Divinity: Leto & Lykos

So Be It

The office sprung into action, separating the Heirs and rushing Fane out of the room. Sabine lamented the departure of her Mate. The weight of her despair felled her human, once again. Nicole had to be helped to the same sofa she had just vacated, and reclined with care.

“How is this even possible?” Troy has to know everything. Maybe that’s where she got it. Did they inherit it from a parent?

“You realize we almost saw our sister…” Nathaniel had a habit of exaggerating.

“Oh, come off it. There are bigger issues at hand.” Mathias sounded uncharacteristically flustered. The Lykos and others must have left.

“Bigger issues??”

“An Alpha and an omega, in the same wolf?” all of her brothers voices comically rose an octave when incredulous.

“Birdie has enough to worry about without the Lykos prat.” Rasmus’ most likely only comment on the matter.

Her eyes wouldn’t open. Or maybe she wasn’t ready to face it all. Eighteen to Alpha Heir Apparent to Mate to Alpha/Omega anomaly.

What kind of c****d up life was this?

She sacrificed her naiveté and easy optimism to war. Sacrificed parents, siblings, inherent capability to look at the bright side. So many priceless sodding treasures. The war ended, but the demands of her did not. And she couldn’t find a single piece of her true self left in the helter-skelter scraps holding her together.

She missed her mum.

I want Fane.

“What did you just say?”

“She’s gone barmy!”

Her brothers’ back and forth floated around her. Had she said that aloud?

“Maybe, he really is her Mate.”

“You don’t think they’re…those Mates do you?”

“Shut your gob! Birdie can’t take anymore, can’t you see she’s struggling!” Rasmus was awfully vocal today.

Nicole squeezed her eyes tighter. A discomfiting began in her brain and spread through her body. Her skin felt wrong and itchy with prickles. The flesh was literally crawling. Her Alchemy began pulling that pricking fever to her center until it was expanded out in a rush.

~~~~~~~~

“I didn’t bloody attack her.”

“We heard you the first hundred times.” Sethos groaned.

He was pacing in his study, sucking down fags to try to calm his nerves. Fane felt manic. He couldn’t sit still. She was an omega.

My omega.

My omega.

And they had taken her away from him. She had felt cornered, out of control. He was the only one that could help her. Being in the vicinity of each other would be enough to appease the monster unleashed upon his psyche.

He had to know if she wanted him there or not. The only approval he needed was hers. They were Alphas and didn't have to take the directives of her lower-ranking brothers. Mathias and his father could prove to be difficult, but Fane doubted the Alpha Kings would prevent the two from seeing each other.

His brain, or perhaps Titan, kept conjuring her lips, the pressure of her fingertip skirting his shirt buttons, that gods damn addicting scent of salted vanilla and brown sugar.

How did she feel about all this?

Teresi had always been a wildcard. As a pup she was unpredictable and cheeky. As an adolescent she was sassy and bratty. As a soldier she was focused and efficient. Now as a mature female the guesswork thickened.

This connection was not one-sided of that he was sure. He needed to see her, talk to her. Gods what would he do if she was scared of him? The thought of fear in those endless sapphire depths as she looked up at him made his vision fill with red.

He let out an angry roar and proceeded to vent his frustrations on the furniture. His Guard and Father jumped to their feet to scramble out of the path of destruction. Chairs, side tables, bar cart, and coffee table were flipped into the air. Cushions shredded, lamps shattered. Shards of glass decorated the floor in prisms of color reflected from the chandelier out of Fane’s reach. Just as he hefted a portrait from the wall a gust of air proliferated through the room.

The pheromones hit him like a ton of bricks.

His Mate was calling him.

Teresi sent him a Mate distress signal.

A feral smile curved his lips and he took off through the Alpha Guard House. His fellow Lykos shouted at his back as they made chase.

“Fane, what the f**k??”

“That grin was properly unglued!”

“Fane Andros! You cannot go back there right now!”

“Fane, f*****g hell, they could kill you!”

He let out a whooping laugh as he picked up speed. The Alpha House was in sight. He could smell her. Her pheromones got stronger the closer he got. They were sending Titan into a frenzy but his Alpha didn’t want to scare away their Mate.

“Fane, you’re acting like a nutter!”

He was through the front door now. Up the stairs, second floor, down the long corridor, to the right. The study door splintered under the force of his speed and it faltered only after he’d scooped Teresi into his arms.

“I'm here. I heard you. I felt you.” He settled her into his lap as he took a seat on the couch. Her tangled hair fell over the arm at her back like a silk curtain. She nuzzled her face into his neck and curled her arms between their chests. Eight males stood stunned amidst the shrapnel of the study door. Teresi trembled in his arms, little whimpers escaping into the skin of his collarbone.

“We. Will not. Be separated again.” Fane’s said in a dangerously low tone. She stiffened. “Unless by choice.” He amended.

“Tonight has been…”

“A proper bugger all.” Sethos finished for the Leto Alpha with a sad smile.

“Mathias you can’t agree to this-“ the Beta brother gestured to the pair on the couch.

“She’s shaking like a f*****g newborn calf you half wit!” Teresi grabbed the front of his shirt at his sudden volume. Fane glided his hand along her back to the nape of her neck. At her shift closer he pressed her face to him. He next spoke in a calm, even tone. “You want to remove me from her? I’d love to see it.”

Alpha Mathias and the healer brother stepped in front of the charging oaf.

“Bird,” the other brother, some say he’s mad, slowly crept forward. He knelt noiselessly in front of Fane and his Mate. “Alright there?”

Teresi turned slightly from his chest to look at the brother.

“He j-just makes..it b-better. Right now.” She said softly.

Fane felt the ball of anxiety in his chest unwind. Teresi looked at her brother a moment longer then pressed her nose back to Fane’s skin.

An involuntary groan reverberated in his chest.

“Oh, f*****g hell!”

“Out!” Fane barked, “Father, Alpha Teresi, please. Nothing inappropriate will happen. She’s my Mate.” He implored the two leaders in the room.

When the study was clear Fane rested his cheek on top of her head. The heat seared his cheek. They sat like that for countless minutes. Either not knowing what to say or not wanting to end the tranquil silence.

He glanced down at the tear in her skirt. Dried blood on her freshly healed hands. Her boots were caked with dirt and blood. The cream top unrecognizable.

“Let’s clean you up.” Fane eased her away from his chest, “Teresi.”

Her eyes flicked to his. She looked shattered, lost.

“Come on.” He stood and carried her like a child. She docilely looped her arms around his neck and hugged herself to him. He could feel her tears against his shirt, but he couldn’t keep the satisfied smile from his face.

