Untamed Roleplay

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Untamed Characters



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She tried to focus on the steady thrumming of music that rolled through the floor and up into her feet. Even back in the locker rooms where the girls dressed and prepared, the music was loud enough to send vibrations into her legs and ears. All around her, girls giggled and chatted away, doing their makeup and teasing their hair, changing into and out of various types of lingerie of all colors.

Aliya sat in the corner. Her pale skin was near white, and she was often teased for it. But most of the men who frequented the establishment loved it. It made her look fragile and delicate. She didn't do much in the way of makeup--some black eyeliner and mascara, a pink on her lips--or hair styles. She simply let her hair be, the white tresses hanging down in soft strands that framed her face and brushed the backs of her shoulders.

She wore black lingerie.

It contrasted well with her skin tone. The straps of her bra and stringy panties stuck out against her. Over it, she wore a simple black, silk robe that tied loosely around the waist. Most of the girls wore some type of pump or stilettos. She wore no shoes at all.

She heard her name announced by the DJ. Miss White. That's what they called her... because of her skin and hair. She stood from her seat in the corner and headed out of the locker room. The other women hardly paid her any mind. She was tiny compared to them. She was a mouse, slipping between them unnoticed, quiet. Her expression remained blank as she strode out from the locker room, down the hall and to the curtains that separated her from the stage. She paused only long enough to take a breath.

Coming out from behind the curtain happened in slow motion for her. She walked with graceful purpose, her eyes down to show off the glitter in her mascara in the lights, and as she walked she untied and let the black silk of her robe fall away from her figure. The crowd erupted with cheers, but she didn't hear them. She focused on the beat of the music, on the shine of the lights, on her breathing. Her eyes stayed down, locked on the floor and on her own red-painted toes, counting her steps to the steel pole at the center of the stage. She loved this part: when she reached it, leapt, and gripped with both hands, and for a brief moment she flew. She twirled. She floated above the ground.

Her routine was only ever about five minutes long. She finished it completely nude, having stripped off one article of clothing after another gradually throughout the show. At the end, she was left leaning against the pole in a sultry pose, her eyes still down, hair hiding her face. Men whistled and hooted at her and this time she could hear them, because the music had stopped. She was grounded again. She bowed slightly and bent to pick up the money they showered her with--mostly singles, but occasionally there was a twenty or even a fifty tucked in there. She then gathered her clothes and robe from the stage and donned the robe in a swift and practiced motion as she scurried back behind the curtain.

She had not finished putting her lingerie "uniform" back on when the waitress told her she had a request for a personal lap dance. She flushed in shame, took another breath, and pulled the robe back on. She nodded once and followed the waitress back out from the locker room and to the table of bachelors waiting for her.

It was three in the morning when she finally clocked off of work, with over three hundred dollars in her pocket. She stepped outside into the brisk air and took a deep breath, opening her hazel eyes towards the starry sky and the full moon. It was a beautiful, cloudless night. There was not a single sound aside from the occasional humming of a passing car on the road. She loved this silence. She felt like she could breathe. She went to her car and tucked her purse inside. She checked her surroundings and stripped out of her robe and lingerie and hid them inside the car, too. With the car securely locked and the key hidden under the wheel well, she turned, nude in the snow, and after one more check that no one was around or could possibly see, she broke into a sprint towards the open field across from the strip club. Before her bare feet had even hit the pavement of the road, she had spread her arms wide and on them bloomed feathers. She kicked off of the ground at just the moment when her body shifted, and she took flight, not as the petite girl who had stripped and debased herself for money, but as a beautiful snow owl, light on the air.

And Free. 

It had been another one of those days. His siblings just couldn't seem to keep themselves out of trouble, whether it be with the law or getting into scuffles with Arcadian's. He was damned tired of having to fix all of their issues. He let a growl rip through him as he bounded through the trees. He wasn't as sure footed on his feet tonight having spent several hours at Sanctuary, drinking. There new bar tended had cut him off and taken his keys so he'd decided he would walk. Only his walk had taken him to the trees and now he was bumbling around, knocking into thick trunks. He'd ran head long into one earlier, causing him to take a moment and shake himself out.

Once on his feet again he took off at a run, passing through a small clearing that led to a stream near by. His thoughts remained with his siblings though, and not enjoying the fresh air. He loved them, he couldn't deny that. Why else would be put himself through so much crap if he didn't. His younger brother Fury had been among his biggest worries lately. Several people thought he was going rabid since at every turn he was attacking innocent Arcadian's but Vane knew the truth. His brother was in pain. His fiance had been slaughtered by a band of Arcadian's almost a year ago and he was handling it as best as he could. But if anymore harm came to the Arcadian's Vane was going to be forced to lock his brother in a cell at Sanctuary.

With a loud growl he pushed all thoughts from his mind, intending to enjoy at least a little bit of his run.

Aliya was soaring over the treetops when she heard the roars and grumbles from below. She looked down and saw a bear, large and lumbering, through the trees. He seemed to be going nowhere in particular, but was just running to run. She could understand that. If running made him feel as free and at ease as flying did for her, she couldn't fault him for that. She tilted her wings forward and down just enough to direct herself downwards, gliding between the tree tops and a bit lower over the bear. She let out a greeting screech and flew ahead to a tall pine, where she landed on one of the branches carefully and with practiced grace. She watched the bear come towards her, tilting her head with birdlike mannerisms.

Vane stumbled slightly at the sound of a screeching bird. His head whipped around to take in the sight of the most beautiful snowy owl he'd ever seen. As the wind picked up he took it the birds scent and came to a screeching halt. An Arcadian? The bird wasn't even a true animal but a shifter. He gave a snort of his nose in a startled greeting. He cocked his head slightly, not sure why she'd come so close to him. He pressed his nose to the ground for a moment, and pawed at his head, trying to get his thoughts straight. With a loud huff he feel back on his haunches and sat there, staring at the pretty owl.

She watched him still. He seemed troubled. She could see his actions were more animal than anything else she'd seen--which meant he was either a true and real bear, or a Katagarian. Neither one seemed to bother her. She was not stupid, though. She wouldn't dare go any closer to him. Most Katagarian's absolutely hated Arcadian's like herself, and would not waste an opportunity to dispose of her. Even a normal Kodiak bear would probably try to kill her should she fly too close. She tilted her head again and screeched at him a second time, softer than the first. It was almost as if she was asking him what was wrong.

She screeched at him again, causing him to huff in frustration. He glanced around and noticed he'd made it to the stream. Quickly he slipped into it and shifted into his human form. Much like his bear he was a beast of a man, reaching 6'9" and 280 off pure muscle. He shook his hair out of his eyes, looking up at the near by tree where the owl had been. He took a deep breath, willing himself not to be rude. "Hello?" He ran a wet hand through his hair, pushing it back so it no longer fell in his eyes.

It was cold out here. Snow was covering the ground and the stream had to be freezing. She wasn't sure how long she would be able to tolerate it, especially nude, but she figured she should give him the benefit of the doubt. He had shifted for her, after all. She remained in the tree, and instead shifted on the branch. When she was done, she was sitting there on the branch, hugging the trunk and watching him, her ankles crossed and one arm bent across her chest to sort of shield her full breasts from view. The wind tossed her white hair and her white skin almost blended with the snow on the branches of the pine tree. Her hazel eyes studied the rather handsome man in the stream and she tilted her head again, this time more humanly, but said nothing.

