Isnt That A Good Thing? She Was On The Verge Of Asking, When He Said Ariella Was Going To Release The

Isn’t that a good thing? she was on the verge of asking, when he said Ariella was going to release the wolves. The words were on her tongue, ready to be breathed into existence when he continued. She could feel the blood draining from her face when he continued, her fingertips felt cold. For a moment, even Gia Desstrin was lost for words. It had hardly faded from Gia’s mind that she had once been one of those wolves, she had shared the addiction with them, the thrill, the lust. She’d been spared the worse ramifications - being held by vamps and subject to whatever horrors they might choose to inflict. Gia had escaped that, but Everett had not. Gia knew that sacrifice had weighed on his conscience since the very day he’d turned them over and she could see that reflected back tenfold now. Gia’s throat felt dry, dry and raw. Swallowing was like breathing in sand. “Oh, Everett,” she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry.” She’d been such a fool. All those years ago, she could have spared everyone a little pain through the rest of their lives, if she’d just swallowed a little then. But she’d been weak instead, they’d all been weak, save Everett. If there was anything she wished she could take back, it was that. Clearing her throat, she shook her head, trying to process everything he was telling her. She couldn’t look at him when she asked the next question. “Any wolf?” Hesitantly, she met his eye, again. She had to know how far this went, if Everett might be forced to kill Tristan or herself, or if it was those who had succumbed to the V all those years ago, poor devils. Gia could picture each of their faces and wondered how she’d been snatched from their terrible fate. Gia let out a long breath before turning to him, cupping his face in her hands, she tilted her forehead to touch his. His skin was soft, his breath warm. His face was a mask of misery and Gia felt as if there were hands wrapped around her delicate throat, strangling the air from her lungs to see him suffering. “I know it can’t feel like it,” she whispered. “But what you’ve done is a mercy.” She pulled back slightly to brush the hair from his face. “God only knows what the vampires would do. Now it’s their choice to live and to breathe free air. I imagine they’d agree it’s worth the risk.” She pressed a tender kiss to his poor creased brow. “Everett, listen to me. You’ve do e better than stand up to some ancient vampire queen, you’ve stood up for us. What Pack could possibly ask more?”

Aftermath || Gia & Everett (closed)

He let out a breath, closing his eyes and leaning his head into her hand. It was scary how comfortable she made him feel. He’d been all but ready to surrender his role as packmaster, but seeing her and the way she so fiercely believed in him - like he did in her - made him pause. He knew he was a good leader most of the time; but the decision he’d been forced to make… It wasn’t easy.

"Let’s go sit down, babe," he said, his deep voice low as he spoke. He combed his fingers through her long, brown, silky hair. He let her hand him the drink she’d made before they walked over and sat down. He let out a long breath before taking a sip off of the drink she’d made him. It was nice and strong, just like he needed it. Gia always knew exactly how to take care of him.

"She told me that she was gonna release those wolves," he told her, looking over at her. When he’d first become packmaster, Ariella had come to him and said that the vampire community was volatile towards the pack; and to appease the angered crowds, she asked for the three wolves that Everett had abjured for choosing to continue using instead of get clean. Everett had sworn to himself when he became packmaster that he would always choose pack. And even though he’d grown up with those three wolves; they were no longer part of the pack. And in order to protect the pack, he’d agreed that she could have them.

"But she…" he looked over at Gia; knowing this next part would hit home, "She said she tried to get them to relapse and they didn’t. So she got the vampire community to agree to let them go… On my word that I would kill any who relapsed.” Guilt and self-loathing washed over him. His whole frame seemed to collapse from the burden of this. His head dropped, and he shook his head. “All I could think was that I’d rather do it myself and know they didn’t suffer than let them be at the hands of vampires who might torture them.”

Everett - a man who’d probably only cried once or twice in his entire life - was close to tears. “What kind of leader agrees to kill his own kind? What will the pack think of me?” he whispered, a hand coming to his face and running down it, “The pack deserves better than me. I… I can’t even stand up to a fucking fanger.”

Gia smiled wanly before taking a sip herself. She arched her brows after swallowing, letting the fluid run down her wind pipe and pausing before daring to breathe again. Laughing softly, she shook her head. Turning back to the girl, she tilted her head inquiringly. "So, do you wanna talk about it?" she asked. She shrugged. "I totally pushed in on this so no worries if you don't. And if you wanna be alone," she shrugged once again. "Just tell me. I won't be offended, I promise."

Jack Tears { open }

Charlie sighed when whoever was lurking in the shadows sat down next to her. She took a deep breath and saw saw Gia, which instantly made her feel bad about her sarcastic comment. When the woman pulled out the bottle of whiskey, Charlotte just stared at it. She had been fighting with her father because he couldn’t even bother to pick up his mess, which included a bast a vast array of empty liquor bottles. She really didn’t want to follow his example, but Charlie knew that alcohol could help her relax. 

"Sure, thanks." She took the bottle from her hands and took a sip, coughing before handing it back to Gia. "What are you doing out here so late?"

