And you thought Chivalry was Dead{Eva and Wulf}

[Wulfgar Fenrisulfr]

EVA:

The atmosphere inside the little diner was as busy as it always was; patrons walking in and out, people calling for more coffee and children crying for attention from their frazzled mothers. Only 10 o’clock in the morning, and most of the wait staff looked like they were about to drop.

...Which was probably the reason why just about everyone was glaring daggers at a certain whistling waitress, as she skipped around the diner with a sunny smile on her face. Ignoring the squinty eyed looks she was getting from her fellow employees and the jealous glances from said sleep deprived mothers, Eva embraced the morning's work as if it were a gift. And, in all honesty, compared to where she'd spent the last three hundred-or-so years, it was. While the work was hard and her feet felt like they were about to fall right off, the knowledge that she had control over what she was doing was heavenly.

Back home, in the fiery lands of her husband's people, she was treated like a prisoner; watched, always watched, with the hateful little eyes of her husband's guards. None of them could understand why Sagan had taken a human sacrifice, rather than the world he so obviously wanted to conquer and most of them saw her 'wiles' as something of a weakness of his.

And demons, as she'd come to realize, hated weakness.

So, there she was; humming and dancing around the kitchen like a little kid while the cook prepared her orders. A chanced glance over at the side table had her pausing, a flash of blond hair and blue eyes flickering to the forefront of her mind. Only a week earlier, she'd been standing there, tending to the 'wound' of the Head of the Otherworld Council. Who would've thought? She mentally cringed as she also remembered the threats she'd thrown at him, when she'd thought him one of her husband's men. But, despite her little tirade, he'd simply given her his card and offered his help.

She remembered watching him leave; her eyes practically glued to his back while her fingers clutched at the card he'd given her. She'd been confused at the strong urge to run after him and fling herself against the solid wall of that wide chest; to spill her story and let him take care of everything. It was probably the strong, quiet power to him that made her know that he was capable of such things...but no, she couldn't involve him in her troubles. Not the HEAD of the Council, for crying out loud! What if he got hurt because of her? Then, the world that she loved so much would be put in a very awkward position, and it would be her fault.
Resolutely, she'd thrown the little card into the wastebasket, where it still sat. Cautiously, as if the trash held a poisonous snake, she moved toward it and peered down at the pristine scrawl staring up at her. There was no way that she was going to get him involved, even if the thought of being held in those big, strong arms made her knees weak.

Gah, she really did need to lay off those romance novels. Yeesh.
Shaking her head resolutely, she stiffened her spine and marched toward the kitchen doors, only to stop and stare at the familiar face sitting in one of the front booths. Oh crap...had she thrown away that little card? No, she must have just put it there for safe keeping...

Whirling, Eva scooped up Wulf's card and made for the back door like her hair was on fire. Okay, so if Mr. Council Head thought he had enough guns to help her with her little 'situation,' she'd definitely be taking him up on his offer, because if her memory served, that was one of her husband's favorite guards sitting out front. Crud; only two weeks out and they'd found her!

Keeping herself as covert and stealthy as possible- which was really hard, given that she was still in her uniform and was practically careening down the sidewalk- she went to the direction on the card.

...Which was, of course, closed. Because what good nightclub would be open at 11:30 in the morning. With a groan, she let her head fall against the front door with a thud, not caring if the passing pedestrians thought her crazy. It was just going to be one of those days.

Wulf:

Mornings should be illegal. Seriously. Who ever came up with the idea needed to be drawn and quartered. Even after centuries of getting up at the crack of dawn and heading out to take on the world... Wulf still HATED them. There had been a time when things had been peaceful but the hustle and bustle of this modern mortal world was enough to give him a headache. These humans were like a bunch of rats scurrying after some sort of perceived prized.
It was like they had some insane endgame they had to reach before hte next person and they wasted their finite lives trying to get there. Wulf might of found it pitiable if most of the idiots just didn't piss him off.