Vane cleared his throat as she shifted from the tree. He had expected her to get in the water to cover up but then remembered most other animals didn't have his body heat. He was used to the cold and could handle it, even though at the moment his nipples where hardening from the chill. He made sure the water covered him from the waist down as he inched closer to the tree. He held his hands up and said in a soft, but gruff voice. "I'm not going to hurt you, I swear. Names Vane."

She still didn't answer him. Her eyes were studying him, his held up hands, his posture. He was chilled, but unbothered by the cold, and that amazed her. She had only been sitting here for a few moments but was already becoming rather cold. She stifled a shiver and clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering. Finally, after a long moment, she called back in a quiet, lilting voice, "Aliya." She then looked back towards the direction they had come, and the messy trail he had left in the snow and trees, before focusing her eyes on him again, the question implied in her glance. Why was he causing so much destruction?

Vane followed her gaze to his mess. He'd trampled several bushes and uprooted some smaller trees. Sighing heavily, he rubbed the back of his neck as he turned back to her, slightly sheepish. "Family issues... sorry if I disturbed you. I'll uh... try to be quieter on my way home." His eyes blazed with both anger and embarrassment. He clearly hadn't meant to make the mess but he was upset with himself and his family for putting him in such a foul mood.

Aliya's head was still tilted slightly to the side. Her white hair fell over one shoulder. He was so angry. She almost felt bad for him... sympathetic, too. She shifted on the branch a little, making some snow plop down onto the ground below. She checked the ground beneath her, and deciding it would be a soft enough landing, she slid off of the branch and landed in a crouch in a pile of snow. She stood with a visible tremble, hugging herself against the cold, and looked at him. She then looked towards the path he'd created and asked, "Want to head back together?"

The gentleman in him wanted to climb from the water and wrap his arms around her trembling body, sharing his body heat but he knew that probably wouldn't end well. He tilted his head slightly at her invitation, causing the corners of his mouth to turn up slightly. "Sure, I haven't ran with anyone in a while." He gave her a long once over, not really trying to ogle her body but finding it hard. She was very white, much like her owl form which intrigued him. He cleared his throat which slowly turned into a growl as he shifted back into his bear form. He gently pawed the water for a moment before climbing out of the stream, bringing him closer to her.

She took only a half step sideways away from him as he stepped towards her. Her eyes were on him again, not quite startled, but alert. She shifted on her feet in the snow, gave another trembling shiver, then turned ahead towards his path in the snow and ran for it. A few steps later and she was leaping into the sky and shifting again. Her wings lifted her off of the ground with a strong gust and she flapped a few times to get her bearings through the branches. She circled back around towards where she left Vane standing, then hovered slightly above him, screeching at him again. She didn't wait. She turned and took off through the trees, knowing he would run after her. She was much warmer in her owl form and moving.

Vane's big brown eyes had widened when she'd turned and started running in her human form. Giving him the nicest view of her tight, pale ass. He blinked several times and gave his head a shake as she circled back towards him and gave a screech. He gave a huff through his nose as one foot after the other led him into a brisk run. After dipping into the cold water he was in much better control of himself, at least he thought so until he barreled into another tree, this one knocking him to the side. He gave a loud roar at the infuriating tree before shaking it off and starting his pace once again. He took it a little slower this time so that things didn't whip by him blurry. He looked up to make sure he was on the same track as his companion.

She was directly above him. When he'd crashed into the second tree, she'd circled back around and landed on a branch above to make sure he was alright. But he'd recovered and taken up his run rather quickly. She took off after him and caught up by the time he looked for her, and she was gliding effortlessly above him, swaying this way and that to avoid branches and looking absolutely delighted. She loved flying. It made her feel so free and detached from her human life.

He didn't think he'd ever seen an Arcadian who enjoyed her animal form as much as this girl. Though he'd never spent much time conversing with an Arcadian so maybe they were all like this. He saw civilization coming into his view just up ahead and slowed to a ambling trot. Once he was a few feet away from the edge of the forest he came to a stop and moved over to a stump where he'd stashed his clothes. He glanced around for any humans and then shifted. He stood there in all his firm glory as he pulled his clothes out of the stump and started pulling on his jeans and t-shirt and then socks and shoes. He made sure his wallet, keys and phone where intact and glanced around for his companion.

She was nearby, perched on a low branch and watching him. She had circled overhead a couple of times to give him ample time to dress, and allow him privacy to do so, before landing. She chirped at him again, shrill but friendly, then turned her head towards the parking lot of the strip club across the street. Her car was still sitting there, surrounded by other vehicles. Her clothes were in her car. Some patrons were coming out of the bar, stumbling about and laughing, hooting and hollering, and she ruffled her feathers a little in annoyance. She might have to wait for an opportunity to shift and get dressed. She tucked her head down into her wings and scooted her clawed feet closer together on the branch, looking perfectly prepared to wait.

Vane followed the owls gaze to the packed paring lot and tilted his head to the side in a very animalistic way. Turning his attention back to her he gave a shrug of his shoulders. "I could go get your things for you, if you'd like." He wasn't just going to leave her stranded out here if he could help it. He came over to her tree and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. "Or I can just wait here with you." His main worry was that she'd been there for a while and that's when the predators came out. She may be an Arcadian but she was still a woman and he'd be damned if he'd leave just to find out she'd been raped.

She looked down at him and studied him again. How strange of a Katagarian to offer to wait with her. Their interaction so far had been rather pleasant. She would prefer it if he gathered her clothes, though. She ruffled some snow off of her feathers and then took off away from the tree towards the parking lot. She flew over the heads of a few stumbling men and landed on the hood of her tiny, junky car. It was a rusted, two-seater mess, but it ran and it had working heaters. She hopped on the hood of the car a bit and turned back towards where she'd left Vane, giving another screech at him. The men she'd flown over were staring at her and pointing, laughing at the sheer size of her. She was the size of a damned eagle! They hooted and hollered at her, pulling out their phones to take pictures. Very quickly, one of them--one of the more drunk ones--decided he wanted to try to scare her off, and waved his arms at her, moving towards her car. She hissed and screeched at him, opening her wings and making him shout and stumble backwards, to the amusement of his friends.

Vane watched her take off and started to follow her. When she landed he noticed the drunk men beginning to take pictures and then one, stupidly tried to scare her away. She made a few noises but the group didn't scurry away. "Hey!" His booming voice sounded from a few feet behind them. They all turned to stare at the giant before them, none reaching his intimidating height. "Move the fuck along!" He growl, the sound not coming out human at all. Their eyes widened as they all hurried away. Inhaling deeply he turned to Aliya and headed over to her car. He tried the handle, glad to find it locked. He began looking around the car, feeling under wheel wells and such until he found the key. He inserted it into the lock and quickly got into the car. He glanced around but didn't find much except for her panties and robe. He ducked his head back out with her items in hand. "Is this all you have?"

Aliya screeched and hopped down from the hood of her car onto the pavement. She stayed hidden between her car and the one beside it, and shifted into her human form now that Vane had scared the men away. She stood in front of him, stark naked and seemingly unembarrassed by this fact as she took the panties and robe from him. She grabbed for a duffle bag tucked down at the floor of the passenger seat and pulled out a thicker sweater, some jeans, and a pair of fur-lined boots. She pulled everything on quickly, and gave a final shiver as she folded her arms over her chest. The clothes were cold from sitting in her far during her flight. She looked up at Vane and hesitated a moment, a bit awkwardly. Then she said, "Thank you." She looked towards her car, shifted on her feet again, and after another awkward silence, asked, "Would you like a ride..?"

