Chapter 178 - In his arms

"One hundred years per human and that is before considering the worst case scenario or the fifteen vampires."

The words continued to reverberate in Jos's mind as she walked on numb legs, led by her numb hand gripped in Arei's all too familiar grip. She couldn't force herself to glance back to the wolf following behind them, terrified that the surprise and worry from Themis's office would have morphed into fear and hate. She had worked so hard to conceal her actions from both Shelly and Russ, although Russ had eventually pieced the most recent killings together. She frowned as she bumped into the hard, solid back that had stopped in front of her. She forced her brain to focus on what was happening presently. He was unlocking the door to their suite.

"The groceries came earlier while you guys were laying down... if you'd like me to whip something up, or I could have something delivered." Arei said as he pushed the door open and guided her through. Worry creased his brow as her deadpan gaze met his in question. He recognized that stare easily enough, he'd sported it himself for the better part of the past 520 years. He led her to the sofa and set her down unwilling to let her out of his sight at that moment. He handed her the remote from the coffee table. "Here find us something to watch, if you'd like and I'll see what I can throw together." When it was obvious, she wasn't going to acknowledge his words, he straightened and ran his hands over his tight bun. "Alright, well if anything comes to mind food wise feel free to yell out your order. I'll try my best to deliver." He tried to send her a playful smile. "I'm not going to promise five-star service but I'll give it my best... Just nothing too fancy, alright." He patted her shoulder, but she still didn't respond. He sent Shelly a worried gaze, noting that the wolf was keeping her distance. {Shit...} He brushed his sweaty palms over his form-fitting black denims. "Alright, why don't you go through those bags and see if anything catches your attention." He nodded toward the grocery bags in the kitchen, hoping the wolf would be able to work out her feelings over the newly learned information in a more conspicuous manner if she was helping him.

Shelly glanced from the hulking man to Jos's dazed form on the sofa one last time before heading toward the kitchen. She had fought to process all that had been said earlier during the entire walk back to the room but had found little solace. After seeing the attack on the vampires at the DeMarco mansion and the fight on the beach a little over a week ago there was no doubt to the truth of her statements, Themis herself had proclaimed the statement to be truthful... but it was Jos... Her mind was still racing as she began to nose through the bags. {How could all that have happened without me ever suspecting anything?} She nudged a bag toward the waiting man and risked a glance back to the sofa. {It's still Jos... nothing has changed. She's still the same person she's always been... the only difference is that now I know the extents she has gone through to protect Russ and I both.} With her mind made up she turned and headed back to the small living room. She struggled to get on the sofa, cursing her limited mobility pregnancy had caused in this form. {Still better than dealing with the flood of human emotions and all the many questions that would surely come the second I shift back, though...} She thought as she finally managed to hook her back foot into the space between the cushions and chair frame. She hoisted herself up and rested her head on Jos's lap. When Jos didn't seem to notice she let out a soft whine.

Jos forced a smile as she slowly moved her gaze down to the wolf and began stroking her head. A frown settled over Jos's expression as she continued staring down at Shelly and stroking her head. "You shouldn't have had to sit through that. You've had more than enough trauma for two lifetimes without knowing all the horrible things I've done."

{But were they horrible?} Shelly thought as she whined again nudging Jos's hand back into motion, knowing the strokes soothed Jos's emotions as well. She was a bit shocked when a shadow settled over them from overhead but quickly realized who it was.

Arei bent down and kissed the top of Jos's head, a mixing bowl and spoon occupying his hands. "You did nothing wrong by eliminating trash like that from this world, Kitten. The only crime that was committed was not notifying the proper authority first, and let me tell you, had you notified the council and they would have sent me, the bastards would have all had way harsher deaths." Find authorized novels in , faster updates, better experience, Please click <a href="/book/strange-love_12792848606358205/in-his-arms_51240594697150717">/book/strange-love_12792848606358205/in-his-arms_51240594697150717</a> for visiting.

She nodded without looking up to him.

He frowned as he continued stirring the batter Shelly had chosen. "I promise you, we will get through this together." His frown deepened when she only nodded again in response. He went back over to the stove and began dumping the batter into small clumps in the pan. "Ah shit..." He groaned as the pancake began to burn as soon as it hit the stove.

Jos finally perked up as the smell of burning food hit her nostrils. She followed Shelly's amused gaze to the kitchen and couldn't help the smile that creeped across her lips. "What in the???" She nodded to the wolf and made her way over to the stove. Reaching around the massive frame that was frantically trying to save his burnt hot cakes, she lowered the stove temperature and rested her hand over his. She held his frustrated gaze as she shook her head. "There's no saving these." She said with a light chuckle. "Here, let me." She said pushing him out of the way as she took over the cooking. A reminiscent smile spread across her lips. "I used to make pancakes every Saturday. We would spend more time decorating them than it took to actually eat them. Raven would always mess up so she could eat her current one and get another." Her smile faded as she stared down into the pan. "This was the last thing Russ cooked for me... after our first night together..." Her troubled eyes met Arei's. "What happens if they bring him in for questioning? I can't have him drug into my mess. I can't let this mess up his chances of helping his people."

Arei tented his brows sadly as he gently brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Nothing involving you or this trial will impede the boy's succession to king. His people are too desperate for a competent leader, it won't matter despite his involvement." When she went to interrupt him, he stopped her. "But I understand wanting to keep him as far away from this as possible."

She nodded and turned her attention back to the pan. "Even if I only get half that sentence... that is their entire lifespan..." Jos whispered quietly enough for only Arei to hear.

