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Post by Shea on Jun 5, 2014 0:31:24 GMT
Azaizel had been a bouncer at the strip club for nearly a year before she had shown up. Young and gorgeous, with control over her entire body. It made her a fast favorite, and despite the attention she took from the other girls, her personality stopped any bitter feelings some might have had. She just... she fit, right in. She worked her magic everywhere she went, and sometimes he didn't even think she had to try.
Like with him.
Normally he was the one that seduced the girls. Honestly, if he were honest, there probably wasn't a girl working there he hadn't bedded. They were all lovely women, and he liked to give them an amazing night after having to pretend to enjoy the gross men fawning over them and trying to touch more than they were allowed. He never let them think it was more than it was, and he hadn't had an issue. They enjoyed his attention, and he enjoyed giving it to them. He spent a lot of him time watching over those girls, almost like they were his pack.
But Roxy came in and took control. She cast him one sly look one night after closing, strut across the room. She had looked him straight in the eye and said, "I hear you can show a girl a good time. Prove it," and if he hadn't been gone when he'd first laid eyes on her, he was then.
And it only got worse over time. He didn't just look forward to their nightime antics. He craved them. And he craved those few moments they had together while they ate, or while they stood outside together to smoke. He missed her when she left, and worried for her until she came back the next day.
Over the time she was there, he'd fallen in love with her. He wanted to say something, more than anything... but she didn't want anything more from him. Her semi-frequent trysts with the few handsome, good men that came through was more than enough proof of that. So he didn't say anything.
Instead his nursed his wounded heart every time she disappeared with someone else. He told himself he'd move on. She was just one girl, and he had other things to worry about in his life. He would be okay. His aching heart would heal.
And then she just... disappeared. Left a note for the owner saying she was moving on.
And his heart fucking shattered.
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Post by Lizzie on Jun 5, 2014 3:01:59 GMT
Roxy had never been good with relationships or romance. It wasn't that she'd sworn off love or any such thing but it was easier not to have those entanglements. She'd come from a shitty home with a mother too docile to stand up to her abusive father until Roxy finally ran away. She quit school, even if it meant giving up her status as valedictorian. She didn't care, not at that age. She wanted out and FAST.
She lived with a guy for a while, an older man she' started dating before ditching her parents but it didn't work out. If she were honest, they both liked sex with other people too much for their own good. She got bored, and he wanted a dick. It happened and she wasn't to broken up about it. She took what little she had saved from her shitty diner job and found an apartment with a couple of girls. And from there...it was all she wrote.
She got mixed up a little bit in a world she never knew existed, got mixed up with men she didn't know were even possible and she became a stripper. She didn't mind it, really. Roxy was a social butterfly, charming, sassy and sexy. Being a stripper was one of the best jobs she'd had. It payed well, she worked the pole and she had an almost unlimited supply of men who didn't want attachments.
She slept with them as she pleased after hours, dropping them when she got bored, which had a tendency of happening after two or three times. Sure, the red and black haired woman had considered that she might have gotten bored because that's all it was, but the thought of an actual relationship didn't have the same appeal as being able to have whatever she wanted and when she wanted it. Not to mention, not many men would be okay with having a girlfriend who took her clothes off for a room full of men every night and the money was too good for her to stop doing what she could do best.
But, there was always that one man, Azaizel. She could tell there was something more there than just a good time. Roxy had heard of his many adventures with the other girls and she certainly hadn't minded making herself another notch in his belt for him to do the same...but it was different when he was with her. Roxy didn't want to take advantage but it was hard not to some times. The jokes while puffing on a cigarette out back with his big leather coat wrapped around her shoulders and his own rumbling laugh breaking through the sounds of the night....it was hard to pass up, as hard as it was to turn down the delicious food he brought and the way he always found new ways to drive her body over the edge. The young stripper definitely hadn't grown bored of him.
Maybe, just maybe, something could have happened there eventually. Not right then, Roxy was too caught up in being free and having fun when she was smacked in the face with a little plush mark on a pregnancy test in the little bathroom the girls were allowed to use. You couldn't exactly be a pregnant stripper. You could be in a relationship with a guy when you didn't even know who your baby daddy was...and she didn't know what to do in those moments so she did what she did best; she left.