Turning his custom built Ducati motorcycle down the street towards Screamers, the ancient shifter gunned the accelerator and grinned at the feel of freedom it gave him. Unfortunately, it didn't last long since his club lurked there on the corner and he knew he had to be the responsible one once again. Had to see to business before pleasure. Damn, it really sucked being the oldest at times.

Pulling his bike up outside the front doors of the bar, Wulf pulled of his helmet and dismounted. His gaze was down as he turned but the slight movement in front of the entrance cause him to look up in time to see the waitress he'd run into a few days before. She seemed to be... banging her head on the door? What the hell?? Glancing this way and that, the huge viking warrior strode forward carefully.

"Lass? Is there something I can do for you?" he asked, a frown lurking over his features even as his senses searched for danger.
"I'm assuming that you are in need of something since you are here.... Unless you just enjoy banging up your pretty face on doors? If so, I might have to ask you to do it elsewhere because although we are a rowdy lot... We don't really deal in violence to women, self inflicted or no...."

Putting a bit of humor into those last words, Wulf pulled the keys to the club out of his pocket and waited for her to tell him what was up.

Eva:

Okay, so she really needed to come up with another plan, Eva thought as she stared at the scarred wood beneath her forehead. She really needed to come up with a new plan, before someone used her as a door knocker, or someone called the cops. She could do this. She could definitely figure out what to do; she'd hidden from her husband's men for how long, now? She could definitely come up with a plan for elluding a few highly trained assassins, no problem! She'd only been getting caught every damn time she'd resurfaced--

She hadn't noticed the low rumble of an approaching motorcycle, or the sounds of feet on pavement as Wulf approached her. So, when his voice sounded right next to her, she proceeded to jump a foot and yelp like a kicked puppy. Oh yeah, she was going to have NO problem elluding random demons! NO PROBLEM AT ALL!

And cue some minor mental hysterics...

"Jimminy Cricket and horseradish!" She blurted out. It was her own version of curses, given that she wasn't one to dip into the sailor's dialect. Spinning around, she just managed to catch herself on the side of the building before he scrabblign feet could bring her crashing down onto the pavement. For a second there, her mind had froze, thinking that one of Sagan's men had finally found her. But when Wulf's big, blonde, freaking WONDERFUL face came into view instead, she had to stop herself from flinging herself at him with a howled 'YOU'RE NOT A DEMON!'

"Oh. Um...sorry. No, I wasn't banging anything against the door; I was just...eh...communing with it. Willing it to unlock with my mind, and all." Pracitcally glowing, her face was so red, Eva forced her eyes to remain locked on his face. "I'm sorry to bother you, but...well, you'd offered your help to me back at the diner, and...um...well, I need help. Lots of it, actually...and I don't mean to pull you into anything- oh, thank you- but I don't know what else to do now." When he opened the door, she took a step inside, glancing around with a look of awe.

"Wow, this place is huge. I've never been to the club; just heard about it."

Wulf:

Well, that response was unexpected. Wulf had been hoping that she'd come to see him but the relieved expression on her face boarded on real joy. She seemed to go from scared out of her skin to estatically happy in seconds and he suspected it wasn't just from seeing his ugly mug. A quick glance up and down the street for danger assured him that there was none at present so he merely arched a brow.

"No.. I'm not a demon.... You could say i'm more animal than that." he replied dryly. "Demons are ugly creatures for the most part in their other form. I at least like to think I'm regal in my wolf form."

Wulf: As they stepped inside, the huge shifter shut the door once more with a final click of the lock. With a black backpack slung over his shoulder, he lead the way through tables and chairs towards the bar.

"You look like you could use a drink. Can I get you something?" he asked, nodding towards a stool and moving behind the long mahogany counter. "Then you can tell me what it is that you need my help for. From the look on your face a moment ago.. You seem to be in a bit of trouble. Kind of like you thought I was going to be someone else when you turned around and were relieved when I wasn't."

