Fur and Fang [BXB]

Sixteen

By the time the sun had risen, neither Atlas nor Fenn had gotten any sleep. The pair had been up all night discussing Fenn's abduction, documenting what they could, and exploring the depths of IKE for clues and connections. Fenn was exhausted, but he felt relieved. It felt good to not have any secrets from Atlas anymore. He had someone he could be vulnerable with. Someone who understood what he'd gone through and wanted to be with him anyway.

Even better was that he was actually able to make some progress with Atlas's help. Two of the rogues on his list now had names. It turned out that part of Atlas's Alpha training had involved sitting in on their trials. He had personally witnessed them get excommunicated from their packs, and based only on Fenn's descriptions of their features and mannerisms, was able to make the connection.

In addition to that, Atlas had been able to identify some of the locations Fenn had been moved through recently. A heart-shaped lake, a monument in a valley, a little ghost town... they were all just fragments to Fenn, but Atlas was able to recognize the locations nearest to his packlands. It was his job as Alpha to know what existed outside his borders.

"So where do you think Hadeon fits into all this?" Atlas asked, tiredly rubbing his eyes as he hunched over his laptop.

"Is that the Alpha that came looking for me?" Fenn asked.

Atlas grunted in affirmation.

Fenn shrugged. "If he was claiming I was his mate, he was probably the next person that wanted to use me for pups."

Atlas bristled at the idea. He'd die before he let anyone touch his mate again.

"I was able to escape before I met the next suitor."

A growl slipped through Atlas's lips, "Don't call them that."

"Sorry," Fenn apologized, flinching slightly. "That's how my captors referred to them."

Atlas immediately softened at Fenn's reaction. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have growled at you."

"It's okay," Fenn said. "You're just tired."

"That's no excuse," Atlas looked down. "I'm an Alpha. I should have more control than that."

"You're allowed to have emotions, Atlas," Fenn said, his eyebrows drawing together as he realized just how little Atlas had actually reacted to the situation. He had to be angry. Frustrated. Anguished. Something. But all he had been so far was supportive. "I don't think it's healthy to keep them bottled up like that."

"Trust me," Atlas loosed a clipped laugh before his tone turned momentarily harsher, "I'm just saving them for the right time and place." He softened then, returning his gaze to his mate, "And I don't want to scare you."

Fenn sighed before sitting down beside the man on the bed. "I know I must seem like this delicate, fragile little thing to you, but please don't tiptoe around me like a sneeze is going to send me into a panic attack. Yeah, I've been through a lot of shit and yeah, my mental state isn't great, but you can be expressive without being alarming."

Atlas considered that for a moment. As an Alpha, he'd always been taught to control his emotions. He needed to be strong, level-headed, and diplomatic. While his human side excelled with those traits, his wolf craved a more primal solution to problems. Dominance, anger, and violence were often problematic in his position of authority, and, if misdirected, could cause him to lose the respect of his peers and he could be deseated. Erratic and unpredictable Alphas were not well liked in werewolf society, and while packs may have been distinct entities, werewolves thrived on good relations with each other, even across borders.

"Maybe it would help if you told me what types of things you're okay with."

"Well," Fenn said, drawing his knees up to his chest, "I'm okay with words. I don't mind if you yell around me or show your frustration through other sounds. I'd prefer a gentler tone if I'm the subject of your anger or frustration, but if it's about something else, I think I'd be fine. I'm not a fan of violence or destruction though. If your anger gets physical, it might send me back into my fear state, even if that anger isn't directed at me. And maybe avoid making sudden movements toward me while your emotions are high."

Atlas nodded. "What about swearing?"

Fenn shrugged, "I don't really mind."

"Well, in that case," Atlas smirked, a playful rumble in his voice as he pulled Fenn into his lap and embraced him in his strong arms, "I'm going to send every one of those motherfuckers to hell."

Fenn smiled lightly, grateful that his mate was willing to stand up and fight for him. He let his head fall onto Atlas's shoulder, and before he could do much about it, his heavy eyelids closed and his mind drifted into a comfortable sleep.

^°^°^°^

When Atlas awoke, Fenn was already out of bed, standing in front of the corkboard with a concentrated look on his face.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" Atlas asked groggily. Judging by the light, it was still only mid-morning. Tomin would probably tell him off for shirking his Alpha duties later, but helping his mate was more important right now than pack finances.

"I'm a light sleeper," Fenn said. "The light was shining in my eyes."

"I'll order some blackout curtains," Atlas said airily, throwing his arm over his eyes as he attempted to get a few more moments of rest.

Ignoring him, Fenn's eyes focused on the left side of the corkboard, taking in all of the remaining question marks in their string of clues.

"Atlas?" he called, biting his lip lightly, "I think I have an idea."

Atlas lifted his head to squint at his mate, "What kind of idea?"

With his arms wrapped around himself in a self-soothing manner, Fenn turned to look at the Alpha.

"I want to speak to Hadeon."

^°^°^°^
A/N

Hey guys. Sorry for the delay in getting this update out. I've been having some heart problems that put me in the E.R., an urgent care, and some follow up doctor appointments for a while. I'm okay at the moment, but we're still trying to figure out the cause. I also had to wear a take-home heart monitor for over a week, but I was allergic to the metal that the electrodes were made of so it was quite a miserable week filled with hives and heart palpitations.

Anyway, it's October now (the most wonderful time of the year). If you live somewhere that experiences the four seasons, what's your favorite thing to do in autumn?

I enjoy going to my local harvest festival, drinking apple cider, and watching all the leaves change colors! And Halloween, of course!

I hope you have a good week,
-Mora Montgomery