Fate & Fur

@ katahdin

"No, you should stay and have dinner with us," Bailey insisted as she started to pull out some items from the fridge. "It has been so long since I have seen you. You need to tell me what has happened since we left." She glanced over at James with a large smile on her face. "Besides, I have missed spending time with my son." She teased lightly.

With that said and decided, Bailey started to cook ravioli, pasta sauce and garlic bread. Even taking some time to make them a side salad. "Anyways, is anything new going on?" Bailey asked him curiously as she set a pot of water over the stove to boil. "Or has it been quiet since I stole away your alpha for a few weeks?" She glanced over at Aiden for a moment, a huge smile on her face as she did so.

@ BearGirl

James smiled sheepishly as she called him her son, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Business as usual, Bailey. We've missed having you around, though. Aiden too. But we know you two are busy, and if our Alpha I'd happy we're happy." He explained, although soon Aiden joined them in the kitchen, smirking a little as he leaned against the counter, looking at James.

"James isn't telling you about his new girlfriend, Victoria." Aiden said, laughing as James' cheeks heated up in a bright blush. "How do you know about her?" James asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he pouted. "I'm your Alpha, I know everything. Besides, do you think you can really hide something like that from your mother and I?"

@ katahdin

"I will be making sure to come by soon, James," Bailey assured him. "We agree that it is time for us to stop hiding at our apartment." She glanced back at Aiden, a large smile on her face. While she had quite enjoyed the last few weeks, they needed to re-enter the world. It wasn't like they could sustain this forever. And the pack needed him...Well, she supposed now the pack needed both of them.

Though at the mention of a girlfriend, Bailey's eyes widen and all of her attention moved back at James. "James!" She said in slight shock. "How dare you try to hide a whole girl from us!" She teased gently. "Though it is true, Aiden and I find out about everything." After pouring the pasta in, Bailey turned to him. "Tell us about her then,"

@ BearGirl

James flushed at Bailey's excited reaction, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as he looked at her. "She's nice.. We've only been on like three dates, so I don't really think she's my girlfriend.." he said, swatting at Aiden's hand as the alpha attempted to ruffle his hair.

"You also haven't mentioned that she's a human, and that she doesn't know you're a wolf." Aiden pointed out, causing James to glare a bit. "I don't think telling her after three dates is really appropriate.. Especially since the third date didn't go super well, and I haven't heard from her in a day or two.."

@ katahdin

Bailey's eyes were bright as she waited for James to tell them about his new girlfriend. She was quite excited about it, especially since it was James. Another girl around was always a good thing and Bailey quite liked the idea of being able to tease him about it.

Though as James started to tell her what was really going on, she let out a small 'oohh'. He was just dating, still exciting but not the same. Though her smile dropped more so when it turned out James was dating a human that knew nothing about werewolves. "Ah..." She looked at Aiden gently for a moment before looking back at the pasta, cringing internally about how she reacted when the truth was revealed to her. "That conversation can be difficult..."

@ BearGirl

Aiden smiled sadly when Bailey's eyes met his, squeezing James's shoulder reassuringly, hoping to cheer him up. "Hey, you got to three dates and she didn't run off. I'm sure she's just had a busy weekend, you know?"

James gave a little shrug at Aiden's attempts to cheer him up, glancing up at Bailey when she spoke, smiling at her nervously. "I know... Aiden told me about how you reacted.. N-Not that you acted wrong, or anything like that but.. I don't know how to tell her, especially if I don't know how she'll react, or if she even wants to date me. I'm sure I won't hear back from her, and I'll have to download one of those dumb apps again and keep looking, so it's not really something to worry about, ok?"

@ katahdin

Her eyes shifted and she looked to Aiden gently. "I didn't react incorrectly but it certainly did not make anyone's life easier." She said before looking back at James. "In the chance that you do have that conversation, however, I am sure that there are plenty of girls who would react in a more positive way. And I am sure how you tell someone will help as well. Though if you need help, I am here."

She then smiled gently at James. "As for her not responding for a few days, I wouldn't worry about it yet. Aiden knows quite well that humans are slower and more relaxed when it comes to these things." Bailey let out a small laugh. "I am sure we would have been mated three times over by now if we went by his timeline."

"Oh, I am not worried, James." Bailey let out a small hum and turned back to the pot of pasta. "Dating is a whole, long process but by the end of it, I know you'll meet a lovely girl to bring home to us." She teased as she set dinner down on the counter for them to grab.

