Kierra

Bastion has his head buried in the book and unaware of the conversation taking place. Xavier had rolled over, now laying with legs under him. His head rests on the couch, looking at me as I lean against the island with arms crossed. I hear him sigh in my head.

"Not going to let up are ya?"

I shake my head slowly, then pull myself up to sit on the counter. My eyes have gone normal once more judging by the feeling.

"I gave you my real name. Last name is irrelevant, hardly used as most of the time I go by aliases, but if you still want it, I'll give it. Over sixty years ago I'd been in my mid-twenties when attacked, I was in the U.S. Army at the time. After the attack, I was found by a local pack of dholes. They taught me what I was and so on. As you can imagine, maned wolves aren't very common this far north, let alone this continent."

He stops to listen and answer Bastion's question before continuing.

"After that, I'd gotten discharged. Having a few days out of every month where I can't stay human would make serving my country a little difficult. When I learned all I could from the dholes, I traveled to where the animal I am is from originally. South America is some harsh country, but I was able to come across a few like me there. Just like our natural counterparts, most of us are solitary."

Bastion asks another question, engaging me in it as well before Xavier can get back to his tale.

"I spent many years there, learning both about the new me and the animal I had become. Eventually I came back, but I needed action. I'd heard of a small branch in the Special Forces that was made up of Were-animals. I joined, trained, and performed my duty for another several years, then I 'retired' from it as well, going back to traveling all around the U.S. and learning many stories from different Packs and Clans. That's when I'd heard the stories of the damn near mythic Silver Wolves."

He pauses again as he looks at me pointedly, I narrow my eyes at him, but will him to continue.

"The last known one I heard about was in Germany somewhere, some hundred years ago. I don't even recall if gender was ever mentioned, just that they'd died or was killed. It seems each area has different stories about them, but all wolves, Werewolves especially, hold the Silver in high regard. I heard it mentioned at one point as their being like a priest or priestess. More or less due to their magics and abilities I'm sure."

I snort in my head as I direct my eyes out the window. Very dark outside, but it looks like the snow has stopped. Think if I go Downtown tomorrow, I'll take Bastion to Ava's, then he can get a riding lesson from Lily. Takes me a moment to realize that Xavier is trying for my attention.

"I can't express how very sorry I am over what you've been through, as any respectable Werewolf or wolf Shifter would be as well. I know you don't believe that now, and I can certainly understand why. We've gotten off-topic, I think, and it would appear you're not too thrilled with the focus of the conversation."

I give him a droll look, as he's spot on. Really don't care how 'special' Silver Wolves are right now.

"Needing more action than just traveling around was giving me, I started a name for myself as a contract for hire. Bounty hunter, I guess you could say. I have the training and skills. Not always caring who I was sent after, just wanting the thrill of the hunt. Rarely was I sent after humans, it was mostly rogues of any flavor and faction."

So basically a mercenary, hired to hunt me down and kill me, and he's now in my home. My head shakes from side to side before I feel him in my head again, reading my expression.

"I promise you, you have nothing to fear from me. I gave my word to help you find your sister, and my word is my bond. I would also like to help you hunt down the man who threatens this child's life. Overhearing your pledge to him earlier, I want to help make it a reality. He deserves to have the chance to be a kid while he still has time to be."

My mind is getting tired from all the things going through it. Body is completely healed, just weary of everything I've put it through lately. Going to bed to get a couple more hours of sleep sounds like heaven right now.

"We will see how things go, I'm still not sure I trust you. Something in me is saying you're needed, but until I see that for myself..."

His head nods, Bastion yawning next to him causes me to do so as well.

"Ready to head down kiddo? It's still kinda early but my body is saying it's done for the day."

His blue eyes go from me to Xavier and back, causing my lungs to clench at what I think he's wanting. This is where spoiling him is going to kick me in the ass. I scrunch up my face, but give the motion that if he wants it, he has to ask. His face blanches and I sigh, caving into those big eyes.

"Xavier, I know you said you were a loner an all, but would you care to join our puppy pile? I feel more comfortable sleeping as a wolf. We have a spot set up downstairs."

