The Wild Wolf Within

An Understanding

********

Red's POV

*********

Red stood on the back porch, in the early morning after Lia had come back. I was thinking about everything Lia had told me. I was angry to some degree. My woman was bonded to a second male. I was not sure how this would work. I had parts of me that was ok with it but other parts that were just not. I glanced out at the horizon, looking just above the trees. I caught movement just below the trees. Brown fur met my eyes, I seen Lada standing near our back gate. It appeared she wanted to talk.

"Lada,"I nodded to her as I got close to her.

"Red, I suspect that Lia filled you in on events?" Lada sat down to chat.

"She did. I am not doing so good with the extra male bonding thing." I sighed.

"I fully understand. But I can tell you, why it was done. Are you willing to listen?" Lada asked.

The internal war that started in my heart and felt in my stomach turned a bit then did a dance. "Yes." I sighed.

"Tvso the Elder Dragon that was tasked with getting her from the place she was, knew her job here would be a lengthy one. He also knows your spirit has not decided it it wants to continue with being on this plane, as you have known nothing but fighting minus this life you were given the chance to love the soulmate chosen for you." Lada eyed me a moment.

I nodded for her to go on. There were parts of me that no longer wanted to fight so this could be true.

"Tvso also knew that you are mortal. You have ancient Atlantian blood in you, but it will not let your stay here a long one. Creatures with magic blood can do this if there is need. Dragons, and some wolves. There are darker ones but we do not disscus this. Knowing Lia would be here well after you were gone, he did not want her to go through what One who Remembers has gone through. Also her challenges will still be needing hunting long after you are gone. So he bonded her to a dragon/wolf hybrid." Lada stopped again to see how I was taking this.

I knew I was not gonna live forever, but knowing that Lia would be fighting still long after I was gone, I was oddly ok with someone keeping her safe. "Who did he choose?" I asked.

"Joe," Lada sighed. She eyed me for a reaction.

Joe, I thought. I had a feeling it would be him. He had disappeared just before Lia had showed up. But, had also noted he had took it to heart when she had disappeared. "How can there be a dragon/wolf hybrid?" I was curious.

"Southern Wolves have a different start to their line. which allows them to be able to do that. Their base is very very old magic and heavily touched with love." Lada hoped this helped.

"So there is no way he can turn on her once I am gone?" I needed to know the answer to this.

"I believe that there would be only two reasons that he would be able to turn. The same two reasons that you would be able to turn as well. Those two are vampire magic or bite and shadow magic." Lada glanced around suddenly. "We have a visitor. Joe come forth." Lada annouced.

My emotions were all over the place with this. But, I waited to see how this played out.

Joe came forward in his wolf. Silver and black, I was guessing based on memory that he would have been bigger then the red wolf that I had laid down. "Can I see you in human form?" I heard myself ask.

I watched the wolf transform into a man. He was a few inches taller then me. Brown eyes and complexion much like Lia. His hair matched his eyes in their brown. "Thank you," I started. "How is your hand to hand combat?" I couldn't help but ask.

"It is ok," I heard him shrug.

"Perhaps we can test it sometime. I need to know that you can protect her from any and all things that can harm her including mortals." I knew what I was doing. A friendly match would help me settle some turmoil.

I felt Lada touch me, looking to Joe I seen she was touching him at the same time. We were in a space that was sandy, the sky filled with a mulitude of colors above us. "Where are we?" I looked around in awe.

"We are in inner space. It is where our consensus so that neither can harm the other." Joe offered up.

"I see." Still in awe.

"Still want to match wits?" Joe asked.

"Sure" I relaxed and settled my body.

We both walked in a circle checking each others movements. I could see, there were hints of training. Mostly martial arts training from what I could guess. That is when he took a soft jab at me. I knew it was a test. I reacted quickly and easily to his first test. I took my own turn to strike. He quickly got out of the way and countered, placed me into autopilot mode. I started to punching, kicking and using his momentum against him. Neither of us angry just gauging the other in the intent to see who was on top. Both of us tried many ways to get the advantage. Neither of us managed. Neither of us tired either as if we had unlimited amount of energy.

"I will say you both are of equal strength in this endeavour." Lada's voice echoed above and around us.

Both of stopped and stood up. "I agree," sighed Joe.

"As do I" I nodded.

"Then it is understood, you both are on the same playing field?" Lada asked.

"Yes, minus he has magic and I do not." I announced deferring to his power source.

"I make a vow to never use that power on you unless you try to harm Lia." Joe knelt. Knowing this vow would be honor bound in front of Lada.

"I appericate that." I nodded.

"I also add that I will not interfere in your bond. Unless you have left this world for the one we all hope to get." Joe still knelt down added. Then rose and looked up to Lada.

"I thank you for that as well." I was genuinely thankful that there would be no power struggle between us over Lia.

**********

Shortly after that the place we were was no longer there. We were back in the world I knew. Lada had taken her paw off and Joe was back in wolf form heading away. "I know that needed to be done. Males need to know where they fit in the great scheme of things." Lada looked behind me. "Lia is awake. Go tend to her." I watched her get up and take off in the same direction as Joe had.

I walked back to the house, and breathing a little more easily. I caught the smell of coffee brewing, and heard pots and pans in the kitchen telling me she must be hungry. I opened the sliding glass door, "Hey beautiful," as I walked inside. Walking up behind her I wrapped my arms around her from behind and nuzzled my nose into her messed up hair and neck. Breathing in her scent, I kissed her cheek.

"Feels really good to be back," I heard her sigh.

"Feels great to have you back as well," I hugged her a touch harder.

It was about then when we both heard it. The scratching on the door. Both of our eyes met and then looked at the front door. When Lia looked back at me her eyes were that bright blue I had become aware was her wolf coming forward. It was gonna take me a bit to get used to that.

"Stud muffin, this is for me be right back." I watched her walk to the door. I kept an eye on her while I grabbed a cup of coffee.

By the time I had poured the coffee and took my first sip, she was closing the door and heading back to me. Her eyes their normal grey.

"What's going on?" I asked while handing her a cup of coffee.

"It appears I have magic lessons I will need to take." You could see how uncomfortable she was with saying it let alone knowing I had to hear it.

"I am sure all will be well." I took a sip of coffee. "Who is teaching you?" I was curious.

"Lada and Joe will be." I heard her say over her cup of coffee.

"You nervous?" I rasied a brow.

"No, just don't understand how we got to this point. So many changes." she breathed and sipped the mug of warm brown liquid.

"One thing I can say with certainty life changes sometimes faster then fleas on a dog." I kissed her forehead and wrapped my arm around her. "All will be fine, it will work out the way it was meant to." I hugged her for all I was worth.