Gia's laughter was soft as she quirks a brow at him. "I knew it," she teased. "Let's be real, Belfront, I keep things exciting," added with a wink. Her teasing demeanor dropped, however, as she watched his face. Weariness seemed to settle into his bones, his face worn and yet he still managed a smile. Gia's brow creased as she reached out to touch his arm. "You bear it well, but you know if you need anything..." She shrugged. "Whatever you need." As he mentioned his reason for being here, Gia nodded and, extinguishing the last of her cigarette she turned towards the door, pulling it open. "Only three?" She gasped in horror. "Let's fix that, right away!" Gia chuckled softly at the mention of the Packmaster. "You might be surprised," she retorted with a wink. If anything, though, he had helped change her - for the better. Gia didn't like to remember the scared, lonely little girl who'd first wandered into Oxford. "How's Brett?" She asked. As the self-appointed werewolf matchmaker, as well as a mutual friend to both Toby and Brett, Gia had always seen how they interacted and firmly believed there was something there. She saw it as her personal mission to help them along as much as possible. "It's been too long since I've talked to her."

Dammit Moon Moon | Gia & Toby (closed)

Toby shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, sending a nod and a smile at another couple walking into the Tavern for the evening as he stood outside with Gia. He laughed easily at her witty banter, shaking his head as he answered. “You know I miss you every second we’re apart,” he rolled his eyes — though his words weren’t technically a lie. Toby appreciated the pack more than he could ever put to words. Luckily, they were the type of pack, however, that he didn’t have to. It was a breath of fresh air, being out tonight. After his week from work hell, daily texts from his father on his mother’s condition only made things worse instead of better. Her bad days were starting to increase; to double. She had far outlived her expectancy, much to the surprise of the doctors and no surprise at all to the rest of the wolves, but it could be any day now. Toby almost had to hesitate before answering. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell her — Gia already knew more than most about his situation — it was simply a matter of how to answer without sounding completely… Awful. “It was a bad week,” he shrugged, looking down a moment as he kicked at a gap in the concrete with the toe of his shoe. “It’s not lookin’ good.” Toby looked back up to her, a small, only slightly forced lop-sided grin gracing his face as he shrugged again. “That’s why I’m here, after all. Not to mention you have been apart of at least 3 of my 5 most insanely black-out-forget-it-all drunk nights, so that’s pretty convenient,” he teased. Toby had to let out a low, belly of a laugh as she brought up Devon, his face tilting back to grin up at the night sky as he shook his head. “Well, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, G,” Toby chuckled, looking to her with a brow raised. “I would have thought you would have learned that by now with Everett,” he smirked. It was always easy to poke fun at Gia’s life. So glamorous. So ridiculous. So drunk. He made a face as conversation turned to him. “Good god, absolutely nothing.” Which wasn’t exactly true, he’d been a bit unlucky when it came to the ladies of his life as of recently. “Taking on more hours; taking on more of my dad’s clients, now that he’s retiring for good now. Mississippi summers are hot as hell.”

Emilia Clarke | SV Magazine 2014

Gia swallowed a breath. It felt like saltwater in her lungs. She'd done this, she knew deep down, she done this to him. Ariella was only a conduit, demanding justice for their sins, but Ariella hadn't committed those sins: Gia had. Even at the time, she'd known it was a bad idea, she'd known she should do better, be better...but instead she'd given in. That was what she'd feared. "Ev, I-" she shook her head, but she found, quickly, she didn't have to say anything all at once as he pulled her into his arms, onto his lap. Gia didn't say anything at first, as he buried his head in her neck, but rather wrapped her arms around him, fingers running through his silky hair. She felt as if her heart were imploding, collapsing in on itself, ripping itself apart as fell in shred to sink deep beneath her ribcage. "You deserve better, Ev," she whispered, "So much better." His breath was hot against her skin as he spoke. She glanced up at nothing, feeling a tear drop down onto her face, running down her cheek. Hastily, she wiped it away before he could see and nodded. She couldn't begin to fathom why, sometimes, but he always had placed such deep trust in her and the last thing she had ever wanted to was to betray that - especially now, given what it would mean for him. She swallowed, waited till she felt sure of her voice - that it would not waver, would not crack, and answered. "I know we'll be ok," she said, slowly. "Because you're here." His fingers were tender against her skin, closing her eyes, she focused on the sensation, leaning into his touch as her eyes opened to meet his again. Her brow creased as he spoke and she reached up to place a hand over his. "Devon makes it easy," she said with a small smile, through it all, at the thought of their daughter. The tears she'd fought back started to enter her eyes again as he spoke, as he went so far as to declare pride in her, but she did not cry. It was a small victory, and hard won. "Everett, don't you see? All of that, all of it...Came from you. I never could have done it, any of it at all, before you came along and saved us all." Her eyes lowered as he spoke of the released vampires. She bit her lip, softly. "I don't know what we can do for them," she began. "Except maybe some anonymous tip to one of those v-rehab charity places that've been springing up lately. Maybe the humans can help," she suggested with a shrug. They'd been abjured and that was absolute; it had to be. Gia couldn't see a better answer. "Or perhaps we could chase them out of town, somehow." She wasn't sure that would actually help them, but it'd get Everett off the hook, at least. Gia bowed her head when he spoke of Tristan. "I'll call him tomorrow," she promised. "We can work it out, I'm sure. Having a strong support system, and realizing the ramifications on others beyond yourself, that people count on you...it's a big part of moving on," she added. "I'd know. And I know we can help him, too. He's one of us and he's stronger than he seems. We can save him." Gia tilted her head forward, resting her forehead against his. "You are not their lackey," she assured him. "You belong to nobody outside this Pack." Cupping his face in her hands, she pulled away just enough to look into his deep brown eyes. "Everett, listen to me. We'll save you, too. That fanger can't touch you, can't make you do anything you don't want to, you hear me? I won't let her." She paused, gazing at him, caressing his cheek before smiling softly. "That's the beauty of being a Pack: we're never really apart, not ever. We're gonna get through this, together," she whispered. "And in the mean time, Everett, we're gonna be safe to do that because of what you did. You gave us this chance, and no one else."

