Elliere Braim

1.7 A Step Up

Elliere sat in his room, green filled his pipe and his lighter was aflame. After his long, confusing talk with Bree the Witch about dates, he felt he needed some stress relief. Dress good? He thought he already did that. Be polite? Hadn't he already ruined his chances of that? Compliment his date? Well, that was something he hadn't done so he could actually do that. Eat nicely? Well she already seen him eat tonight so... Basically be himself? Hah, yeah. He could totally see himself shifting and coming to dinner as his Lupus form going over so well. Not.

He growled and flicked the flame over the green, burning it and sucking in. The smell filled his nose instantly and the taste quickly after. He inhaled into his lungs and then...released, a cloud of hazy smoke rolling out of his mouth. He repeated the process three more times and set the pipe down along with the lighter, slowly sliding back onto his mattress. He gazed at the ceiling, enjoying the buzzing feeling and calmness while he considered everything.

He was going on a date, an actual date, with a human who he marked when drunk. His lips stretched in a smile and he felt the whole situation ironic, but he was happy. Elliere could admit he was happy this was happening. He hadn't felt this way...in so long. He never thought this could happen. It was almost like a miracle, if he believed in those things. Instead, Elliere believed he chose Mercy for a reason and so far he uncovered many reasons... all good.

He could actually see himself starting over with Mercy and moving on from Layla. Sure, it would be challenging in the sense that Mercy was not Lupus and probably would never be Lupus so he'd have to go about courting her and mating with her completely in a different way than usual, but he was starting to believe this would be good. She was good for him.

With a smile on his face, Elliere allowed his mind to clear and take him away.

**

The next day arrived rapidly and Elliere found himself springing out of his bed in a panic. Now that the haze of the high had worn off, he was incredibly hungry and incredibly nervous about his date with Mercy. He wanted it to go well. He wanted her to be with him. He wasn't sure what he would do if she left again and didn't want to try.

Probably go crazy....insane...

Elliere shook his head, scrubbing a hand through his shaggy black hair. He didn't need to think about what if's, he needed to go find something decent to wear for later and then go for a run to ease out some of his nerves. It took him half an hour to pick out something decent and he still wasn't positive on it, but it would have to do. A plaid shirt with his best jeans and his best shoes.

He glanced at the outfit one last time before sliding on his sweats and slipping out the door. He had debated on going for a run in his Lupus form, but he worried while the bond was only semi-complete that he'd run straight to wherever Mercy was despite it being broad daylight. Even though he was still himself, but furry it didn't mean he didn't have more animalistic feelings that took control while he was Lupus.

So instead, Elliere opted for a normal human jog through the forest. It was nice out, a slight cool breeze blew through his hair and stirred up the scents around him. He caught all the usual animal smells and earthy dirt scents along with the freshness of the surrounding trees. With every thump of his feet against the ground, he felt himself lose all his nerves about his date. He'd do his best to abid by the rules Bree had suggested, but some he'd already broken so there wasn't much he could do. The only thing he hoped for was that she would like him enough to do it again....and again until she admitted she wanted to be with him. Forever.

Elliere couldn't have Mercy not know about wanting him and if she did want him, she would have to want to be with him for life. There was no inbetween and no room for unsureness. She had to be one-hundred percent involved and invested in him. Once the bond was sealed, there would be no going back.

A smirk appeared on his rough face. At least he managed to mark the girl before she was stolen from him, he thinks. That in itself was a step up from Layla.