Vane couldn't help but stare when she'd shifted. She had such an alluring beauty that it shocked him to his core. Clearing his throat he looked away in embarrassment. "Sor--" He started to apologize when he saw her shiver. "Oh fuck it... Come here." Without waiting he pulled her against him and gently wrapped his arms around her, running them up and down her back to warm her, his heat seeping into her clothes. He buried he face into her snowy hair and breathed deeply. "I'd love a ride, just as soon as your warm." He gave her arms a few more rubs before pulling away. "Better?"

He certainly was warm. She had tensed when he'd first grabbed her, but the longer he held onto her and the warmer she felt, the more she relaxed. When he pulled away, she almost whined. But she nodded instead and her lips turned up at the corners in a small, but pretty smile. "Thank you." she said quietly. She motioned for him to climb into the passenger side of her car, and moved away from him and around to the driver's side. She slid into her seat and started the car, which sputtered and kicked a second before humming like it should. She turned the heaters up on full blast, but they would blow cold air for a few moments before the engine heated up.

Vane gave her a small nod before jogging around the car and climbing in. The cab instantly filled with his warmth as he buckled his seat belt. "Thanks. I know it's freaky being around a Katagaria, but I promise... I won't hurt you." He repeated his words from earlier, hoping it reassured her. He flicked his vents closed so that when the warm air rushed out, she got the brunt of it, since he didn't very well need it. "Uh... If you want to just take me by Sanctuary, that's where I left my bike."

She nodded once in understanding. Every Arcadian and Katagaria in town knew exactly where and what Sanctuary was. She pulled out of the parking lot to the strip club and headed down the road. Her heaters finally started blow warmer air, so she turned it down a little so as not to get too hot, and drove with a cautious slowness to avoid risking ice on the road. She was silent the entire drive and only looked at him when they came to the Sanctuary and she parked next to the only motorcycle there. She looked at him and smiled again, then held up a hand for him to shake. Her nails were cut short and painted a deep red. "Nice to meet you, Vane." she said softly.

Vane turned to her when she came to a stop beside his Harley. He quirked an amused eyebrow as she held a hand out to him and he gently took it in his own. He gave her a small squeeze before slipping his hand away and pulling a small black card from his back pocket. "If you ever need anything, protection, help mowing the lawn... Anything. Give me a call." He slid the card into hand and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "Be careful, the night is full of terrors." He whispered into her ear before slipping out of the car and climbing onto his bike. He peered into the car, watching her, intent on staying there till she left, not trusting the beasts in the area.

Aliya gave him a warm smile as thanks and waved the card at him through the window before tucking it into her sweater pocket. She shifted gears and backed out of the parking lot, giving him another wave from inside her car before pulling away and heading carefully back down the road the way they had come. Vane.... Interesting. she thought, running her thumb back and forth over the corner of the card he'd given her in her pocket.

Vane had waited patiently for Aliya to drive away before he hopped off his bike and headed inside. He wasn't quite ready to go home yet he decided. Besides, he still didn't have any keys. The alcohol had worn off for the most part but the bartender inside still had them. So with his head held high he went back inside to slide into a barstool and waited to be noticed.

It had been an extremely busy night, she wasn't sure whether there was a circus in town or what but the place had been flooded with animals, and humans. She gave a loud sigh when she was rewarded with a lull only for her eyes to fall back on the bear from earlier. "Forget it, I cut you off, remember?"

Vane gave her a cheeky smile and wrapped his knuckles on the bar. "I'm not here for more drink, maybe some water. I just don't feel like going home."

Rayvn cocked her head at the confident beast and sighed gently. "Water, but that's it." She quickly filled a glass with ice water and slid it down to him.

The doors to the pub opened abruptly after that, and more people filed in. These ones were clearly Katagarian, as they rumbled, hooted and hollered, and wrestled their way in towards tables. Following the group, but not necessarily part of it, a man with longer blonde hair--pulled back into a half ponytail--and a thick blonde beard to match strode in. He walked with a heavy confidence and sat on a stool a few down from Vane, his arms settling on the bar with a thump. "Watah please." he said, his voice deep and thick with an unusual accent.

Rayvn's head shot up at the sound of the commotion coming from the entrance. A shiver ran through her spine at the sight of at the Katagaria beasts. She cleared her throat as one came striding to the bar, breaking off from the rest that headed towards a large table. She exhaled deeply, glad she wouldn't have to deal with them. Trina could handle it.

"For someone who doesn't like Katagaria, you picked a strange place to work." Vane said as he watched her over his glass.

She was about to speak up when the blonde beast sat at the bar, cutting her off. Giving Vane a soft huff she quickly filled a glass and handing it to the stranger, her eyes not quite meeting his. "If you need anything else, just let me know." She gave him a nod of her head before turning to Vane with her hands on her hips. "It's not that I don't like Katagaria... I just... don't trust you. At least until I get to know you. The Peltier's I trust with my life."

Vane nodded his head gently. "Sure, sure, wolf girl... Keep telling yourself that." He watched as her brows knitted together in frustration before turning to wipe down the bar of any crumbs.

"It is not faih to say dat," the blonde man called above the music, his accent still heavy. He sipped his water a moment before adding, "De Peltiers we all trust. Dey ah neutral." He finished his water in a few gulps and put the glass down again before motioning for a second glass politely.

Vane's eyes widened at the intrusion from the... He gave a sniff of the air and the bear inside him sneezed. Cat. This guy was a cat! His eyes darted over to Rayvn who he'd teased since the day she started at the club. He wasn't sure how she'd reacted to the intrusion.

Rayvn's eyes darted over to the newcomer and she frowned. "No but they've earned my trust." She grabbed up his glass and filled it easily before placing it down in front of him. "Saving my life... tends to earn that trust and keep me in the family." She still didn't meet his gaze even though she had voiced her strong opinion. "What have any of you done to prove I should trust you? Most of the Katagaria relish our fear."

"Hey hey hey... don't lump me in with that lot, Ray. That isn't fair." Vane slid across the couple stools separating him and the lion so he didn't have to yell so loud. "I know we haven't been... acquaintances long but still..." That got him a friendly eye roll as she shook her dark head of hair at him, her braid swishing back and forth. "There's the spitfire I know." He teased before glancing around at the group that was cackling from the table. Fury's image flooded his mind as well. "But yes, some of us are bastards..."

"De Katagaria relish what we ah owed." the blonde said, finally raising his brown and gold-flecked eyes to Rayvn, his hand idly gripping his glass. "Not'ing moah." He finished the second glass just as swiftly as the first and then set it down before standing from his stool. "De Peltiers... dey in?"

Rayvn raised her eyebrows at him at his bruntness. "Excuse me? What you're owed? What the hell do you think you're owed?!" Her tone was growing with every increasing word until a firm hand landed on her shoulder. Dev stood behind her, his gaze held concern but also brotherly love for the wolf next to him. He turned his attention to the lion before them and cocked his giant head to the side. "What can I do for you? You're upsetting my sister."

The man put a hundred dollar bill, crisp and new, on the bar and slid it towards him. "I need a place to stay." he said, slowly, his eyes on Dev. "Dis place has rooms, yeah?"

Dev stared at the money on the bar before turning his eyes down to the fiery woman at his side. He cocked an eyebrow at her leaving the decision up to her. Rayvn sighed heavily, snatching up the bill she placed it in Dev's hand before coming out from behind the bar. "Come on, Kitty Cat, I'll show you where you can crash." Dev stood behind the bar, arms crossed over his chest as he watched Rayvn head towards a large black door that led upstairs. She opened it and waited for the man to follow.

He nodded once at Dev in thanks, nodded again at Vane as he walked away from him, and followed after Rayvn with an aloof step. He headed after her up the stairs and as they walked, he sniffed the air she trailed. She was canine. A wolf. pipsqueak. he thought smugly.