~~~~~~~~

The next morning Nicole woke in her bedroom at the Blue House. The unfamiliar room was disorienting at first, until it all came rushing back. The fight, the silver, her big reveal as an omega and most importantly- Fane Andros. Her thoughts jumbled and she flopped back into her pillow.

The walls of her room were the color of butter, it was more of a bed chamber complete with en-suite. The “house” was also more of a mansion. All of the residences at Divinity were. When the Mate crisis struck so many unmated were displaced in their own packs. In truth Divinity had become more of an adult camp where the single go to mingle. Physical fitness and skill training were also part of the curriculum, but mostly just a place for all the unattached wolves.

The gauze on her arm started to chafe. She sat up and carefully unwrapped it.

Gods, last night was mortifying.

She had thrown a temper tantrum fueled by residual adrenaline and anger. Then passed out like a puff! Her wolf had to sequester her consciousness for f***s sakes! In front of the bloody mother hens she calls brothers, in front of not one but two sodding Alpha Kings.

She was going to be sick.

Good show, really got your “I may be a female, but my designation is Alpha and I expect to be treated accordingly” persona to a science, yeah? Nicole scoffed, then sighed at the ugly red of the still healing scars on her left arm. What kind of wolf fought with silver? The thought disturbed her to her bones. The faint smell of teakwood added to her unease. Her door flew open and her Beta quickly swung it closed behind him. The two just stared at each other.

“Alright?” He asked quietly.

At her half nod, half head shake he grabbed her vanity stool and crossed the room to sit in front of her. She turned towards him. She couldn’t look Gideon in the face for fear of disappointment, disgust, or any of her own feelings showing there. Hera’s envy, she was getting more pathetic by the day.