Roxy turned her back on being a stripper, the girls from the biker club taking her in and looking after her until she could come to a decision. It was the hardest decision of her life at first, until he was born...her little baby boy, Xen. Then it was the easiest decision she'd made to keep him because, for the first time, she really was in love with a man.
Now there she stood, two and a half years later, holding the dark skinned boy in her arms and waiting for Martha to come back with the only thing that would help her son sleep these days. He was growing more and more restless, his temperature was out of whack, and he looked so much like the man she'd left behind that it was hard to think there was even a slight possibility of him being anyone else's
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Post by Shea on Jun 6, 2014 3:37:58 GMT
Martha frowned slightly as she handed the little glass vial to Roxy. It was a foul concoction. Honestly, it had been created as poison. It would sap the strength and energy and leave the victim helpless and easy to kidnap. Or kill. Or... eat. Distasteful.
But on a werewolf, even one only half-blooded, it only took some of the excess energy the little one had. It made him... much more normal, so to speak. Still, she didn't like giving it to him.
"You know..." she started, as she did every time one of her ex-girls came by. "Azaizel still works here. If only you'd stay for an hour longer. He could be much more of a help with little Xen than this. One day you won't be able to ignore what he is, love... he's only going to get stronger. And he needs to know how to control it.."
She didn't like to lecture; her girls, old and new, were their own person. And they were allowed to do as they wished. And she knew Roxy well, and knew she didn't like the idea of relying on anyone, for anything. But this... for her son, she needed to. He was a Wolf, and this wasn't going to just go away.
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Post by Lizzie on Jun 10, 2014 15:34:48 GMT
Roxy held Xen in her arms, adjusting the dark skinned boy as he nibbled at his thumb and looked around the room as if looking for someone, or some thing. She didn't pay it much mind. Her son's senses had grown as had he over the past few months. As much as she hated to admit it, she hardly knew what was going on with her son. She was human, she had never had to deal with this or what came with a supernatural child. She adored him, loved him with all her heart so she'd forever go through anything with him...but sometimes she worried if she was up to speed to take care of him alone...and the more she thought about doing it with anyone the more she realized how hard that would be to explain why Xen's fevers were nothing to worry about, why his ravenous appetite wasn't a health issue...
She came here because this was her only option, or so she thought. It killed her to give the disgusting concoction to her two year old but he wasn't able to sleep otherwise. She couldn't exhaust him enough and he didn't have the type of environment he needed to expend the energy a two year old werewolf had. Not to mention the dangers if she accidentally consumed any of it.
Taking the vial, the dolled up mother slash mechanic adjusted her son once more and listened to what the proprietress was saying to her. Azaizel? Would he even want to see her after all this time. She'd left and took on a whole new life. The only people that knew about her or her son were the girls in the gang. Azaizel had always been a gentleman...when she needed gentle, but some how she expected him to be pissed if she just came out of no where with a son...but it wasn't like he could doubt it was his. She looked over the curious face and those big amber eyes. He looked just like him. She could barely spot a bit of herself in him as he continued to grow and if that wasn't enough, he couldn't deny the wolf that ran through his veins.
Biting her red painted lip and letting out a sigh, she looked around. Maybe she would have told him sooner if she'd know he still worked there. Or maybe she wouldn't have...Roxy didn't know but Martha was right. She couldn't just hide it forever, she couldn't keep feeding her son poison to keep it in check. Some day she might have other children and what if they got into it? What if the MANY child care officials that liked to visit her home found that vial and got it checked then took her son away from her? She was just a human, but she would fight like a beast for her son...and maybe that alone was reason enough to overcome any fear she might have, for Xen's sake.
Xen did deserve to know his father and, with as good a man as Azaizel had always been...he deserved to know his son. Running gentle hand over the dark curls of Xen's tiny head she gave a nod. "I..didn't know he was still here. I guess I can stay for an hour...and see if he comes in."
"mama...hungry." Xen cut through the words Roxy had planned to follow, amber eyes looking up at her as tiny hands gripped onto her pink dress. The pout he gave was impossible for her to ignore and she smiled at him.
"Do you have anything we can eat? Other than peanuts and pretzels." She chuckled, trying to ignore the nervous knots that had tied themselves up in her stomach.