Aftermath || Gia & Everett (closed)

He let out a breath, “I got the feelin’ that she meant any wolf in my pack who relapsed; and the three that I abjured…” He sighed again, placing his drink on her coffee table then reached out, pulling Gia into his lap and leaning back into the couch. He felt best when he held her like this, so completely surrounded by the smell and feel of her.

Everett buried his face in her neck for a moment, just trying to get himself together. He knew how empathetic Gia was, especially with him, the last thing she needed was to suffer because he was suffering. “I believe in all of you,” he finally spoke against her skin. “Tristan… and especially you,” he said, pulling back to look at her.

A hand came up to cup her face, “I mean, look at you. Look how far you’ve come from those days. You’ve come to befriend the very source of your former addiction. You’re the best mom I’ve ever seen to that beautiful girl outside…” He let his fingers come up to brush her hair back from her face, “Goddamn, I’m so proud of you, Gia.” Tears nearly filled his eyes again but he fought them back.

"But what about those three I abjured? They don’t have the pack anymore to keep ‘em strong; and Tristan. He has the pack, sure… But I’ve seen the struggle in him everytime the topic is brought up or a vamper goes by. It’s with him every second of the day… And there ain’t a damn thing I can do," he said, a bit of anger in his last few words.

He gripped Gia and pulled her to him again, his thick and muscular arms enveloping her as he fought back the urge to cry - or scream. “I feel so powerless, so useless to those who depend on me most,” he whispered into her hair, “I can’t defend us against our biggest threat. And now… I feel like their damn lackey; carryin’ out their orders just to keep them from slaughterin’ the whole lot of us.”

"I know, baby," responded Gia with a soft frown, her fingers running through Devon's soft hair, soothingly. "Think of clothes..." She paused. "As a wolf, you have a luscious furry coat, right? It protects your sensitive skin from getting scratched by thorns or exposed to stones...As a human, you lack that advantage. Think of clothes as your human coat," she suggested. She chuckled when Devon said nudity would be easier on finding a mate. "You're probably right about that, but as a wolf, I know you appreciate the thrill of the chase. The hunt's part of the fun," she added, laughing softly as she sipped at her drink. Gia smirked softly, her eyes dancing with amusement. She didn't mind at all Devon had taken to the movie with such rapt attention. In fact, she felt it might help her come to terms with her position - wasn't it about a young woman with a powerful secret, afterall? "Mmm," Gia cast a glance down at her drink. "True, that," she acknowledged. "But you'll get used to it. Plus it's a nice money saver - we get more bang for our buck," she added, winking. Considering how much alcohol Gia went through, that was definitely a good thing. "Oh, really?" Gia could help the smile that crept over her face when Devon mentioned his preparations. "You know, I absolutely agree!" Gia laughed softly. Her brows arched when Devon mentioned her scent before laughing again. "There's a good reason for that," she said, winking. She was glad of it for an additional reason: events seemed to be going in a bad direction and Gia believed it would help them to have pleasant memories behind them and the promise of more ahead. "Your Daddy's a good man, Devon," she murmured softly, touching her daughters cheek.

Mama Wolf & Pup | Gia & Devon

Devon watched her take the blade of grass, and then let out a huff at what she said. “I know,” she sighed, “I just hate clothes. I mean, all women have the same parts… All men have the same parts. Why should we have to hide it? We are what we are. I think it would make finding a mate much easier anyway.” She shrugged, raising her hand and pulling at the shirt she wore. It was a little to close fitting for her liking, but… She supposed she had to be grateful. She’d heard that there were a lot of people who didn’t have the things she had.

"Four times?" she said softly, her hand gripping the glass Momma had given her and raising it to her lips. She took a swig and grimaced, still not used to the burn that accompanied the tasty drinks Momma made. "I think this is the only time I wish I weren’t wolf," she said, "Because… I have to go through more burn in order to get what the humans get." She looked over at Gia and a smile pulled at the corners of her lips.

"I did see Daddy today. He was making plans for you and his big evening," she said. She came to enjoy and anticipate the nights that Everett made a whole day devoted to Gia. It meant they were both in a good mood for about a month afterward. "You and Daddy should have more night like that. You always come home smelling of absolute delight."