"Yes sir." Ash gripped the phone roughly in his hand and only eased when he heard the first crack.
The warrior looked with a worrisome gaze as Ash nearly broke his phone.
"No, but sir..." he groaned and hung his head.
"Yes, I understand. Yes, sir." He gritted his teeth and the rage returned tenfold in his eyes as they darkened and the green swirled around lightly in the black.
He lowered his hand with dark eyes and the frown deepened as he handed the phone back to the warrior- who gulped and was careful with each move as he took the phone and left.
Someone audibly burped and the smell of beer sifted down the entrance in a hurry.
Ash turned and watched a semi-drunk wizard stumble into the pillar around the stairs, he held the bottle with one hand and chugged what was left and with the other, he held himself stable enough not to fall over.
"Nash." Ash barked.
"Hey!" Nash stumbled over the newly polished floors and cheered in the air with the now empty bottle.
His skinny legs buckled beneath him and he reached out, grabbing onto Ash's shirt just in time.
Ash ground his teeth and pulled Nash's arm to get him back on his feet.
"Fix yourself." He seethed.
Nash did a double take and cleared his throat, he saw on Ash's face that it wasn't time to be funny or try anything- but rather just buckle down and obey the command.
"You're testy, why? Who was that on the phone?" He asked.
Ash sighed and dropped Nash's arm.
He stepped back and patted his wrinkled shirt from where Nash's hands had caught on to keep from falling, though a faceplate might've done him some good.
"It was my father, he's planning a visit."
"Sounds like you're really happy about that," Nash mused- playing with fire.
Ash's eyes darkened, the whirling anger was impossible to miss and even a wizard knew when to give up.
He shot out his hand and circled his fingers around Nash's throat, feeling his pulse rise as he caught off his air supply.
"You want to leave now." Ash seethed.
It didn't take many seconds of deliberation for Nash to nod his head and scurry of on unstable legs, choking for air. He looked to the side at Ash before bolting out the doors into the cold early-winter breeze without a jacket and gained funny looks from everyone he passed on the way.
Ash watched him disappear around the corner and then went on to follow the people walking inside the mansion. There was more buzz around the house than usual, warriors entering as though on a mission and they spread out on the different levels of the house.
"Alpha Ash." One warrior greeted as he walked up with his hand resting on the knife at his side.
"Madox." Ash greeted.
"Have you heard the news?"
Ash's eyes narrowed in confusion and he lifted his head- couldn't let it show that he was unaware of whatever it was that had the warriors in such frizzy.
"What of them?"
Madox scoffed and tightened his fingers around the handle of the knife. He looked around and cast a wondering gaze onto Ash.
"You seriously don't mind babysitting a bunch of humans on the winter festival?"
Ash clenched his jaw, his glare flickered over the walls before he focused it back.
"Of course not." He seethed.
Maddox nodded- clearly unable to buy what Ash was saying but he didn't press the subject.
"Well then, Mayor Clan will be happy to hear it," Maddox said and left to go find the others.
Ash looked at the black leather straps across the warrior's chests, the dark blue uniforms that clung to their bodies, and the stoic expressions on their faces.
It was hard to miss who a warrior was, especially the Alphas warriors- gruesome and violent at best but specialized killers with an unwavering thirst for blood were the norm.
On the forefront of Ash's thoughts was the fact that his father was on his way and if he found out the mess that they had piled around themselves, he would have more than a few choice words to say about it. But more than a scolding, Ash was worried about his father finding out about Lola's anomaly.
"Hey, Ash!" He turned around when the honey-sweet voice melted into the air.
"Lavina."
"Don't be mad at Jax, he's not in the wrong here." She said quickly and flickered her eyes down as Jax came up behind her.
"You don't need to defend me," Jax said, his eyes hardening as he looked her up and down.
"Why don't you two love birds figure your shit out before you come chasing after people," Ash said.
He walked away, hoping they would stay back but Jax held Lavina off as he walked after his cousin around the stairs- the only place where it was quiet and calm.
Ash was pulled to a stop when Jax grabbed his shoulder.
Jax stood tall and cleared his throat. It was hard to see only one emotion in his eyes as he seemed to be in grave turmoil with himself. Anger, grief, and shame were only a few of the ones swimming around in the depths of his eyes, revealing the true anguish of his soul.
"You don't have to protect her from me."
Ash met his stance and rolled his shoulders. His eyes scanned Jax's face as his ears picked up on the subtle tone that others might've missed.
"Do you believe your own words, cousin?"
"She is my wife," Jax said, gritting his teeth to dust.
"And my family because of it. You've already broken her heart, what else do you hope to accomplish?"
Jax was thoroughly confused as he looked around to think of what Ash could be referring to.
The magenta-colored vase behind Ash caught his attention, the maroon-colored petals on the flowers and the cherry red stained schall someone had forgotten- all of it blended in a wave of colors dancing before his eyes.
"Lavina," Jax said. The name rolled off his tongue like a melody he had missed singing.
"So you are aware."
He shook his head.
"Nothing has happened between me and Lavina,"
Ash stepped up to his cousin and laid a firm hand on his shoulder. There was a knowing darkness in his eyes, like the deep purple of the sky before the lightning strikes- when you know the storm is coming.
"Somehow I don't believe you, and neither does she."
Jax narrowed his eyes, his own storm brewing as he felt the tension in Ash's tone.
Just as his cousin was about to walk off, Jax reached out and grabbed his arm, shoulders back, and wolves front and center.
"She's my wife, don't forget that." He warned.
Ash's lips pressed in a firm line and he nodded his head with a smoldering gaze.
"I'll remember as long as you do."