As far as I know he hasn't been down there yet to see our nest. The maned wolf cocks his head curiously, having seen the exchange between me and the boy. Figuring out who wanted him to join, he nods his head. The glimmer of laughter in his eyes gets a scowl from me.

"You sleep as a wolf? I've only known Shifters and male Weres to do that. Even more shocking considering how you entered this world."

I shrug, folding my arms and holding my elbows as Bastion puts the book on the table and heads for the bathroom before going downstairs.

"I've always loved wolves and the fantasy possibility of Werewolves before I knew that they were a real thing. Being in the shape of a wolf is comforting to me, and Bastion likes sleeping cuddled up to fur. It makes him feel safe. You have to understand, I found him in a dog cage half-starved. I was in Were form and he looked at me with such bravery, the first thing out of his mouth was asking if I was going to hurt him. I will give my very soul for that boy. I had a rough childhood, but nowhere near as bad as his has been so far."

My eyes followed after the boy as he went to the basement but now go to the maned wolf. His own expression blazes in his anger as I reveal just how hard my Imp has had it and why things are the way they are. I don't know if I was pleading with him to understand why the boy is so important or if I was trying to explain myself. Either way, it's out there now. He pads up to me, sticking his face in my neck for just a moment before following after the child.

After he's gone, I look down at my shaking hands, clenching them hard before I head to the bathroom and take care of needs, then go to my room and strip down. Checking over the wounds in my mirror while removing jewelry, all have pretty much faded, but the scars will always be there. The worst is my left shoulder and the stripes down my front from Anthony's original attack. Have to be careful when I tussle with anymore Vamps, their bites make me look like a junkie.

I've always healed pretty quickly, scars faded away unless they were really deep or if I'd constantly messed with them. Fingertips trace over them as I watch, the raised skin smooth and looking much like spiderwebs going across my skin. Few years and they should fade into almost nothing.

Looking over my hair, I scowl at the silver streaks that have caused me nothing but trouble since getting them, yet at the same time, have given me the strength and ability to save my sister and change a young boy's life for the better.

Hopefully.

Having put it off long enough, I yawn once more and shift. Ever since finding the ability to shift instantly, my normal shifting speed has increased. Not quite as fast as Xavier said his was, but real close. Crouching down and landing on paws, I claw open my door and make my way to the basement.

Not even a twinge of a limp ruins my movement as I head below. Considering I'd been hit by a car, that's pretty awesome. Bastion had gone through the house and shut off lights, since becoming a Werewolf, my eyesight has gotten so much better that I hardly turn them on unless I do it by habit.

The question crosses my mind if I'll ever sleep in my own bed again, but it gets squashed with the knowledge that I enjoy the puppy piles. Making my way down the stairs and turning at the landing, the stacked tubs and boxes are avoided easily. The sectioned off area has been put on hold for now till we all know for sure what's going on.

Bastion is already sitting in the dug out nest I'd made sometime last night, while Xavier stands next to the whole mess of a pile just staring at me. I tilt my head in question, but he just blinks. Yellow eyes roll as he gawks.

Making my way over to my spot, I nuzzle at Bastion's face. A cold, wet nose snuffling against his ear causes him to giggle. I start digging at the twisted blankets, making a wider cocoon to accommodate the huge male. After getting it wide enough, I sit.

Eyeballing my measurements, I whisper for him to come over. Those ridiculously long legs catch my attention. Looking like a fox on deer legs pretty much, just without the hooves. He picks up on my projected thought and sends his laughter, walking over to me.

Touching his nose to mine and licking at my lower lip, I recognize it as a friendly and submissive gesture between canines. Not sure what it means to his breed. Either way, after he does it, he moves around looking for a good spot.

With Bastion sitting between us, he takes one side of the boy while I take the other. Once Xavier is settled, I nose at my Imp once more before I settle in, wrapping my body around his as he curls up. I've learned not to tuck around too tight since more often than not he ends up laying on me at some point.

Resting my head on his side, I catch Xavier watching us before he tucks himself closer to Bastion's back, his head going down next to the boy's body. It's a good thing it stays relatively cool down here, otherwise, I'm sure the poor child would swelter to death just from me alone, let alone two large animals wrapped around him. Closing my eyes, I drift off rather quickly.