa’s hand before, but now she traded that for a death grip on the arm rests. Alex held onto them so hard that they creaked and her knuckles turned white. Her jaw tightened, molars ready to shatter with the amount of effort it took to keep herself from turning into a wolf that would no doubt barrel out of the emergency exit and onto the tarmac.

Let us out!! Let us out!!

‘Stop it! You’re going to embarrass us!!’

AROOOOOOO!!!!
 
Leaving the depths of the Northern Territories made everything feel real. From the moment they escape what she called "the wilderness" and started returning to civilization, Tessa realized the craziness of everything that happened on her trip; no, her quest.

Tessa, someone who rarely went anywhere without an internet connection, spent a long time traveling in the Northern Territories. She met a village full of people, spoke to a Seer, and found herself face-to-face with a woman tied to her in a seemingly impossible way. She found her soulmate; her, a woman who knew practically nothing about romance and dating, found the person meant for her.

Strange romance aside, she managed to retrieve a Glacial Rose, meaning her entire trip turned out successful beyond her imagination. A girlfriend and a flower few believed existed; both unexpected, but both welcomed.

Of course, the fantastical trip north ended the moment she returned to a place she received cell service. When she returned to the little place that she rented near the airport, she plugged in her phone and took a shower while it charged. By the time she and Alex dragged themselves back to the room and plopped down on the bed - thoroughly exhausted from their escapades under the water - her phone displayed hundreds of messages.

Most of the messages came from social media, but her agent and family both sent her a ton of texts and voicemails, each more frustrated than the last. After all, she told them about a vacation, not a trek into the Northern Territories to find a flower none of them believed existed. It just seemed easier that way.

Tessa ignored it all for a time, but when they started heading towards the airport to catch a flight back home, she started to answer the many curious people, telling them of her nearing return. Most of all, she wanted to talk to her mom to let her know that she planned to visit. They weren't close, not really, but that didn't mean they didn't love one another, and with her being gone for so long, her mother was worried. Perhaps she was more nervous than ever considering the hunters' boldness; she worried for her stubborn daughter, even if they only talked from time to time.

She also needed to calm her agent down, telling her that the vacation was over but that she didn't plan on touring anytime soon. If anything, she could take one some commercials and do some things in the main city. Her agent did not take it well, but she turned off her phone and ignored it. No, she was forced to. As distressed as her agent was, Alex proved to be far more distressed once they stepped foot on the plane.

Everything seemed fine at first; Alex even appeared excited. However, when things started turning on and they were about to be underway, everything changed.

"Alex?" Tessa was seated beside her, attempting to calm her down by holding her hand, but that proved ineffective. What happened next left Tessa on the line between concerned and laughing. She could see the struggle in Alex's eyes, but she was so damn cute that it made it difficult for Tessa.

"Shh, it's all going to be okay," she said, calming herself down so she could properly take care of her panicked puppy. Of course, none of it worked; no amount of reassurances stopped Alex, or more aptly, her wolf, from freaking out. It only grew worse when the plane started moving.

"Okay, okay..." Tessa giggled slightly as she moved the armrest barrier between them and pulled a fearful Alex into her arms. Then, she started singing, her voice soft and calm. She sang some of her songs, and while most of them had a pop flare, the lyrics were good, allowing it to work as a slow song. While it wasn't quite the serenade she had in mind, she smiled, continuing to sing and allowing her unique magic to do the rest. Maybe once she calmed down, she would call the flight attendant and get them something to drink, to celebrate. They did it. They left the Northern Territories... together.

---

The entire trip was a stressed, panicked Alex, so Tessa didn't have much time to explain things to her. They did talk a bit, but most of the time, she sang or tried to get Alex to sleep, hating to see her beautiful soulmate scared, even if it was adorable. Therefore, once they landed, she had to give Alex a quick rundown on what to expect.

"So, I'm an entertainer, which means people pay attention to every aspect of my private life. When we leave the plane, there will probably be a lot of people taking pictures, getting way too close for comfort, and asking me all kinds of questions. They will hound you as well since I brought a beautiful woman back from my 'vacation.' So, be on your best behavior and just ignore them."

The concept of paparazzi meant little to most people, but they were very real annoyances for Tessa. Few people in the entertainment industry received as much attention as her, and while she was used to it, she was aware of how much of a shock it would be for someone else, especially her reclusive wild wolf.

"Just ignore them and follow close behind me. Someone else will take care of the luggage, so we just have to make it through the crowd and get into the car that's on standby. Also, if a short woman yells at me at any point, in-person or on the phone, don't mind her. It's my agent, and she's going to be very upset with me."

Tessa smiled, leaning over to kiss Alex as the plane finally pulled in and powered down. Things were about to go back to normal for Tessa, which meant a whirlwind for both of them, and it was one that would end with a visit to her mother. She almost felt sorry for what her innocent soulmate was about to experience.
 
Alex wished she had a normal connection to her wolf: a simple presence that was just a supplement to her own consciousness….not this overpowering animal that howled and carried on and made her feel like a crazy person half the time. The fact that her wolf could actually speak to her was supposed to be a good omen, a sign of Alpha strength. Right now she couldn’t see the benefit of, her rational mind and her wolfish mind were at war with each other and giving her a headache mixed with a panic attack. She wasn’t even that good at hiding her conflicting emotions either; despite her attempt to play it cool, Tessa picked up on the sudden change in demeanor right away.

“Mhmm…” Alex couldn’t speak, and the sound she made came out high like a whimper rather than a low hum of acknowledgement. Despite her lover’s reassurance that she wasn’t going to die here in a fiery plane crash, her wolf wouldn’t be silenced. This wasn’t natural! They shouldn’t be encased in a piece of metal that was about to hurtle through the sky!!! You know what else is made of metal that they add padding to to create the illusion of comfort? Coffins! Coffins are made of metal and squishy beds full of lies and death!!

It took soft cuddles and a little bit of persuasive magic to convince the wolf that they weren’t in any danger. The musical lilt to the Siren’s voice wrapped around her anxious mind and slowly soothed the wild side. Alex managed to relax enough to ease up on her grip on the remaining arm rest...though traded that hold for one around Tessa’s waist. She buried her face in Tessa’s neck as the plane lifted up and tilted to ascend, trying not to think about the whole process. Instead she focused on her singing, on her heartbeat, on her warmth. By the time the plane leveled out, she was a little more level headed herself. “Sorry… My wolf is just...unbearable sometimes,” Alex sighed, feeling foolish for being so scared of a mode of transportation that millions of people took every day without a second thought.

The rest of the flight was okay...except for the brief bouts of turbulence and the final descent. Then there was the ton of information that Tessa tried to toss her way to prepare her for what was to come….it was a lot. When they landed, Alex tried her best to do what Tessa had said: be close, ignore the strangers, stay on best behavior. Three things; three things were all her and her wolf had to do...and they managed to complete one of them.

Staying close to Tessa was no problem, her girlfriend held her hand and made sure she didn’t dilly dally with all the new things. Like a puppy going on a walk for the first time, there were many things for Alex to investigate and get into, but Tessa kept her on track. The eclectic shops and restaurants in this first section of the airport were shiny and attention grabbing. Then there were the people...the people might be her least favorite part. There were just -so many-, they were noisy, jostled her, and assaulted her nose with their many different scents. There were probably more people in this airport than in the entire Native village they had just left...and Alex didn’t like it, it made her feel very out of place.

When they cleared through this secured off area and breezed past the luggage claim, the paparazzi ambushed them as promised. Alex immediately didn’t like them. Her wolf -hated- them. They were rude; the lights from their cameras irritated the wolf and when they shouted over each other to bombard Tessa with questions, Alex lost her temper. Her mate may be able to ignore them but Alex just couldn’t. When a particularly tall male neared them, Alex let out a booming snarl. Pointed teeth bared and golden eyes flashing, she gave even the paparazzi pause. It became evident that Tessa’s new beau wasn’t one of the more refined city wolves that they were used to dealing with. Alex was unknowingly giving the rumor mill plenty to work with.
 
"Do you realize what you've done?" The voice on the other end of the phone sounded calm, but that only lasted for a few moments. The second Tessa opened her mouth to make light of everything that happened at the airport, the woman on the other end of the phone lost her mind. She started yelling and going on about how Tessa always acted so reasonable before and that the hooligan she brought back clearly influenced her in a bad way. As much as the loud voice tried to prove otherwise, the woman seemed more concerned than anything, whining more than angry. Tessa just laughed, a smile on her face as she accepted every bit of criticism.

The truth was, Tessa did know better. She didn't even date under normal circumstances, much less bring a random woman in public with her. Aside from a few close friends that the media couldn't twist into lovers, she rarely saw anyone out in the open. Part of that was disinterest, the young idol not finding much need for a dating life. However, the rest stemmed from an awareness of just how crazy things became for those like her. Public figures always found themselves under more scrutiny.

Alex definitely fell under "special circumstances," though. Not only did Tessa adore her, but Alex was her soulmate in the most literal sense. The young, innocent, wild wolf made her happy, in past lives and in the current one. Of course, it was still a bit shallow and new for the current them, but Tessa's confidence in the woman soared by the minute. They would be happy, even if it didn't make sense to be so sure.

"Don't worry, Allie, she'll behave herself next time... probably." The "probably" sent Tessa's agent on another tangent, going on about how her image took so long to build up and her bringing home a wild wolf didn't fit the personality they built. She couldn't stop herself.

Tessa half listened as she snuggled against Alex, a happy smile on her face now that they were away from the crowd and off the plane. Alex seemed more relaxed, even if just barely. It helped that their driver had the partition up, and it was just them, allowing Tessa to gently coax her; she had been doing so for a while now.

"Allie, sorry, but I need to go. Listen, Alex will be around, so release a statement on my social media accounts. Okay? Thanks!" she chirped the last bit, giving an order as she hung up the phone on a very worked up human well-versed in various curses. No doubt the office was full of colorful language at the moment.

After hanging up the phone, Tessa turned her full attention to Alex, a grin on her face. "What happened to my well-behaved puppy back there?" she asked while holding back laughter. Alex still looked a bit annoyed about what happened. After all, her attempts to intimidate the pesky, annoying media only made matters worse, sending explosions through the crowd of paparazzi. They found a story, and they got excited.

Tessa didn't mind. She took her job seriously, but she became an idol because she enjoyed performing, not because she cared about what people thought of her. Besides, she was kind of proud to show off Alex, even if nobody else understood.

"You know, I don't mind the whole thing. I think you acting all big and scary is cute," Tessa said, her head rested comfortably against Alex as she spoke. She was tired after spending most of the flight taking care of her frightened lover.

"But you're going to be all over the media after all that. I bet my parents see it too." Tessa laughed, finding the whole situation amusing. She never brought anyone home. Of course, her family knew her orientation, and they supported her, but it felt like she was bringing a bad girl home. An adorable, fluffy "bad girl," but the media would definitely paint a nice, misleading picture out of the minimal details they had.

Poor Alex. Tessa sympathized with the woman, even if she found everything amusing. Tessa's wolf ran wild, but it mainly came from living alone and relying on it for so long. The fact that she was strong only gave it more influence. Moreover, how uncomfortable Alex must have been when surrounded by a massive number of people, with many of them shouting questions, invading their space, and taking endless pictures.

After a moment of mulling over her thoughts, Tessa lifted her head and kissed Alex on the jaw, then following it up with a kiss to her lips. The kiss remained light, almost chaste, but it served its purpose and grabbed Alex's attention.

"I'll make all of this up to you. We'll go back to my place, unpack, order some food, and just relax." As much as Tessa wanted to run to her mother immediately, the alchemist they hired needed to see the Glacial Rose and create the medicine. So, she could send it off and spend the rest of the day with her... girlfriend? Yeah, that. Soulmate sounded really nice, but she decided not to introduce her like that to everyone they met. So, yeah, "girlfriend" it was.

"Does that sound nice?" she asked, though her mind already started wandering. She was thinking about what to order for dinner, already intent on fattening Alex up a bit. She was also more than ready to get her naked and onto a real bed for the first time!
 
After the initial shock, the paparazzi were even more relentless. There was nothing the werewolf could do to them in this city, not if she wanted to avoid lawsuits and arrests anyways. Alex wasn’t thinking that far ahead though; she had stopped in her tracks to engage a perceived threat and now looked like she was about to truly make a scene by throwing a punch and asserting her dominance. Tessa had to trade the hand holding for an arm wrapped around Alex’s to get her to move again. Between that and a little kiss on her cheek, the wolf found its focus elsewhere, back to the very female it sought to protect. The Siren didn’t need to pull hard or say anything, Alex automatically yielded and started walking again, following her out of this terrible airport and into the safety of a luxury car waiting for them.

