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Fuckin' Hell. Why am I dwellin' on Maria's questions? Was it because no one ever actually came out and asked it? I mean when you're with Bounty Hunters and Marshalls it doesn't exactly come up. Not the way she's puttin' it. I mean she makes me feel like some sorta crazy person, just because I can and have ended a person's life without hesitation if I need to. That's what life out here is. Survival. Makin' it to the next day. Not lettin' anyone or thing slow you down from livin' the life you wanna be livin' within the laws... Nothin' wrong with that, is there? Marshalls and Bounty Hunters are the line. We keep the people safe from the real threats. Which I guess makes us threats in a way. But only if you can't keep those nastier instincts in check. Aghh. I don't fuckin' know! I'm gonna just squash this shit down. Thinkin' about the lines could get me killed. I shake it off as best I can, as I make my way over the hill. It doesn't take me long to find Orion and Kale. I see their eyes, as they're huddled up in the shadows of some high level rocks. Neither sleepin' just starin'. I'm sure they see me comin' long before I spot 'em. Which means they're layin' in wait or want to talk. Either way I'm pretty much amped up.
“So I'm not gonna stand here all night,” I shout throwin' the pants at what I guess are their paws. “Either attack or get dressed. This will be your only chance for either.”
There's a bit of shufflin', can't really see what's goin' on, but the amount of noise says they've decided to talk. I hear some gruntin' then the sounds of their feet hittin' the ground softly. They come out of the shadows with their heads bowed low. They look like a couple kids caught bein' naughty.
“We're so very sorry.”
I'm not sure who's who as they hit the ground bowing at my feet. I step back instinctively. They look like they're cryin' when they look up. Wish the pants were different colors. Or I'd listened better when they talked to know one from the other. “Kale?” The one to the left looks at me. Alright now I know who's who. “Why are you following us? Not simply to say sorry?”'
Kale sits back on his feet, knees in the dirt. “We were wrong to align with any but wolves. We know that now. We want to make amends however we can. If it means being Omegas we will take that. But we don't want to be without a pack anymore.”
“You are an Alpha, we want to stay with you. Help you. We are stronger than we have been allowed to show. Aiolos told us we were not to stand up against you, we were meant to aide you. We chose wrong and defied him for a moment and found he was completely right.” Orion makes marks to stand and implore me at the same time. “Submission has been our downfall. But with a firm hand we could be good Betas to you. More if you let us.”
I laugh. Can’t help myself. Here are two beautiful men, grovelin’ and beggin’ for me to keep them and all I can think of suddenly is J.D. and Violet. My laugh causes them to sink to the ground in two pitiful heaps. Here they are puttin' themselves out there and I have laughed. It must have been humiliatin' enough without my laughin'. Firm hand. Okay.
“Get up. Both of you, and stop with the water works. If you want to come with us you need to cut this shit out. You don't want to be subordinates? Then don't submit so easily. You need to learn to look a man in the face and not blink about dealin' with ‘em. You can come back to camp with me. They already expect that. But don't think I'll allow you to do anything to hurt ‘em. In return for that, nothing lousy will happen to ya’ll either. I'll see to it. Okay?”
They do as they are told, standin' beside me as I bring ‘em back to camp.