Picking up a bottle of his own scotch, Wulf poored a dram of hit in two tumblers and pushed one across to her. "Here, this will steady your nerves and then we can see to fixin what really ails you."

Eva:

A surprised look was shot his way when he commented on his very un-demonic self. Holy crap, could he read minds? She hadn't...oh gah, please say she hadn't done that thing where she spoke what she'd been thinking outloud...then again, with the magic the Fenrisulfr clan were rumored to possess, he probably could read her mind. Drat! That meant he could 'read' those dirty thoughts her brain couldn't help but thinking up! Mayday! Mayday!

Forcing her mind to focus on the color of the diner's table settings, she tried her best not to fidget too much when the lock audibly clicked into place. Okay, so maybe being in an eclosed space with the larger-than-life wolf shifter was making all the air shoot out of her lungs, but she could handle this. She'd lived amongst bloodthirsty demons for most of her life; she could definitely focus on why she'd come to the club. Demons chasing her, husband wanting her to come home, the punishments that awaited her latest escape; blah, blah, blah. That was better; thoughts about imminent danger definitely trumped wondering what it felt like to go romance-novel and sink into those big, strong arms.

...Well, there went those good intentions. Man, but he had huge biceps...

"I...er...well, I've never actually had a drink," She admitted, following him toward the bar. Sliding into a booth, she nervously shoved her rampant curls behind her ear. Her past trips out into the mortal world were kind of like jumping into random points in the timeline. The last time she'd been out and about had been during the reign of Mothers Against Alcohol Abuse down south, and the times before that, she'd been too worried about hiding out than hitting up the local nightlife. "But I'm always up for something new. Do you have anything that won't make a lightweight like me pass out?"

If she really put her mind to it, she could pretend that this were some kind of social call, but the present made short work of beating the crap out of that wholehearted wish. Playing with one of the offered tumblers, she sighed and nodded her head. "Yeah, unfortunately I did. I thought you were...one of the people I'd thought you were back at the diner. I guess it's the fact that you're about ten thousand feet tall." Forcing a laugh, she took a sip of the drink and wrinkled her nose. Ugh! What in the heck was THAT?

Pushing the tumbler a few inches away, she eyed the offending liquid for a second before forcing them up to his face. Whoof, eyes...concentrate, Eva!

"To tell you the truth, Sir, I don't even know if I should be here. But I've heard of the Council helping certain...er...people in need, and...well, let me just tell you a story and you can figure out if I should leave or not."

Taking a deep, calming breath, she slid her hands back around her glass and played with the little dips and bumps in the sides. "My name's Eva'aruna and I was a Princess to the Aztecatl; the Aztec people. When I was sixteen, the earth opened up and a monster from a fiery realm came through. We- my father and some of the priests- thought it was a God, but it proved itself otherwise. It called itself Sagan, and declared that our world would be his; that we should prepare for a new God."

She glanced up at him, then back down to her glass.

"I remember I stood next to my father and my brothers when we faced the demon king, adding my voice to our defiance of his claiming our lands...then the noise dying away, and Sagan declaring that he would make a concession. A virgin sacrifice, the Princess, or war. My people would have all died; they knew it and so did I. So, in the dead of night, I went to Sagan and made a vow to go with him to his world, if he would spare mine."


She gulped down the scotch, enjoying the burn and sighed. She'd been so young and stupid...but what else could she have done.


Her voice weary, she went on. "He forced me to marry him and become his Queen,vthough, in name only. Like the rest of his subjects, I'm no more than his slave. He does whatever he wants with me," Another gulp and another swallow ushered in a sweet, numbling buzz. Huh, so that's what he meant about calm. This was nice. "Around 1890, I've been sneaking out of his world and into this one through a little portal one of his subjects showed me how to manipulate. I try to stay here, to hide from his men and...God, I don't know; maybe try to live a normal life? That's why I came here, Mr. Fenrisulfr. I need your help...because Sagan is looking for me, and I don't want anyone at the diner getting hurt."