Tessa was inadvertently encouraging Alex’s growly wolf by snuggling and smiling in the car. See, they had done a good thing! The wolf had scared the paparazzi and now she was getting cuddles in the backseat of a car. Alex was eager to return the affection, wrapping an arm around Tessa and giving a happy sigh when the other girl molded against her. Despite their limited experience with one another, Alex was quickly finding out that Tessa was perfect for her. The other girl was sweet and kind, stepping up and patiently taking care of Alex when her wolf became too much to handle. And then there were all the physical things...like how Tessa actually felt like she had been made for her; the way they fit together, snuggling in the back of the car made Alex so very, very happy.

Their reprieve was cut short from a call from Tessa’s agent. Not even half an hour had passed and already social media was blowing up. People were already speculating about who Alex was and how she treated Tessa. Being so aggressive at the airport had given the paparazzi two stories to run with: Alex was either a wild werewolf bad girl who was corrupting dear sweet Tessa or she was a brute and poor inexperienced Tessa had found herself trapped in a toxic relationship. Both stories were stupid and now both Alex’s consciousnesses hated the stupid paparazzi more than they already had!!

Even without her sensitive hearing, Alex could easily listen to Tessa’s agent complaining over the phone. The wolf in her sulked, obviously they had done a good job! They had defended their mate from the evil paparazzi, why was it only Tessa who could see that? And who did this strange lady think she was, calling the proud wolf a hooligan?! Though, she supposed she should be glad ‘hooligan’ was all she got called and not ‘rabid mutt’ or some other popular werewolf slur. But hooligan?! Alex had been minding her own business when those people showed up!! None of this would have ever happened if they had been more polite or had just left her and her mate alone.

“I was well behaved!” Alex’s huffed with a furrowed brow after Tessa got off the phone. The wolf frowned, Tessa didn’t seem mad...but it was true that Alex hadn’t done as she had asked. “Sorry…” she apologized, however grumbly she was, she was indeed sorry because she knew her tiny outburst was causing more work for Tessa. “They’re just...awful terrible people and I don’t like them and I wish they would respect your personal space and privacy.” How did Tessa deal with those people following her so often? If Alex was in her position, she’d never come out of her home ever again.

“I’m not cute,” the wolf pouted, which of course made her look all the more adorable. Gah, it wasn’t supposed to be this way! Tessa made her soft...and truth be told, she actually kind of liked it. She had spent years being a tough, serious wolf; now she actually got to relax and figure out who she was when she wasn’t tormented by constant pain, bitter cold, and clawing hunger. All she could do was hope that Tessa still liked whoever she turned out to be in the more hospitable conditions of her mate’s endearing watch.

The promise of food and a safe place made the wolf perk up. Alex was always hungry, she couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t at least a little hungry - breaking bones and building muscle with every transformation she went through, no matter how minute, burned up tons and tons of calories. “I’ll try anything...but I’d prefer something without a lot of weird additives. Fast food and processed food aren’t really werewolf things,” she remembered fast food being terrible when she was a kid. Plus she’d probably feel sick eating fake food after having lived off natural, organic meats and vegetables for so long. Most modern wolves shared her sentiment, though it was exciting for them to live in cities where the food was much more diverse due to all the cultures and races living in one spot.

—————

Not particularly attached to her skin-and-bones appearance, Alex was in agreement with Tessa that she’d need to put on some weight. The last thing they both needed was the paparazzi speculating she was a starving druggie or had an eating disorder. To carry out such a plan, she was going to have to stay in her human form a lot longer than she was comfortable with. Once in Tessa’s massive penthouse apartment, she had the urge to just turn into her wolf, so much more comfortable in her bare fur than this human skin that had to wear clothes all the time.

Over dinner, they talked about things she could do, just little things to get her feet wet in the city. Tessa talked about getting her a nutritionist and a gym membership so that Alex could still have an outlet for the pent-up energy she no doubt would have, just like any big dog. The analogy didn’t bother her, she was what she was after all: a human with the consciousness of a giant wild animal that no doubt would go on a rampage of pent up energy once it got comfortable in its new surroundings. The proactive steps were nice...Alex liked having a little bit of a plan, she hated feeling useless and without a purpose. Working out and maybe taking a few self defense classes so that she could be a proper guard dog and do her namesake some justice was fine with her, at least until she could figure out some of her own interests. She had been cast out of her pack during her teenage years...so had never really taken the time to consider what she wanted to be when she grew up.

There were other, more...awkward matters they had to go over too. When dinner had ended and Alex had gotten a little frisky, she had picked up Tessa and under her guidance, carried her off to the master bedroom. She was so excited to play that her wolf came out once her clothes were off. The transformation just negated every bit of rest and every scrap of food she had just chowed down...and Tessa’s disapproving look made her ears droop. “I didn’t mean to! I know we just talked about me staying human for longer. I just...I like- I love the way you taste but I want to be eye level with you sometimes, like right now, and I can’t if I’m...down, there.”
 
Tessa liked everything about Alex, even how she pouted about failing to control herself in front of the paparazzi. As for anger, she had none. To her, the paparazzi were an annoyance, so she understood Alex's reaction, especially after all her time alone. If not for the fact that she was used to it, Tessa might have reacted the same. Some days, she had the urge to. As for fattening her up, she just wanted her to be healthier; she wanted to take care of her.

All of that boiled down to Tessa reassuring Alex that no matter what, she liked her, and she didn't need to change in any way she didn't want to. Her wild girlfriend's happiness mattered more than anything else. Though, admittedly, when they started talking about everything, Tessa grew excited. She had the chance to show Alex all the things she hadn't seen in the Northern Territories! Even if the wolf preferred a nice, quiet lifestyle without crowds and processed everything, that didn't stop Tessa from wanting to show her absolutely everything. If anything, Tessa simply felt that it was fortunate that she had money. For the first time ever, she found a use for it, spoiling someone!

It started before they even began to talk, with Tessa ordering from a really nice restaurant that didn't ordinarily deliver. The chef there was a friend, so she begrudgingly allowed her masterpieces to be carried away by an exhausted assistant from Tessa's agency who spent one half of his night trying to quell the media and the second half as a delivery boy.

Then she started going on about all her plans, such as getting Alex a gym membership and making sure she got enough food. Really, anything she wanted to do could be accomplished. After all, Armistice had everything, the massive city, a combination of every culture, magic and technology, and ideas.

Tessa spent so much time thinking about all the things she wanted to experience with Alex that she didn't manage to say a few important things, like the fact that they would need to go see her mother at some point. She planned to relax for the night, but she didn't want to put it off. Once the alchemist finished the potion, she wouldn't hesitate. Her mother had suffered enough. Plus, she really needed to be healthy to meet the first woman Tessa ever decided to bring home. She could already imagine the shocked expressions on her family members' faces.

The funny thing was, they wouldn't be shocked by her gender; they would be shocked by the fact that she brought her back from vacation like that was normal. It felt fine to her, but she was sure her parents would be even more confused than the media.

Fortunately, all of that could be considered when the time came. No, really, there was nothing Tessa could do about it. Shocked or not, they would be meeting her girlfriend! A girl who needed some immediate attention and refused to let Tessa stay caught up in her own head.

"Let's take this to the bed," she suggested when they began, having no intention of stopping the eager wolf. If anything, she looked forward to their fooling around more than she expected.

Once they reached the master bedroom, they both stripped quickly, Tessa too excited to even bother putting on a show. Part of her wanted to show off just how rhythmically she could move, to give Alex a tantalizing show, but she chose to leave that for another time. Instead, she revealed the lithe, gorgeous figure that combined perfect features and Siren charm. Then, with a grin on her face, she beckoned Alex forth.

Only, Alex's willpower proved weak. The young girl transformed immediately, looking as adorable as ever. However, Tessa frowned slightly. She didn't mind it, thinking it was cute even, but Alex needed to avoid transforming! At least do it as little as possible until she managed to get in better shape!

"Alex..." Tessa stopped at her name, though, finding her reason as adorable as everything else. While she knew there was a tough, confident woman in Alex, she rather adored the cute version of her that currently existed. It made Tessa feel comfortable with her own inexperience, and it definitely helped her fall for the gorgeous creature she had apparently spent lifetimes with.

"It's okay. Since you've already shifted, we might as well go all the way. Right?" she asked, a grin on her face. Though, internally, she already started thinking about ways that Alex could do what she wanted to do without shifting. Toys and potions were the main options, and after they finished having their fun, perhaps they could discuss them. And maybe - for special occasions - she could still shift.

---

Alex agreed to make the most of it, and by the time it was over, Tessa was drained. She didn't feel exhausted, a combination of a good exercise routine and her cheaty healing magic allowing her to recover quickly, but she felt satisfied. No, more than that, she felt content, the sense of calm happiness that washed over her whenever she was around Alex magnified by their lovemaking.

Truthfully, they both performed... average. Between Tessa and Alex, their sexual experience capped out with one another, which meant they really had no idea what they were doing, trying to put action to their imagination. However, Tessa believed it always felt perfect because, despite everything else, they fit together perfectly. Amateurs or not, when they were together, it all worked out amazingly.

Tessa rested herself in Alex's arms with a sigh, not bothering to get out of bed quite yet; she just enjoyed the moment. Only after a while did she groan softly and pull Alex up, both of them getting off the bed reluctantly. Tessa even grabbed a large t-shirt from her closet and put it on, hiding the best parts of her body under the insidious clothing. She even grinned at Alex, showing she knew exactly what she was doing.

"By the way, feel free to stay as you are. You don't need clothes here if you don't want them." Tessa left Alex to do whatever she wanted, heading for the kitchen as she did.

Alex shifted, which meant that she needed to make up the calories somehow. Tessa couldn't think of anything better for a quick calorie boost than desserts! Healthy? No. Delicious and high in calories? Absolutely! After getting some ice cream and apple pie, both of which she always kept around, she made her way to the living room and set everything down. She didn't even bother with plates and just took the full pie and tub of ice cream to the coffee table, along with one spoon.
 
The bipedal, ferocious monster that came to mind when the average person thought about a werewolf was the only form that truly exhausted and pained Alex to hold. For that transformation she had to really focus or be in so much danger that her wolf naturally pushed her into that for the sake of self preservation. Turning into the full wolf she had stayed in while in the wilds was tiring but not terrible. In comparison, these little transformations were so easy to do that they just kind of happened. It didn’t hurt for her ears and tail to grow out; the rearranging of her sex felt a little weird….but that wasn’t much of a deterrent when there was something she really wanted. What the wolf desired more than anything tonight was to feel a connection. Truth be told, both Alex and the animal inside of her were feeling pretty vulnerable at the moment. They were far away from everything they knew and had been subjected to a terrifying plane ride as well as a bunch of strangers infringing upon her personal space. It was worth it as long as she got to be by her soulmate. All she wanted was some private time with her adoring Tessa to make up for all of the troubles of the day.

While she loved burying her face between Tessa’s creamy thighs and drawing out sweet moans that way, it felt a little impersonal….Alex needed more tonight. She wanted to be able to kiss her, wanted to be able to see her, wanted to be able to hold her and be held. All those things could only happen if she transformed; her wolf naturally latched onto those primal wants and gave her a little nudge into this lesser Alpha form. Alex would be able to get all the lovey dovey things she craved and her wolf would be able to claim and mark what was theirs- it was a win/win!

When Tessa said they could keep going, Alex’s ears immediately perked up and her tail wagged. She prowled over her lover, giving a playful growl as she leaned down to kiss her. This was exactly what she wanted: tender kisses and the feel of Tessa’s arms wrapped around her as she first eased into her clinging heat. The first few thrusts were more grinds than anything else, Alex seemed more concerned with exploring Tessa’s cute little breasts than actually fucking her. Sharp teeth grazed over pebbled flesh; despite having a dangerous apex predator on top of her, Tessa would never have to worry about Alex hurting her. As rough as she had the potential to be, Alex was still a great big puppy dog, eager to prove her worth as a mate.

When she has the other girl squirming and moan from the attentions to her breasts and ribs, Alex began to pick up speed and focus on marking her mate. She grabbed onto Tessa’s slim hips for leverage and traded nibbling on the soft flesh of her breasts for her throat. Her lover had already healed the hickeys and bite marks away, giving Alex yet another opportunity to freshly mark the Siren as hers. In the hidden safety of her throat, the wolf would mumble soft praises between nips; how much she wanted Tessa, how good she felt, how well she took her...things that Alex could mutter quietly and didn’t cause her too much embarrassment because she was just being honest.

This second time was very similar to the first with Alex enjoying herself immensely but also holding back to a certain degree. Her muscles strained with the desire to flip her mate onto her belly and pull her hips up so that the wolf could mount her like a common bitch. Even in this position, she could probably pin Tessa down and mindlessly rut into her until she was well fucked and marked with her cum. But Alex couldn’t let her wolf take over...Tessa was smaller than her, so beautiful and nubile...the wolf was afraid they might break her if they tried such rough maneuvers. Besides, this was amazing too.