@ BearGirl

James' cheeks flushed red as she spoke, nodding a little as he listened to her advice. "I don't really think you'd need to get involved.. I mean, you have more important things to do as alpha female, so I don't want to bother you or anything.. Plus I don't think Aiden wants you off doing stuff with me when he could have you to himself."

Aiden gave James a decent shove before ruffling his hair, helping himself to dinner before taking a seat at the counter and pulling Bailey into his lap once she'd also grabbed her dinner. "Don't sass your parents, young man." He grinned, pressing a kiss to her cheek before digging into his pasta.

@ katahdin

"From my understanding, it is my job as alpha female to help the pack." Bailey glanced over at Aiden for a moment, wanting to get confirmation before looking back at James. "You are part of the pack and I am offering my assistance. And you never bother us, James. I am just offering in case it comes to that and you don't know what to say." She smiled at James gently. "But I let you be about your love life from now."

Bailey looked back at Aiden with a little laugh. "And Aiden will survive an hour without me." She grabbed her dinner and as she was making her way to a chair, she let out a giggle when Aiden pulled her into his lap. A huge smile coming over her face when he pressed a kiss to her cheek. Bailey turned her head and returned the kiss before beginning to eat from her own plate, leaning back into him as she did so.

@ BearGirl

Aiden nodded a little as she spoke, giving her hip a little squeeze where his hand rested, although he was mostly focused on eating. James gave a little nod as he ate as well, glad to have Bailey willing to help him out if he needed, although he would still feel bad about asking her for help with such a personal issue. But he could always say he'd think about it, and that didn't mean that he had to come to her if a situation came up, just that he'd have the option too. "Thank you, Bailey.. I appreciate it." The young wolf mumbled before digging into his meal

Aiden meanwhile was content to hold Bailey in his lap while they ate, smiling around a mouthful of food when she kissed his cheek. Because he was quick to shovel the food into his mouth in the first place he finished before Bailey did, leaving him time to lounge in the chair with her, hands gently rubbing her sides soothingly, hoping that she was feeling better after her scare earlier, and after learning the news about Sandra. The last thing he wanted was for anything to happen to her, and he didn't want her to have to constantly worry either.

@ katahdin

There was some anxiousness that was sitting in Bailey's chest. She was concerned about Sandra coming back. After everything that woman had done...how long it took Bailey to heal. It was frightening to think that she could come in and cause more harm. Though she also knew that Aiden would be able to protect her. And Bailey wasn't planning on leaving his side anytime soon.

Once she was finished eating, Bailey pressed a light kiss against his lips before standing up and taking their plates. She moved the dishes into the sink, knowing that Aiden would take care of it later. Bailey then moved back into his lap and gently wrapped her arms around his neck. "Should we take James back to the pack? I was thinking that you might want to swing by since you left early."

@ BearGirl

Aiden could tell that she was anxious, which only made him anxious, tucking his face into the crook of her neck as he squeezed her in his arms. He whined a little in protest when she stood and brought the dirty dishes to the sink, quick to wrap her up in his arms again once she had sat back down. He hated that Sandra was still upsetting her, that just the idea of the woman coming back had her so upset, and he'd do anything to protect her and keep her happy.

James shook his head when Bailey asked if they should take him back, setting his own dirty dish in the sink. "No, I'm all set with walking. We'd sort of wrapped everything up by the time we left anyway, and he left the wedding binder there with all of the instructions in it, so we'll get to work on all the preparations for you so that you don't have to worry." James smiled, noticing the grateful look Aiden was giving him. He knew Bailey was scared, and figured it'd be best if she and Aiden stayed in the apartment for a bit until they'd talked or calmed down.

@ katahdin

Bailey looked up at James before giving him a little nod. She never pressed James about taking a ride from them back. Especially as she had started to notice that Aiden would give the man a look from time to time. So, Bailey started to assume that it was something that he did for his alpha when Aiden had something in mind after they left. Besides, Bailey had taken the walk many times before and found it both peaceful and quick. Even quicker for James if he shifted, she supposed.

"Thank you James. And tell the rest of the pack that I am grateful for their assistance with the wedding." Bailey then looked over at Aiden for a moment, her eyes gentle. "I am sure that we will come over tomorrow or the next day. I would like to see everyone." With a little hum, Bailey laid her head against Aiden's shoulder. "I am curious as to what everyone is up to and I miss them."

@ BearGirl

James said his goodbyes, grabbing some leftover baked treats Bailey had made the day before before leaving. Once James was gone Aiden carried Bailey over to the couch, taking a seat with her in his lap as he cuddled with her, nuzzling his face into her hair as he cradled her against his chest.