As they climbed the stairs, Rayvn's hips swayed back and forth enticingly. She heard the door close automatically behind the lion as she came to the landing. "We all have rooms here, careful of the top floor though, Dmitri doesn't like to be disturbed and unless you want to become fried chinese food, I'd stay away from him." She couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips as she led him down the hallway. Across from her own room was an empty one and the next in line for rent. With a sigh she pulled a master key out of her back pocket and unlocked the door for him. "Here ya go, any questions?"

He shook his head and stepped into the room, looking around slightly. It was a simple room, with a bed, a dresser, a small bathroom just big enough for one person, and a 30-inch television, probably with local cable. He turned back to Rayvn and said, "Dis will do." He took a step back towards her and studied her closely a moment, then said in a low, husky growl, "Are you keepin' me company tonight?"

A loud growl erupted from her lips before she turned on him, slamming him into the nearest wall. "That is enough!" The threatening growl rumbled from deep in her chest. Her eyes locked on his for the first time, causing her to gasp loudly. Her pupils dilated as the world around her fell away until she could see only him. "No..." She whined as she pushed herself away from him, horror etched into her eyes. "No... it can't be..."

He held her gaze, even as she began to back away from him. He followed, seemingly unbothered by the way she'd so easily thrown him into the wall. He sniffed at her again, blatantly, and snorted a small laugh through his nose. "You ah in heat." he smirked. "You Ahcadians cannot control de animal sides of you like we born as beasts can." He tilted his head at her, his brown eyes gleaming, slowly changing into something more golden yellow.

Rayvn shook her head at the lion, glad that her 25th birthday wasn't until this weekend. Hopefully by then he'd be gone and their animals wouldn't feel the bond anymore. "Being in heat doesn't matter. I would never mate with someone I didn't know. Just because the fucking Fates say we're meant to be together doesn't mean I agree with it." She realized she had backed herself up against the wall behind her. He clearly made her nervous, not just because of him being Katagaria but also because she felt the bond, calling to her. She wasn't ready for her true mate to show up yet, and in the form of a cat! The Fates were indeed cruel.

He came up close to her, not quite touching her, but close enough to feel the heat coming off of his skin. His face was close to hers. He sniffed at her again and then his eyes met hers a second time. "What's de mattah? Cat got your tongue?" he asked coyly and smiled at her.

Her entire body stiffened the closer he got but when he spoke, the growl vibrated through her. She hit him with her elbow, pushing him back slightly. But he was definitely strong and he didn't budge much. "Back off..." She growled deeply, her eyes flickering and burning bright blue with her anger.

He hardly took half a step back from her hit. He even laughed a little. "Pipsqueak." he said, echoing his thought from before. When he looked at her this time, his eyes were not human. They were yellow, and a lion's eyes. He held her gaze a moment longer, though, and then stepped back, sweeping his arm towards the door in an invitation for her to leave. "Your house." he said softly, then turned and headed towards the bed. "But you have de key to mah room if you change your mind."

Rayvn couldn't help herself. She picked up the nearest thing to her which just so happened to be a metal tissue box cover and threw it at his back. "Go fuck yourself." She growled and headed out of his room, only to slam into a hard chest. She looked up at Vane who grabbed a hold of her so she didn't fall on her ass.

"Ray, are we having problems with the new kitty cat?" Vane tilted his head to the side in question, looking over her shoulder at the large man. "Buddy, you're pissing off the wrong wolf. You get her too upset and you'll have the entire Peltier and Kattalakis clans down on you."

Rayvn shrugged him off. "Get off me, I can handle myself." But she knew she wasn't fooling him, he be able to smell her arousal and her anger. She stormed across the hall and slammed the door of her room shut behind her.

Vane turned to the lion and frowned. "You do realize you two are meant to be mated right? How could you be so degrading? That's not what a woman wants when she finds her true match." Not that Vane would know entirely, he'd been searching for his for years and the closest he'd come was a slight bond with a jackal many years ago.

"Mah name is Jecob, not 'kitty cat.'" he said, watching Vane over his shoulder. He shrugged lazily and bent to pick up the metal tissue box, setting it back on his dresser. "She is in heat. She does not know for certain dat I am her mate. She's never known de difference." he said simply. He was sort of refusing to acknowledge the same thing he'd felt when she'd looked him in the eyes. He'd hesitated only a second, let it wash over him and then pass on like an ocean wave he simply dove under. At least on the outside. He straightened and looked at Vane again and with a straight face, simply added, "But it's none of your business."

"Well I guess we'll find out in two days, when she turns 25 and she comes of age." Vane started to head to his room but paused. "And Jecob... it is my business if you end up hurting her. She may not be mine or my blood but she's damn important to the families in this building. So... unless you want to fuck with a house full of bears, wolves and a dragon, I'd play nice." He knocked on the door frame before heading to his room, leaving the door for Jecob to close.

Jecob watched Vane go, if only to make sure he really left. They might have both been Katagaria, but bears and lions were not usually friends--outside of the cute, cliched TV pairs, of course. His eyes, which were now back to their normal brown and gold specks, focused on Ravyn's door before he closed his own door gently and locked it for the night.

Aliya, naturally, hadn't been able to sleep. She didn't normally sleep at night, and it was only just after two in the morning. She had driven home and changed her clothes with every intention of staying in her apartment and watching TV or trying to sleep early. But she just couldn't. There was too much on her mind--most notably the bear she had met earlier in the evening. So she'd changed her clothes into some more comfortable jeans, her fur lined boots, a clean t-shirt, and a warmer coat, and then headed back out and back to the Sanctuary, hoping he was still there. She spotted his motorcycle and smiled to herself, putting her car in park. She headed into the bar without a purse. The animals and humans inside she knew could be rowdy and the animals tended to follow their instincts before following their brains. This made petite, fragile girls like her susceptible to targeting for things like theft and harassment. She stepped into the pub with her cash and keys in her pocket, and instantly started seeking Vane out, but found he was nowhere to be seen.

The group at the table, however, recognized her instantly. "Hey! It's Miss White from the joint!" one called and others turned on her and started to cheer and wave her over.

Aliya blushed and dropped her eyes from the group, and tried to make her way towards the bar and away from them, but they began to tail her, and too many others began to recognize her also. One man grabbed her arm, and another slapped her ass. She gasped, jerking away. She reached for her cell phone in her pocket and started to dial the number from Vane's card. She'd already memorized it after reading it over and over again at home for the last hour. Just as she hit "send," the phone was knocked from her hand and vanished on the floor among a crowd of shoes. She yelped as she lost it and tried to curl away from the group of Katagarian's groping and hooting at her.

The main doors slammed open and there stood two of the biggest bears that anyone had ever seen. The dark brown one gave a loud, threatening roar which made the entire room tremble, a few bottles fell off she shelves behind the bar and shattered. Both bears stalked towards the group, there steps making the ground beneath them tremble. They were trailed by a group of wolves. Obviously they had been out for their morning run as a pack. The brown bear brushed his way through the group to Aliya's side while the other transformed into Dev. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" He bellowed. One of the men tried grabbing for Aliya again, causing Vane to snap his iron jaw at him. The group of wolves started to circle around the large group that had descended on Aliya, deadly growls ripping from their vocal cords. "All of you, get the fuck out! I don't want to see another one of you for the next six months!" His words came out with a loud shout causing the group to scatter. Dev's brother was behind the bar and handed the man a pair of sweatpants. "Come on ya mangy animals." Dev said to the group of shifters. Leading them over to the door he held it open for them. "Miss White, if you'd be so kind as to follow Vane." His voice was gentle as he spoke to her, not wanting to startle the little thing.

