Cian P.O.V

I sighed down at the choices in front of me whose background checks came out clean. Well, clean enough. No one was perfect; I would be hesitant if there wasn't something not right. I frowned down at one of the more prominent choices, sliding through the pictures. What had the most interest was that they had adopted their children, as they found that an injury as a child made it impossible, for now, for the wife to have a child. The husband worked in a corporate office that required business travel a couple times a month. Good news was that his job also allowed for him to work from home and port in, rather than him only getting home in the evening. I found this optimistic, compared to a few of the others. I had separated these documents into single parents, couples with invasive or time-consuming jobs, and those couples with non-time-consuming jobs.

All of these families, while Wanpyrkos, were not physically incorporated into a nest and all gave positive responses to the questions that were enclosed in their own given documentation. I read over about the adopted children, both in the same age range as Ashe, and adopted as children after their parents were killed by another opposing, hostile faction. I read through what all four had written, interested in their excitement at the idea of another sibling or son. The wife seemed especially excited and interested by the hints I gave toward his needs, the brothers liked the idea of someone who'll look up to them, and the husband seemed very happy just by his wife's enthusiasm.

I had a set meeting with the wife for the afternoon, considering whether to introduce her to Ashe after or not. We were planning to meet in Pritcher's office at the hospital for the meeting, as he had become very possessive of Ashe, though I knew he wouldn't be able to adopt him himself. He had also mentioned that there was only so much trust given to someone who smiled then turned around and stuck you with a needle. His words.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair, both hands rubbing at my scalp, making it obvious that I needed a shower before I left. I closed my eyes momentarily, seeing every word on the pages in front of me, having read through them more times than healthy to admit. I just- I just wanted the best for Ashe. I wanted his life to be better. I wanted him to be happy. I wanted him to be in a place where he could truly and safely belong.

Jay P.O.V

The air was heated; wet, between mine and David's lips. We were millimeters from each other, our noses brushing, my hands gripping at the material of his hoodie at the shoulder and waist while he gripped the right side of my head, thumb brushing along my cheekbone while the other rubbed at my lower back, slowly dragging the material up until his hand rested on bare skin. I closed my eyes, shivering and blowing out a shaky breath that David edged into. His lips caressed mine before sealing ours together once more as he began to pull me back with him. He leaned against the couch in the corner of his room, tugging me onto his lap, making me have to throw my leg onto the other side of him.

His fingers brushed at the top of my jeans while his other hand traveled down my neck, along my collarbone and onto my chest where he brushed me through the thin fabric of my shirt. His hand continued its plummet before it dipped back up, this time under my shirt. His mouth left mine as it kissed down my neck and onto my collarbone, licking and sucking. There were no worries about marks, as they would heal soon after being made. I felt his hand rub along my stomach and up my chest. I groaned, panting at his ministrations, moving physically closer in so that I could stroke him with the slightest movement of my hips. I smirked at his appreciative response.

Hands still roaming, he nuzzled into my neck, "So, will you come with me?" I could feel his beginning erection, hot even through our jeans, but his question had snuffed out most of the make-out haze, like fog burning off with the sun.

I leaned back, actually causing more pressure and friction against him, though that hadn't actually been my goal. I frowned at him when he opened his eyes once more, "You know I don't like this; you know my standing-"

"Shush, let me finish," I put my fingers against his lips. He nodded, but held the hand when I was going to retract it, kissing them lightly. "You know what I'd like to happen, but I am part of your pack and... I have feelings for you, as you do for me. I won't leave you on your own to deal with this. I will go with you."

He gripped my hands tighter, kissing them a few times, then me roughly, "Thank you. Thank you."

Cian P.O.V

I shared a look with Pritcher, both considering whether or not to let the applicant meet Ashe, "And how do your children feel about a possible younger brother- one who will probably need a lot of care and attention. Is it possible that this would cause hostility in the household?"

"Oh no, I wouldn't even consider doing this if my family weren't all in agreement," Mrs. Leugen-Stammwyrd. "Truthfully, the only reason the children aren't with me are because of the fact that he's in a hospital. They still have a lot of trouble being in medical facilities- I'm sure you've read about it?"

"Ah, uh, yes, we have," Pritcher replied, shuffling papers. In fact, we had read many items that we technically shouldn't have been able to get our hands on, such as psyche documents. The two siblings have a fear of hospitals due to the trauma regarding the events surrounding the deaths of their parents. "Do you think adding this child will exacerbate their fears?"

"No, they've actually been quite excited, thinking that they are almost saving him," I watched her blush at her candor. "They want him to be safe, like they felt when we first adopted them; as they feel now."

"Would you like to meet Ashe?" I was surprised at myself for offering, as this was our first meeting, though we had been talking for a while now, quickly, I added, "This is only to test the waters and see if there is any kind of reaction. This does not necessarily mean that you'll be signing the adoption papers."

"I-I know, I understand," Tears seemed to accumulate in her eyes as her hands covered her mouth momentarily. "I'm just so happy to have the chance, is all."

"If you'll follow me," Pritcher stood, stepping around and out his office door. I stayed at the back, entering the room behind the double mirror as Pritcher guided her in.

I turned on the sound to the room, listening as Pritcher laid down the rules and regulations about interacting with Ashe as well as what to be careful of or do if things such as his heart rate or brainwaves changed, "We'll be right here if you need us. You only need to let us know."