After a few rounds, the pair of them were satisfied and Alex was ready for lots of post-sex cuddles. As they wrapped themselves up in one another, she reverted back to her human form, the ears and tail that Tessa seemed to think were adorable gone for now. Unfortunately her stomach was soon growling and it became clear she’d need to go eat something. Reluctantly they dragged themselves out of bed. It was chilly out of the sheets and Alex didn’t want to put her itchy clothes back on, her skin wasn’t used to the feeling of fabric yet. Tessa said she wouldn’t mind if she didn’t, giving the wolf an idea. She had seen a soft fuzzy throw blanket on the couch earlier, and once they padded out to the living room, Alex retrieved it to wrap around her form. She would get used to wearing clothes again eventually, but for now the fluffy blanket was a nice substitution to her fur.

Second dinner appeared to be ice cream and apple pie. Alex eyed the desserts dubiously...but she was hungry and ended up caving in to join Tessa in eating the sugary snacks. She supposed apple pie was kinda fruit? And there was milk protein in ice cream? She used to indulge in such sweets when she was growing up...but never after such a long time going without and definitely not as a substitution for a real meal.

Tessa put on the TV for them and they relaxed for a little bit with their snacks. After awhile though, her mate broached the subject of Alex’s most recent transformation. “I know, I know...I’m sorry...” Alex’s cheeks and ears turned pink, her embarrassment caused by equal parts having an addition between her legs when she did that, as well as her inability to maintain control over her forms. She was like a teenage wolf! It was mortifying...she shouldn’t be shifting and so overly excited to bury her cock in a mate when she was in her early 20s. Part of her wished she could be more like Aleks...she had seen the confidence and mastery the gladiator had had when she claimed her mate. Her namesake hadn’t rushed, convinced that she could turn her Siren into a begging mess if she was just patient enough....but Alex lacked any such patience or conviction.

Even in this life, Tessa seemed curious and open to exploring different options to their sex life. She accepted what Alex was, maybe even liked it because she suggested that they go out and get her a strap on so that she could satisfy that wild part of her while still staying human so she didn’t tax her wiry body. “Really?” The wolf perked up, obviously interested in the idea.
 
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Tessa just wanted Alex to smile, and after their lovely lovemaking session, she wanted to further emphasize that they could do all kinds of things together. She wanted Alex to know that she was open to anything, even some of the steamier, more aggressive stuff she glimpsed in the memories of their past life. Of course, it would be a lie to say that she would be able to jump into the deep end immediately; Alex was her first in this life, after all. However, she did have a rather healthy interest.

Everything they tried so far felt amazing, even if it all fell into the realm of tame and vanilla. Tessa enjoyed it, especially being able to kiss and hug her lover. With their odd relationship, Tessa felt a lot of emotions, things like love, despite their short amount of time together. It caused her to crave closeness. If possible, she might not leave Alex's side at all, but in lieu of the impossible, she simply stuck to her as much as she could; that meant lots of cuddling. Their inexperienced lovemaking was another example. But she could afford to try more.

Therefore, she didn't back down after saying they could go find some toys. She would let Alex buy whatever she wanted! All of it even! Her apartment was large, so they could definitely change things up to fit whatever her lover wanted. It didn't just apply to the pastimes of deviants either; Tessa would make room for anything and everything Alex wanted.

As Tessa's mind settled on the determination to entangle their lives together, shifting her own things and time to make way for Alex, she started to feed her. She let her try the pie and the ice cream, both of which were specialty brands she bought because she was ridiculously addicted to sweets. She sucked at cooking, and most of the food in her house was junk food. The same was true of desserts. Of course, she had a nutritionist herself, but she rarely bothered with all of that. Sirens didn't gain weight, ever. She ate whatever she wanted and always remained thin, always remaining lithe and soft. The same held true of exercise, which seemed unable to change her physique. So, she ate a lot, and she indulged in junk food.

She kept feeding Alex both food and kisses as they watched TV. That lasted until she brought up sex toys. She watched Alex go from a disappointed puppy to a bright-eyed puppy. Still a puppy, but very cute nonetheless.

With a smile, Tessa nodded.

"Yep, we can get whatever you want. Any toy you want to try, we can get, including a strapon. Maybe I'll even get a little surprise for you while we're there," Tessa said, already having an idea about how to drive her puppy crazy.

The more Tessa thought about it, the more she wanted to drag Alex out of her shell and let the young wolf figure out what she wanted. As it was, she seemed very careful. Even transforming seemed like something she shouldn't do. Of course, part of that came from her need to gain some weight and get healthy, but she also appeared a bit timid. Tessa wanted Alex to really know she could do whatever she wanted, but she didn't want to just come out and say it either. She didn't want Alex to think she was disappointed in something; she wasn't. Instead, she wanted Alex to see it was okay, and she wanted to accomplish that as organically as possible.

With a goal in mind, she started planning, both with Alex and in her own head. With Alex, they talked about going to a toy store that night. Mainly, Tessa wanted to take Alex out at a time of day that would have fewer people roaming about. Plus, the paparazzi tended to be lazier at night, at least with her since her reputation didn't include clubs, parties, or sex toy shops.

Then there were her private thoughts, which she immediately started texting someone about to see what her options were. If only Alex knew why she had such a big grin on her face as they continued cuddling.

---

Tessa and Alex only indulged in cuddling for a bit longer. When they finished their snacks, they headed for the shower, and got handsy, and spent way more time in there than either expected. Fortunately, the water heater ran off a mana crystal, so it stayed hot, but still... No, Tessa regretted nothing. She didn't regret anything, not even the corruption she was about to drag her beautiful, almost innocent girlfriend into.

---

Peeling the Veil was a store with more than just sex toys. In fact, of all the shops in Armistice, it stood as one of the most famous and influential. Ran by one of the strongest young mages of Periodica, the store stood as a beacon of all things magical... and naughty.

The store served as the homefront for Arlann, a mage of great reputation for her strength and alchemy abilities. If someone wanted a potion made, especially one that required magic or thinking outside the box, few could compete with her. Even the older generation only had a few names that stood as tall as hers. Of course, she also had another reputation - the owner of a sex boutique. Peeling the Veil attracted all sorts and was shunned by just as many.

As for Tessa, she knew Arlann from way back. As a Siren, her family cooperated with mages. They had different forms of magic, one group being reliant on the forceful use of mana and the other relying on the spirits; however, they had a good relationship despite that. Arlann was also the person making the potion to cure her mother, which was why she took a few extra herbs as a form of thanks; she wanted to thank her friend.

However, her purpose of taking Alex there was not to check on the potion. They were going for sex toys! And it would be Tessa's first time gracing her friend's store for that. It was also her first time showing anyone off to Arlann, and she didn't plan to be shy. Once they decided to go, she led Alex confidently, getting the driver to take them straight there! Before long, they were in the heart of the city, standing before a massive store.
 
Showers were probably the biggest thing Alex had missed about being human. Cold baths in a river or rolling around in snow or grass to clean her wolf paled in comparison to hot water running all over her body. She could stand under this stream for hours...especially because there was a handsy little temptress in here with her. It didn’t take much to rile her up and now Tessa was in trouble! The Siren would find herself pressed up against the cold tile with a growly werewolf at her throat and strong fingers between her legs.

The two of them took much longer in the shower than planned. It was just as well though, with the evening dragging on, there was less likelihood of Alex being bombarded with the overstimulation of crowded streets or paparazzi lying in wait.

—————-

Alex hadn’t known what exactly to expect when going to a sex toy shop...but this definitely was not it. On the main strip, right alongside upscale restaurants, clothing stores, and tech/magic shops was a two story sex toy boutique. It was brightly lit just like a normal shop, even sporting displays of mannequins in tasteful lingerie in the front windows. The upstairs windows were discreetly blacked out, signaling that the shop also had an entire floor dedicated to a fetish section that wasn’t quite suitable for Main Street display.

There was a friendly little gnomish mage in business casual attire perched behind the counter when the two of them arrived, “Welcome to Peeling the Veil!” the girl chirped, “If you ladies need any help, let me know- oh. Wow. Ms. Reigns. What a pleasure,” the mage brightened even more, obviously a fan. The upscale shop received a lot of famous clientele so she would obviously be discreet and professional, but still! That was Tessa Reigns inside the shop! “Would you like me to get Mrs. Marrok for you for a private consultation? I think she’s in the office,” it wasn’t often that Arlann worked late, but on nights when her wife had a lot to do at her biotech company, she tended to linger around the shop and stay in her office...or what the employees secretly called ‘the mad scientist lab.’

While the gnomish mage and Tessa chatted, Alex managed to drift away, distracted by something shiny and needing to investigate. Werewolves were a naturally curious race so of course when she saw that the shop had a floating sign pointing to the ‘Werewolf Wonders’ section she needed to see what was over there. Most of the items in that area were tech based: soft and sleek silicone toys filled with sensors to give feedback to the wearer. The toys seemed to be designed for betas and omegas who liked to top...which did hurt her alpha pride a little bit that she’d have to use such a thing, but her wolf would be willing to sacrifice a little bit of pride if it meant she could repair what four years of the wilds had done to her body.

There were a few magically infused items and potions on prominent display in this section, all of them ‘guaranteed’ to work on a werewolf. Alex eyed those ones skeptically; magic wasn’t really something that worked on werewolves. But, she supposed for the outrageous price that the shop charged they probably did function to some degree. Then there were other things in this corner...things that made her blush a bit when she saw them. Fluffy ears and tails, leather leashes and collars...a shiver ran down her spine when she thought of Tessa in such things. The props were unnecessary though...and she’d be too shy to suggest such a thing, at least now anyways. Her Siren lover was gorgeous and Alex wouldn’t change a thing about her (except maybe her love of junk food); none of her regretted being bound to a non-wolf.

After thoroughly investigating the werewolf section, Alex wandered over to the mage and human sections, just to see what Tessa could possibly get into and give herself a better sense of what other races desired. She spent only a limited time looking at the mage stuff...a lot of it was potions, crystals, scrolls, and things she didn’t really understand so she only gave it a cursory glance. The human section had a lot of tech and magic infused toys; these were a lot more varied when it came to shape, size, and function when compared to the toys in the werewolf section though.

From the human section located in the center of the shop, she could peek upstairs to the open balcony where the fetish gear was arranged. Even though she couldn’t see all of it, she could smell the pvc, latex, and leather. There was a lot of leather...whether it be costumes or implements, there was just a lot of leather colored black and red that she could glimpse from the first floor. It even looked like there might be some furniture up there...but Alex was too nervous to go explore up there alone. Curious as she was, investigating the fetish section was a whooollleeee different world, one the young wolf wasn’t quite ready for yet.

She glanced around the shop, finally seeming to realize that she had abandoned Tessa and didn’t know where she was. After a little searching she saw her mate talking to a tall brunette...seeing Tessa speak to an attractive other female didn’t make her feel threatened though, she saw the mating bite on the other woman’s neck and knew the human was claimed by another wolf. After giving a little wave and pointing to the ‘Werewolf Wonders’ sign to signal where she’d be, Alex retreated back to the werewolf section so she could pick herself out a strap on and harness. For whatever reason her wolf seemed afronted by the flesh colored toys, so she settled on a techy lavender dildo that was about her size, with a black harness that was advertised as being infused with magic so that it was easy to get into and comfortable to wear.

When Tessa finally joined her, the wolf smiled and kissed her cheek before showing off what she had chosen. It was appropriately priced and very practical, Alex’s appreciation for functionality showing. “You’re going to pick out something too, right?” the wolf seemed an odd mix of timid and proud. She had found a toy!! ...But she was shy about going up to the counter and paying for it. Even though the little gnome appeared to be the epitome of eager professionalism, Alex couldn’t help but feel like she’d be judged. It shouldn’t matter, Tessa’s opinion was the only one she really cared about...but the wolf wasn’t used to dealing with people so little things like what strangers thought of her were going to bother her in the beginning. “I’m up to try anything...I just don’t want to be the only pervert here…” Maybe ‘pervert’ wasn’t the right word, but that’s a little what she felt like now.
 
When Tessa saw Alex's expression, she grinned, happy that she managed to surprise her beautiful companion. Not that it surprised her. After all, Peeling the Veil surpassed any other sex toy boutique in the city, probably in the world. A world-class mage, someone renowned for her magic, owned and ran the place. As much as it was a place to get sex toys, it was also the home to alchemy and everything magic. No other store came close. Tessa even regarded the shop's decor and setup as classy in an odd sense, seeming elegant in its design and display.

She almost laughed as she watched Alex look around with wide eyes. The wolf might not have realized it, but her expression gave away her every thought, so much so that her disappearance didn't surprise Tessa at all. Instead, she just chuckled and turned her attention to the girl at the counter.

"It's okay. Arlann's expecting me," Tessa said, though she didn't run off immediately. She could tell the gnome was a fan, so she gave her an autograph and a bright smile that seemed to daze her. She had to give some fan service, after all.