Aliya watched the group of boisterous men leave the Sanctuary, flanked by the wolves and Dev. They continued to shout and complain as they left, but Aliya was unharmed. She looked at Vane, recognizing the massive bear instantly. She rested a light hand in the fur of his scruff at his shoulders and leaned against him slightly--though he probably wouldn't even feel her weight against him. She was a little shaken, but okay. She followed him through the back of the pub and through the black door up the stairs, gradually calming down the farther they got from the bar.

Vane nuzzled against her gently as they moved up the stairs and down the hall. He pressed his head into a doorway that sat at the very end next to the next set of stairs. Quickly he shifted into human form and opened the door. Pulling her inside with him, he closed and locked the door behind them. "Excuse me..." He raced across his room to a set of dressers and quickly pulled out a pair of gym shorts. Finally having some cover on he turned back to the pretty little thing in front of him and hauled her against his chest, cradling her head. "Are you okay?"

She was a bit surprised by the embrace, but she allowed it. Her arms curled in against his chest, her face against him. She could hear his thunderous heartbeat right against her ear. She nodded slightly. She was okay. She enjoyed the hug for a bit longer, then pulled back from him and smiled up at him softly, gratefully, but without meeting his eyes. She put her hands flat against his chest. It seemed to dawn on her then how utterly tiny she was compared to him. He was a beast of a man, both in human and animal forms. She laughed at it, quietly, the sound almost like a hiccup.

"Does this happen often? Men pawing at you?" Vane growled softly, letting her pull away and gently letting his hands fall to his sides to give her some space. He cocked his head at the little noise she made with a quirked eyebrow. "What was that?" He asked, curiously. He moved away from her for a moment to pull on a shirt and jogging shoes. He usually kept a room here for when he wanted to get away from his siblings but he realized he really needed to do some laundry. He'd been spending more time than usual here.

She watched him pull away and turn to finish dressing, giving a meek shrug in response to his questions. Her smile faded a little, though. She turned and began to explore the room, realizing he stayed here, if only sometimes. It smelled like him in here. Yes, the pawing and catcalls were a part of her life. It came with the territory of being an easily-recognized adult performer. She sat on the end of his bed, her hands on her knees, just watching him with interest.

After he laced up his last shoe he climbed to his feet and turned to look at Aliya. His eyes widened and he couldn't help the lump he swallowed in his throat. Even just sitting on his bed, she looked tempting. He didn't know what it was about this snowy hair woman but she got his blood flowing like no one else. He cleared his throat before going forward. "What brought you here today?"

Her full lips turned up a little at the corners and she shook her head with another shrug. "You." she said honestly, her voice once again quiet. "You're interesting." She tilted her head at him, all her white-blonde hair falling to one side against her back and she studied him again. "Why are you so kind to me?"

Vane leaned against the wall across from her and crossed his arms over his chest. "Why shouldn't I be?" He gave a soft sigh as he tilted his head. "Just because I'm a Katagaria and you're an Arcadian? Fuck that... I hate this stupid war." He licked his lips gently as his eyes pierced into hers. "Besides, I feel an attraction to you that I can't seem to help, so I figured why fight it?"

Her hazel eyes met his for the first time since they'd met and her smile faded into somewhat of a look of awe. She held his gaze as she rose from the bed with an inhuman grace and crossed the small space towards him. She stood in front of him and on her tiptoes, peering into his eyes closely, her lips slightly parted. Red flushed her cheeks, bringing color to her otherwise white skin. Her fingertips brushed along the topmost forearm of his crossed arms, featherlight along his skin.

It was like her fingers burned through him, warmth spread across his entire body. His shorts grew tight around his crotch as he stared down into her eyes. "Aliya..." His voice came out as if he was having a hard time speaking. He reached out and gently placed his hands on her hips, they tightened slightly with the need to pull her close but he held off, not wanting to scare her with his forceful tendencies. Let her make the first move if this is really what she wants. Though as he stared into her eyes he knew his wait was over. He'd found her.

This was a new sensation to her. She couldn't look away from his eyes. Her lips were tingling and she couldn't stop thinking about kissing him and touching him. His hands on her hips felt secure, good... right. She wasn't the least bit scared of this bear, this Katagarian. Her eyelashes fluttered a little bit, as if she were dazed. And she was--she was knocked dizzy by these feelings. Her hand tightened on where it came to rest on his wrist, then she pulled back and away, but her hand on his wrist guided him with her. She guided him back to his bed and turned them, then slowly pushed him to sit. She wasn't strong enough to make him sit, but her pushes were instructive. Once he was sitting, and they were finally eye-to-eye, she stepped between his knees so her chest was flush against his. He would be able to feel her heart beating along with his, fast and hard.

Vane allowed her to maneuver them around and when she pushed him to sit he gave her a big smile and did as she wanted. He watched as she stepped between his legs but was easily distracted by her racing heart. She felt it too. Suddenly he felt his bear clawing and pacing inside him. Claim her! He screamed in his head. "Shut up, I don't want to scare her off. He felt the bear huff in frustration as Vane gripped her hips tightly. He slid one hand up her side, under her arm and around to the back of her neck to gently guide her down to his mouth. Before there lips could make contact there was a loud knock on the door. "Vane! Dev and the boys want to see us." He growled deeply, "Damnit..." His eyes blazed, his brown eyes flecked with a bright gold.

Her own eyes, which had been closed in preparation for the kiss, opened at the interruption as well. This time, rather than the dark hazel they normally were, they were bright amber. She let out a shaky, barely contained breath and blinked a few times until her eyes returned to normal. She stepped back from Vane and out of his hands, blushing and trying to reel herself in. So close... So close, he was so close... He was about to claim me. she thought quickly. How silly... a bird and a bear. She swallowed thickly and tucked some of her white hair behind her ear. "I can wait here..." she suggested quietly, then blushed and looked down and away. "O-or I can leave... come back... some other time..."

Vane's bear growled as she moved away, frustrated and pissed of at Rayvn for interrupting them. He gave a soft sigh as he took her hands in his, pulling her close for a moment. He gently kissed the palm of each hand before he got to his feet, towering over her. "Or you can come with me and we can go somewhere afterwards." He tipped her head up so she was looking at him and inhaled deeply. "You feel it too... I can tell..." "I can smell it." Well that's a change, smelling females. "Shut up... Jesus, why do you have to be so negative?" Sorry I just didn't expect our mate to be an Owl. "Neither did I, but she's perfect." His bear gave an agreeable huff as it laid down in his subconscious, trying to fend off his need to claim her.

Her head was swimming again as she looked up into his eyes. "Yes," she conceded, not moving in his hand's grip on her chin by nodding. At the mention of going elsewhere, her mind spun and then settled. "My apartment." she offered, a bit breathlessly. Her hands were on his chest again, sliding downwards over his abs and lower still. He was just so tall...

As her hands trailed down his body, he gave a soft growl. "Fuck the meeting." He reached over and flicked the lock on the door before sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her over to his queen sized bed. He gently laid her down and covered her with his own body. He quickly kicked of his shoes as he leaned down, capturing her lips with his own. He groaned against her lips at their first contact, his tongue sweeping out against her lips.

