Kierra

Might be fine if I actually meant for his face to get stuffed into my sideboob, but it's quite awkward, and to my utter horror, very ticklish. I let go instantly and try to push away, laughter turning to that of having fun to the 'ohmygodstoptouchingmethattickles'. The look on his face doesn't help as he looks at a loss for words, worried, and freaked all at once.

He does get a hold of me though, and my pushing away included releasing my leg hold. I get set down and stepped away from as if he broke me - that's about the look on his face, too.

The amount of time that passed was maybe a minute or two, but in the heat of it, I missed the sound of Ava coming up with the ATV. I'm bent over laughing at the poor false wolf and his expressions, to the other guys, and then to Ava who's also smiling.

"Ava, I think I broke her. She doesn't react like normal people do. I think I broke her leg but the masochist won't stop laughing to be sure."

He sounds so genuinely worried that it sends me into another bout of laughing.

"Uh, hun, that's not her pain laughter. A pop from her leg? Like a bone pop or bone break?"

The look of utter confusion on him looks absolutely adorable. The other guys from brother wolves all the way to Lily are also confused. I try controlling myself, but it doesn't work, so I just kick out my leg a few times. Pretty sure I look absolutely ridiculous trying to show I'm fine, and the urge of needing to relieve myself is getting stronger and stronger so I have to stop the leg shake.

"What were you guys doing that made her start laughing?"

He explains everything up to me trying to push him away, then she looks at me with a raised brow. I nod and blush, finally getting my control back thanks to the awkwardness about to be revealed. Just as she opens her mouth to explain, I exclaim that I need to piss and run toward the house.

One of many reasons to hate being female; the weirdest spots are ticklish. And here I was taking pride in the fact that mine were so well hidden that no one could find them. Well...so much for that.

To be honest though, I didn't know about that one either. Never shoved a guy’s face into me like that before so it's all new. Not sure if it was from his nose or his jaw, but it was the pressure pressing inward just right that set it off.

Same for my upper, inner thighs. The right amount of pressure will set it off as well. Faline found that one when we were roughhousing a few years ago and had set her elbow into the muscle. Ended up flailing so hard that I almost knocked myself out on the wall that I bashed into, almost gave her a bloody nose as well. After that, she'd always go for it, so learning to avoid it became paramount.

Taking care of business then splashing cold water on my face has me feeling much better. Ever notice how after a good bout of laughter, you feel tired afterward? Or is that just me?

Groaning silently to myself as I hear everyone come back in, I walk out with as much dignity as I can muster. Which isn't much, but I'm good at faking it. Ava having heard the differences of my laughter before could tell right away that I wasn't injured.

My throat clears as I tug at my shirt, then shove my hands into my pockets. Only one's expression I care for is Shade since he's the only one that seems to identify with me right now. With his reticence, that's not surprising.

Avoiding Xavier's face so I don't try pounding on it with his cheesy ass grin, I look around for the rest of my boys. My boys. That just sounds all sorts of weird when half of them are adults, but it can work as a general term, so it works. Clearing my throat again before trying to speak relatively clearly, I look towards Bastion, Maii, and Lily.

Have to fight a scowl as each one of them has their own varied expressions of amusement at me. Granted I enjoy making people laugh and will often have myself be the butt of some joke, but when it involves shoving a male’s face into my body and having it send me into a giggling fit is just plain embarrassing.

Giggling just does not fit in with my image. The whole concept is evil.

"So, how did the training go?"

Imp is the first to 'sort of' recover, as all three nod. Would imagine they'd had to stop since the human boy could no longer see what was going on. It's one thing to be in an open field when it's dark, being in a wooded area, it's just that much more...blinding.

"Went good. Ava had brought out some of the throwing knives you keep here. Xavier taught us how to hold them and the different ways they can be thrown."

Smiling warmly at the three of them, I look over to the male. He can be a horrible flirt and a major pain, but he does take fighting very seriously when it comes to the kids.

"How'd they do?"

