Wolf Wrongs

The signing

Harris is standing in the hall waiting for us, scrunching his fingers nervously whilst his arms hang loosely by his sides feigning a relaxed disposition. But his nervous finger scrunching motion is a give away, one that I'm sure Michael has noticed.

The two shake hands and I give Harris a reassuring glance. He takes a breath in.

"I take it you do intend to sign the agreement, and participate. In exchange for calling off your attack."

"You are not under any false pretenses." Michael responds in a business-like manner.

Harris nods smartly, "This way please." He beckons. Michael looks at me, as I'm still standing by his side, he motions for me to go first Harris. It's probably best that I'm in between the brothers, I'm not sure of their feelings toward one another.

I move forward looking behind me to check that Michael is actually following, much to my relief, he is. "Thank you for asking me here" Michael says graciously, "I don't know that any other Alpha would have allowed me this opportunity, it shows how fair you are. I'm also very glad that you, well you don't seem to care at all, that I'm gay, or that anyone else is." He continues, clearly implying me.

If this took Harris by surprise he managed week not to show it, swiftly replying "I don't think I'd be the only Alpha to take part in this agreement-"

"The only one who'd take part in it with someone homosexual." Michael reflects.

"Hmmm"

"Just take the complement!" Michael demands.

Harris stays silent, he produces a pen.

"A quill!" Michael laughs, "Really?"

Harris smiles uneasily...

"The written out document is over there." Celia appears cheerily and points to a podium down the hall.

The walk towards it seems unbearably slow, and the details of the hall suddenly become so much more interesting, a distraction from the intimidating narrow path before us. The red ribbon strapped round halfway down the thick wooden podium stand is suddenly easier to look at than the people around me. Whenever I pear over at Michael I can feel his mind buzzing, contemplating his decisions, still unsure, I sense, of whether he will go through with the signing. I am, however, more fearful to look at Harris, I hope that he doesn't regret what he's about to do, if things take a turn for the worst, it is I who will get the brunt of the blame, the short straw if you will. But I can understand Harris' apprehension, if he did not go through with it, sure there may be an attack, but he would remain Alpha and go down with dignity. If he loses the fight, he loses everything he's been working for, the pack that he loves will turn their backs, he'll be utterly humiliated and I'm worried about what that will do to him, surely only resentment can follow.

People are gathered behind the podium, witnesses I think, they all seem worried, probably thinking about who they'd place bets on. Michael? Harris?

But I do think that Harris will win, I have faith in him.

During my train of thought we have arrived at the podium, just feet away from where we had been standing, "Let's do this!" Harris chimes enthusiastically, rubbing his hands together in preparation. Michael claps his hands together and begins to read the document. I hope he doesn't read it all! It's terribly long. But both Harris and Michael are just skim reading, anxious to get this part over with. Perhaps after it, everyone will relax a little. Fat chance! With all the tension, people will be at each others throats! And we can't keep parents out of the mix forever.

I attempt to banish those thoughts from my mind, focus on the now. I mean, look at this! The plan is working! The plan which we had only moments to formulate. I give myself a mental pat on the back, I'm doing okay... So far.

Michael takes a deep breath, his hands grip the pen feverishly. "Right."

Harris looks across at him, then his face brightens... Is that an idea I sense? Should I stop him voicing it? No! I feel that this is an idea that will do no harm.

"Wait! I'll go first! Why should you have to. If your going to sign this, you should feel safe in the knowledge that your opponent will already be bound to the contract." It's logical at least, but the demand for going first and implied lack of trust within Michael could be considered insulting to his character and strength.

As I suspected, Michael shakes his head firmly. He relaxes his grip on the pen, and in as casual a manner as he can muster, pens his signature in the designated box. Then Harris does the same, almost snatching the quill from Michael in anticipation and despite his matching demeanor his hand shakes a little when he too, signs the paper.

All of the witnesses that stand behind the podium begin to clap, a big response to what took only a few strokes of a pen. I do think the whole signing was a little anti-climactic, the build-up was so long and the event so fast. I see that many of the witnesses agree as the disappointment on their faces suggests they were expecting a more problematic ceremony. I am just relieved.

The contest will take place at noon tomorrow and unlike many, who'd put it off longer. I wish we could get it done sooner, to relieve the pressure off everyone involved. Harris can win, Michael can peacefully neutralise the rogues and be invited back to the pack. And hopefully the road to acceptance for me can begin. I will gain respect if all of this works out, it will definitely count in my favour and may cause people to see past my s****l orientation.

I escape the room pretty fast, speaking only a few reassuring words to each brother before leaving. Celia close behind.

"That was tense!" I say to her through our mate connection. She jumps a little in surprise to hear my voice inside her head.

"Yeah. You did really well."

"I did nothing..."

"What?!? You did so much, I could see how much both Harris and Michael looked to you for support back there. I could not have stood there with them. I'd have run. And I was talking to Adrian just before the end, he totally agrees. Two Alpha powered wolves, looking at you for support. He said he'd have buckled under the pressure as well."

"I guess my general presence might of been... Calming?"

Generally, I did find it a little stressful, but the stares I got from the brothers was no where near to breaking me, I knew they needed reassurance, so gave it... No big deal. I guess... Power radiating from them... Or something. But we all know that doesn't really affect me anyway, that will be why I didn't realise how much I was doing. I don't know... I hardly did anything. I wish I could understand.

Celia speaks out loud. "My head is aching from all this telepathic stuff." She groans pressing her temples with her slender index fingers in a circle motion.

"Come with me." I instruct, taking her one of her hands tenderly from her head and lead her into a nearby room. To my luck, its an unoccupied guest room.

I sit on the end of the bed and pat it next to be for her to sit down, when she does I swing round behind her and place my fingers on the sides of her head, where hers had been circling moments earlier. I begin to massage gently and she sighs with appreciation. I love her and she loves me. I love the way she sits, leaning back on me, her head resting on my chest, her shoulders between my arms. I love the way, even though she sits still, motionless, I can feel her emotions around me, her enjoyment and the feeling of pain seeping away as she thinks of no one but me, us.

I Love Us. Together.

And no one can take that from me.