After causing one slightly cute chipper mage to nearly pass out, Tessa chuckled and then headed towards the special staircase that led to the lab. While it frightened most people, the idea of so many potions and experiments going on, Tessa didn't even look around as she entered the room. She knew a good bit about Arlann after being friends for so long, which meant she knew how much protection the room had. Not that Arlann chose to set up barriers and containment spells on her own accord; her mate, Mara, insisted upon it, demanding she protect herself if she was going to insist upon experimenting. She also ensured Arlann didn't do it at home, a fact she learned from Mara's grumbling at a party. To Mara's displeasure, Arlann rebelled in her own bratty way by agreeing and opening Peeling the Veil. Tessa always laughed when she considered the motivation behind Arlann's new career path.

Regardless of how it came about or what happened, Tessa knew everything was safe, even if Arlann seemed to be doing something ridiculous when she walked into the lab. She just sighed and shook her head, moving closer as the mage played with what looked like mana on the verge of exploding.

"I hope that's not my potion," Tessa said as she approached, not wanting to get too close before saying anything.

Arlann didn't even turn her head. She already knew that Tessa was around, so she kept working, her voice as calm as could be despite what she was doing. No, there was some excitement, enough for Tessa to think of her as a bit crazy. Then again, a lot of people thought Arlann was a bit crazy.

"Not yours. I've already made those intriguing special requests of yours." Arlann's lips curled into a smile as she thought about what the beautiful Siren asked for. She seemed so interested that she quickly wrapped up her experiment and walked over to Tessa, draping arms around her neck and looking into her eyes.

"Finally decide to join us? I know Mara would lose it if she saw you with all of that," Arlann chewed on her lower lip, clearly imagining quite the scene.

Despite Arlann's actions, Tessa didn't feel uncomfortable. Perhaps she was used to her friend's open attitude towards sex, or perhaps she simply knew the truth, which was that Arlann could actively resist her urges even if she used her Siren magic. It made her friend dependable, even if she did act like a complete slut most of the time.

"Sorry to say, but those potions are for my lover. I finally found my soulmate," Tessa said, clearly resisting the urge to squeal or shout in happiness, emotions that brought a smile to her face.

Arlann immediately deflated, slinking away from Tessa to show she understood. "I thought... Ugh, why cruel world..." she muttered, looking back over at Tessa, admiring her for a moment. "You're a bit too soft, but knowing I'll never have my chance." Arlann seemed to be losing it a bit, but after another deep sigh, she perked right up, shaking it off and grabbing Tessa's arm.

"Introduce me to this wonderful woman that captured your heart. You must convince me to give up my obsession!" With that, Arlann led Tessa out, only giving her a few sentences to reassure her that her orders would be taken to the counter and that her mother's potion would be ready by the morning. With business quickly wrapped up, she kept her focus forward, ready to meet Tessa's loved one.

When they returned to the counter, the gnomish mage looked more starstruck than ever, but Alex was nowhere to be seen. It wasn't until a minute later that she saw the young wolf pointing towards the "Werewolf Wonders" section. Tessa just smiled and nodded, then started telling Arlann about Alex. She gushed, even telling her in a whisper about the past lives part. For the first time, Arlann turned speechless, holding back the words that had been on the tip of her tongue since she saw Alex.

In Arlann's mind, the wolf she saw, albeit oddly appealing, didn't suit Tessa. Tessa was... incredible. She had Mara, but both she and her mate appreciated fine women. They explored, invited others into their bedroom, and generally did whatever they wanted when it involved a beautiful woman. Tessa was definitely on both of their lists, perhaps more hers than Mara's, but few people in the world denied the beauty of the famous idol. So seeing Alex, she felt underwhelmed, maybe a bit like she still had a chance. That was until she heard about the soulmates part. It was like a punch to the gut. She lost from the start! Also, she was very curious about how that worked.

As Arlann started to think about her own things, Tessa chuckled and slipped away, leaving her to mumble to herself and making her way to Alex's side.

"Don't worry, I already have a few things waiting at the counter, but they are surprises." Basically, Alex didn't get to see them yet. However, she thought about it and decided that wasn't entirely fair. So, after a moment, she walked over and grabbed a little something for herself: a nice collar, one imbued with magic to fit any neck perfectly. The potions wouldn't make her grow one of those, so she had to buy one! With that and a mischievous grin, she grabbed Alex's arm and led her to the counter, ready to let Alex meet Arlann and to get their things and hurry home.
 
Arlann’s mate entered the shop looking completely and utterly exhausted...which meant that she’d need to break something before bed, and that something was going to be Arlann. Whenever Mara was in this state of mental fatigue, she couldn’t sleep; the only solution was to get her body as tired out as her mind and her wife was exceedingly good at helping her do that. Thankfully Arlann wasn’t in her office, so Mara didn’t have to worry about anything exploding if she interrupted her tonight. It wasn’t often that her brilliant mage lost control over whatever she was working on...but after blowing out a wall in their apartment, Mara was always a nervous wreck when her mate was working on something. She loved Arlann, loved that she was passionate and driven and talented….but that incident had caused her to be a roaring, worried wolf that wouldn’t back down until her mate installed protective wards and failsafes. Of course Arlann didn’t like being told what to do (unless it was a sexual context) so she had thrown a fit like a smal child, bought a building right on the main strip of Armistice, and now sold sex toys to spite Mara. But that was fine, the CEO could deal with the tabloids so long as her petulant wife installed the protective wards.

Mara strode over towards her mate, her high heels giving that authoritative click on the tiled floor. “Are you ready to go home, pet?” She wrapped her arms around Arlann and leaned up to give the mage a quick kiss. When Arlann told her ‘no’, her bright eyes darkened, obviously Mara was not in the mood for any ‘no’s tonight. “No?” the wolf growled and bit at her neck, probably too hard without a warm up, but she didn’t care; she wanted to go home and go to bed! Arlann had to quickly explain that Tessa was here to keep Mara from dragging her into her office by her hair for a little disciplinary action. “Grrr...I’ll give you a pass for now, only because Tessa is here. But the only thing I want to hear when we get home tonight is ‘yes Mistress.’”

Arlann’s assistant made herself scarce while the two of them talked at the front counter and Arlann got Mara all caught up with what was going on with Tessa. Of course the news that the cute little Siren had found a girlfriend surprised her...and then it downright astounded her when she saw what that girlfriend looked like. “She’s soulmates with -her-.” Mara arched a brow as she sized up the scrawny wolf from a distance. The girl didn’t appear like she belonged in the city, let alone like she belonged with a rich and famous idol. With clothes too big for her and skittish behavior, it was like looking at an awkward beta in alpha wolf’s clothing. “Hhmph, Tessa must have been blind in a past life, or liked charity cases,” the latter seemed more appropriate. Tessa could see the potential in people, at least enough to be friends with a pain in the ass like Arlann. Mara could see that this scrappy little wolf had potential...but she also seemed like quite the fixer upper.

The two looked happy as they came up to the counter, Alex looking shy as she put her toy up. “Northern wolf, hmm?” Mara smirked as she saw the other wolf’s choice in sex toy. Something functional and completely and utterly boring...very typical of wolves who weren’t from the city. “Don’t sell her that thing, Arlann. Come on, pup, let’s get you something that your mate will really like,” Mara started to walk towards the werewolf section, not even looking back to make sure the pup was in step because she was used to people just following her orders.

Alex bristled a bit at the ‘pup’ remark. This woman looked barely a few years older than her! But she appeared to be mates with Arlann, and Arlann was friends with Tessa...so Alex looked at her girlfriend, waiting for a signal that it was okay and safe to follow. When her lover nodded she trotted off after the other Alpha. For being so small, the feminine alpha was incredibly bossy… like a tiny little bulldozer.

Mara picked out a toy that was still the same shade of purple that the pup liked, but this one was a more expensive hybrid model - a mixture of tech and magic that had twice as many features as the practical toy Alex had chosen...at about four times the price. “Tsk. Don’t make that face.... Tessa can easily afford it. Besides, she’ll want to spoil you. So you, in turn, can spoil her with this. She’ll love it, trust me, this is one of my mate’s favorites.”

Alex sighed and gave a little nod. It still made her uncomfortable to use Tessa’s money for her own things. This little Alpha piled a few more things into her arms, though stopped short of the leash because it looked like Alex would pass out the moment she reached for one. It was already short-circuiting Alex’s brain that Tessa had picked out a collar...something that would symbolize the wolf’s ownership, the same way a mating bite did. Throwing a leash in there to highlight her submissiveness to Alex would just break her brain all together.

Now that Alex was loaded up with things to play with for months, Mara was quick to shoo the girl to the counter and get her out the door so she could in turn drag Arlann home.
 
Arlann loved Mara more than anything else. Even if she was a horny, insane piece of work, Mara always came first. It was probably the only reason the possessive, stubborn wolf fell in love with her despite Arlann's obvious attraction to every pretty little thing that caught her eye. When it mattered, Arlann chose her, and when she wanted to play around or pull someone else into their lives, she made sure they both agreed on it. So, despite Arlann being a complete slut, they made a marriage work.

Their odd situation showed itself quickly when Mara arrived. Arlann, who was caught up in her own thoughts up to that point, raised her head and smiled, completely throwing everything else aside once she saw her beautiful wife.

"My love, perfect timing," Arlann said in a chipper voice, snuggling into Mara's arms and kissing her back affectionately. She missed her - every day. Married or not, distracted or not, Mara was always on her mind.

However, she quickly shot her a "no" despite knowing how it would come across, then quickly started to soothe her. She accepted the bite - happily - then proceeded to purr as she kissed Mara and whispered her reasoning into the woman's ear. They needed to entertain Tessa, even if it seemed Arlann had lost her chance to convince the lovely thing to join them for an unforgettable night... or more. Plus, she had a soulmate! How could Arlann not be interested in that?

Determined to stick around long enough to get a feel for all of that, she explained everything to Mara, who was accepting, even if not entirely happy about it. She definitely leaned towards letting Arlann win, but only until they got home; the situation was a win-win for Arlann, at least in her mind.

"Right?" Arlann looked at the two, sighing softly as she leaned against Mara. "I was so disappointed. I mean, wouldn't Tessa have been the perfect collared pet?" she asked, knowing that her mate found such things enticing, even if she sometimes grumbled about her mate being a slut. Well, actually, she said it a lot, but usually, it was while they were in bed. The thought caused Arlann to chuckle as she added, "Of course, it makes sense. Tessa always did reject us so firmly, as if she had been waiting for someone all along. I mean, that's the only way someone could say no. Right?"

Arlann laughed again as Mara glared at her, then kissed her wife again. "Don't look at me like that. I know that I'm acting silly without you glaring at me."

When Alex and Tessa returned, Arlann reluctantly pulled away from Mara, allowing her wife to share a few words with a very nervous-looking wolf. In fact, while that happened, she took a closer look at Alex, imagining what she would look like if she weren't so skinny. While Arlann didn't have a complete picture, she did nod her head, finding the image in her mind more than a little acceptable.

As for Tessa, she quickly gave Alex the go-ahead, knowing Mara wouldn't do anything bad. Though, she might teach her a few bad things... No, it would be fine. She chose to worry about the more immediate threat to her sanity. Thus, she immediately walked over to Arlann and gave her a gentle twack upside the back of her head.

"Don't even think about it," Tessa said with a smile, looking towards Alex as she did. "She's mine. Besides, isn't your harem big enough yet?"

Arlann's eyes widened as she turned to look at Tessa, seeming confused by the question. "My harem is never going to be big enough. Besides, it's all for fun and pleasure. Actually, no, I wouldn't even call it a harem..." Arlann paused, seeming to be thinking deeply about a very silly topic.

"I only love Mara. Now, I have different types of love for others, such as the fact that I would kill anyone who even touched Sammie," she said, nodding her head as if that were normal. "However, as much as I adore Sammie and think she might just be the cutest thing on this planet, I don't love her like I do Mara. Do I feel possessive? Sure. But I'm just greedy like that." She could control it, even if she didn't always want to.

"Then what would you call it?" Tessa asked, regretting it a little but being genuinely curious. Although she never said yes or even felt that inclined to join them, she never felt all that put off by it either.

"Hedonism? Greed? A love of orgies? Perhaps we're just a couple of horny freaks who are bold enough and confident enough to cast the net out there and pull in other horny freaks. I don't know. Whatever it is, I love it, and I love Mara." Arlann chuckled, and even Tessa laughed slightly.

However, after laughing, Tessa leaned over and said, "Well, I'm glad it works, but Alex is mine."

Arlann whined, watching as everyone else returned and as Alex and Tessa quickly bought their stuff and left. Only when they all parted ways did she lean against Mara and sigh. She didn't bring up Tessa again, even if she did find it regrettable; she just enjoyed the heat of her wife and said, "I love you, Mara."