She made a tiny sound as he dropped her onto the bed. It was a gasp, a breath, both excited and scared. She welcomed him atop her, though, and slid her hands--small and cold--against his ribs over his shirt. His lips on hers were fireworks. Her lips had been tingling before he'd kissed her, but now they were buzzing like angry bees, hot and wanting. She gave the barest of moans against his mouth, opening her lips for his tongue, her own lightly meeting his in a touch that was light, yet enough to send thrumming shivers down her spine. Her hands found the hem of his basketball shorts and tugged gently on it, but not in a way as to pull them down; rather, she directed him, again, like she had before. She rolled them on the bed, gradually standing away from him and leaving him breathless on his back. She stood at the end of his bed and removed her fur-lined boots, her fingers moving to unbotton her jeans. She did not like stripping for money, but did it because it was necessary to live. But here, now, she liked the idea of stripping, for him, for free. She left her pants unbuttoned, showing him just a sliver of her black lace panties. She then peeled her sweater up and off, her t-shirt going with it, leaving her in a matching bralette that was more lace and strap than anything else. Her full breasts filled it out perfectly, and the chill of the air made them perky and full. She slowly turned her back on him, hooking her thumbs into the hem of her jeans, and pulled them down, bending languidly so he had a full view of her backside as she did.

Vane stared at her from his position on the bed, his eyes were filled with desire as he watched her undress but his eyes also held more softness then most men ever did when they looked at her. He swallowed when she turned around to slide her jeans off, giving him the most delicious view of her backside. A soft growl rippled through him as he snapped out of it. In one fluid movement his shirt went flying across the room, his shorts following soon after. "Jesus, she's perfect..." His bear was practically drooling as he nodded his head in agreement. Clearly they were both pleased.

Aliya giggled as she saw his shirt and shorts go flying over her head. She turned back to him while she stepped out of her jeans and reached behind herself to unhook her bra. She let the straps slide down her thin arms and then let it drop to the floor, before slipping her fingers under the hem of her panties and beginning to pull them down with a tantalizing slowness. She loved the look on his face. He was full of carnal lust for her, but his eyes were so soft. He was very handsome. She blushed as she finally stepped out of her panties where they lay at her ankles, and then stepped towards the bed again, crawling over him.

Vane made a sound that was a mix between a whine and a growl as she crawled over him. His hands glided over her body as she moved up his until they gripped both ass cheeks. His golden speckled eyes stared up into hers as he gently ground himself up into her wet folds. He felt his teeth elongate with his arousal. "What are you wanting out of this? Just a bout of sex or for me to claim you?" His words came out easily, even with his teeth being in the way. His inner bear clearly wanted to claim her but if that wasn't what she wanted, he'd hold back.

She blushed. It was such a direct question, and one she didn't think needed to be asked. She eased herself to lay down on top of him so her breasts pressed against his chest, and she kissed his lips chastely, but deeply. When she pulled away, she moved her lips to his ear and whispered, "make me yours."

Vane growled loudly at her remark. Carefully he flipped them over so he was on top of her and slid them up on the bed so they weren't hanging off. He ran his hands up and down her legs slowly as he rocked his hips against hers, his very erect cock gliding in and out of her folds, teasing, but never dipping into her. "I'll try not to bite you too hard..." He whispered as he slowly pushed his hips forward, the head entering her a bit. He wasn't sure if she'd ever been with anyone before and he didn't want his beastly size to hurt her.

Just the slight intrusion to her tunnel made her tense nervously. Her hands gripped his arms, nails digging slightly into the muscles. "Gentle?" she squeaked up at him. "I've never..." She trailed off, blushing, but refusing to look away from him.

Vane looked down at her all his desire fading away to be replaced with love. "Take as long as you need, baby. I'm not here to rush this." He leaned down and nuzzled her belly, giving it a soft kiss as his hands ran up and down her sides, trying to ease her tension. His tongue flicked against her skin as he kissed and licked his way up her body until he reached her ear. Giving the lobe a gentle bite he whispered. "I love that you've saved yourself... makes you entirely and completely mine."

She smiled at him gently. She kissed him again, opening her thighs a little more to welcome him against and into her sex. She was nervous, but she was wet. She kissed him deeply, her tongue darting out and seeking his, brushing along it with a small moan. "Yours... And mine." She breathed when it broke and ran her nails down his back lightly. "A bear and a bird." she giggled.

"I've waited for this moment for so long, I don't care if you are a squirrel... you're perfect." He took his actions from her, when she acted like she was ready he would inch in further, the slow movement torturous but he knew it would be worth it in the end. He stared down at her for a moment. "Hmmm just a thought... I know I mark you with a bite, how do you mark me? I've never kept up on bird mating's..."

"My smell..." she whispered, gasping a little as he pushed forward inch by inch. "Or one of my feathers..." She reached up and tugged playfully on a lock of his hair and smiled. Her eyes, though they were yellow now, were dazed. She rested a hand against his warm neck and pulled him down for another kiss.

He groaned deeply as their lips met once again and he finally seated himself fully within her. Even though it had taken a good amount of time, her warmth enveloping him was definitely worth it. He took a minute for her to get used to him completely before he gently and slowly pulled himself out, almost all the way before entering her fully once again. A deep rumbling growl escaped his lips. "Perfect."

Her lips parted and a hot gasp shuddered out of her, her eyes closed over lightly. It hurt, but it also felt so good. She whined up at him and loosely wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms doing the same around his neck and shoulders. "Vane..." she breathed hotly.

"God I love the way you moan my name..." He breathed against her neck and he buried his face there, nuzzling her lovingly as he continued to move in slow thrusts so she would grow to accommodate his large size. He lifted one hand to her breast and massaged it gently, his thumb flicking over it before gently rolling the little bud between his fingers.

She whined another moan, her back bowing off of the bed and pushing her breast into his palm. It caused a myriad of new sensations that perfectly complimented the friction she was feeling between her legs. She shivered and hissed between her teeth, her nails leaving light pink rakes in his skin down his arms. He was so big... She felt so full of him it blew her mind. Her legs suddenly tightened on his hips, her heels pushing down against his pelvis to push him deeper into her, until he could go no further, making her cry out in pain and pleasure.

Vane moaned loudly against her neck and shoulder, his fangs protruding from his mouth at the anticipation of biting her. He felt her push him deeper into her lovely canal, spurring him on. Gradually he increased his speed, thrusting into her faster but just as deep as she'd pushed him. He felt his vocal cords vibrating with continuous growls and moans but he refused to bite her until she was on the brink of orgasm.

Her breaths quickened and her sounds increased, her eyes closed over lightly and lips parted wider now. She reached up and gripped the headboard of the bed, bracing herself to give him more leverage. He felt so good... Everything felt so wonderful. She whined and gasped, feeling that pressure building in her hips, a pressure she only knew from self exploration. She was close. The world was already spinning. It mounted more and more until suddenly, her mind went blank, and she felt like She was flying again. She didn't scream like most girls might. She instead curled into him, gripping him tightly and holding her breath, her nose slightly wrinkled.

Now! His bear growled as Vane opened his mouth wide and gently bit down onto the curve where his neck and shoulder met. His teeth sank into flesh as his cock sank into her folds, twitching violently with his release. The coppery taste of her blood filled his mouth as his marked her. His hips continued their thrusting, driving his orgasm higher until he was spent. His hips slowly stopped their movement as he softened slightly within her. Releasing her shoulder he licked the wounds clean and watched as the closed up with his magic. The scars invisible to the human eye but their magic was entwined now, she was his.

The smallest of whimpers and a single tear escaped Aliya as he marked her. She didn't pull away, didn't flinch, and didn't fight. She instead concentrated on the feeling of him throbbing inside of her, the warm fullness that filled her. She shivered and slowly began to ease back from both her orgasm and from clutching to him. She relaxed on the bed beneath him and smiled up at him drunkenly. During her orgasm, her owl eyes had sharpened, and some feathers had broken through the skin of her arms. She reached up and touched his cheek. "Mine..." she breathed.