[Eva Rombar]

WULF:

Of all the things Wulf expected to here.... This was NOT one of them.

Just what he expected, he wasn't sure but it had been more along the lines of.. "my cars broke down.." "I'm running from an ex boyfriend" "I'm pregnant but hiding from an abusive ex" or something to that effect. Definitely NOT that she was an ancient Aztec princess with a demon lord for a husband.

The Gods had to be laughing at him. Seriously? Did he look like some freaking knight in shining armor who went around rescueing beautiful damsels in distress? Oh wait a minute.. Guess he had done that once upon a time but.. Son of a bitch...Didn't he have enough on his plate wrangling all the god damned supernatural idiots of this world without falling hook line and sinker for a woman who came with more baggage than a freight train?

As soon as that thought flashed through his brain, Wulf felt as if he'd been struck by the flat side of a broad sword. Fallen? There was no way.... He was over a thousand years old.. There was no way in hell a pretty little waitress with curves that his hands itched to caress could make him think of a warm bed and passionate nights spent making sweet love to her body until it was swollen with his child...Fuck.. Had he SERIOUSLY just had the image of this woman baking cookies and caring for a handful of little blue eyed, tow headed children?

Repressing the need to bang his own head against something, Wulf forced himself back into the moment. With self discipline learned over his many centuries, he kept his expression carefully neutral as he lifted his glass and downed it a bit to quickly. As the burn caressed his throat, he took the precious seconds to evaluate everythign she had said before replying.

"Damn, woman.....When you decide to talk... You really let a man have it, doncha lass." He said with a Gaelic accent that was far heavier than usual because of his inner struggle. "Aye, I am the head of the council.. However, if what you say is true.. This could be a matter or if I grant you my help. Its not something I can take lightly nor can I take up arms against your husband without some sort of proof.... As a man, I am inclined to believe you but as a man sworn to wise leadership... I hope you'll understand if I check out your story a bit."

Setting the glass down upon the wooden counter, Wulf meet her gaze levelly and poured them another. "If all is as you say it is... Then I shall do my best to aid you. I fear no demon and he has no power in this world. Until such time as I can assertain the truth of the matter, I think it best you remain under my protection. I will allow no harm to befall you while under that protection and I can extend that to the patrons of the cafe too if you accept. "

As he awaited her response, Wulf's glacier eyes turned a deep, ocean blue as he thought. Already, his mind was compiling a plan of action and making a mental list of measures that would need to be taken. A demon of her husbands calibur would be a worthy opponent indead but the shifter had no qualms about whether he could face him down or not. He hadn't been known as the Celtic Wolf for nothing and stories of his prowess still were talked about in his mother country today. Oh yes, a worthy opponent in this day in age would be a pleasant change of pace.

EVA:

One little glance up had her hopes lifting. There wasn't any kind of 'OH MY GOD, GET OUT OF MY BAR' action going on, on his face, which was definitely a good sign. He seemed...well, he seemed pretty nonchalant, given the neutral expression on his face. But, after living with demons for most of her adult life, Eva was well versed in the art of hiding all emotion. The poor man was probably wishing he'd made his own coffee that fateful morning, or she'd gotten herself hit by a bus, instead of making it into work to baby his healed hand. Wishing that she'd forgotten about his sainted offer and had hightailed it out of the city, she started twisting her hands in her lap in guilt. As the head of the freaking COUNCIL, he had so much more to worry about, without her needing his help! Supernatural disputes, keeping the humans unaware...money problems; probably things she had no clue about. And there she was, adding to his plate.

Oh gah, she was going to get an ulcer. Wait...hello, burning; she already had one! The feeling reached its boiling point at his little comment about her letting him have it with her story, and she dropped her eyes, hunching her shoulders in embarassment. The sound of his brogue sent shivers running up her spine, and she resisted the urge to beg him to say something else.