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Post by Shea on Jun 11, 2014 2:13:04 GMT
Martha had to smile at the little Wolf. She'd been around for a long, long time. Enough to see even Azaizel grow up. "I'll give him a call," she said, dusting her hands on her smooth dress. "Tell him to get in an hour early. In the mean time, pull up a seat, love. I'll go find you and your little man something to eat."
With a nod, she disappeared into another room off the back of her strip club. It was a classy place, one she'd spent a lot of time and money on. Stepping into the room she'd adopted as her "office", she picked up her phone and called one of the few men she allowed to work for her.
Azaizel answered on the first ring. "Someone causing trouble again?" he asked, amusement in his voice. She chuckled into the phone. He'd always loved throwing perverts out on their asses. Any excuse to impress her and her girls, she thought. Or just to get out some of that energy he always had. He was always moving somehow; tapping a foot, rocking side to side.
"Actually, there's someone here to see you. Two someones," she told him, and she had to wonder what was running through his head when it took him a while to respond.
"Whatever it was, I didn't do it. And okay, sure, so I hussled those guys the other night. But they were dicks and I gave the money to the girls anyway."
"No, you're not in trouble. Just please get here as soon as you can," she said, shaking her head, though he couldn't see it. "I'll see you soon, child." And she hung up and went about getting together something for Roxy and Xen to eat. She'd had more than Azaizel work for her in her life, so putting together a tray of food for both of their appetites wasn't an issue.
--
Unlocking the back of the club and stepping inside, Azaizel's curiosity was killing him. No one came to see him unless they wanted a rematch or revenge. He called out a hello to the cook Martha had employed. She liked to make sure all her guests had whatever they needed; food, alcohol, and lovely women to look at. And the occasional man, though admittedly they were usually so feminine no one could tell the difference.
He caught sight of Martha easily enough, seated at the table right outside the kitchen, but it was who was sitting on front of her that stopped him dead in his tracks.
She looked the same. Same gorgeous face, same lovely hair, same bright eyes. Just as perfect and she'd always been. And he was so caught up staring at her like a deer in the headlights that it took him a minute to notice the dark-skinned, dark haired child that sat next to her.
Martha was looking at him with an expectant smile, so he managed to straighten up slightly. "Uh... hey," was all he managed to say, though, eyes flickering from Roxy to the little boy that could only be his.
"I'll leave you two to talk," Martha cut the awkward silence easily, rising with a grace that always caught the eye even if she was starting to show her age (though, of course, not her TRUE age).
And then, for the first time in years, Azaizel was standing in front of the woman he'd fallen so hard for.
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Post by Lizzie on Jun 11, 2014 3:03:11 GMT
Roxy had just finished up the food Martha had been so kind to give her and Xen when she heard his voice, of course she was much slower than her son who, even though had twice her servings, had managed to eat everything on his plate, even vegetables he refused to eat before. Roxy wasn't the type to get butterflies or have her heart flutter at the sound of a man's voice. She had never been, but Azaizel's voice HAD always done something to her. It made her tremble if only because she remembered the things he used to say against her skin when they were alone...but another part of her felt a calm wash over her at the sound of it.
This man would never be angry and turn them away, not the Azaizel she had known. He'd been infamous for flirting with the girls, and showing them a good time, sure, but he'd never been cruel to her or anyone...but especially not to her. Still, it took her a moment and a deep breath to prepare herself for seeing him again before she turned, a hand atop the mass of dark curls. "Hi there wolfy. Long time no see." Full red lips pulled into a soft smile, knowing there were few things she could say for not at least letting him know sooner that he had a son. Few things she could do to make up for just leaving like she had. She had her reasons and she hadn't know right away about Xen's father...but stil.
It was then that Xen turned his little head and, where he would normally duck his head down and hide from new people, he just stared at the tall, dark skinned werewolf that stood there, frozen. He wasn't completely aware of what was going on, not sure why his mother had lingered in this place much longer than she often did, why she hadn't given him the nasty vial of green gunk she'd often fed him...but there was something he sensed from that man. He was just a child and, while smart for his age, he still couldn't quite make out what it was...but he didn't want to hide from him. He smelled like pine, smoke and something else that calmed the generally shy boy.