"I'm sorry that you're anxious... I've made arrangements to have the borders patrolled more quickly, and if anyone hears or sees anything suspicious they're going to notify me directly, so I can deal with it. I'll never let that monster hurt you again." He promised softly, looking up at her after a moment.

@ katahdin

A little hum left Bailey as James lifted her up and carried her over to the living room. She leaned into him more so once they were both lounging o the couch. Her hand reached up, lightly pressing against his chest as she buried her face into his chest, wanting to be as close as she could. A little, peaceful sigh leaving her as he started to nuzzle his face into her hair.

"I know you won't." Bailey whispered back to him. "I just... things have been so good lately. So good. And I don't want something to happen again." She gripped onto Aiden's shirt tightly for a moment. "Last time she was here, she was able to cause so much harm and I..." Bailey buried her face into his chest. "I just hope that the rumors are wrong."

@ BearGirl

Aiden squeezed her a bit in his arms as she nuzzled into him, letting out a content little sigh as he felt her relaxing. It wasn't fair that she had to go through all this, that Sandra was so selfish and cruel as to torture her for the fun of it. If Sandra was really back, he'd make sure she'd never hurt anyone again.

"I won't let anything happen." Aiden promised, his fingers brushing through her hair soothingly. "I'll never let her hurt you again. I let her walk away before thinking that she was smarter than this, that she'd realized this was over and that she needed to give up. But apparently she didn't learn, and I'm not going to be kind a second time." He sighed, squeezing her tight against his chest. "I love you, Bailey. And I won't let her hurt you again."

@ katahdin

Instead of responding to his words, Bailey just moved in and pressed herself against Aiden more so. Her face buried into his chest as much as possible and her arms around his body tightened. She believed every word that he said to her. There was no doubt in her mind that Aiden would do anything and everything to protect her. And they certainly had learned the first time around what it would really take to get that protection from Sandra.

Though there was still fear in her chest. Even if Aiden did everything right, it wasn't a guarantee. Sandra could still do something insane, something they wouldn't see coming. And she feared the woman, especially now that Bailey wondered if Sandra really had anything else to lose by just going for it. A small sigh left her as she closed her eyes. All Bailey wanted to hear now was that it was all rumors.

@ katahdin

-Skipping some time-

Bailey had clung close to Aiden since the news about Sandra possibly being back arrived. Whenever he would leave the house, she would follow along. Whether it be to the store, on a run or to see the pack. And when Aiden had to leave her to run a quick patrol around his border in wolf form, Bailey safely stayed at the packhouse and waited for his return. This was one of those times.

Aiden had been gone for some time, running the border, and Bailey had found herself growing ill. And while staying at the packhouse was tempting, the noise alone was making her head pound. Knowing that Aiden would be back soon, she asked Phillip to send Aiden home when he came back before making her way to the apartment to rest...and possibly be sick.

But Bailey didn't even make it halfway home. A hard object to the back of her head caused Bailey to crumble immediately to the ground and pass out.

@ BearGirl

Once Aiden had felt Bailey fall unconscious through the bond, he had immediately returned to the pack house to see what was the matter, only growing more worried when Phillip said that she'd left to go home. He gathered as many members of his pack so they could search the area while he went after Bailey. It didn't take him long to pick up her trail, his stomach dropping as he caught Sandra's scent too, although it was fresh, and he found where Bailey had been taken quite easily.

He didn't give Sandra a chance to explain herself this time, though, shifting into his wolf form almost immediately as he lunged at her, and after a very short fight made sure that there was no way she could ever hurt Bailey again, keeping good on his promise to rip Sandra to pieces the next time she came into his territory. He was just shifting back to his human form as Bailey came to, wiping the blood away from his face as he panted, a bit bruised and bloodied himself, but it was nothing compared to what he'd done to Sandra.

@ katahdin

A groan passed through Bailey's lips as she started to feel herself coming back to consciousness. All she knew was that her head was pounding and her body was aching. She shifted slightly on the ground, trying to get herself to walk up more. Though it was so hard to open up her eyes. It took a few moments until Bailey was finally able to, her eyes fluttering to adjust. She started to look around, and the first thing she saw was someone bloodied and bruised.

A hard gasp left her lips and Bailey jerked away from the man. Though at another glance, her eyes had adjusted enough to recognize that it was Aiden standing there. With a sigh of relief, she untensed her sore muscles but started to look him up and down with worry. "What happened?" Bailey asked, her voice dry.

Overall, Bailey was in pretty good shape for something who had been kidnapped by a psychopath. There were some bruises on her body from, unknowing to her, being dragged around. The only real concern was the wound on the back of her head that was bleeding slightly and formed a large bump.