Her eyes shot back up to his face when he mentioned taking arms against her husband, panic flashing across her face. Oh Gods, NO! She didn't want him to put himself in THAT kind of danger! She just needed somewhere to hide out. Maybe another identity; SOMETHING! But, before she could say any of the like, he went on and her cheeks colored slightly.

Okay, so duh; he would have to check into her claim before he did anything. Completely understandable, her logical mind told her. He didn't know her from Jane, and her story was a bit...out of the blue. And yet, there was that twinge of hurt that stung her right in the chest, and she lowered her eyes to her hands again. She gave up trying to decipher all of the feelings that cropped up when she was around the Celt.

"All I ask is that you try to keep your investigation as quiet as possible. If Sagan hears that you're helping me...he'll come after you, to drive me out," She said solemnly. Then, realizing the truth, she winced and let loose a frustrated sigh that sent her bangs flying. "God, I don't even know why I'm here in the first place. I'm putting you in danger by even BREATHING around you...you have no idea how much power my husband really has. He's...done things in the past. I've given up trying to underestimate what he's capable of, weak in this world or no."

And she definitely had the scars to prove it. Absently, she ran her fingers over one such mark along her wrist. Sagan had found her trying to kill herself on the first night they'd been together, and had happily slit her wrists for her. He'd let her bleed out, then brought her back with his magic...and repeated the process. She'd never tried to die again, but the actions had spurred her escapes.

WULF

Centuries of watching, waiting and learning had sharpened Wulfs instincts to a fine edge. Even from where he stood, he could feel the wave of emotions coming off the pretty waitress and he had no doubts of her honesty. However, as the Council leader, he had certain rules he was bound to follow and acting like a love struck puppy was not something he was going to go down in the books for. Now, more than ever, he had to be logical and rational about things.

Which lasted right up to the moment Eva spoke again and he caught the movement she made around her wrists. Without conscious thought, he literally jumped the mahogany counter and took her arm in a hold that was gentle but unyielding. Pushing away her free hand, his eyes feel upon ragged laceration scars and they filled him with such rage that his voice shook when he growled out his question. "Did .. he.. do.. this.. to .. you?"

Then, as if realizing that he might scare her himself with his actions, he deliberately tried to get a grip on his emotions and tone down the violence he was sure poured off of him in waves. If there was one thing that triggered his wrath faster than anything else.. It was a man who touched a woman in anger or caused her harm in any way. In his day, woman were priceless treasures to be cherish and protected and any man of worth knew this. In his village, a man caught beating his wife or child would face him on the battle field and feel the wrath of his king. His owns sisters rape and beating had almost sent him over the edge of sanity when he'd found her and the thought of someone harming this woman..... This tiny, delicate woman... It was enough to make his berserker wake up and take notice.

It was in that moment that Wulf knew his course of action was set. Whether the Council approved or not, the bastard was going down and Wulf was going to be the one who did it. "Lass, I do not know who you think I am but I assure you.. I have power of my own right. Your demon lord might be powerful but he has nothing on me. I am not some wet behind the ear pup who has yet to earn his battle scars and this I vow you.. He will not lay a hand on you as long as I breath. You will stop worrying and start giving me as many details about the son of a .... gun.. as you can. Then, I shall call a council with my men and decide how to proceed from here."

Stumbling a bit over the foul curse word he'd been about to use in Eva's presence, Wulf suddenly felt as if his talk were unfit for her ears. Such a lady should not have to listen to the foul talk of a warrior and for the first time in ages, he felt as inept as the pup he'd just declared himself not to be. After so many centuries of being in male companionship, he'd forgotten what if felt like to be in a ladies presence. Oh, sure.. Kaera was a lady but she'd been raised in their household and although Wulf demanded better of his men while around her... It still didn't have the same feel. His sister was simply family and while they all tried to be on their best behavior, she did no hold it against them if they slipped back into their warrior ways.