"I bet you can guess why I'm here after so long." Her hand ran over her son's back, more so to comfort her than him. "And you can guess why I left in the first place."
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Post by Shea on Jun 13, 2014 15:56:58 GMT
He heard her speak, but it was like her words were coming from a far distance. He could hear the anxious beating of her heart, no doubt terrified of a bad reaction from him. But right then, as much as he loved her, he really only had eyes for the little boy.
His little boy.
Even if he wasn't a spitting image of Azaizel, he could smell the Wolf on him. And it wasn't like some other werewolf; Xen smelled like his sisters and parents. He smelled like family. There was no doubt in his mind.
He took hesitant steps towards them until he reached. "May I?" he gestured to the chair Martha had just left. And while he was looking at Xen, his words were meant for Roxy. When she gave her consent, he sat down and pulled up a calm smile.
"Hello," he told his son. "I'm Azaizel. What's your name, little man?" Maybe he should be paying more attention to Roxy. He wanted to. But he was afraid if he did he'd beg her to stay with him, and the last thing he wanted was for her to leave again. Especially not with his boy.
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Post by Lizzie on Jun 13, 2014 16:15:17 GMT
She knew everything about her would give away her severe lack of calm in those moments, yet she still tried to keep up the appearance. Roxy kept one comforting hand on Xen until Azaizel sat down near them. She took her hand, watching as Xen eyed him as if he were processing who this man was and if he actually wanted to retreat into his mother's warmth instead of sit in that chair.
His amber eyes stayed wide, taking in the massive man before him, but he still didn't cower. When the man that smelled a lot like him spoke, he turned his eyes up to his pretty mother who just smiled back down at him as if looking for her approval. He knew the man was like him, not like his mother...
Roxy nodded down at him. "It's okay, baby."
Pursing his little lips, he clutched at his little car in tiny hands and eyed the man again. "'en...X-en." He felt his mother's hand on his head, she knew how frustrated he got when he couldn't say words like she did so it calmed him.
She thought of skipping ahead and telling Xen who Azaizel was, and what he meant to them both...but she waited. It was Azaizel's place, after all. He deserved a chance to talk to his son and without her talking for either of them...though she might have to talk A LITTLE for Xen. Instead she looked over the man, a calm settling in her as she took in how he was already being with Xen from his voice to his body language. He had changed, though only in appearance, in the last few years. His hair looked longer and his arms and hands were covered in tattoos she certainly didn't remember... He looked good and, suddenly, she couldn't help but wonder if he had someone in his life. A man like him? He HAD to...and that meant things might get complicated. They had so much to talk about, but she could wait until after they two of them had their chance to get to know one another.
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Post by Shea on Jun 13, 2014 16:56:19 GMT
"Xen," Azaizel said, sounding the name out. It was a good name, and he told him so, "Your momma picked out a good name for you. A good, strong name." He smiled at the little boy, suddenly a little at a loss. He was young; younger than he looked. The way he spoke proved it, and being his son, there was no way he was 5 months over 2. No wonder she'd run away. With how she'd been, she'd probably had no idea whose child she carried. He didn't hold anything bad thoughts towards that; she had been a grown woman and allowed to do as she pleased. He only wished like hell she'd come back when Xen had been born. It'd make this a lot easier.
Young as he might be, he was still old enough to know that, even if Azaizel smelled familiar, that he'd never seen him before in his life. He hoped it wouldn't make things harder. He only only assume Roxy was only here now because Xen had started to show signs, and if left to manifest on their own, he could easily go feral. He kept the thoughts to himself, and turned his attention to the woman he'd fallen so hard for. "I need to know what's been happening with him," he told her, to try and figure out how far he'd changed. Only a pureblood started off knowing how to handle and control the Wolf in them; mixes had to be taught, though it came much more easily to them than a turned Wolf.
He wasn't sure how much her human blood had diluted his pureblooded gene, and that worried him. But aside from being somewhat antsy, and hungry, the little boy looked to be the farthest thing from aggressive. That was good.