Pritcher joined me in the room, and we watched as Mrs. Leugen-Stammwyrd sat down and started just chatting with Ashe as if he were awake. She did this for at least a half hour before puling out a little book from her oversized purse, telling him about it before she began reading to him. When she was done, she said that she hoped she would be able to come visit him again, and hopefully they could talk more and she could bring another book along.

I followed Pritcher and met Mrs. Leugen-Stammwyrd at the door, "I hope I wasn't being too forward. Ah, even if I don't end up adopting him, I would love it if I could still visit. I heard these kinds of interactions often help children that are traumatized; I also still sometimes read to my kids too, though they'll deny it if you ask." She giggled quietly.

"Thank you for your time, Mrs. Leugen-Stammwyrd-" I began.

"Please, just Leugen. I know we aren't on first name basis, but I don't define myself as my nest. Yes, I am still part of the community, but I don't feel we should be so closed to the idea of having our own lives too."

"Thank you, Mrs. Leugen," I replied with a soft smile. I hated being cut off, but damnit if I wasn't impressed by what she said, even though it was a dangerous comment, some would say. "We have a lot to discuss, but we will let you know what we decide within the week."

"Yes, thank you very much for your consideration," Mrs. Leugen smiled professionally, sticking her hand our stiffly to both of us before Pritcher led her back through the facility and out the door.

Jay P.O.V

We looked up, David and I, at the ironically dark warehouse in the low lane district. The low lane district was outside, almost lawless territory that many gangs, low lifes and drugs moved constantly through. We wouldn't be caught near here without being clinically suicidal if it weren't for our open invitation. We were as safe as a trip to the mall, aside from the stalkerish entourage that we kept seeing and scenting as they peeked around cracked walls and rusted cars.

"So, here we are," David awkwardly stated. "Do you think we knock or...?"

I looked at him, shrugging. We stared a moment more before he stepped to the door and jumped when a light automatically turned on above us, "Shh-it!"

I bit my lip to hide a grin, knowing that I needed to stay serious for whatever was to come. I stepped forward and knocked, surprised by the thickness of the sliding door, "Okay... Now what."

We looked at each other once more, "David, did they give you any specific instructions on what to do?"

"Oh, uh," He took out his cell, scrolling through a few things while I rolled my eyes, feeling embarrassed at whoever must be watching us, snickering. "...Oh."

"Oh, what?"

"Well, good news is, we're early?"

I bent down, rubbing my head in frustration, "David, you really need to get better at reading important things like this carefully."

He blushed under the stringent light above us, "What does it say?"

"It gives us a time, a location and says to wait for someone.... I don't think they were expecting us to be almost an hour early."

"I have so many things I want to say to you right now," I gritted my teeth before walking over to the side of the warehouse, checking for broken glass, syringes or piss before plopping down.

"Yeah," David plopped down next to me. "I would too."

***

We made sure to keep to light topics and joking around; no need to give them any more than they already had on us. Right on the dot, we heard an annoying whistle being blown before a hooded guy in skin-tight leather with buckles and straps slunk out of the darkness. From a glance, it was obvious that this person was carrying, but we both only slowly rose to our feet and dusted off.

"Follow," For a skinny, average height guy, his voice was deep. He made almost no sound as he turned away from us, expecting us to follow. He slipped down one more warehouse before stepping in between two that were only a couple feet apart. We followed and stopped when he stopped. "Grate."

He jumped down and I went, David joining me soon after, only to be surrounding. Bags were slung over our heads, covered in a bunch of strong scents that burned our noses and stung our eyes. After, helmets were shoved on us that deadened sound and we were half carried, half dragged for who knew how long.

When we finally had the items removed, we were in a large concrete room, probably underground. The lights were glaringly bright after all the darkness, and I couldn't help but think 'Assassin's Creed' at all the hooded fellows. Aside from the hoods, the only other things in the room were a laptop, a printer, pens and paper on a cheap metal desk. Two metal chairs were in front of the table nearest us, but behind the cheap metal desk sat a nicer chair with another hooded gentleman reposed upon it.

"Uh, hi," David wasn't very diplomatically inclined. I internally face palmed. Why do I like him again? Gah, damn teenage hormones.

"I'm told you no longer want to assist in our business endeavors," the seated man conversed. "In response, we sadly had to draw out our big guns. We had a business arrangement, after all."

"Yeah, except we were only supposed to deal small until the end of high school," David defended.

"Did we agree to that?"

We stopped, faces blank as we looked at each other. When we looked back at him, he laid out a contract; a signed contract, upon closer inspection...

"But. But that's my brother's..."

"Yes, that is your brother's signature, and he and his crew all fulfilled their contract. You, gentlemen, had not signed a contract, you were only given an introduction," The man stated, to our astonishment.

David licked his lips, "Can I see this?"

He shoved the contract towards him, "It's only a copy."

After several minutes, David began panting hard before roaring in fury and ripping the whole thing in half, "Fucking damn it! That stupid dimwitted traitor of a dick head brother! I can't believe I was so gullible. Fuuuuuuck!!!!!"

His eyes began to glow, nails and teeth shifting; it looked like they may pull out some big guns unless he regained control soon. I grabbed his face and blew on it before baring my neck and letting him sniff at it. I felt his claws graze me, splitting the skin just enough to cause the smallest ribbons of blood to bloom.

After a moment, he still panted against my neck, but he had returned to his normal state, "What happened? What did it say?" I dared to ask.

"You don't want to know... And it doesn't matter," He sniffed, rubbing an arm over his face, before turning back to the man, "Okay. What do you want."

"Just a... Contract," the man, leg crossed, leaned forward with his elbows on the metal desk and fingers steepled.