EVA:

So, there she was, feeling all guilty about dragging him into her lake-sized problems, when the seemingly calm and composed Head of the Council proceeded to wig out on her. With one fluid motion, he was around the counter and in front of her. Instinct had her freezing where she sat, and her eyes squeezed themselves shut. She waited for a yank, a slap, maybe some yelling about how hard she was making his life; all of the familiar results to a man leaping out at her like he did.

When none came, she peeked out at him, then sagged in complete relief. Right on its heels was embarrassment, then a healthy dose of shame, when he growled out the demand/question. Snatching her hand away and putting it right back where it belonged in her lap, she forced herself to meet his eyes. She managed a little shrug and a small, humorless smile. "Yes. But, if it makes you feel better, I was going to do it myself, before he came in."

Oh yeah, that wasn't morbid AT ALL. But it was the truth, and deep down, beneath all those roiling emotions, she couldn't help but feel touched that he cared. He, a complete stranger, cared about something that happened centuries ago...to her. If the urge to slide off her barstool and give him a thankful hug wasn't strong enough, there was the doubled need when he promised that he'd help her. Bah, hell with it; he already thought she had mental problems, why not add to her image?

With a little sniffle- just give her ten seconds, and the waterworks were going to fall; it was how she rolled- she slipped off her stool and snagged him around the neck before he could scuttle away. No way in hell, Superman, she thought with covert swipe at her eyes.

"I would kiss you right now, if that didn't make things really weird," She informed him, voice a bit muffled from where she was pressing her face against his shoulder. Giving him a final squeeze, she even went so far as to plant a kiss on his cheek before stepping back. Quickly, she swiped at the moisture under her eyes and hugged herself with a look of complete relief. "I'll tell you whatever you need to know...but first, let me thank you. I...God, I wish I could give you something more than words, but...thank you."

WULF:

Wulf prided himself on being the strong, steady, solid as an oak kind of guy. An old testament sort of fellow who gave an eye for an eye and never thought twice about it. Over the centuries, he thought he'd probably been called every foul name in the book and had definitely rolled his fair share of heads. His enemies trembled when they saw him coming and the wicked fell to their knees and begged for forgiveness. He was the rock hard foundation that his clan leaned on and yet.... One little sniffle from one little woman had the power to bring him to his knees. When the hell had THAT happened? As she threw her arms around him, Wulf felt his body react in ways that it hadn't in decades.. no.. centuries. He was definitely still hard but not in the ways appropriate for the moment!

For the first time in ages.. Wulfgar Fenrisulfr was speechless. Try as he might.. He just couldn't seem to open his mouth and make any words form

…Right up to the moment that she planted a kiss on his cheek and shocked the hell out of him even further. Her simple gesture was like the straw that broke the camels back and he felt the ice that had incased his heart melt as if hit by the entire heat of the sun. Holy Hell, he was in so much trouble this time.

"Um... " OK, didn’t that just make him sound like the caveman he was. "You don't have to thank me, lass. This is what I am. It grieves me to see anyone suffer unjustly and the fairer sex more than most..." Not to mention, had she really kissed him, he'd probably have embarrassed himself. "You don't have to give me anything for me to champion you.. " Oh, but if she insisted, his body was giving him ideas of payment that a true gentleman would never dream of. "and your most welcome..."

Son of a bitch, why were his arms aching to reach out and pull her against him? Why was he suddenly wanting to erase any memory of the demon bastard from her mind? Why was he staring at her lips as if they were candies to be nibbled upon? Where the HELL had this temptation to shower her with pretty trinkets come from?
Hell, he was loosing his bloody mind, thats what was happening.

Clearing his throat, the big wolf tried valantly to pull his scattered mind back together. Glancing down at his watch, he frowned and then looked back to Eva. His voice rumbled as he spoke again. "I'd like to take you back to my families manor. You'll be safe there and you can be in attendance of my meetings if you wish. I can also introduce you to my sister and set some security up for you... If this meets your satisfaction?"

EVA:

The shifter was looking at her so strangely, that for a minute there, Eva was half tempted to look over her shoulder at the more interesting person behind her. She'd seen that kind of expression before, on some of the human males’ faces when they came through the diner with their dinner dates. There was such...heat in those icy blue eyes, and something else that she couldn't quite place. It made her want to hide behind the bar counter and take a step closer to him at the same time. How strange.

With a mental shake, she forced her brain to lock onto what he was saying. No intelligent girl actually wanted to stand there with a 'duh' look on her face, when the man speaking to her was obviously waiting for an answer. Leaning back on her stool, she offered him a small smile at the 'no gift' comment, but when the conversation turned to her staying at his FAMILY'S mansion? All kinds of alarm bells started ringing.

"When you say 'family mansion,' do you mean...family? As in, your family still lives there?" She paled a bit at the thought of one of her husband's prized mercenaries charging into his house and hurting one of his loved ones. No...no, she couldn't have that, at all. She was already putting him in enough danger, his own personal power, or no. Vehemently, she shook her head and locked her jaw stubbornly.

"I won't put them in danger. I can stay at a hotel in the city, or...um..." In a box under your bed, an evil little voice in the back of her mind whispered. Eva shushed it, while she continued to give him her best stubborn look. Okay, that was definitely different, given that she'd done the box thing and really hadn't liked it very much. Running a hand through her hair in frustration, she huffed out a breath and sagged back against the stool. "Or something. And I'll just come to your place when you're conducting your investigation into my husband."

WULF:

The woman was seriously beautiful when she tried to go being all noble. That was the only thought that ran through Wulf's brain as he watched her babble on and make like she had a choice. Did she seriously believe he was going to let her wander the city with some asshole sending henchmen after her? She had no clue who she was dealing with if that was the case. She wasn't going anywhere that he couldn't keep her under armed guard and safe as the kings crown jewels. Safer than that probably.

"Lass, your going to my home whether I have to carry you out of here kicking and screaming or if you come on your own free accord. You came to me for help, now accept it. I have no fear of your demon lord and you should be more trusting of those you ask for help from. My clan is well versed in the art of war and they are capable of protecting what is ours.... and in case you haven't caught on yet... You are ours now."

That said, the tall shifter flipped open his phone and locked his gaze with hers as he waited for the response on the other end. When it came, he spoke in ancient Gaelic and it was clear he was giving orders. Once he was finished, he hung up the cell and then met her gaze. Blue ice fairly glittered in his eyes as he gave a slow, hard smile. "My brother is already in route to your cafe. He will follow the men your .... demon...sent." He said, unable to force out the word "Husband" through his lips. "We will soon know just how many are here and what they know of you. For now, you will come with me and get off your feet. You look about ready to drop, if you'll pardon my saying and you could use some food in your belly that you didn't have to prepare."

With things decided in his own mind, he pulled out two sets of keys and was glad that the Hummer was still in back of the bar. Kaera had driven it the night before but she'd left on Bannings bike later in the evening. It would to to take Eva home in.

"Come, lass... Lets get you somewhere safe. I promise that you shall not be harmed by me or mine and I always keep my promises."

EVA:

At first, Eva couldn't help but feel a healthy dose of...something warm inside her stomach that she couldn't identify, when he got that similarly stubborn look on his face. Or when his voice took on a very manly tone of authority. But when he started saying that he'd take her to his home by force, and especially when he said that she was HIS? She couldn't help but take a step back, away from him, and lock her knees to keep from bolting.

She knew he didn't mean them in any harmful sense. He was doing exactly what she wanted him to; protecting her, keeping her safe. A man's home had to be the most protected, so logically, it would be the best place to take her, in order to fulfill his promise. But those words...those claiming words sent a surge of fear coursing down her spine. For a moment there, she heard Sagan's voice in her head, whispering that same sentence while he...did what he wanted to her.

Flashbacks, she thought with a deep, calming breath, trying to urge the blank slate of panic in her brain to abide. During one of her jaunts out into the world, she'd seen one of those 'medical speakers...' bah, what were they called? Head-shrinkers? Whatever they were, she figured that she needed to learn not to jump at every shadow, and thus turned to a professional. She wasn't crazy, the woman had said, but merely...in transition. She liked that word; transition. It meant she was going somewhere.

…Supposedly, to the Fenrisulfr home. Yes, she could do that. She was making the concious decision to go with him and taking her own safety into her own two hands. The thoughts soothed her and with another deep breath, the urge to flee subsided. She would have to work on those breathing techniques later, when the powerful man wasn't staring at her.

With a little huff, she nodded in resignation and looked around the room when he flipped open the phone. She couldn't understand what he was saying, but by the tone of his voice, he was giving someone some orders. Her eyes flipped back to his face when the sound of the cell phone closing snapped through the room. "You told him to be careful, right?" She asked, before she could stop herself. Offering a wry smile, she looked down at her hands again. "Sorry; it's a habit."

Another small smile curved her lips and she raised a slim brow at him. She looked so frazzled? She supposed so, but...for some reason, the blunt statement made her want to laugh. The big, intimidating-yet-sexy shifter was obviously not used to talking to a lady, and the thought made that darn warmth return. What WAS that? "I'm not afraid of you or yours, Mr. Fenrisulfr," She said, snagging her sweater where it had dropped on the floor when the insta-hugging had occurred. "Just for you all. And don't worry about it; let me cook for you. I find the monotony soothing."

Eyeing the hummer when they reached it out back, she couldn't help but resist the urge to brush off her uniform to make sure she didn't get anything on his seats. Speaking of which...mmmmm, real leather! She had to bite her lip to keep from groaning out loud and snuggling into the chair for a nap. Her little bicycle had nothing on this baby!

WULF:

Just when he thought maybe she was done surprising him... She went and did it again. Any other woman in her position would be making up to him like some kind of rescued stray. In his past experience, women tended to see him as way to get to easy street and they NEVER offered to cook or anything else for that matter once they thought they'd caught his attention. This woman though.. She obviously expected nothing like that and still sought to make other happy. What a strange creature she was. So much like Kaera in ways yet so different. Kaera was a woman of the world for all her delicate beauty and could take on a board full of men just as easily as she could manuever her own family of males. This woman though.. Wulf sensed a gentle soul. She obviously had backbone but it was more of the sedate kind. She was the kind of woman that Wulf could see greeting her husband home after a long days work and putting a meal fit for a king on the table. The kind of female who cherish the time she spent raising children and making a home.

All in all, she was the sort of woman that Wulf thought had to cease existing. To find her now... Was disconcerting to say the least.

"Yes, my brother knows to be careful... Do not worry for him. He knows what hes doing." He returned with a soft smile playing about his lips that eased his features a tad. "Come now, lass... Someone might have followed you here and I would have you safe before they decide to storm the club, so to speak. I doubt they would be so bold but you never know with that sort of stupidity."

As he spoke, he turned her towards the back hall and unlocked the door. Before she could think to protest anymore, he had her out the door and safely tucked into the Hummer while he moved to the other side and climbed in. Placing the key in the ignition, he turned it and then glanced sideways in time to catch her expression and then a low rumbling chuckle escaped him. She looked positively in love with his vehicle. Now if only he could get her to look at him like that.

As soon as that thought registered, Wulf felt again like someone had kicked him in the gut. Hastily turning his attention back to driving, he used the ensuing moments to pull them out of hte parking lot and into traffic. All the while, his mind turned over and over with the implications of his feelings for the woman. He didn't know why or how she'd come to be in his life now but instinct told him she would play an important part in his future. A future that he was determined would be of her own choosing.