He wrapped his arms around her, stroking the length of her arms to comfort her. "We'll work something out if it comes to that, Kitten, trust me."

Jos nodded as silent tears streamed down her face. She flipped the pancakes in the pan then scooped them into a plate Arei has set out after they'd fluffed into a crisp golden disk. She didn't say anything as Arei leaned across her and poured more lumps of batter into the pan. Her eyes surveyed the counter and landed on the carton of eggs and an unopened pack of bacon. "Would you like those with this?"

Arei smiled, "It's up to you two." He tossed his head toward the sofa. "I figure with that one; eggs, bacon, and pancakes would be too normal." He tossed Shelly a wink as he added, "Unless you plan on adding steak sauce to your pancakes?" He laughed as she growled in response to his joking question.

Once the meal was cooked and two plates were filled, Arei asked. "Where's yours? Here take some, I'm a big boy but there's no way I can eat all this."

Jos shook her head and involuntarily wrapped her arms around her waist. "I can't eat right now." She lowered her head. "I... I think I'm going to go ahead and go lay down..."

Arei sent Shelly a concerned look as they both watched Jos turn from the room. He bent and picked up the wolf's plate and nodded toward the hall. He caught the closing door with his foot, lodging it in the crack. "Why don't we watch something. It's been a long day for us all. I don't think you or Shelly either one needs to be alone right now, and although you think that's what you want right now... it's not what's best." He set one of the plates on a stool for Shelly and set his on the nightstand. Moving closer and cupping Jos's face in his oversized palm, he brought her eyes up to meet his. "Let us help you through this. I know you're so used to going through things alone... having to go through them alone... Let us be here for you."

Tears flooded Jos's eyes as she nodded. She let him pull her trembling body against his in a tight hug. Squeezing her eyes shut, she relished in the warmth of his body that seemed to thaw her frozen soul.

He hugged her tighter too him as he felt her body relax and her arms snake around his waist. He placed a light kiss to the top of her head and thanked the heavens above that she hadn't turned him away this time. "Thank you." He whispered against her hair before releasing her. He moved his focus to the bed pulling the sheets back for Jos and waiting on her to climb in." When she did as he asked quietly, without question, he smiled and bent to place Shelly's plate on the bed. He helped the wolf up before climbing in himself and grabbing his plate. He looked around the dimly lit room for a few seconds. "Ah there it is." He pointed at the other nightstand. "You want to grab the remote?"

Jos nodded and retrieved it. "What would you guys like?" When the vote for something funny was unanimous, Jos laughed and began scrolling. She had nearly forgotten Arei was even there until his massive, tattooed hand came into view and a large bite of bacon and pancakes was shoved into her mouth. "You could've used a fork!" She bellowed around the mouthful of food.

Arei chuckled. "Then risk stabbing you if you tried to refuse it? Never!"

She shook her head as she tried to work the massive bite around her mouth. The second she swallowed the loaded fingers of the tattooed hand was moving rapidly back toward her mouth. She shot her hand up to block him. "Wait! I'll feed myself! Jeez!"

He laughed. "Alright, but if you don't, I'll hold you down and force feed you if I must. I'm not having you stress-starve! I know that's how you get." He sent her a 'don't bother denying it glare' as she began to speak.

She huffed out a breath and grabbed the fork from the plate, aggressively stabbing a chunk of scrambled eggs. She shoved it into her mouth and grumbled around the bite in her mouth. "Happy?!"

He leaned back against the stack of pillows lining the headboard, "I will be if you continue eating, and find us something good to watch." He placed the plate on his lap to give her better access to it, only taking a slice of bacon for himself.

She arched a brow at him as she took another bite of the eggs, before turning her attention to the flat screen hanging over the dresser across the room.

Before long both plates were empty and stacked on the nightstand along with three empty cans of soda (one with a straw), a half empty bowl of microwaved popcorn, a bag of m&m's with only a few left inside, and another plate with a variety of regular makeshift smores and a pregnancy inspired collection of smores with pickles, jerky, and cheese. The credits of the fourth movie now rolled across the screen and an upbeat song startled Shelly awake. Deciding the urge to urinate was way too strong to ignore, she pushed herself up from the cuddle pile they had somehow made in their sleep.

A smile curved her wolfish lips as she took Arei and Jos in. Her eyes scanned his massive, masculine features before brushing over the soft, almost frail familiar features of Jos. Taking in their beauty like this was almost like seeing a magnificent statue that had been perfectly posed and set out on display for the world to admire for the first time. She felt like a trader to her brother as the giddy flutter of butterflies scattered through her overly emotional heart at seeing them. Whether the giant of a man had pulled her into his arms, or she had found them on her own, Jos's head now rested snuggly against his chest. His chin brushed against the top of her silvery head and one arm was wrapped around the back of her neck with its hand still tangled in her long hair. The other hand settled possessively atop the smaller one rested over his heart. Their bodies contoured around each other naturally like ying and yang. Shelly shook her head as one corner of her lips lifted higher. {I don't know exactly what happened in their past or if I ever will, but there's one thing that's obvious even to someone as blind to the world around them as me... These two have something special.} She eased herself off the bed as best as she could without waking them. She tip-toed as quietly as she could to the bathroom thankful Jos had left the door cracked for her.

The sweet pleasure of the release of a pregnancy bladder was short lived. Her ears perked up as she heard faint footsteps nearly drowned out by the music of the credits of the movie. It wasn't until the main door to the bedroom opened that an uneasiness settled over her and for good reason. Seconds later chaos exploded in the once cozy bedroom.