His cheesy grin at me has turned into one of pride as he looks over the three of them.

"Very well. Each one can hit the target. Need to work on aim though. That's usually the hardest part anyway."

Inclining my head, I agree. Took me forever to get it down. Never mind trying to use the needle knives. They look exactly as they sound and I can't stand them. No real specific reason, just something that doesn't agree with me.

We hang around for another half hour before I announce our need to go. Probably already have a few wolves sitting on my porch right now as it is. I get a hold of mom first though, checking on her and asking if she'll be back for the holiday. Her week is up in a couple days, holiday being the day after. Weather permitting, she plans on it, so I tell her we're having it at Ava's. She doesn't mind as long as she doesn't have to cook.

While hanging up, it dawns that I have a lot of people to introduce her to. Can't exactly tell her they're 'mine', but since we're all friends, that should be easy enough. Since she won't be hurrying away for anything, she'll dwell more on Bastion and Maii. Don't look forward to that, to be honest.

When everyone's working on piling into vehicles, the snow leopard mother pulls me aside to give her scolding.

"Will you at least think on his offer? I've seen the inside and it's to die for. Don't let your stubbornness ruin this for you or the others. Gabriel isn't that bad a guy, for a dog he's downright civil."

I raise an eyebrow at that. She wants me to get along with him yet calls him a dog herself. Something wrong with this picture. Doubt her using 'dog' is a reference to his species, not when she's surrounded by canines.

"A dog, hm? How often do you see me being friendly towards those?"

She gives me a pointed look before looking at Xavier. I choke down a laugh, her expression and forwardness highly entertaining...and correct.

"Alright, let's exclude that part. You're not annoyed by his having others watch you?"

"They usually don't unless something's going on here. You've been coming over a lot more lately than what you used to, it was noticed and therefore taken under account to make sure no trouble came up."

Alright. Guess that makes sense. My brows draw together as my lips purse. I hate when she's being smart at me.

"And just what is his deal anyway? Not like anything can be grown over there, not unless he plans on tearing up the natural fauna."

The very thought is highly irksome.

Behold my inner hippie.

She shrugs, so that's no comfort. Conversation then goes to how much her property is and how much he takes off for her services in other areas. That just doesn't sound right.

Price is quite steep, so much so that I just gape at her for a moment. Even with as much as she brings in, there's no way any middle-class person could afford this place. Must have been delusional when thinking it would be possible for my own. I knew it would be nowhere near cheap, but Christ.

"He only lets animals within his territory, that's why any listed price for all the properties is so high. He meets with anyone wanting to house here, if they aren't supernatural, he jacks up the price over three times the normal amount to discourage humans."

Again, makes sense. From it doing so is just irritating though. Have a feeling anything to do with that...beast...is going to be trying. Even if I didn't take the chance for the house, I'd still have to put up with him just because he's a wolf Alpha.

It's at that realization that has me groaning. If I'm going to have to deal with him anyway, then trying to make a deal for the house only makes sense in the long run. Ava had held back and waited for me to slowly come to terms, a small grin trying to emerge.

"I do not care for that man-beast."

"You don't have to, but you can put up with him for the sake of the others, can't you?"

She really knows where to make it hurt. I wince, my own stubbornness and pride getting in the way here. Where else would Bastion be safer than in the middle of a forest filled with wolves? No human or unfriendly would get through unnoticed by someone.

My sigh is heavy, shoulders slumping. For those I protect, I will find a way to make this work. The very thought of going back to him though leaves a very foul taste in my mouth.

"Tell him I'll meet him tomorrow. Afternoon sometime since I have other stuff I have to get done and see to. I'll give you a call when I'm on my way."

Feel like I'm selling my soul here, but Ava exclaims happily. Having heard her make that sound many times before, then hearing it from Faline, it has to be some feline thing. Think I heard Orion refer to it once as caterwauling.

Finally getting free, we head home, the whole way I stay quiet while going over everything. Kani and Xavier are with me while the others get the truck. Don't see me getting much sleep tonight.