“Alpha,” Gideon covered her hand resting on the blanket over her calf with his. His smooth scent of sandalwood calmed her a bit, “You made April and me, but especially Alpha Mathias very proud yesterday.” He said sincerely.

They both watched as her tears splashed onto the back of his hand, his fingers curled into her palm. His hand was bigger than hers, but still not as big as…

Teakwood.

“And me.” The deep voice had Nicole snapping her head to see Andros leaning his shoulder against the doorframe. His arms were crossed over that toned chest. His hot eyes pinned her to the spot.

He was annoyingly attractive for such an early hour. Black joggers slung low to reveal the v of his hips and pelvis. Grey shirt accentuated his muscled torso and arms. He wasn’t overly muscular, just right.

For some females, I guess.

“Andros. Perhaps when we’re dressed, yeah?” Gideon sounded casual, but she felt his tension.

She blinked down at their hands and thought of the picture they made. Sitting indian style on the edge of her bed, covers up to her belly button, baggy shirt falling down her bare shoulder. Gideon with his forearms on his wide set thighs, sleep pants and no shirt. Holding her hand while she cried.

Shite.

“I believe that’s my line, Miller.” Andros’ tone suggested her Beta had gone daft.

“Gideon, we’ll have a meeting with everyone after breakfast, see you then.” She intervened before things escalated.

Too sodding early. Bloody males.

With a warning glare to the Lykos as he passed, Gideon left. Andros slammed the door on his heel.

Alone with her “Mate” her insecurities and embarrassment resurfaced. Her face and neck grew incredibly hot and she wished she knew if she was in her traditional knickers-only sleepwear. With him watching her in that intense way he was making a habit, the blanket felt thin on her lap. Nicole discreetly wiped the moisture from her cheek onto her shoulders as he sniffed her room.

The stitching and texture of said blanket became fascinating as the room turned humid with tension, s****l and otherwise.

When he moved it was graceful and assured. His whole being exuded s*x and dominance. He sat on the stool Gideon had occupied and placed his ridiculous dinner-plate hands on either side of her knees. His knuckles paled with the strength of his grip on the edge of the bed. Her body tipped forward at the weight. The teakwood aroma flooded her senses, she was overwhelmed by it.

“Your Beta visits you while you're only in knickers?” that answered that query. Who had changed her?

Then recollections of the Lykos carrying her to Blue House, waking up April rather rudely, reassuring her he would be just outside.

“He refused to leave,” her Guard had said, “He’s waiting for me to bathe and dress you then I'm supposed to get him.”

It was blurry and parts were missing, but she remembered.

April was comforting and concerned, “I'll tell him to leave.”

“No!” Nicole had moved so suddenly the bath water sloshed on the floor. April had just nodded and continued rinsing her hair, minding her gauze.

He had gotten her friend to help her. She glanced at the chair in the corner of her room with the poorly folded quilt. He had slept in a chair.

“I’m aware this is a development less than twenty-four hours old,” his voice had gotten impossibly deeper. Dangerous, “But my control is slipping and this level of…sentiment is new for me, as well.”

His unusual vulnerability boosted her confidence.

“Meaning what?” Her question was met by his hand framing her jaw.

He tilted her head back because even sitting he was taller. His eyes asked permission. She dropped hers to his mouth. He was so close and her skin was tingling from his touch. Why not?

At the first joining of their lips, Nicole’s retort was in the form of the bombardment of heat and lust that sprung to life. She gripped her calf to keep from touching him. His lips pressed firmly onto her and she gasped. Andros dove into her mouth devouring her tongue in teeth and suction. His taste was alluring and made her weak in the knees. The kiss was primal. His hand gripped her jaw to near-bruising. His other hand wrapped around her ribcage, thumb under her breast. The stroke of his tongue against hers and the hand on her torso made her feel feminine, desired.

She had to stop this. His mouth was pulling her under a fog of want, and impulses, and him. Nicole removed the hand from her face and scooted further onto the bed. Away from him. Their breathing was labored and their countenances were twin expressions of bewildered arousal.

“I don’t want to see another male in this room with a door shut again. And no male will be anywhere near you when you're bottomless.”

“You're right,” his jaw dropped, “This is a new development and I believe we should take it slow, as well.” She straightened her spine and shook her hair back. “No males while bottomless, so if you could...” She gestured to the door regally.

