Fang-Kissed

Chapter 30

3 weeks later

Ren scared us all, and then she pulled off the impossible. Fortitude is completely overhauled. From university to a Pack Palace. The transformation is both regal and wholesome.

The Kingdom of Fangs, with a young, gorgeous Alpha dressed with two Fang Gold sentries. Raphael at her right, Raze at her left. They were her advisors and her security as two giant Fangs resting by her throne, looking formidable in wolf form.

I stand on the second level of the throne room, which had once been an oversized lobby filled with statues and other artefacts. It's been cleared so the floor is open up toward the Alpha, Raph and Raze.

For the last 3 weeks, as the Fangs came back on instinct to the open borders at Fortitude, Ren ordered a temporary separation of mates to focus the pack on building. Toni Fang Claw and Kami made the magic happen.

The Fangs and Shefangs and their seconds, plus the healers and specialised doctors who were mates to these fearsome creatures, were also gathered before Ren now. Their memories returned in this familiar territory, when confronted by what they lost.

Raphael and Raze were ordered to stay away from me, until the restructuring was completed. So I spent most days actually just drawing from the ramparts, or different rooms, sketching the changes around me. To my surprise, my Fangs listened to Ren without hiccup. They didn't bother me.

And I'll say, it was a relief to have space. Raphael and Raze sometimes felt like they were suffocating me with their possessiveness. Especially since the last time they almost fought over me. Space was the answer.

Now everything is back to normal. The finished territory is polished and almost unbelievable. It was all thanks to Ren's Silver Fang blood. Whatever it added to her voice, and her glare – made everyone quickly fall into line and clean this place up quick smart.

She held a magical authority over us all.

Ren still laughed and had moments where she was laid back and all...

But there is just one problem.

Ren's attitude to mortals.

She's taken it from Beowulf, is my guess – or maybe it's a Fang trait – but she looks down on us.

We have a section to the right, behind the pearly floor, on an area lined by black, we're quite literally sectioned off, put in our place. Being enslaved to Fangs might not be vocalised – but... uh... we still had to submit to the authority of our Fang partner. Or kneel before the Alpha. Ren didn't ask it of me, obviously, but it made me uncomfortable seeing everyone else forced into a submissive pose when approaching her.

It seemed completely unnecessary and yet obligatory. I had yet to see what would happen if someone refused to kneel – I didn't exactly want to find out.

I guess Fang arrogance was the natural product of human ego mixed with the mind of a blood thirsty wolf.

"Welcome to the Silver Fang Court," Ren begins, smiling and leaning back with her eye on the human shifted Fangs, "This will be a place of learning, a home of strength and fortitude for the realm. Order starts and ends here. I welcome you all back. Our aims in this realm are as follows. Respect. Order. Peace. How we maintain that peace will only involve blood at the provocation of outsiders. We will be friend and enemy to all. Each individual that seeks out Fang assistance will be assessed individually and escorted to me through the main paths sectioned for mortals. Mortals may only follow the marked paths toward Fortitude, every other area is off limits. Any who make it through to our protected palace successfully, will be heard, and we will serve those who need help. Those who want to abuse us, will be dealt with accordingly," Ren gives a cold silence, then a vicious smile with a light laugh. The Fangs chuckle along, making my skin crawl. I'm just happy Raphael in particular is simply resting his large head on his crossed paws, relaxed but not laughing, Raze is also similarly cunning, just watching, "...Kami is your first point of contact with the wizards. Do not disturb them, and if you do, Kami will negotiate peace. We rely on our muscle and our senses, our claws, our fangs, our wit, our hearts. Now that Fortitude is complete, mortals will be welcomed in and the paths will officially be opened today. We are not announcing this officially. We will keep our Kingdom hidden for now. Mortals will fear us, more than ever before. We protect the realm from all evil."

"We protect the realm!" the Fangs repeat it like an old tradition I'm not aware of.

Ren stands from her throne, nods and dismisses everyone from the formal assembly, "Go to your mates. Unless it's your turn to be Running."

The dressed up Fangs either turn to their Shefangs or the second-hands in their corner.

I watch Raze pick himself up and pace for the exit, clearly he was on Running duty right now. He looks like he's focused but hard to read. He doesn't glance at me, he just lopes out, followed by some other Fangs who are in wolf form on the edges.

Raphael stands and blinks up at me, then he shifts down to man, running naked toward the stairs.

I blush and try not to gawk as he approaches me with sudden desperation.

I hear some giggles from the floor, and then I glance over my shoulder to see Raphael smirking at the top of the stairs as he approaches my expression, full of disdain.

"Oh, gods," I fake a groan as he collides with me. Raphael embraces me from behind, his arms encasing my shoulders and squeezing me back in a hug as he nuzzles into my hair like he had been thinking of nothing less.

"My helper," Raphael sighs with delight, "I missed you, nerd. What have you been doing for three weeks? Picking your nose?"

"Ew, I was doing art," I snap until I hear his amused chuckling. He said that on purpose. To get a rise. And I fall for something so dumb. Of course.

"I know," Raphael growls into my ear playfully, "I saw you, looking so demure and cute with your pen and paper."

"Demure and cute," I repeat in a monotone, "Uhuh. You just miss being my bully. You seem a little too happy, is there something new going on that I should know about?"

Raphael just smiles against my ear, sliding his cheek next to mine, "A closed meeting with the Elders decided that Raze has no right to you exclusively. That he should share you, and he can't forbid me from loving you as a mate. Since they understand the circumstances. We bonded through his death, his second life is dependant on how things were before. The Elders aren't happy with the 23 year gap from their own mates. Although they organised everything as well as they could that last fateful day. My brother is currently... how to put it, as outcast as I used to be. They almost banished him, but I said he could stay, he just needs his work, the way I need my chubby little squeeze," Raphael squeezes me in his arms until I can't breathe. I squeak out a breath and then when he loosens his possessive hug without releasing me from his big arms, I end up grinning and laughing since he just won't let me go.

"I'm not chubby. And okay, I'll admit it. I missed you too, happy now, Raphael?" I say this as sweetly as I can and I feel Raphael looking down at me, all intense. His hand curves around my neck, until he grabs my chin and tilts my head right back, so he can observe my red cheeks.

"Clary, are you shy now? You can't look me in the eye," Raphael teases.

"You're naked in a public place, you idiot," I whisper, putting the blame back on him.

"Oh, yeah," Raphael laughs like he forgot, "Let's go somewhere private then, you walk in front of me. My shield."

"Just run ahead and I'll meet you in 201," I whisper up at him, "And take this," I pull away from him as I take off the grey jumper of a second-hand, leaving me with a white shirt underneath. I give him my piece of clothing and he holds it over his dick, "Go. Now."

Raphael is staring at me, adoringly.

It's making me uncomfortable, but in the kind of way that I just feel so much at once.

"Why do you keep staring at me like that?" I eventually ask.

"You're my mate too, Clary," Raphael says it with no hint of teasing, completely serious.

I blink.

I open my mouth and he's already running back for his refurbished bedroom.

Leaving me to walk after him, with pursed lips, and a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth uncontrollably.

I need to ask him to say that again.

I want to hear the words one more time.

Because if that's true... well... everything would make sense.

Fuck it, I start to run too.

I can't walk my way there.

I need to know.

If it's actually true!