Meanwhile, Tessa and Alex already got into the back of their car, Tessa asking the driver to head home before turning her full attention to her girlfriend.

"Sooo, what did you get?" she asked, having been distracted by Arlann for so long that she didn't see exactly what Alex got. After she returned with Mara, her hands seemed quite full, and she was curious what the other alpha convinced her to buy.
 
“Mmm...I love you too, Arlann.” Mara smiled, the bright and genuine one that was reserved for just her wife. “But don’t think you’re off the hook tonight just because I love you. Now go get your things so we can go home; it’s been a long day and I need my pet,” she gave the mage’s rear a playful swat to send her on her way.

————

Alex was a little scarred for life after meeting Mara. The woman was a pretty stereotypical alpha: strong personality, unyielding, and expecting others to naturally follow. That part hadn’t traumatized her...it had been the sex toys and the casual way that she spoke about them had shocked the younger alpha. She supposed most wolves ended up like that; her race was naturally physical and when they grew up they tended to grow very sexual with their mates. Right now Alex was still in the ‘little touches and snuggles’ phase with Tessa...and part of her wondered when she’d be more like Aleks or Mara or if she’d always be more mellow like this.

In the safety of the back seat, she wriggled her way closer to Tessa, wrapping an arm around her. When her girlfriend asked what she had picked out with Mara, the wolf shrank a little bit, wanting to hide. She hadn’t picked anything perverted! Mara had! But...she had brought it up to the counter...and allowed it to be rung out… “Ah...stuff…” Alex blushed bright red. “Just the strap...and the potions were something called ‘Liquid Luna’ that are supposed to let me shift without burning through my calories. And then, um, things for, uh, buttplay. We- we don’t have to use it now! ...Or ever,” the wolf gulped. She knew her kind were a little more ‘adventurous’ in the bedroom and while she probably wouldn’t be this much of a spaz with a fellow werewolf, she was with Tessa because her girlfriend was cute and small and delicate. How was she supposed to explain that one day her wolf would want certain things!?!? “Submission is kinda a thing in werewolf culture. And, we don’t have to. I’m fine with you not being a wolf, I don’t wish you were anything else than what you are.” Despite the embarrassment in her face, Alex’s eyes were earnest. Most wolves mated with other wolves, it was easy being with someone who knew what to expect.

————-

When they got home, Alex’s curiosity was making her antsy. There was a toy for her! A surprise toy! Tessa said they could play with it, as long as Alex tried out her harness to start getting used to it. That was something the wolf could agree to...though she did stipulate that she wanted to put it on in the privacy of the bathroom on the off chance she made a fool of herself getting it on.

The harness itself wasn’t difficult, the magic made it easy to adjust and fit comfortably. But the dildo…that was something else. Alex studied the toy, it looked like the tech was somehow powered with a mana crystal. When she turned the thing on, a thin layer of...something...mana? encased the silicone. To her it just felt slippery, like lube, but Tessa would probably actually be able to feel the heat and pulse of energy of mana trapped in a force field. She bit her bottom lip, not entirely certain how she felt about attaching this thing to herself or putting it inside of Tessa...but Mara had assured her it was safe and her mate’s favorite. Plus there was a weird geometric drawing engraved on the base side of the toy...some sort of protective ward maybe? Alright...it should be fine… Alex carefully slid the toy into the harness and situated the base against her, the base immediately sensed her flesh and molded against her sex, startling her.

Not creepy. Not creepy at all...

She wrapped her hand around the toy, giving it a testing stroke to see if the feedback feature was working. “Hnngf!” Alex let out a surprised moan, nearly falling over from the intense stimulation on her entire sex. “Spirits. Fuck,” the wolf gasped and let go. That couldn’t possibly be what the toy was supposed to feel like; she’d black out if she tried to fuck Tessa with that! She looked over the quick start guide, flipping through a few pages before she figured out how to turn the sensitivity down.

Alex would have to read the entire manual later to fine tune the settings, but for now the toy seemed ready for a test run. She checked herself out in the mirror, not finding the sight too silly…alright she did feel a little foolish with a purple phallus between her legs. But maybe that was okay? Tessa adored her and this was just supposed to be a new fun thing they were trying together, she shouldn’t take herself so seriously right now. So Alex forced herself to stand straighter, trying to appear a little more confident than she felt, then exited the ensuite bathroom to find her mate.
 
The drive home served as a time to help calm Alex's nerves. Tessa's broached the subject of the toys, cuddled up close to her, and made sure she knew that anything she wanted to try was fine - including anal. She didn't care. Even if she wasn't experienced, she wanted to try things. Besides, she already had her own plans for the night. So long as she got Alex started, the rest would go fine; she was sure of it.

Though, Tessa found it a bit surprising that she got something called "Liquid Luna." After finding out that such a thing existed, she grew excited, and she made an internal note to thank Mara. Even if the other alpha had a tendency to intimidate, she was thoughtful - that or just thorough. One way or another, she did them a favor, and Tessa would repay it.

"We can do anything you want to, Alex." Tessa still hesitated to use the words "I love you" since they had only been together for... days. It felt strange, though, because she knew her feelings already reached that mark. She knew the other lifetimes played a big role in that, but everything felt effortless with Alex. She adored her, felt comfortable around her, and she couldn't stop smiling. However, her rational side stopped her from saying the words so quickly.

---

Using such powerful words was the only thing Tessa hesitated with. For everything else, she was ready. So, when they arrived home, she gave Alex her space - happily. She planned to use the alone time to prepare her own surprise as Alex got ready and pumped herself up. Tessa knew Alex had some confidence problems. While none of the stuff Alex worried about mattered to Tessa, she didn't dismiss any of it; she didn't want to bring it up directly either. As nervous as Alex was, she also had a great deal of pride, a fact that hadn't changed in any lifetime. So, Tessa planned to cheat. She wanted to draw Alex's wolf out and get her so excited that she forgot all about her worries and threw caution to the wind.

The moment Tessa was alone, she stripped down to nothing, tossing her clothes aside and then starting to dig through her bag. The first thing she pulled out was the collar, which she tossed onto the bed for the moment. Then, she grabbed two of the potions she bought. Ears and a tail was the goal, and the potions she bought would help her accomplish just that. Instead of buying a plug and a fake pair of wolf ears, she went with something special - potions from Arlann's private collection. Of course, for Tessa, it was just her own request, but there was a reason Arlann had them ready so quickly - she already had a bunch made for... personal use.

Tessa knew she didn't have much time, so she quickly chugged both potions, chuckling as she realized they tasted like bubblegum. Arlann was such a weirdo. Before she could think another thought about the goofy mage, her body tingled, and a moan escaped her lips. The pleasant sensation that rushed through her split, shooting to three different parts of her body. Before she could even calm herself down, the ears and tail sprouted. They took shape quickly, and they all felt real; they were real.

Tessa took a few deep breaths as she tried to get used to it, but she ended up chewing on her lip and enduring some rather sensitive tactile feelings. Determined to not be defeated by something she really should have tested first, she crawled onto the bed and grabbed the collar. That was when she heard Alex coming out. Without the time to put the collar on, she put it in her mouth, holding it there as she got on her hands and knees and put on her sexiest pose. She couldn't wait to see how Alex reacted.
 
Alex’s eyes grew round as saucers as she took in the sight before her: Tessa, naked, on all fours, and with a collar in her mouth…on her bed...on -their- bed in -their- apartment with -their- toys. It was a lot, probably more than her lover realized. Not only was she presenting herself like a wolf begging to be fucked, but she was also giving Alex a home, a bed, and a collar to symbolize her submission as well as Alex’s ownership. So overcome with happiness and excitement that this was her new life now, Alex bounded over. She forgot all about being shy, forgot about holding back, and let her wolf just run the show for once.

