With eyes wide open

This weekend brought a lot of things to the light. I happened upon Ayr one evening having a smoke behind the den. The man was scarred as always, some old, some new, but that's not what made me stop. It was rare enough for him to have his mask up, but most of all, a lot of the bindings he was usually covered in to hide his skin were missing.

I'd seen Ayr without his mask only once and the image of that single blue eye amidst several black cloths still bore deeply in my mind. However since a year or so after that had passed, it would seem Ayr's lightened his dark impression of himself somewhat. He even spoke with more of his normal Scottish accent when the mask was up. Compared to the more restrained tone he took with the mask fully on, it was an interesting talk.

You wanted to chuckle...

No.

Oh you so~ wanted to chuckle.

Hush. I could understand him just as Brekka could. We had a long talk, the three of us, about the leadership of the Pack. The two of them seemed worried that the trials had somehow pitted me and Brekka against each other, but I never saw it that way. In the end, it was determined that we'd be Betas together in the same way Angela and Ayr were Alphas, watching each other's backs and keeping the Pack together.

As comforting as this was, internally I felt isolated and scared. I was close to my due date. I could feel the baby slowing in activity, just like before. But I never said a word to anyone about my worries or at least not the full extent of it. I didn't know if my body would wait until the last minute to rob me of my baby or if God would smile on me just this once.That's when he called...

Collapse is eminent

He found me.

After running for more than a decade, Dr. Foster found me sitting alone on a bench late one night. He looks different now, much darker hair and demeanor and very pale skin. He looked tired.

I couldn't move when I heard his voice. Despite all the mental preparation I'd put myself through, thinking I could  keep my senses about me, I was weak. Just as I had been at the facility, I couldn't move. I obeyed his orders despite consciously wanting to run for my life. After all this, that man still had control over me.

I managed to get away from him thanks to Mitka and Ashley, but the scare was enough to strike me to my core. He was willing to put a knife to my neck, even after seeing my stomach. Dr. Foster had been ruthless at the facility and it seemed now that unyielding bastard's attitude had simmered into condensed malignance. If I wanted to deliver my baby in safety, I needed protection. I couldn't ask the Pack to do that as I refused to have family take a bullet or worse for me, so Adagio made arrangements with Blackstar Mercenaries.

As if that was not troubling enough it appears Adagio made the news, or rather an incident she was involved in made the news. She claimed that she was on her way to meet a coworker Amrin, only to see what appeared to be a kidnapping by Belfry staff. I only have Adagio's word for this, but what I do know is that a gunfight ensued and she was injured. Comments made during the fight were later repeated to reporters along with rumors Ashagi or Adagio and I were broke and that I was a cheating spouse. I'd really love to know why Belfry is suddenly picking a fight with us.

Gone in a flash

The ruins have been returned to us, not necessarily intact mind you. It was to be expected the second the UAC claimed the bomb drop was an "accident." That didn't mean the Pack was cleared to move back in. It seems the ruins were also angered by this shift.

We'd always honor the land we lived one with respect and the occasional offering because as Ayr said, the ruins and the spirits amongst the rumble were watching. It was only fitting to pay respects to them for the right to rest upon their soil. That night however the soil fought back. The den has always been housed over a hot spring; it where we get our fresh water. In the midst of the construction, the hot spot exploded in a field of hot ash and grimy oil, taking the Den with it.

Just like that, the Pack's home was up and gone. We had to build a new one. On the same spot? of course. We had nowhere else to go. I'm sure someone will find it strange that the Director of a multi-billion dollar company is so fond of living in a large cave, but it's because for the first time in a long time, that dark cave accepted me. That was my home long before I had an apartment or a house. That's where my family was and still will be.

My wilder side has shown itself not just with the loss of the den, but with all the turmoil boiling down at Ashagi. Lana, Dr. Parkin's lover and fiancé, seemed to forget that she was hired to be a researcher and a bodyguard to Temp. After Temp was rescued from being kidnapped, Lana was dead set on making those responsible for harming her lover pay. Kia was already in a cell after it was clear she was not herself, but did that please Lana? Nope. Adagio had aided in the rescue of Temp, but in the process caused some harm to Temp from reckless combat. Lana insisted she be fired or at least jailed for such, but in my opinion, Temp was alive right now. I'm not going to punish Adagio for something like that unless Alex, Lana, and the other ASF who were a part of the rescue are jailed as well.

Lana was not pleased with my decision and proclaimed that she would go to a "higher authority." I wonder if anyone told her that when Temp is out, I am the highest it's going to get as far as company chain of command goes. Ironically after this lecture about actions which should warrant discipline, Lana went to the lab and assaulted Adagio. Now, maybe I'm off here, but attacking your superior officer IS grounds for discipline. Did I mention this was done while an applicant was waiting in the neighboring office? Still I just scolded them both and continued with work.

The problem came later when I was showing the new hire, Allura, around. Lana was still on with her snarky remarks about how incompetent the security was and such. I reminded her like I had for so many days now that she should watch her mouth. That security protects her and this lab and if she wants to blame someone for Temp being kidnapped, how about we start with the soul paid to watch Temp? Now who was that again? Oh yes...her.

I was fine with letting even that nonsense slide until I told her to leave for being a disruption. She was not working; just sitting at the reception desk glaring angrily at others. When I told her she'd be out on unpaid vacation, she proclaimed she'd be spending that time with her lover...her poor, clinging to life lover. Now who in their right mind would wave a half-assed guilt card about a ill lover over the head of someone who'd seen their lover die...? Really now, was my next action of yelling for her to leave unreasonable? Was the mauling afterward also unreasonable?

She had it coming.

I don't care who she's dating.

Work when you are at work.

Don't sit around deeming who is suitable for the job they earned.

The next day, an attacker bombed the lab and let Kia out of her cell. Now there's no proof to back this but the general suspicion is that a vengeful Lana who'd been barred from the facility had stormed the place. The attacker was a built female in a armored body suit who knew exactly where to bomb to access doors and where to go to get to the lower lab. Logically one would say this is angry Lana getting revenge for her injured lover but I'd love for her to explain to said injured lover and CEO how she's paying for all those damages...

Maybe I should not have injured her? A quickly as I became mad, it was obvious she was just egging me on, though I don't think she expected a pregnant woman to be that strong. Lana is still a novice when it comes to hybrids.

Hell no!

That bitch disrespected us and had the nerve to put her hands on our mate!

Woman deserves the claw marks now etched in her cheeks.

She needs to learn that the world ain't her damn enemy.

Still my judgement was around the area of murder, and that's just for striking Adagio. What about the rude comments? The overstepping of bounds? I scared my daughter for Chirst's sake.

How many times did you warn Lana that she was pushing it hmm?

Several times. Over several days.

And did she listen once?

Well no...

Alright then.

I sure as hell ain't apologizing for beating a full of it employee.

Just because Dr. Parkin is her lover does not give her voice over me or the other top employees.