When she said that, Vane flinched, gritting his teeth as a searing pain took over his left shoulder. The pain only lasted a few moments and in its place was a 'tattoo' of one of her owl feathers. His eyes widened slightly. "Well that's different." He smiled softly as he turned back to his new mate and gently kissed her lips. His magic swelled for the instant love he felt for this woman, radiating through their bond to her. If they'd been human, he would've laughed at the thought of feeling true love and affection for someone in fewer than twenty four hours. But for shifters, magic moved the emotional timeline at the speed of light.

Aliya kissed him back with just as much passion and fervor. Her chest felt full and she was unbelievably happy. She had found her One. She ran her fingers up into his hair lovingly as she kissed him, pulling him snug against her. When the kiss broke, she nuzzled her forehead against his, her eyes closed. The snowy white feathers speckled in inky black spots that had grown from her arms began to fall out, littering the bed with them as she came down from their bestial love making.

Vane groaned softly as he pulled completely out of her and fell to her side. "As much as I'd love to ravage you again, I should probably see what Dev wanted. He's the oldest of the bunch and tends to get angry when disobeyed." Kissing her temple he got up from his bed and moved to his dresser to pull on some jeans. He bent to pick up his discarded t-shirt and pulled it on. "Would you like to stay here or come down? I'd love to introduce you..."

Aliya sat up on her elbows on the bed and watched him move about. When he offered for her to come down, she blushed and politely shook her head, though she was smiling. "Next time." she said gently, a sort of silent promise. She wanted to enjoy this, being just his. She slid from the bed and moved to hug him, wrapping her small arms around his middle and leaning her ear to his chest, just listening to his thundering heartbeat. She smiled and hummed happily as it thudded against her cheek, then looked up at him sweetly. "Hurry back?"

Vane ran one hand up and down her back while the other ran gently through her hair. "Of course, love." He kissed the top of her head and smiled. "Make yourself at home." Giving her a quick kiss he slipped out of the door and jogged down to Dev's office. The door was cracked and most of the siblings were in there with Rayvn so he slipped in, receiving a growl. "Bout damn time." He grinned down at Dev who sat at his desk.

Rayvn glanced up at Vane as he slipped into the room and gasped. "You've been marked!" She tugged back his shirt and grinned. Her feather just peaked out of his shirt, giving him away. "Well it's about damn time!" one of the other bears said. Congratulations were given all around before Dev stood. "Alright alright. Now you all have done a good job at keeping things neutral in the club but I want to branch that out to the rest of the city."

As the meeting was commencing, a wandering pair of footsteps doing little to mask themselves approached down the hall. Jecob stopped outside the office and leaned against the wall leisurely, watching Ravyn with a small, crooked smile that seemed more smug than patient.

Ravyn felt him before she saw him. Her body stiffened beside Vane and the entire room quieted as she began to growl. Dev's eyes rose from the map he was pointing at. His eyes flickered back and forth between the two. Clearing his throat to get her attention he frowned. "You have the day off. But as an assignment I'd like you to get to know him." Ravyn blinked, "But Dev," she started to argue but he held up his hand. "Please?" She licked her lips nervously before turning from the group and closing the door behind her as she left the office.

Jecob's smile only broadened as she emerged from the office, putting them near face-to-face. He pushed off from the wall and took a step towards her. "So tense you ah." he teased. "Maybe a walk would help? Or a run?"

Ravyn cocked her head slightly as he took a step towards her, not backing down. One of her dainty eyebrows quirked at his question, causing her to smile. "A walk would be nice, but I'm not going to give you the pleasure of seeing me naked so a run is out of the question. For now." She threw that last bit over her shoulder as she headed down the hallway and out into the club. "Come on, kitty cat."

His smile vanished as he followed her. He hated that nickname. A low rumble in his chest reached her ears as he came up behind her. "Don't call me dat. Or maybe I'll staht calling you 'mutt.'" he grumbled. He followed her out into the club and then outside into the cold Denver air. He wasn't used to the cold, nor did he really enjoy it. He gave a visible shudder against it and tugged his coat closer.

Ravyn came to a stop just outside the door and frowned. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you by the nickname... I've just never encountered an actual cat before so... it just kinda comes out." She blushed softly, embarrassed for once by her slip of the tongue. She knew how she would hate to be called a mutt so she would try and refrain from calling him that. Sliding up beside him she noticed him pulling his coat closer. "Can I ask what a Lion is doing in Denver?"

He glanced at her and though she had apologized, he didn't seem to be so forgiving right away. "It was not safe in my home." he said. "Mah older brother became pride king... he forced me out. I didn't want to stay." He shrugged. "Some'ting drew me here. So I stayed."

She nodded her head gently as she listened to him. "I'm sorry to hear that." Her words were sincere as they walked along. She steered the direction to a local grill she liked to eat at and nodded her head. "Want to talk over a bite? It's warmer inside." The cold didn't bother her but for an animal who was used to the heat she could understand his discomfort.

He nodded. He could go for some food, he supposed. He headed up the steps ahead of her and opened the door for her, letting her in first despite his discomfort with the snow and cold. He followed her inside and warmed up his hands, giving a nod to the hostess, who showed them to a small table for two. He pulled out Ravyn's chair for her, but didn't wait for her to sit in it before taking his own seat.

Ravyn was taken by surprise as he held the door open for her and then again when he pulled her chair out. She made sure to thank him both times as she pulled her seat up to the table. The hostess placed two menus in front of them and mentioned the served breakfast all day long before hurrying off to alert their waiter. She chewed on her bottom lip as she picked up the menu, fiddling with the metal tabs on the corners.

He was looking at his menu when he noticed her fidgeting with the tabs on her own order book. He didn't look up at her, but still spoke to her all the same. "Ah you nervous?" he asked, just loud enough to be heard from behind his menu, but quiet enough to avoid disturbing the few customers in the restaurant at two in the morning.

Ravyn sighed gently and set her menu aside, knowing what she wanted already. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be it's just... I'm always on edge around Katagaria's." Her tongue trailed lightly along her lips as she crossed one leg over the other, watching him as he read over the menu. She knew she needed to try and relax but it wasn't easy around him. He set her nerves on fire and she was alert at all times. "It's especially hard around you..."

He finally looked at her, his brown and gold eyes connecting with her rather mesmerizing blue ones, and he slowly set his menu down and aside. "Why?" he asked, leaning forward on his elbows and tilting his head at her with another crooked smile underneath his thick blonde beard. "Because we have dis connection?"

"Mainly but also because your a Katagaria. We're supposed to hate each other." In fact she did hate them, well... most of them. She couldn't fault the Peltier's or Kattalakis for what the other Katagaria did in their city. Besides, Dev was trying to stop the war, had been for years. "And knowing nothing about you doesn't help." Just then the waiter popped up to take their order. "Mesquite chicken with a pepsi, please." She said before handing over her menu.

He watched her as she gave the waiter her order and politely waited his turn. When the waitress turned to him, he said, "A breakfast ham and a side of scrambled eggs, please. Oh, and a plate of pancakes." He offered her the menu back and then looked at Ravyn and smirked as he shrugged and said, "To start, I prefer breakfast food."

Ravyn smiled softly and nodded her head as the waitress walked away. "I prefer any food," She giggled slightly and shook her head. The bears had always teased her about being part bear because of how much she ate and never having dislikes. She sat back in her chair, staring comfortably across the table at him. "You said something drew you out this way, any idea what?"