She would have laughed if she wasn’t so incensed. His expression was thunderous and the doorframe shook with the force he used to shut it behind him.

Fucking patriarchy.

~~~~~~~~~

Fucking females!

Fane pondered the complexity that was Nicole Teresi all morning.

The sensation of her small, supple body in his arms the whole walk to her house was burned into his brain. When the house proved to be quiet he yelled for a female.

Multiple emerged from the rooms and stood at the railing on the floor above where Fane had stood with his Mate. He recognized the brunette from the party as she ran down the steps. Her sleep pants were on backwards and she hadn’t put a shirt on over her sports bra, but she’d have to do.

“You.”

“April.”

“Right. We need to clean and change your Alpha.”

Fane had nearly strangled the beta more than once before she finally conceded to him staying. He now understood his female’s relationship and choice of Guard. The two could infuriate a saint. He had tucked Teresi into her bed, her hair was damp and springy against the pillows. In the moonlight from her window she had looked ethereal. He had dragged the plush arm chair to her bedside and used the quilt from the back of it.

She was asleep instantly. He took that time to study her. The graceful joining of her jaw to her neck. The moonstone pendant he’d never seen her without shimmering against her oversized shirt. Her breasts moving under the covers with every breath.

“-have to meet with the High Oracle. Fane.” He came back to the present to see all eyes on him.

His Father and both their Guards were in the Alpha study prepping for the meeting with the Letos. He just couldn’t clear his head of Teresi enough to actually pay attention.

“When?” was his delayed response. Teresi and he would have to go to the High Oracle. Since the Mate decrease, all potential Mates were to have an oracle read the bond prior to the Mating. With them both being Alphas of course it would require the High Oracle.

“She will be brought here. Mathias and I agreed that it was too great a risk to send both Heirs to her.” His father said. Fane nodded.

He couldn’t wait to see her again. That kiss this morning had been staggering. It was as though she burrowed under his skin and into his cerebellum, into his f*****g soul. It was bloody addictive. The soft exhales of her sweet breath into his mouth, the touch of her tongue and lips emptied his mind of all, save for her.

Fane hadn’t planned on kissing her again so soon, but the sight of her Beta tosser sitting so close to her bed and holding her hand had been too much. She had looked so beautiful with the soft sunlight to her back, giving the red curls framing her a golden hue. That stupidly overgrown shirt sagged down to her bicep, the exposed curve of her shoulder and collarbone bloody erotic. Her true blues, wide and glassy with tears, had stripped him to his core.

Then he’d remembered the other male and that had brought his jealously possessive wolf back to the surface. The Miller ponce seeing her like that and his f*****g hand touching her was unbearable. The wanker had left not a moment too soon, Titan had been fighting to break free.

In that vein his Alpha needed to lay some claim to her. He had only wanted to feel the texture of her lips while simultaneously softening his demand for no more males. His little enigma had turned that on him and he begrudgingly respected that. Her scent and taste and being in her room had weakened his resolve. His instincts had dominated and he’d snogged her senseless. He smiles to himself as the Lykos wolves left to meet the Letos.

Seeing his Mate sitting in between Alpha Mathias and her f*****g Beta, Fane strode to his place at her back. As he passed her female Guard there was little to no ire to the glare she sent his way. April, that was her name.

The meeting progressed after it was apparent Fane would stand. The unprecedented pairing of two Alphas and the omega dynamic were the main topics. It was believed the High Oracle would shed light on both mysteries.

“Birdie,” Alpha Mathias spoke to his sister, “How did you call Fane last night?”

“I don’t understand.” Confusion laced her tone.

“That aspect of Mates is not usually applicable until the Bond is sealed and…consummated.” Alpha Jason explained from across the conference table. Her cheeks flamed. Fane sent his father a warning scowl.

“Oh.” Was her only response. Whatever her face held must’ve left no more room for discussion. Fane wished he’d thought of not seeing her reactions before he chose his position at her back.

“Could you try to send Fane a telepathic massage?” Cole requested gently, “The Mate Bond allows the couple to share projected thoughts to one another, similar to the distress call you sent last night.”