—————

~~~~~~~ 1 Year Later ~~~~~~~

‘Liquid Luna’ really should have put, ‘May cause increased virility,’ in a larger print on the box.

Three months after their trip to the sex toy shop, they’d tried out the potion to celebrate the release of Tessa’s new album...and then nine months later there was the tiniest little creature Alex had ever seen and ever loved in their lives. She wouldn’t change anything; Sasha may be an accident, but so was everything else in their relationship. From Tessa accidentally stumbling upon her in the wilds, to the many, many accidents Alex had caused as an untame wolf acclimating to city life, all these accidental adventures had let the two of them grow closer together. Never in a million years would she have guessed that she would have a wonderful wife and the cutest little pup the world had ever seen.

“Now look, kid. I love you but you’re tiring your mommy out. So you’re gonna sleep in here tonight, okay?” Alex nuzzled the little lumpy baby as she set her down in the crib. “It’s not for forever...just for now…” she sounded like she was trying to reassure herself with that last bit. Wolves were very big on cosleeping so having the baby stay in the nursery instead of the bassinet in the master bedroom made her nervous. But it was just for tonight! And maybe some more nights later… Alex’s sleep schedule had naturally changed to align with her pup’s; Tessa’s…not so much. Between the baby’s random bursts of crying and Alex’s pacing about in the middle of the night as a nervous new mom (if Sasha so much as breathed weird, the wolf was up and peering into the bassinet to check on her), Tessa couldn’t get much peace and quiet.

Maybe the baby sleeping in the nursery tonight would be good… Alex’s sensitive ears picked up any abnormalities in the apartment, she’d surely hear it and wake up if something went awry, so she didn’t need to worry. Plus it had been awhile since Alex had been intimate with Tessa. Even though she knew her wife had had the best healers at the hospital and her own healing magic, the wolf in her was so very tame and careful around her. Alex had been incredibly gentle with her towards the end of the pregnancy, and even more so immediately afterwards...

It appeared that Tessa had had enough of her chivalry.

Alex stopped dead in her tracks as she entered their room. There, presenting on all fours was Tessa….a very naked, wolfy looking Tessa with her collar in her mouth.

Some things never changed: Alex just about ran across the room in her eagerness to pounce on her; she was still as attracted to Tessa as she had been when they first got together. Playfully growling as the two of them tumbled to the sheets, she wrapped her arms around her wife and hugged her tight. “I love you so much...give me two seconds and I’m going to go get the strap!” Alex kissed her excitedly and then bounded away. Sometimes she could be the serious Domme that could construct a fun scene for the two of them to enjoy...and sometimes she nearly tripped over her pajama pants like an idiot in her rush to get naked.

A year had given her body enough time to heal and for her mind to grow more confident; she didn’t feel the urge to hide in the bathroom to get ready with her strap anymore. Now that her broad shoulders had filled out with muscle and her legs and butt had grown thick with power, she didn’t mind showing off. Sometimes she cringed when she saw old pictures of her and Tessa.... Alex had looked like a scrawny puppy back then. A happy puppy, but a scrawny one nonetheless. Now she actually felt like a great big alpha wolf! One that was worthy of the beautiful woman in her bed.
 
The first time Tessa presented herself with ears and a tail, Alex lost her cool. The collar helped - and it was adopted for future play - but the complete image destroyed every ounce of rationality her gorgeous girlfriend possessed. She snapped.

The moment Alex saw her willing and ready to offer herself up like that, it finally seemed to sink in that Tessa wanted all of the things she did. Even if Alex remained a bit nervous about it all, she got it, and after a few more times for good measure, Alex took charge a bit more. Her gorgeous pup gained confidence quickly.

Of course, Alex's newfound confidence led to other things as well, such as Tessa's very sudden pregnancy. Three months into their relationship and they were expecting. They were overjoyed, though Alex panicked a bit. Fortunately, her panic all stemmed from taking care of the tiny creature instead of not wanting it. It was cute.

The only tricky part about the whole thing was explaining it to her very conservative parents, who could be... difficult. What Tessa didn't expect was that her subsequent plotting proved unnecessary. Her mother was thrilled, already planning to "be there" before the baby was even born.

Then the baby was born, their Sasha, the light of Tessa's life. She loved Alex more than anything, but her lover - who became her wife along the way - would have to settle for an eternal tie. Soulmates or not, Sasha matched her mother in Tessa's heart - even when she made it impossible to get a full night of sleep.

Fortunately, the sweet, awkward wolf Tessa met a year ago was still by her side. No matter how tough and confident Alex became, she remained thoughtful and loving. So, seeing her wife exhausted, Alex took charge and decided to put their beloved Sasha in her crib. It crushed Tessa a little, but Alex took it way harder, insisting that she would take the tiny little girl to her room with clear hesitance. That was when Tessa thought about rewarding her big puppy.

While Alex took care of their daughter, Tessa ran round, digging through her closet for things they hadn't used in quite some time. She wanted to repeat one of their favorite scenes, which was Tessa with ears and a tail. The scene that started their adventurous love life deserved to be immortalized on their list of favorites, and Tessa wanted to bring it back to excite her wife yet again.

"Found it!" Tessa squealed in excitement as she grabbed a potion from her little collection of toys and things magical. She then grabbed the collar from beside it.

Since their first time to Peeling the Veil, they had become regulars. Tessa even had a few different collars, including some really nice custom work that had been a birthday present from her to Alex - along with so many other things that had overwhelmed the wolf. Tessa tended to spend heavily when it involved Alex, something her wife never seemed to get used to. However, none of that mattered for the night since Tessa chose the first collar she ever bought - the first one she ever wore for Alex.

With a smile, she gulped down the potion, shivering with delight as the sensitive tail and ears appeared on her already exquisite form. Then, holding the collar in her mouth, prepared to recreate everything, she crawled onto the bed and waited. The moment she saw Alex, she let out a muffled giggle and wiggled her butt, trying to look as playful and enticing as possible.

As expected... it worked!

---

Alex and Tessa were always happy. From the day they met, their lives changed, and every day proved better because they found one another. However, the new and improved Alex - the healthy and confident Alex - definitely did a better job of tiring Tessa out. Tessa actually had to tap out. Her lithe physique hid surprising athleticism, and she could cast healing magic to keep herself going, but even then, Alex won; she defeated Tessa soundly, leaving the Siren exhausted.

"Alex... I don't want to move..." Tessa whined, shooting Alex as adorable a look as she could manage. "But I want coffee - a fancy one."

Do my bidding! Her expression said it all, only cuter.

---

Syri held the tiny, crying thing in her arms gently, mustering up every bit of strength she could manage to make sure she kept the baby steady despite her trembling arms. Even if something happened to her, she wanted to protect her baby sister. No matter what happened... she had to protect her.

Syri didn't understand the complexities of why her parents hated her and Haley, but the bruises on her tiny body spoke volumes. She endured the hatred, even if she didn't understand it, and when things got really bad, she ran. She took her sister and fled, fearful of the drunken rage that awaited them at home.

Alone and unsure of what to do, she sat pressed against the wall in a dark and damp alley, trying to coax her baby sister while thinking of a plan. Unfortunately, no matter how bright of a child she was, she was just that - a child. So she sat there, rooted in fear, only managing to stay strong and avoid crying through willpower and the need to protect the small thing in her arms.
 
Months of being a sweet, loving, tame wolfy made Alex be a wild sex beast once she was allowed to lose control. Every snap of her hips was a brutal, claiming thrust, countered only by the trails of kisses and lovebites she left anywhere her mouth could reach. She had missed Tessa’s moans and cries of pleasure, missed the way her lover trembled and fell apart beneath her as she came….she never wanted to go months without this again.

When her lover tapped out, she slowed down to a gentle grind before finally stopping. The wolf probably could have gone a round or two more, but her wife needed a rest and snuggles - Alex did love lots of snuggles! She kicked off the harness and then tangled her sweat slicked body up with Tessa’s. “Mmm...me neither…” the wolf purred as she got comfy...though soon pouted when her wife asked her to get her a coffee.

“Fine...I’ll get you coffee. But I demand extra snuggles later! ...and maybe pets.” While it pained her to admit it, Alex loved laying on the couch with her head in Tessa’s lap and getting nice scratchies to her scalp while they watched TV.

————-

Alex liked to walk rather than have a driver bring her somewhere, especially because she could make the trip faster on foot than in traffic. They needed a few things other than coffee so she took her backpack and jogged the first leg of her errand, stopping at the grocery store on her way to the coffee shop. She only grabbed a couple of things...snacks for her and Tessa as well as some formula and yogurt drops for Sasha (Alex kept eating them too so they frequently ran out). Then she ran by the coffee shop to pick up Tessa’s usual order, as well as a pastry she thought her mate would like.

On her way home, the sound of an infant crying in an alleyway caused Alex to pause. Her ears were so in tune to her own daughter’s cries that she couldn’t ignore it. Slowly, she stepped into the darkness of the alley. As she prowled further in, she became more on edge, very aware that something more insidious could be using a baby as bait. There were plenty of criminals, even here in Armistice...but she didn’t find one today. All she found was a little beat up pup, trying to shush a crying baby.

“Hey, I’m not gonna hurt you,” Alex had her hands up in surrender and stopped moving forward when the girl saw her. She sat down cross-legged on the pavement and set the coffee down next to her, knowing she could appear quite intimidating with the mixture of her full height and her muscles. She did everything she could to make herself look non-threatening, finding some graffiti on the brick walls to look at so her gaze didn’t come off as aggressive. “My name’s Alex...I just heard the baby crying and wanted to see if someone needed help.”

“Are you two lost?” The girl didn’t look lost; all bruised up like that, it looked like she was running away from someone. Alex didn’t know what to say though, she wasn’t the greatest when it came to talking to little kids. “Even if you’re not lost, I can still help…” She shrugged off her backpack, opened it up and then nudged it forward so the pup could see the food inside. It was a risk, the kid could just take her whole bag and sprint away. But, Alex was bigger, faster, and stronger. She could easily snatch up both little wolves and bring them somewhere to be taken care of...but this kid looked like she’d already been through a lot. The last thing the pup needed was Alex traumatizing her more than she already was. So, she just offered her food and hoped the kid took the peace offering.

“You know...the baby’s going to need supplies…. Diapers, bottles, clothes and all that stuff. You might be able to take care of yourself out here, but the little one needs special things,” while she spoke and the girl investigated the snacks in her backpack, Alex took out her phone. She flipped through a few pictures before settling on one of Tessa, smiling brightly and holding a bundled up Sasha. Then she turned the screen so the kid could see, “Look, here’s my mate and my pup… We’ve got lots of baby things we can share. And if you just wanna stay somewhere safe for awhile, you can stay with us. I’m not looking to get you into trouble or trap you, I just want to make sure the baby will be okay.”

The baby was absolutely miserable...and that probably helped the kid make her choice to accept a little help. Alex stayed in this cross legged position the whole time, making sure the girl didn’t think she’d make any sudden movements. “Here...let me see her. You can have a snack if you want.” Alex offered a smile and took the wailing baby when she was offered to her. She had to take her dirty diaper off in the alleyway and then sacrifice her hoodie to clean her and tie a makeshift diaper on. The infant was still fussy, like she needed to eat, but at least now she didn’t scream in discomfort. Alex gave her a few of the yogurt drops meant for Sasha, just a little snack to help the baby calm down. “There we go...much better,” once the tiny one was settled, Alex nodded to the coffee she had set down. “I’ll make a deal with you, kid. You help me deliver that coffee to my mate, and I’ll carry your little sister to our apartment so we can make her a bottle,” Alex spoke solemnly, as if carrying the fancy, sugary, abomination with whipped cream on top were a grand quest...which, it kind of was, Alex took taking care of her wife very seriously. “After that... you can make up your mind if you want to stay or want to go.”

With all that settled, Alex led them back to the apartment. Not having any plan at all wasn’t all that unusual for Alex. Plans just made the wolf anxious and stupid. Although she had no idea what to do with a little wolf and a baby wolf, it didn’t matter; her and Tessa could figure it out together. As long as they could just give the kids a safe place to stay for even one night, Alex would chalk that up as a win.
 
Syri was on the verge of tears when she heard someone approaching. Instantly, her instincts kicked in, and she hugged Haley closer, baring her teeth at the person that neared. However, she painted more of a pitiful picture than an intimidating one; even her growl trembled, her body so worn out that it made it difficult for her to put any strength into the action. The best she could manage was to make it clear that she was scared, which was not what she wanted to do - not at all.

At the same time, her reaction and the constricting hug she used to keep her little sister safe caused the tiny baby to cry louder. Hearing her cries, Syri's face crumbled, and she looked down, too tired to be both threatening and concerned; she chose concern.

Syri started trying to soothe her little sister while keeping an eye on Alex, but her body felt so heavy that she couldn't even properly rock the tiny thing back and forth, only being able to shush her with a soft, hoarse voice. As for her glaring, considering the fact that she teetered on the verge of tears, it did little more than cause her to look as desperate as she felt.

When Alex gave her name, Syri remained silent, but upon being asked if they were lost, she shook her head, a few tears finally trickling down her dirty, pallid cheeks. Then, when she saw the food, more tears started falling, and she glared at Alex all the more, feeling as if she was bragging about how much food she had when Syri couldn't even figure out how to feed her sister.

Syri's anger made her move quickly when Alex mentioned the baby needing supplies. Still keeping a firm hold on her sister, Syri reached to the side and dragged the thing of formula she stole from around the corner. Syri knew it was wrong... but she wanted to feed her sister. Even if she couldn't figure out how to do it, she was desperate to show the stranger in front of her that she was trying to take care of Haley on her own! Only, the more she thought about Alex's words, the more upset she became. Diapers, bottles, clothes - she had none of that. She only had the formula, and even that was useless since she couldn't figure out how to make it into milk.

She only calmed down a bit when Alex showed her the picture on her phone, and not because of the baby. Tessa! She knew Tessa! She had seen her on TV. The moment she saw Tessa, her eyes grew a bit bigger, though her expression remained doubtful when she looked at Alex.

Still, after remaining silent for a bit, she finally spoke, her voice strained and rough, "I'm Syri. This is Haley. I don't know how to feed her." The words caused her to start crying in earnest, but aside from a few uncontrollable sniffles, she controlled herself, refusing to wail or breakdown as she held her sister.

When Alex reached over, Syri handed Haley over with trembling arms, but she remained strong, refusing to break down. Instead, she gave Haley to Alex and stared at them, prepared to jump in and snatch her back at a moment's notice. She didn't need a snack. She just wanted Haley to feel better.