Jecob shook his head and looked elsewhere, though whatever he looked at didn't seem to interest him much. His expression was hard to read. Outwardly he looked bored, but his eyes were alert and focused. "No idea," he said honestly. "It was... a hunch." He looked at her again and leaned back in his own chair. "What about you? Grew up here?"

"In America, yes, in Denver, no. I was born in Anchorage Alaska." Her foot began to bounce slightly as they talked. She found that it wasn't exactly painful to talk to him, but he didn't put her at ease either. She ran a hand through her long hair, her braid long gone after she'd slammed her door earlier. Her head had began to throb to she unraveled her hair to relieve some tension. "Where exactly are you from? Your accent isn't one I've ever heard."

"South Africa." he answered easily, watching her. He suddenly reached his hand under the table and placed it firmly on her knee to keep it from bouncing. He squeezed it, but gently, and then released it slowly. "Be calm. You know if I wanted to hurt you, I would have already." he said quietly. "We are jus' talking."

Ravyn gasped at the physical contact and jumped slightly. Her eyes stared straight into his as he spoke and she nodded her head. She knew what he said was true, he didn't want to hurt her. But why? How many times do we have to discuss this? Not all Katagaria are bad... "No but he looks like a predator and that frightens me." Maybe just take it slow, though I really want to make him purr with arousal. "Oh my god! Did you really just say that? Seriously, keep it in your pants." She smiled gently, trying to hold in her laughter. "Wh--" She cleared her throat, inhaling deeply. "Why don't you want to hurt me?" Though the moment it was out she wished she could take it back, it sounded so stupid to her ears.

His brows pulled together in a small frown when she asked that, then he threw back his head and laughed, the sound loud and boisterous, but rumbling deep from his chest. When he recovered, he looked at her and shook his head. "Because you have done no'ting to me, firstly. Secondly, why would I want to hurt de woman who is my life mate?" he asked, quirking a brow at her.

Her eyebrows rose in surprise at his response. She definitely didn't expect him to laugh at her. "Because I'm an Arcadian..." All her life she'd grown up with one constant... well two if you counted the Peltier's, and that was that most Katagaria hated them. "B-besides... we don't know if that's true yet." She looked down at her smart watch and frowned. "We'll find out for certain in about 22 hours though." She stared down at her hands as they twisted in her lap. She jumped as the waiter brought their food, startled. "I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to frighten you." The young man said as he set their orders down and hurried away.

Jecob watched her with amused, narrowed eyes. He was smiling. He lifted his knife and fork and began to cut into his breakfast ham and scrambled eggs, and as he did, he asked, "You put such significance on dis time frame... dis age. Age is just a numbah, Ravyn. What do you tink will happen? De clock will strike midnight and suddenly you'll know all de answers?" he asked. He tilted his head at her and took a bite of ham off of his fork, chewing a few times before saying, "I am old. Older dan you. An' I can tell you, your birthday--the day you tink things will just work out--is bullshit." He waved his fork at her a little and went back to eating his ham. "Things like puberty and maturity do not happen all at once jus' because you reached dis big milestone in life. Dey happen slowly, over time, and you usually do not see dem coming."

Ravyn stared at him for a long moment as if he had two heads. "You really know nothing about wolves do you? 25 is the age the fates allow us to see our true mate. Some come a along quickly, others wait lifetimes before they come across theirs." She pinched the bridge between her eyes and sighed. She thought the mating age was the same for all shirts but again, she'd never met a cat before so maybe it was just Wolves and Bears that could finally mate at 25. The waiter came back to the table to refill their glasses and frowned. "Is there something wrong with the meal, ma'am?" She shook her head gently and picked up her fork though she no longer had any desire to eat. "No no... it's always perfect. Sorry." The young man gave her a slight smile before moving on to another table. She cut off a bite and slipped it into her mouth, chewing quietly, her eyes once again not raising to look at him.

"Why would I know any'ting about wolves? I grew up in a place without dem." Jecob said between bites of his food. He ate hungrily and with big bites, clearly not as bothered by the conversation as she was. "But if you are supposed to wait until your twenty-fifth birthday to find out who your true mate is..." he said, finally looking up at her, "then why did you react the way you did when you looked at me?"

Ravyn choked on her bite, taken by surprise at his question. Reaching out she took several big gulps of her soda to force the piece of meat down her throat. "I can't tell him that! I barely know him..." But if he's our mate, it won't matter. Tell him Ray. "But what if he's not our mate?" Her wolf growled in annoyance causing Ravyn to sigh gently. Her cheeks began darkening with a deep crimson blush as she mulled over how to word it but nothing sounded good in her head so she just came out with it. "I've never been aroused by anyone before. Ever. And looking into your bea-... your eyes just... Did things to me." She closed her eyes in shame, completely embarrassed.

He seemed surprised by her answer. His eyebrows rose and this time he didn't laugh, but he did give a half-laugh through his nose and shook his head. "Ah, I see." What he felt had been different then. He smiled at her and turned back to his plate of food. "An' I don't suppose you want to do any'ting about it, either, hm? Saving yourself for your One?" he asked before taking another big bite of ham.

"I'm not- I don't-" Her cheeks remained their dark red as she fought to form words. "I can't... Ugh..." Looking up into his eyes she frowned deeply as she took a long breath. "You do this on purpose don't you?" She was so flustered and sexually confused. She knew she wanted him, she could feel that pull but he was still a Katagarian. "Why do you want to know?"

He swallowed his mouthful and while his eyes were locked with hers, he licked his lips and leaned forward across the table so he could keep his voice low. "Because I felt some'ting, too. A strong pull to you. And it makes me want to rip dose clothes off of you and do things to you dat would make you howl my name." he said seriously, his voice husky with want. His eyes even flashed a deep amber. He stifled a shiver and took another bite of ham, almost as though he hadn't said anything at all.

Ravyn whined slightly, her wolf inside perked up at his words and wagged her tail excitedly. Damn I like him! Goes after what he wants. "Shut up! I can't do this..." "I- I can't do this." She got up from her chair, her legs shaking slightly. Pulling a 20 dollar bill from her bra she threw it down on the table and quickly headed for the exit. "Ma'am!" The waiter called as he came out to check on things but she was already outside, gulping in the fresh air. She stumbled across the road, her magic vibrating around her. Across the street was line with trees so she darted in between them. Finding a set of trees that the trunks were so close together, it was the perfect place to stash her clothes. She quickly stripped before tucking them into the groove and took off running, shifting mid stride. She had to get out of here, away from him.

He watched her go with mild interest. He'd never been stood up before. He waved the waiter down and explained she was okay, she just had a mild panic attack, and asked for a to-go box for her meal. He left a large tip and finished his food as he waited for the waiter to return with the to-go box, packed up Ravyn's food, and left. He headed back to the bar as quickly as possible in the cold and left her food in the bar's mini fridge with her name written on the top. He then went back to his room and settled in for the night, collapsing on his bed with his hands folded under his head and staring at the ceiling. "I like her. But she's a bit skittish." She's a coward. his inner lion growled. "Yes. But cowards either learn or die. Let's see what she does."

Almost 2 hours later Ravyn returned to the bar with her clothes in place. Kyle Peltier, one of the Quadruplets, stood behind the bar wiping out glasses as she came in. Her cheeks were red and she looked agitated so he kept his teasing to himself. "Night, Ray." He called as she slipped behind the door and up to her room. She paused outside their doors, inhaling Jecob's scent before slipping into her own room and closing the door quietly. She was so exhausted from her run that she forgot to lock the door as she stripped naked and slipped under her comforter, falling asleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow.