Love's True Path

Shanye liked to watch them, Richard and his precious Lupa, while he planned how he'd kill them. He caught a somewhat familiar scent on the air.

Bruce Crane stood behind the house, binoculars trained on Mika O'Sullivan's bedroom window as she undress, her silhouette easily made out. Mika... beautiful, sexy Mika... She should have known that they had something special, and yet... she was trying to move on. As if she didn't know that he loved her... evil bitch...

No, that was wrong. Mika was sweet- innocent and nice. It was the man's fault, whoever it was who was moving into that house with her. He was trying to convince Mika that he was better. Bending, he began to get the note out of his bag which he intended to leave.

"I don't know who you are, but they're mine to torment." Shayne growled as he stepped up behind the man.

Bruce turned, frowning at Shayne. "Who are you? And what do you mean by torment? Mika is the love of my life."

The wolf laughed, "And they say I'm insane."

"Obviously, Sir, you are. Mika loves me. That bastard in there is simply abusing her to make her believes otherwise." Bruce glared at the man. How dare he interrupt his time with Mika?

"Well, then she'll cry at your funeral." Shayne tackled him to the ground with a force of werewolf. He began to beat the man to death.

Bruce screamed, struggling frantically. He had to save his Mika- and it was her name the he screamed.

Shayne crushed Bruce's windpipe so no one would hear him scream. He punched him in the head and face until he stopped moving.

Mika startled as she heard a scream from behind the house. Richard was downstairs in the office again. With both the kids asleep, she hurried down the stairs. "Richard?"

Richard, Shang-Da and Jamil looked up from their card game when they heard the scream. "Watch her and the kids." He said as he ran out the front door. The sight he found sickened him as he dialed 9-1-1.

Jamil followed, knowing Shang-Da could take care of the house. "Holy shit... Is that who I think it is?"

"Yes." He said. "Fucking Shayne." He swore as he looked away from the mess the wolf had made.

"Maybe, Ulfric, we should thank him for this one." Jamil knelt, taking Bruce Crane's pulse. There was none. Seeing the obviously crushed wind pipe, the Skoll knew better than to bother with CPR. There wasn't enough left of Crane to save.

"Maybe, but at least we would have done it quickly." Richard shook his head as the police arrived.

The business with the police took hours, and the sun was rising before they left, police tape lining the back yard. The next shift would be arriving soon, but the questioning of Richard, Mika, Shang-Da, and Jamil was at least over with. And now, they were supposed to rest. However, children didn't run on that schedule simply because the adults had been up all night.

Richard crashed in Mika's bed. He'd sent Jamil and Shang-Da home after the police had left.

Mika sighed as she made the kids breakfast. Thank God for Jase, who had volunteered to watch the kids. She would be here in a minute, and then Mika could go upstairs and sleep.

Jase came in the front door and was greeting by a half awake Rissa. She headed into the kitchen and hugged Mika.

Mika swallowed, hugging Jase back. "Thank you..."

"You've helped me so much. I'm just glad that I can return the favor."

The Lupa shook her head, sniffing.

Jase hugged her again. "We'll get Shayne soon."

"Yes, I know." Mika moved, hugging Rissa, then Elias, who hugged his aunt tight.

"It'll be alright, Aunt Mika."

"You kids just be good." Mika swallowed.

"Oh they're always good for me." The wolf assured her lupa.

"Alright.. call if you need anything, alright?" Mika hugged herself.

"Same to you, Aunt Mika." Elias kissed her cheek.

Jase hugged Elias after leaving the house.. "How you holding up?"

"I'm holding." Elias sighed as they got in the car. Rissa was already asleep in the back seat.

She got in on the driver's side. "Good."

"How's Sara?" Elias bit his lip.

"She's good. She was worried about you."

"I'm glad she's good. I haven't had a second to call her in the last two days. I'm going crazy." The teen leaned his head back against the seat.

"Well, now you can spend the whole day with her. Just don't get into trouble." She grinned at him as she pulled up to the circus. She got Rissa out of the car and carried her inside. She laid her down on the bed.

Elias moved down to Sara's room, knocking on the door.

Sara was out cold on her bed.

He smiled as he saw her. "Sara? Sweetie?" He kicked off his shoes, crawling in next to her. He was still really tired.

"Elias?" She said softly.

"Hey, hun." He kissed her softly. "Go back to sleep."

Sara buried her face in his shoulder.

He ran a hand up and down her back, sighing. There was a man murdered behind his house- Bruce Crane, the stalker that had been terrorizing his family, his aunt. He should be... something.... but he just wasn't. He couldn't bring himself to really care.

Sara looked at Elias. "How are you?"

"I don't know." He looked at her, "Sara... do you think I'm sick?"

"No, why? Are you feeling ill?"

"No... I meant mentally." He sat up, scrubbing his hands over his face. "Did you hear about what happened tonight?"

She sat up. "Yes. That wolf, Shayne, killed your aunt's stalker."

"Yeah... and I don't care- hell, I'm happy!" Elias got up, and started to pace. "I've got to be sick..."

Sara looked at him. "He stalked you aunt. He was the sick one." She paused. "If my mom died I would be happy. Does that make me sick?"

"No, of course not! Look at what she did to you!" Elias frowned harshly.

"And that guy is just as sick as my mom. So don't feel bad."

He sat and pulled Sara into his arms. "I'm sorry."

She buried her face in his chest.

He held her to him. "Aunt Mika's... upset."

"I bet." Sara slid a cold hand under his shirt. "I'm cold."

Elias' breathing hitched. "Oh?"

She nodded as she pressed her hand against his back to try and warm it up.

He pulled her hand from his shirt, kissing it. "Helping any?"

"A bit." Sara kissed him.

Elias made a soft noise, kissing her back, cupping her face.

"I was so worried about you."

"I'm alright." He kissed her jaw, then hid his face in her neck.


"I don't know what I would have done if anything had happened to you."

"I'm okay... nothing happened, and nothing's going to..." He kissed her softly. "I promise..."

Sara started crying. "You can't promise that."

He kissed her again, wiping away her tears. "Shh..."

"I love you Elias. I want you to know that."

Elias' eyes widened, and he stared down at her. "You love me?"

"Yes." Sara looked up at him. "That's why I want you to be extra careful because I can't take anything else bad happening."

He kissed her softly, pulling back slowly. "I won't let anything happen. I promise... because... I love you too."

She smiled at him. "Good."

"Good? That's it?" He teased.

Sara stuck her tongue at him.

He leaned down, sucking her tongue into his mouth, rubbing a hand over her back.

She pressed against him. "I'm exhausted."

"Come on. Bed. We both haven't been sleeping." He laid down, then pulled her down to rest against his chest.

Sara snuggled up to the warmth of his body. "Good night."

"Night."

~~~~~~

Richard rubbed his hand over his face. This day was so fucked up. He just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep for the next two years.

Almost an hour after the police had left, Mika entered the bedroom, her hair in disarray, far from her normal, tidy bun, her clothing sloppy. She was wearing a pair of her jeans and one of his shirts. "Jase came and got the kids..." She said, seeing he was awake.

"I heard." He sat down on the bed suddenly. "When I get a hold of Shayne..."

"Richard..." She shook her head, moving to hug him.

He hugged her tightly. "We just can't have any quiet time can we?"

"I'm sorry..." She hid her face in his throat, moving so she sat in his lap.

"It isn't you fault, Mika." Richard rubbed her back.

She shrugged, swallowing. "I'm glad... that Bruce is dead. I'm honestly glad- what kind of psychologist does that make me? What kind of person?"

"He was tormenting you and the kids, love. I'm glad he's dead too. Hell, we should have a party once Shayne is dead."

She laughed, though the sound was shocked as well. "I'm sure... Richard?"

"Yes, dear?"

"When Shayne's taken care of... I don't think the pack should preserve his munnin"

"I agree one hundred percent. We shouldn't have preserved Raina's either." Richard held her close to his body.

Mika shrugged. "Mistakes happen- but Shayne's evil.... and the pack doesn't need more of him lingering than necessary."

"I'll bring it up at the next full moon, but I doubt any will stand for him."

"Me either." She pressed a soft kiss to his jaw. "I just want to forget this, and my mind won't stop racing..."

Richard kissed her neck. "You need a nice, hot, bubble bath to relax in is all."

"I don't want to be alone, Richard." She sighed, "And it's too early for bubble baths."

"It's never too early for a bubble bath." He stood up with her in his arms. "And I'll stay with you."

Mika blinked at him. "You're taking a bubble bath with me?"

"Sure, why not?" Richard laughed as he carried her into the bathroom.

"Big strong Ulfric takes bubble bath..." She giggled slightly.

He set her down and gently spanked her. "Tell anyone about this and I'll deny it."

She yelped, blushing and covering her bottom with her hands. "Oh really?"

"I'll take it to my grave." He started the water running.

She kissed his cheek, pushing a hand through his soft hair. "If you say so."

Richard poured in the bubble stuff and began to strip.

Shaking her head so her hair fell over her shoulder and out of her face, Mika undid her jeans, pushing them off before taking off her shirt, revealing that she had been bare beneath both.

He sank down into the hot water and moaned.

"It's nice?" She bit her lip putting her hands on his shoulders, then stepping into the tub.

"It feels amazing after this very long morning."

"Mm..." She sat, with her back to his chest, moaning as the heat enveloped her body. "God, that feels good..." Stretching her foot, she turned off the water with her toes, not wanting to have to move more than that.

Richard wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder.

"Comfy?" She smiled, playing with his fingers.

"Very." He sniffed her neck.

A shiver raced down her spine as his breath ghosted over her skin. "Oh?" She shifted slightly.

He nipped at her neck. "It scared me today. If Shayne can get that close to you and the kids once, he can do it again."

"I know." She swallowed, shifting again, her body starting to react to being so close to him.

"It made something inside me snap. If I ever get so much of a whiff of Shayne, he's dead."

She shifted, kneeling between his thighs, facing him. "I..." Mika shook her head. "I understand... and I don't blame you- I would to. But I don't want you to do something you'll regret..."

"I won't regret protecting my family." He said seriously.

She leaned forward, kissing the corner of his mouth and wrapping her arms around him.

"I love you Mika and the kids. I won't let him hurt you."

"I love you too." She slid her cheek along his, marking him. "Thank you... Richard..."

"For what?" He asked softly.

"Being you..." She shrugged, looking at the bubbles floating between them. "Not many men would deal with this situation and with me being the guardian of two children very well..."

He shrugged. "I love them and you as well. It's nice to come home to a family everyday."

Mika kissed him, her fingers stroking his hair. "And that... makes me a very lucky woman."

"I am lucky to have you." He kissed her.

She moaned softly, slipping her fingers into his hair.

Richard hugged her tightly. "I don't know what would happen if I ever lost you."

"Richard?" She bit her lip, hard. "If anything happens to me... ever... promise me you'll take the kids, alright?"

"I swear to you that I'll take care of them." He ran his hand up and down her back.

Mika buried her face in his neck. "I hate being so scared of everything."

"I hate it as well. Shayne will be gone soon and then we can live our lives."

"I want to forget it all, and I can't. I can't stop thinking about it."

"When he's gone I'll leave the pack in Jamil and Shang-Da's hands and we'll take a vacation."

"I can't ask you to do that." She raised her head, sighing. "I'll deal. I just need to find an office... somehow set that up... get a steady income..."

Richard cupped her face in his hand. "We'll go relax on some beach somewhere with the kids."

She kissed his palm, "That sounds perfect... sun... water... you in very little clothing..."

"You in very little clothing sounds even more interesting." He laughed.

Mika laughed, "Oh? I suppose you want me in a bikini?"

"Damn straight." Richard told her, smiling.

"You'll have to help me buy one. I gave my old one to Jase." She traced his smile with her forefinger.

"You're going to let me pick out your bikini?" He asked, shocked.

She blinked. "Why not?"

Richard laughed. "Fine, but you have to wear whatever I buy."

"Why am I suddenly paranoid?"

"Oh, don't be." He grinned widely.

"I don't trust that grin, Richard." Mika furrowed her brow.

He kissed her. "Why?"

"Because... it's decidedly naughty..." Her breathing hitched.

Richard smiled. "Oh, really?"

The Lupa bit her lip, nodding as the bubbles floated around her breasts, which were rosy from the heat of the water. "Yes... like the big bad wolf is intending to eat me..."

He loved the feel of the warm water. He closed his eyes. "All the better to eat you with my dear."

"Mm." She leaned forward, her chest pressed to his as she toyed with a lock of his hair.

Richard pressed his face into her hand.

"I love touching you..." She stroked his face, kissing his temple.

"I love you loving to touch me."

She kissed his mouth, tracing it with her tongue.

"Mmm, you taste so good."

"Do I?" She bit her lip, shifting and stroking a hand down his chest towards his member. Just when she thought she'd touched him, she stopped.

"Woman, don't tease me." He growled.

Mika shivered, and carefully took his cock into her hand. "I love it when you're dominant like that..."

"I like it when you touch me and I won't be teased with it." Richard kissed her.

She kissed him back, half feeling self conscious after his comment, wondering if she did tease too much, and a million other thoughts.

"I just need you right now." He told her softly.

She nodded, kissing his neck, knowing he wouldn't be able to see her face.

"I feel drained and can't take any teasing right now. Normally, it's fun, but right now all I want to do is make love to you, to assure myself you're here."

Mika nodded, kissing him softly. "I'm sorry."

"It isn't your fault at all, Mika." He nibbled on her ear.

She shivered, baring her neck to him. She'd just apologize again if she opened her mouth, and she didn't want to completely kill the mood. She stroked his cock with her hand, the other playing with his nipple.

Richard smiled at her. "So bed or do you just want to defile the bathroom floor? I'm sure Elias will be thrilled."

"Bed... we can just sleep after..." She shifted where she straddled him.

He wrapped his arms around her and carried her to the bed.

Mika wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his shoulder.

Richard set her down on the bed and kissed down her neck.

She shivered, holding him to her.

He spread her legs and slid a finger inside of her. She was damp, but not as wet as usual. If it wasn't enough, he'd stop.

"Richard..." She moaned his name, pushing against his hand.

"Yes, Mika?" He asked.

"That feels so good..." She bit her lip, laying back against the bed.

Richard removed his fingers and got ready to enter her. "I am glad."

She pulled his hand to her mouth, licking it clean.

He kissed her slowly. "Are you ready?"

"I don't care if I am or not... I want you..."

He nodded and began to slid inside of her.

Mika whimpered, wrapping her legs around him. To be truthful, she wasn't quite wet enough, the tub having washed away much of it. The feel of him, however, was enough.

"You aren't wet." He looked into her eyes, realizing he'd been right.

She bit her lip, "I want you..."

"I don't want to hurt you..."

She shifted her hips, "I'll get wetter..." She said hopefully, not wanting to wait.

He kissed her and slid into her gently.

She held back a moan, stretching and burning slightly as he entered her.

Richard began to thrust in and out of her.

"Careful..." She said, kissing him softly.

"I will be as gentle as possible." He promised moving slowly.

Slowly, her natural lubricants made his movements easier, and her body adjusted to him.

He began to move faster as her body adjusted to the intrusion.

"Richard..." She leaned up, kissing him.

He moaned into mouth as he shifted her hips to hit the spot that drove her wild.

She cried out loudly, her fingers gripping his shoulders. "Please... again... I... I want..."

He hit the spot again and again.

Mika came, crying out his name, tears of pleasure and relief filling her eyes.

Richard thrust a few more times and then he came as well.

She pulled him down to her, crying. She couldn't help it as the tears burned their way down her temples, slipping into her hair.

Richard thrust a few more times and then he came as well.

She pulled him down to her, crying. She couldn't help it as the tears burned their way down her temples, slipping into her hair.

He shuddered. "Mika are you alright?"

She nodded, then shook her head. "You didn't hurt me..." She managed, hiding her face in his hair.

"Then what's wrong?" He hugged her.

"I'm just scared... of everything... I can't... I'm failing at this... I'm trying to be strong for you, the kids... the pack... and I can't..." She covered her face with her hands.

"You can Mika. You're doing just fine." He kissed her.

"How many people are being hurt, Richard?" She pulled her mouth away, sobbing.

"We can't changed that other people are evil."

"But I should be able to do something..." Mika felt like a child, needing to be reassured by her parents.

Richard kissed her cheek. "You can't fix everything."

She wiped her eyes. "I hate this... I keep saying it, but... I hate it..."

"I love you."

"I love you too..." She sniffed, hiding her face in his neck again.

Richard whispered soothing words to her.

Slowly, Mika drifted off to sleep.

He held her close as her breathing slowed.