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Post by Lizzie on Jun 13, 2014 17:59:05 GMT
Xen held his head up proud. Of course his mom picked out a good strong name. In his eyes, his mother wasn't capable of picking BAD things...well, most times. Food could be touch and go some times, but she couldn't help that. There were just too many kinds of food in that big store. Sometimes she was going to make mistakes and grab the wrong things. After all, even he sometimes picked the wrong toy so who was he to judge? Everything else she was very good at. HIs momma was pretty and smart, so of course she'd give him the best name and now this mountain of a man had just confirmed it.
He was a little confused, though, about what was said next, and why the man's gaze turned somewhat less gentle as they looked up to his mother. Xen didn't quite understand what was going on or what that look meant, but he still curious looked between his mother and the man who smelled of pine and smoke.
Roxy ran a hand over dark curls again, and let out a little sigh. "He's not so bad yet..." She wasn't exactly sure exactly HOW bad Xen could get, but she had already prepared herself for the worst. "He's started to run hot, he's restless at night. He has a lot of energy and a big appetite" She let looked a little worriedly into Azaizel's eyes, hoping he wouldn't give her bad news. To be honest, she'd never heard of a child born between a human and a pureblood. Sure, it had to have happened before but she'd never met one, until her son was born. "He isn't aggressive or anything like that. His temper is a little shorter with puzzles or when his toys break. I think that's most of it? I'm not sure what's different from a normal child or a were..."
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Post by Shea on Jun 13, 2014 23:42:25 GMT
Azaizel didn't let the relief he felt show on his face. Instead he chuckled and shook his head, yellow eyes flickering from his son to Roxy. "The short temper with broken toys and puzzles is a characteristic found in every species' children. Nothing to worry about."
Some Wolves, even purebloods, had tendencies to run more savage and cruel than others. His father had explained that instead of taking everything the Wolf offered, they focused on the primal, hungry side, but to be honest he wasn't sure why. Thankfully, it looked like Xen had taken after him -- mellow and calm, though he'd never been shy, not even as a child.
"As for the energy and temperature... temperature's normal. He's gonna run hot. Typically around 130 to 135. If it gets above 140 or below 125, then you gotta worry. Because something's very seriously wrong. He'll fight off most, if not all, infections..." he paused, smiling at his son. "And all that energy? Well. Some running around in a big, wooded back yard should take care of that. Sound fun? I've got a jungle gym, a sand box, more trees than you can climb... and there's a lake, just down the road, if you like swimming."
Turning back to Roxy, he told her, "The elevated energy is normal. You think I used to jog home for the sh..." he cleared his throat, correcting his language, "for the thrill of it? Living in the city and being cooped up here on a slow night was killer. Had to get it out before I ran around naked and screaming," he laughed, a low rumble in his chest.
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Post by Lizzie on Jun 14, 2014 3:06:42 GMT
She nodded. "Yeah, I've seen some children. but he's just not been the type to have that kind of temper with his toys. The most he does is bap people on the nose when they try to baby talk him." Roxy chuckled and Xen's little brows furrowed looking between them again.
They were talking about him and he knew it. He stood up between them, trying to get their attention off of just talking about him and back actually to talking TO him. As soon as he did it was as if Azaizel shifted back to him, asking...or more like telling him...of this place. He still didn't quite understand what was going on but he nodded.
"He doesn't know how to swim. I haven't had a chance to teach him....I've wanted to but We live here in the city and it's a long drive to the beach..." Roxy paused, not wanting to appear like a bad mother. "I mean, I want him to learn. Maybe you can teach him? I mean...if you want that kind of responsibility?" She asked. It wasn't like she thought he'd say no after how he was acting, but you never knew.
"Momma?" he turned back to his mother. Maybe if he showed his confusion she'd tell him what was going on.
But she just smiled to him and asked. "Would you like Azaziel to teach you how to swim sometime? Maybe let you see that big place he was talking about?" He seemed conflicted for a moment, then looked back at the large man.
He was smart for his age, and there were some words he knew, even if just from shows and the girls his mom spent time with. So, instead of answering his mother, his amber eyes turned back to the werewolf and he asked plainly "Daddy?" Why else would he go with this man? Why else would he smell so...similar to himself?