Watching Alex take care of Haley, even feeding her a few tiny pieces of something, Syri finally broke down, a few heart-breaking noises escaping her lips as her chest heaved up and down. However, she quickly rubbed the tears out of her eyes and nodded her head, standing up on shaky legs and grabbing the coffee. She held it carefully, but even the light cup felt heavy in her hands. Still, even if it was obvious that her little body was barely holding up, the stubborn look in her eyes remained, and she followed closely behind Alex, clutching the drink as she did. To her, the drink meant Alex couldn't run away with Haley. After all, she had something of Alex's, which meant they were in an equal situation.

---

The moment the trio returned, they were met by a wide-eyed Tessa, who immediately started tearing up when Alex told her what was going on. However, if not for the fact that Alex was currently holding a tiny thing, she would have smacked her! Despite her best efforts, Syri looked miserable and exhausted, and Alex made them walk all the way back! She didn't call for a car or have Tessa come and meet them - she made the child walk!

"Aw, precious, it's okay," Tessa said, walking right past her wife and kneels down next to Syri, taking the coffee and placing it aside as she wrapped the young girl in a hug. She didn't care if she was dirty; she pulled her in tight, humming gently as she did.

Syri finally broke down completely, crying her little eyes out as she stood limply in Tessa's arms, her little body cold and shaking. Syri didn't even notice the warm energy that flowed into her body as they stood there, slowly ridding her of all her injuries.

By the time Syri stopped crying, exhaustion had overtaken her, and she collapsed in Tessa's arms, fast asleep. Too devastated by the young girl's situation to be angry at Alex, Tessa stood up with the girl in her arms and looked at Alex. "Let's take them to the bedroom."
 
When Tessa scolded her for making the little girl walk, Alex pouted, casting her eyes down in one of the few signs of submission she ever gave her wife. Alright, maybe she should have called either the driver or Tessa for help...but the thought hadn’t even occurred to her! Normal functioning adult thoughts didn’t manifest themselves in Alex’s mind...plus she just didn’t like asking for help. She had seen a little wolf, knew little wolf needed to prove her worth, so had given little wolf an important task so that they could have an even trade. It all seemed appropriate to her. “She’s a wolf, Tess! Even when we’re little, we’re prideful and stubborn. We don’t like handouts,” intensive explanations about the intricacies of werewolf culture didn’t save poor Alex from getting whacked upside the head.

———

‘Just one night’ turned into two nights, turned into a week, turned into months. Syri didn’t seem to want to leave and Haley was a blissfully happy infant in their warm home. All that was fine with Alex, the little pup had a lot to learn before she could even think about running away again anyways! The kid saying that she didn’t know how to feed her little sister really stuck with Alex, one of the first things she did was teach Syri how to make a bottle, feed, and burp Haley. From that point on, Alex treated Syri like a little adult. She was aware of the limits the child had based on her size, strength, and mental development...but she never took it easy on her and never let her win at anything.

It became very clear with her interactions with Syri that Alex had absolutely no tact when it came to dealing with children.

It wasn’t her fault! It was just the way Northern wolves were. The wilds were a far crueler teacher than any parent; Alex had grown up with adults expecting her to pull her own weight and contribute to the pack at a very young age. So of course, not that Alex was an adult, she treated pups as she had been treated: with impossibly high standards. She never ever yelled at Syri or berated her if she made a mistake, but she definitely focused on redoing things until they were near perfect. She was capable of playing and having fun with the kid, of course, but even those activities were just disguised as learning exercises. Foam swords were for weapons training, hide and seek was for hunting, and tickle fights were lessons in sparring.

Tessa was the fun parent and that was fine with Alex. The two of them were a good balance and Syri alternated between them depending on what she needed. If she wanted hugs and unconditionally fluffy love, she’d go to Tessa; if she had a bad dream, Alex was the one getting woken up in the middle of the night and sleeping on the floor of the nursery as a wolf to guard Syri, Haley, and Sasha.

——————-

Syri turned 8, and Tessa threw her a little party.

Alex treated the milestone with a traditional werewolf rite of passage.

In all fairness, Tessa should have realized something was up when Alex asked to see her back so that she could take a picture of her Siren markings. It wasn’t supposed to be a sex thing! ...though had quickly turned into a sex thing where Alex had taken -a lot- of inappropriate pictures that night and maybe a few videos that she needed to delete off her phone in the morning.

It shouldn’t have been weird when her and Syri came home the next day and the kid’s back was covered in blue tattoos, just like Tessa’s.

“She picked them!” Alex said defensively when her mate rounded on her. “She’s old enough for clan markings! ...and she was very brave when she was getting them, she didn’t even cry or need that many breaks.” Alex frowned, not understanding why Tessa was so mad she had let an 8 year old get tattooed. It was an honor! Both for Syri and for the woman she wanted to emulate with the start of her clan markings.

——————

“I know you want to stay with Haley, Syri. But Mrs. Reigns is a baby hog. You wouldn’t get to help anyways.” Alex whispered to the little wolf so that her mother-in-law and wife didn’t hear. Currently Mrs. Reigns was cooing over the babies while Tessa rattled off instructions for their care. This was the first ‘vacation’ they would be taking without the two littlest ones and the three of them were all nervous. “You’ll have fun at The Games, I promise.”

Alex was actually slotted to compete on behalf of the Sirens for one of the events at The Games this year. Her martial arts instructor thought she had very good instincts, if not a lot of formal training. So she had signed up, competed in the qualifiers, and had actually placed high enough for hand to hand combat! It was exciting...a little nerve wracking though. Her expectations were on the low side but as long as she didn’t get her ass handed to her, she’d be okay with the free trip and some amazing seats for the rest of the competition.

“Uh, if they bite you, just bite them back,” was the only thing Alex thought of for advice when Tessa asked if she was forgetting anything. Alex blinked innocently at Mrs. Reigns’ shocked expression. “Well Haley doesn’t really bite...but I think Sasha’s going to be an alpha because she’s very nippy. You have to show your dominance… and you don’t have to bite -that- hard…” there were probably other ways to handle a bitey alpha, but this one worked! Sasha -never- bit Alex after that first time the wolf had growled and nipped her back.
 
Alex earned the smack upside her head. Even if Tessa adored her, including her unique outlook on life, she needed to adapt a bit! A tiny child needed care; there were times when being tough wasn't the right choice. Though, she stopped with the smack, knowing that even if it wasn't perfect, Alex's method caused the tiny one to come back with her younger sister. Still, wolf or not, Tessa wouldn't allow her to be a silly idiot all the time! Or so she thought.

It quickly became clear that Syri wanted to be exactly like Alex. The tiny wolf, determined to learn to be independent and take care of her baby sister, followed Alex with a serious face, absorbing everything she could in the most adorable manner possible. Of course, while Tessa found it cute, Alex took it seriously, and it wasn't long before Tessa became powerless, watching as Alex treated Syri like a tiny adult. It caused the Siren to sigh, though it also put a wide smile on her face.

In the end, Tessa decided that she would just spoil everyone, Alex included. Then, without any of them realizing it, the few days turned into months, and Syri and Haley turned into family. Tessa and Alex's one child turned into three, and Tessa found herself absolutely blissful.

Tessa never knew she wanted children. Before meeting Alex, she was satisfied with her life. But, whether it was their happy accident or the two they picked up along the way, they all quickly became irreplaceable to the Siren, so much so that behind the scene, she took care of everything. She ensured that their happy family would stay that way, especially when she saw how much her wife enjoyed having an eager little shadow.

To make things easier on all of them - except Alex - Tessa even started to learn domestic things. She learned how to clean, sew, and cook. Cleaning proved easy, especially since she leaned on magic for most of it. Sewing proved more difficult. She pricked her finger many times when trying to learn, but she managed to get pretty good at it in the end, even picking up knitting and making a collection of hideous sweaters for everyone. However, out of all of them, cooking showed itself to be the most difficult. Tessa had little talent for the task, and while she was learning, Alex had to try everything; she also had to be honest about what it all tasted like.

Tessa was determined, however. More than that, she made sure to spend a lot of time with the kids, Syri too, making sure she had enough fun time and academic education to match her "life lessons." It took a bit of a toll on her musical career, making it impossible for her to tour, but she still made music and held local concerts in Armistice. She even made a few celebrity appearances on certain shows, all while balancing her home life; after all, Alex needed a chaperone as much as the kids at times.

Like that, their lives continued happily, even if Alex made things a bit difficult from time to time.

---

The addition of tattoos to an eight-year-old Syri caused Tessa to explode. Her eighth birthday, something Tessa planned for quite some time, was disturbed by her wife's ridiculous plot!

"Rite of passage? Alex, what part of you thinks I would be okay with this?" It was a question she asked with as serious a face as she could muster. More than that, she made Alex sit down while she stood, though only after the kids went to sleep. Even if Syri having tattoos mortified her, she didn't want the tiny thing to know that Alex got in trouble because of her - even if it was all the big wolf's fault!

Fortunately, she calmed down just as quickly as she got angry, eventually sighing and plopping down next to her beautiful wife - a woman who didn't believe she did anything wrong.

"Alex, just talk to me before doing things like this. Please? If it really is that important as a rite of passage, just make me understand." Tessa leaned against Alex, then informed her that she wouldn't get any sex for a few weeks.

---

Alex and Tessa never completely melded when it came to childcare, but they found a good middle ground. Alex did less without talking to Tessa, though she still slipped up on occasions, and Tessa continued to spoil the children more than she probably should. Fortunately, they worked well together, each making up for the glaring flaws of the other.

One thing they both felt the same about was leaving the tiny ones behind to go to The Games. Tessa knew it was important, and she even had to perform, but it didn't make it easier for her to leave the babies behind, even if her mom would be the one watching them - perhaps because of it. She loved her mother, but she made Tessa worry more than Alex.

Once they left, things became easier, mostly because Tessa found herself with a brand new distraction. Syri was a delight, curious more than anything else. Alex, however, found herself out of sorts. From the moment they stepped onto the boat heading towards where The Games were being held - a magical floating island that stood neutral - Alex needed constant care, and Tessa made sure she had it. Mainly, they had to keep her calm while making sure Syri didn't run around and cause trouble. At least between her water magic and soothing song, she could make the trip as short and pleasant as possible.

---

Leslie sighed unhappily as the man in front of her continued to drone on. Just like most of her assignments, it started with her getting a full rundown on why the person in charge didn't want her there. They had no authority over her or her assignments, but it never stopped them from going on and on about the various ways that pissed them off. Sometimes they even threatened her, acting as if they knew someone or had the ability to make the next period of her life a living hell. As if.

The man in front of her didn't take things that far. In fact, he showed more tact than most. He remained calm and simply said that he didn't think her presence was necessary, even if certain organizations thought they could cause trouble. To him, her very presence meant someone didn't think he could do his job. Leslie agreed.

However, just like him, she had little choice in her assignment. Sure, she managed to do enough during her career to pick a cushy assignment, but when they needed something to go smoothly, they still sent her, ignoring what she wanted. So, she was there, and she had to listen to him. Joy.

Fortunately, when he finished, she got to leave, and from there, the fun started. While she hated her assignment, which basically required her to patrol The Games, it did provide her a rather delightful opportunity. The Games, aside from being a low-casualty method to divide resources and shift the global balance of power, was also a giant party. People and races from around the world gather together to compete and have fun: alcohol, drugs, sex - all done under the banner of peace and "friendly" competition. Not that Leslie needed an excuse.

A few hours later and Leslie was already shirking her responsibilities. During her patrol, she found a bar, and after that, she found the sparring gym. That was her last stop, the very flirty hunter "guarding" the gym happily, looking far too pleased with herself as she chatted up the various beauties while "protecting them."

Of course, even before she spoke, she stood out. Even if she refused to wear the full uniform, Leslie still wore the badge around her neck that let people know why she could walk anywhere she wanted with weapons. Plus, aside from a gun, she also wielded a bow and a medium-sized blade, making her stand out even more. Fortunately, she was charming enough to keep most from glaring hatefully at her for her affiliation. Most didn't like hunters, even those that served as security for the games.
 
Alex. Hated. Boats.

While Tessa was perfectly fine in modes of transportation where there was the constant threat of gruesome death, Alex hated it. Planes were terrible, boats were terrible, everything was terrible. The first leg of the trip, she managed to fake being brave on the plane for the sake of Syri. The second part with the boat...well, there was no pretending she wasn’t terrified for that.

Alex still vividly remembered being sucked into a rip current the very first time Tessa had taken her to the ocean. The way the waves had pummeled her over every time she tried to break out for a breath, how she had shifted in a panic, trying to brute force her way to safety...but her paws had scrabbled against the sand without finding a footing and her claws had done nothing more than slice through unyielding water. The ocean was so unlike any river or lake she had been in that despite her being a strong swimmer, the wolf had nearly drowned due to her inexperience. Tessa had unlocked more of her Siren magic that day to save her...and Alex had unlocked a deep fear of open water. They still went to the beach; Alex wouldn’t deny her lover of her favorite place, but now the wolf was a lot more wary of straying too far from the shore.

On a boat sailing in the open water, there was barely any shore in sight; Tessa had to hold her hand and sing to the scared wolf the whole time. Syri was an amazing big helper when she saw the older wolf’s distress, staying close to them instead of running about and exploring. Alex hoped the girl saw that it was okay to be afraid sometimes, and she hoped Syri learned the importance of picking a good mate that could be brave when you couldn’t.

———————-

Jessie had been training for The Games ever since she was a young pup. As the daughter of a pack leader, as well as the first born Alpha, she would be expected to compete and bring honor home to their clan. Thankfully, not all the stress of competition was loaded onto only her shoulders; her twin brother, Jackson, would be competing in The Hunt - a complicated obstacle course where the goal was to chase and catch an enchanted target. Her Proving of choice would be Hand to Hand Combat. She was a favorite among the wolves to win, her and one of the Chaumonts. While either of their victories would be a boon to all wolves, Jessie still wanted to crush the snooty blonde if they were pitted against one another for the final round. It wasn’t anything personal against the Chaumonts… the wild wolves of the Southern Woods Clan just didn’t care for the lofty, prim and proper wolves of the Northeast Mountains.

Well...maybe it was -a little- personal. She had seen the other wolf sniffing around her little sister and she didn’t like it! The littlest Sandalio was here as a medic. Interning with Lykos Industries was their younger sister, Anna. She was on the team providing care to the werewolves, using nanotech, biotech, and traditional herbal remedies to help treat wounds sustained during any Proving that required a werewolf to be in a suppression collar. While wounds in the sparring gyms weren’t unheard of, she didn’t have to like it that the Chaumont girl kept seeing her little sister for every boo boo she sustained!