His stoic Guard seemed to have a soft spot for his Mate. This pleased him more than it should. Cole was a great judge of character and known to be intimidating. Fane doubted anything could scare Nicola Teresi.

“Alright.” Her quiet agreement seemed to floor the Leto wolves at the table. Cole smiled encouragingly.

Female was a f*****g Siren.

A pin could be heard in the silence.

“You’re a chauvinistic prat.” Scrolled through his mind in her lilting voice. He kept his features unresponsive.

“Nothing?” it was the first word she had said to him. She was looking over her shoulder at him and he couldn’t stop staring.

“A bloody fit chauvinistic prat.” He almost lost his composure. This was going to be an amusing skill.

“Nothing.” He confirmed softly.

“Hmm.“ Sethos eyed his Alpha dubiously, but made no further comment. Thank the Goddess!

“And you can't hear me right now?“ His Mate peered up at him, doe-eyed with false innocence.

“Most definitely not.“ Fane’s timbre deepened. So he couldn't hear her thoughts unless she projected them, but he was certain that whatever was going through her mind wasn't nice.

“The High Oracle will be here within the week. You two,” Alpha Jason stabbed his pointer and middle fingers at them, “Will go to the Pantheon and see her the day after her arrival.“

He chuckled at the way the Teresi clan bristled at his father's authoritive tone.

“We will remain at Divinity until after she's appraised your bond.“ Mathias added with a stern look to his sister. The Alpha Kings exchanged looks and dismissed the lot in unison.

Nicole went to the roof, facing the woods at the rear of Blue House to think. The Lykos prince had remained annoyingly close the rest of the day. He was staking his claim to the masses, well…trying to. For her part, she had begun sitting by Tolly as much as possible. She wasn't marked yet and it gave her great joy to see Andros squirm.

Crushed incense floated to her and she smiled softly as he sat with his back to hers. The siblings remained quiet for a bit, both lost in their thoughts.

“Here.“ Rasmus clunked a bottle of vodka onto her shoulder and she took it gratefully. “How are you doing, birdie?“

“Blessed by the Artemis herself,” She responded dryly, “And you?“

“I found my mate.“ He monotoned.

Nicole dropped to her back to see his face. All of her brothers were handsome and fit, in their own ways. Mathias was muscular and dashing with umber hair, burnished with red. Troy had curls of the same color with the body of a runner, and chocolate eyes, like their father. Nathaniel shared the same trait and had short auburn hair with a bit more muscle than Troy. The body of a good Beta. Rasmus looked the most like her with red hair and their mother's eyes of sapphire. All four were tall and had the natural tan of Greek descendants.

Mathias was eight years her senior, Nathaniel seven years, and Troy had five years on her. Rasmus and her were three years apart, which aided their closeness. The PTSD from the war had made them even closer. She had been thick as thieves with her little brother Neuri before his untimely death, but she couldn't think of him much. Too heartbreaking.

“Well?“ She laughed at the bored way he flicked his eyes to her, retrieving the liquor and taking a swig.

“It's a Lykos male.“ He sighed, dropping his legs straight out in front of him.

Nicole placed her head just above his knee and looked to the sky. As a child her mother would take them to learn the constellations, a basket of cakes in tow. Truthfully, Rasmus hadn't been the same since witnessing their mother and brother's deaths. She had been there, as well, but as the surviving victim. He had seen it all from afar.

It's why she had started asking the pack to call her Nicole, rather than Nicola. Nicole had been a nickname of sorts to begun with. Her mother always called her Nicola and it felt wrong to hear non-family refer to her as such.

“Were you hoping for one of our pack?“ She asked, watching him from her peripheral.

“I didn't want one at all.“ He pulled a pack of burn from his pocket and lit one, then did the same for her.

“Is he good-looking, at least?“ She grinned, exhaling smoke.

“f*****g hell, Nika.“ Her brother roughly dislodged her from his leg and made to leave.

“Raz, wait.“ Nicole grabbed his hand and stood next to him. “Just…introduce yourself. Find out what type of wolf he is.“

“How would that help me reject him?“

“What?!“

He clapped a hand over her mouth and took a drag with the other.

“You can't do that!“ She hissed after knocking his arm away. “You could be severely punished. Banished from the pack!“

“Then so be it.“