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Post by Shea on Jun 14, 2014 5:05:19 GMT
Azaziel watched Roxy talk to their son, a small smile on his face. The way she spoke, he could tell she was worried he'd think poorly of her parenting skills. But with how obvious it was that she loved her son, and how much Xen loved her, he knew she wasn't. Maybe... under-equipped, given his blood, but that wasn't any fault of her own. He knew she was doing the best that she could.
It was a sad thought, realizing she was only here because she didn't know what else to do. Part of him wished she was here because she cared about him and missed him.
But the word Xen said brought all his attention to the little boy. It made his heart feel like it was going to burst in his chest, and he knew the grin on his face was so big it had to look stupid. He wanted to pick the little boy up and kiss him, tell him that yes, he was his father, and that he was going to teach him so many things.
Instead he bite his tongue, and looked to Roxy. Did she want him Xen to know? What if she didn't? And... god, what if she did, and Xen blamed him for not being around until now? What if that made Xen hate him?
But Roxy gave a small nod, so Azaizel steeled himself and looked back to Xen. "Yeah... I'm your dad. I'm really glad to meet you, Xen. And if you want me to, I want to stay with you and help you."
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Post by Lizzie on Jun 17, 2014 10:05:28 GMT
A part of her had wanted Xen to have a father, to have HIS father...She supposed she should have realized he'd still be working here or working near by but she'd always told herself that he would have moved on by now. If he hadn't moved on from working there, he certainly would have moved on from her and found another woman that he could bring dinner to and brand with those heated kisses she so clearly remembered. But, here he was. Here Azaizel, the father of her son, was looking down at the little boy like he was the most amazing thing in the world, like she had the first time she'd held him in her arms.
Honestly...it was almost too good to be true. He always had been, and maybe that's another reason she kept herself at just enough distance to make it easy to get away like she had. She hadn't gotten away too far, because here she was watching this scene play out infront of her, feeling her heart race even as her face stayed calm. She was nervous about what was happening, about the changes that might be about to take place, but she was happy for the look Xen gave the tattoo'd man.
Never since his birth had she ever seen him warm up to someone so quickly. He was shy and often liked to hid behind her skirts or stay quiet around other people he'd just met...but Azaizel was different. That one question had opened him up completely.
The curly haired boy had nodded, big bright eyes taking in the massive man. He saw the tattoos on his skin, curious about the discoloration and the strange way his dad kept his hair, what was left of it in patches, was kept. He almost wanted to ask to be held, to touch his hair and see if it felt as weird as it looked, but, instead, he scooted closer in his chair. If his daddy was going to stay with him, did that mean he was staying with his momma too? Dark brows furrowed. "Takin' me away?"
That's when Roxy cut in, gripping his small shoulders and kissing the top of his head. "No no, baby. I'm staying with you for a long, long time. Your...daddy is just going to help with the new things that are happening. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."
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Post by Shea on Jun 17, 2014 20:02:14 GMT
Azaizel had to smile at the protective tone that crept into Xen's question. "I'm not taking you away from her. I just wanna be there, too, if you want me to be. I wanna make up for the time I couldn't be around for you, big guy." Glancing at Roxy, at the gorgeous woman that had stolen his heart, he added, "I don't think many guys could walk away from your momma. She's an amazing woman, isn't she?"
He let his voice and gaze trail off, back to the little boy that looked so much like him. To be honest, he wasn't sure how to handle Xen's abilities. He himself had been born with the knowledge to control it. He'd helped out his adopted sister, but she'd been an adult when she'd been turned. How do you possibly tell a child what he was, and how to control it?
And seeing the change... it was unpleasant. It looked painful. He'd heard from turned Wolves that it was; that everything in your body broke at once before the Wolf adrenaline kicked in and took away the pain. But for he and other purebloods, and even strong half-bloods, it was as easy and painless as changing clothes. Though it looked anything but.
He worried his bottom lip, glancing to Roxy again. "I, ah. I've got work until closing," he told her, "But I've got off tomorrow. If you... wanted to go home and think things over, you can. And if you decide you want me around, I can meet you back here and take you back to my place. We can get his energy out on all that property, if nothing else." Truthfully, he wanted to speak to her more about the less pleasant things, like how she wanted him to go about teaching him to control and change himself. But that wasn't something to discuss around the two-year-old.
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