Thoughts of the blonde annoyed her, so much so that her next punch to the standing bag nearly knocked the whole thing over, despite Jackson spotting it for her, “Whoa! Hey, geeze. Is that collar working?”

Jessie rolled her eyes. “Yes, verga,” she threw a few lighter punches so her brother wouldn’t complain. “I’m warmed up. Can we spar now?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Jackson grumbled, obviously disliking this part. He -hated- the suppression collar, which was why he didn’t participate in this particular activity. He liked to spar, liked to train and workout this way to prepare himself for his own Proving. But so close to competition, Jessie was training with a collar on, that meant he had to as well for the sake of realism. “Just a few rounds…” he muttered as he clipped the collar on.

Jackson was an excellent fighter as a full werewolf, a Parekura champion amongst their kind. But here, wearing a suppression collar for The Games, he couldn’t just bowl over his opponent with his sheer size and strength. Fighting him was still good practice for Jessie though; being on the shorter side caused her to prefer training against taller opponents, just in case she got stuck against one in the ring.
 
Leslie took very few things seriously, though it wasn't always the case. When she was younger, despite her rebellion against her training and fate, she trained seriously. She believed that tapping into her power and gaining the strength to stand on her own was a worthwhile endeavor. Back then, despite her overly serious nature, she could be bright and cheerful, an optimist even if sometimes foolish. Her charm was different then, magnetic and hopeful, almost innocent. It was the type of innocence that came before Leslie knew the darkness of what her life had in store for her.

Everything changed when she truly awakened. Those with a bloodline and powers like hers, they always found themselves thrown into something bigger. Due to the nature of her powers, Leslie found herself being turned into something very specific - a killer.

Leslie became a weapon, gaining supernatural physical capabilities, unnatural instinct, and the ability to track and use weapons to a frightening degree. Overnight, she became a dangerous weapon, one they honed into a sharp instrument. Then, they pointed her wherever they needed her.

From that moment on, Leslie's life changed. The small degree of freedom she previously clung to vanished, and she found herself mired in darkness.

It took Leslie a long time to crawl her way up, earning enough of a reputation and power to refuse to do the dirty work any longer. Truly, she didn't hate it anymore - rarely feeling anything at all when it came to her work - but she missed the freedom. Booze, women, fun - she drowned herself in it, and The Games were not going to be an exception.

However, something did change as she stood in the sparring gym. At first, she chatted with every beautiful woman she saw. Only when a certain someone walked in did that change. Leslie's chatting slowed down, and she found herself retreating to the back, watching the woman's every action.

Something about her stoked Leslie's instincts in a manner that didn't make sense. She felt it even if she didn't understand it, and she learned to trust her instincts long ago. So she watched, and the more she did, the more she found herself intrigued. She was powerful, sexy, and aggressive. Watching her fight sent a shiver through the hunter.

The moment the fight ended, Leslie pushed off the wall and walked her way, a playful smile and interest plastered all over her face. "Nice fight, beautiful."

Not a great start, but she had confidence, and the way she carried herself said a lot. In fact, she had quite a bit of experience with werewolves, both hunting and dating them. Well, she had experience seducing them; Leslie didn't do much dating. Still, she knew how much they gleamed at a glance.

"Up for another round? I've been waiting for someone to train with for a while now," Leslie said. She clearly hadn't only been looking for an opponent. It didn't even make sense for event security to spar with other people, but Leslie didn't care about that; she didn't mind if the gorgeous wolf knew she was lying. As long as she agreed, everything would work out. Thus, the grin grew wider as she looked at eyes that asked if the wolf was up for the challenge.

---

Clara whined like a child as she sat in the medical tent, her accent seeming extra thick as she complained about the wound inflicted on her during training. It wasn't a bad injury, but none of the injuries she walked in complaining of were that bad.

"Anna!" she whined, looking at her with an expression that begged the other woman to take care of her. Of course, Clara's current attire did not scream cute and innocent. Tight workout clothes for sparring practice showed off every inch of power normally hidden by smart business attire. She did have casual clothing, but her few run-ins with Anna all took place at Lykos, so she always looked professional, even if she quickly threw that away to woo the cutest thing she had ever seen.

"It stiiings, Anna," she said, pouting as she pointed to a shallow wound on her smooth thigh.
 
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Jessie’s nose wrinkled as she caught the scent of booze and sex coming off the stranger. This woman must have confused her for easy prey; a charming smile and a little bit of muscle weren’t going to turn Jessie Sandalio into a desperate slut. While it was true that The Games were also a time of celebration (complete with hook-ups, drugs, and partying), the wolf was here to compete. Besides, she had very specific tastes; ones that wouldn’t be satisfied with just a tumble in the sheets. For her there was no point to sex unless it was with someone who could be a potential sub, as well as a potential mate.

Underneath the smell of vices, there lurked something familiar… Something bright and mischievous… That couldn’t possibly be Leslie, could it? She remembered the girl fondly from her childhood, a little orphaned human, raised as a hunter; one who frequently snuck out of her lessons to come see how wolves spent their time. Leslie frequently ended up at the gym Jessie trained at, and, with that gym welcoming all kinds, would be allowed to spar and exercise there. Jessie had really liked the other girl back then but now it looks like the little troublemaker had turned into a jaded hunter.

Well. She couldn’t be sure this woman was Leslie, but she did look like a tougher challenger than Jackson who was a pushover in a suppression collar. “Alright, you’re on,” the wolf smirked. She’d make sure this cocky woman would end up on her back in the end.

As they sparred, Jessie played very much on the defensive. A taller opponent could always just punch and kick her into submission...something her twin frequently did when she was young and stupid. Jessie needed to get in and grapple - that was her true strength.

The longer they fought, the more she became certain this was the girl from her childhood. There was really only one way to be sure though… Jessie feinted, tucked, and when the girl pressed to engage, she slid out to the side and threw a punch to her face to stun her. The wolf then launched herself forward, grappling with the other girl now that she was within range. Once Jessie had a hold on her, it was over, she flipped the girl over her shoulder and pounced on top for a pin.

“Still falling for that old feint, huh Les?”

———-

Anna had been with another patient when Clara came into the medical tent. Of course she noticed the gorgeous Alpha when she first strode in...she just pretended not to. There was no fun if she just gave into this girl like a typical beta! So Anna didn’t rush as she reset the bone of the tall, handsome alpha who had broken his arm in training and then injected him with some nanobots that would jumpstart the healing process. The problem with suppression collars was that the effects were lingering - the longer one wore the collar, the longer their body healed at a human rate.

Finished with her patient, Anna made her way towards Clara. There were plenty of other medics and doctors in the tent, but she was fairly certain Clara had waved them off just to see her. “What seems to be the trouble today, Ms. Chaumont?” The competitors had only been here for practice for a few days, and this was the fourth time Clara had come to the medical tent! The first time had been for a deep laceration that she actually had needed care for...the following two times had been debatable and this last time looked downright unnecessary. “It stings huh,” a grin played at the corners of her lips; Anna could barely keep her face serious when she saw the little cut on Clara’s thigh. She had just dealt with a gentleman with a broken arm who hadn’t given her half the fuss that Clara was! A bandage and a bit of over the counter antibiotic ointment would have been a perfectly fine way to treat this superficial ‘wound.’

“If I didn’t know any better, Ms. Chaumont, I’d think you were getting injured on purpose just to come visit me,” Anna teased. Ever the professional, even when Clara blatantly flirted with her at Lykos, Anna supposed she did do things to encourage the other female. Even now, as she gave her a quick check up that every patient got for their vitals, her fingers danced over the strong muscles of her back as she checked Clara’s breathing. When she checked her eyes for any head trauma, the beta was close, close enough for a kiss...but then she pulled away and grabbed a set of nitrile gloves and a tube of healing salve.

After a quick cleaning, she applied the cooling paste to Clara’s thigh. As she smoothed out the bandage onto her, her gloved hand brushed against Clara’s inner thigh. It was unavoidable...but perhaps the way Anna did it was more with interest and less clinical than a professional working towards a combination PHD/Md should be.

“One more thing…” Anna dug into one of the pockets of her white coat before finding a lollipop. Many times the families of competitors would come into the medical tent to stay with their injured family member; Anna always had lollipops for pups who were good and didn’t disturb the other patients. “Because you were so brave,” the beta teased as she handed Clara the sweet.
 
Leslie didn't miss the look in the wolf's eyes. Clearly, something about her left a bad first impression, which was a real shame, but it wasn't like Leslie hadn't experienced that before. After all, strong women often disliked her hedonistic tendencies, but it only made her want to try harder. Mainly, it made Leslie want to show off. Even if her usual attitude did little to show it, she was capable, standing at the top. She almost looked forward to surprising the other woman, just grinning even wider at the thought.

Fortunately, the wolf gave her the opportunity, hesitating for a moment but nodding in the end. She agreed, and Leslie brightened up when she did, prepared to show the woman just how good her decision was. One way or another, even if she ended up losing, Leslie got her chance to display a bit of her prowess.

"Fantastic. I actually thought you were going to say no at first," Leslie said with a relieved sigh, then quickly took off her weapons. She didn't even bother securing them, placing them on the ground next to the sparring ring. It was a definite no-no, but it was obvious that Leslie didn't care; she only cared about her opponent.

Leslie stretched for a brief moment, showing off her flexibility before jumping into the ring. Then, the moment they started, she jumped in, displaying a rashness that wouldn't have worked if she was any less skilled. It wasn't just instinct either; Leslie could react quickly, but she also displayed a great deal of training not normal for the average hunter.

From the moment the sparring match started, Leslie's main goal was showing off. She wanted to win, and she was trying to land a solid blow, but the wolf proved a tough opponent.

"You're good!" Leslie exclaimed in the middle, clearly growing more excited as they fought, almost forgetting her purpose. Almost. She pushed further, using speed to try and find an opening.

Then, suddenly, Leslie realized something; she was having fun. Fun! Leslie rarely had fun doing anything but rolling around in the sheets. Even fighting lost its spark long ago, becoming a job or mindless training to keep her alive. Yet, as she looked for an opening, she felt as if she was reliving a moment from earlier in her life - back when she trained because she enjoyed it.

Before the realization struck her, something else did, and she was forced to raise her arms to block a blow to the face. While she succeeded - mostly - she couldn't avoid the consequences of the blow. The world spun, and she soon found herself on her back, a surprised look on her face instead of the other way around.

Les?

Nobody called her that. Then it hit her.

"Jessie?" Her voice trembled a little as she said the name, suddenly understanding why she felt drawn towards the woman on top of her. The odd sensation of deja vu during the fight also made sense. She was fighting Jessie!

Then, immediately after the realization, she shuddered, a mix of embarrassment and nervousness suddenly flickering through her mind. The things she always ignored - the scent of sex, the alcohol, her general ridiculousness - suddenly felt magnified. And, deep down, shame, but not about the debauchery. Who she had become... wasn't someone she wanted a childhood friend to see.

Fortunately, Leslie quickly got her emotions under control, took a deep breath, and did what she always did, covering everything with a charming grin.

"You grew up beautiful. Though, I knew you would." Not the best thing to say, but the playful glint in her eye disappeared before she could say anything else stupid.

"Careful!" she suddenly shouted and used the fight being over as a chance to reverse their positions, flipping the script and putting Jessie on her back. However, the moment she did, a knife flew across the gym and sank itself in her side. Leslie hissed, but the look on her face was furious, not pained.

As if not concerned at all, she gave Jessie an apologetic smile. "Hold that thought, beautiful."

Then, without another word, she pushed off the ground, pulled the dagger out of her side, found her target, and launched the dagger back, sending it sailing through the air and into the neck of the would-be assassin. It all happened in an instant, far faster than anyone else in the room seemed to be able to react - all without an ounce of hesitation on Leslie's part.

"Asshole," she spat, leaping from the sparring ring and grabbing her gear. From the belt that held her gun, she grabbed a small packet. After ripping it open, she poured the powder into her hand and roughly shoved it into the wound on her side. The result was an odd bubbling sound, followed by the wound being burned shut.

"Whew. Now, where were we?" Leslie turned and asked, a smile on her face as she rubbed the blood onto her pants. She was sure someone else would take care of the body. Probably.

---

Clara's thoughts on romance were surprisingly childish for a woman with so much sophistication and intelligence. She liked what she liked and wanted what she wanted, and Clara was not the type to deny herself something she wanted. Truthfully, she knew how silly it was, but she rationalized well. Mainly, she took every relationship seriously, even if she started it on a whim. She also never cheated or did anything to hide her intentions. She flirted, she told the truth, and she always hoped things would work out, even if they never did.

Basically, Clara was a serial monogamous, one who really got around. It wasn't always like that. At one point, she slept around and never got into a relationship at all, but that was in college. Now, she wanted something more, even if it didn't always seem that way. Anna was her chance at that, even if it seemed like she picked her on a whim.

Sure, the first thing that attracted her to Anna was how cute she was, but that wasn't what kept Clara from getting into another relationship since they first met. No, the beautiful, smart, charming woman that was Anna Sandalio caused her to be so smitten, enough to flirt with her every time they met and wait for the perfect chance during The Games. To her, the competition really didn't matter; she was only there for Anna.

Clara's motivations were clear, which was precisely why she kept returning with tiny injuries, trying to make it as obvious as possible. She was pretty sure she had done that, especially after the "examination" started. The part when Anna called her out hinted at it.

"Well, since lying isn't good, I guess I can only confess," Clara said with a bright smile. Then, after a pause, she sighed and said, "I'm actually just fragile and prone to injury."

She looked at her tiny "injury" and whined, acting slightly pathetic, but that quickly faded when Anna began to run smooth fingers across her back. She shivered, chewing on her lower lip as she fought back a purr. It only became more difficult as Anna doubled down on being a tease. Clearly, she wasn't the only one seeking more.

"Ah! A lollipop!" Clara grinned, though she didn't take it immediately. Instead, she took Anna's hands and pulled them closer, tempted to put the girl in her lap. In the end, she held back, but it wasn't easy.

"Anna, since you have provided dessert, it would be rude of me to not contribute. Please, allow me to fix dinner for you tonight. After all, you would not want me to eat only sugar, would you? This way you can make sure I eat properly. You know, to help with my recovery." Then, after her playful banter, she slowly released Anna's hands, taking the lollipop as she did.
 
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