20 Chapter 21

Gerard picked at the food on his desk, glaring at the computer and the vampire across from him. He sighed and sat back, "You have the guinea pigs or what?"

"Yes we have them. It was difficult to round them up," he sighed. "Finding starved guys is like trying to find virgins." Gerard rolled his eyes and stood up, pulling his journal out from a drawer in the desk.

"Your world is just that confusing huh," Gerard sniffed.

"It's not in turmoil like yours is," the vampire stood and followed Gerard as he started out of the office. The man looked somewhere between old and young, his skin smooth with gentle lines yet his hair salted on the sides to contrast the ink that was his hair. Sir Galvin Koehler has been someone Gerard worked with a lot. To him, the man was more tolerable than the rest of his race. Galvin has a high standing in his own world and he often taught Gerard about it in confusing ways, only solidifying those lessons when Gerard was close.

"Our turmoil is at a stalemate," Gerard nodded. Galvin sniffed and shook his head as he watched patients and nurses walk by.

"You realize that if this goes bad for you and that man succeeds, my people will get dragged in as well," Galvin hissed quietly. Gerard met the green eyes, seeing the red past the contacts.

"I am very aware and I am not the only alpha fending this off," Gerard sighed softly. "Many are fighting and those that aren't are joining Scott. We are doing our best, even as the numbers come in."

"The lycans should never have split off into packs," Galvin shook his head, the two of them walking into the elevator that went to the labs.

"We didn't see a point keeping one system when we have so many different ideals," Gerard chuckled lightly. Galvin shook his head as Gerard continued, "Be glad, it's what separates us from you."

"You all need supervision over all packs," Galvin pulled his case up from his side and Gerard blinked a bit. The creatures were always slick and it's what made them difficult to fight for most lycan. Galvin has been the only one that Gerard could never fully track when it came to movements. He was glad he was one of the few lycan Galvin borderline liked. "How is your wife, by the way?"

"We haven't married nor mates yet," Gerard sighed. "How did you get your sights on my personal affairs, hm? It's creepy, you know." Galvin laughed at that, holding papers to Gerard.

"You smell like a woman. It's been years since you've had a woman on your skin," Galvin nodded. Gerard couldn't step from the elevator faster when it opened. He started looking the papers over, scowling slightly before blinking his eyes wide. "I'm sure she's quite a piece."

Gerard was staring at an alliance, one artfully written and articulated to the point it would be difficult to find loopholes. He glanced at Galvin as he stopped walking, flipping through it and reading every line he could absorb. "It took much convincing as everyone still see many of your kind as dogs."

"There hasn't been a treaty for years between our kind," Gerard snapped his attention from the papers. Galvin nodded slowly as Gerard held them up. "Why?"

"Because we both know that the minute this breaks out, we will have to have each other's backs," Galvin nodded. The man gave a tired, worn smile that only age could bring, "We will help with the set up while not interfering with your natural government. It is all we require if we are to work together. I couldn't think of a better, wiser man."

"There are far older lycan you could ask. Alphas that are smarter and more experienced," Gerard felt his body shift, not caring as the select few that worked in the area stepped past. It had been so long since he felt this anxiety. His shoulders suddenly feeling heavy as the responsibility began to be calculated.

"Gerard, I have not met a more calculated mutt," Galvin placed a hand on Gerard's shoulder. "Nor have I met a man in mortal skin who knew the folly of mortality so well. I suggested you. I know you won't let my words fall short." Gerard rubbed his temple, trying to calm himself.

He had been losing more and more control lately and he couldn't imagine why. He hadn't changed his techniques nor had he changed his mentality. Galvin watched him until Gerard opened his eyes, a concerned look on his face. "For a man who found that it was a sort of illness, I expected more control."

"It's a bump. Something changed in my life and for some reason I haven't considered it," Gerard stated. The vampire rose an eyebrow, a smirk coming to his lips as he shrugged and began to walk.

"There are no deadlines but time is of the essence with these matters," Galvin hummed. "Do keep me updated on your condition though; I would love to hear the outcome of it all."

Gerard sighed and shook his head, following after Galvin, "Those test subjects, do we have the required information on them? What level have they gotten to?" Gerard was doing everything he could to keep his schedule normal. Galvin had ways to irritate the man and on his way home, he couldn't hold in the semi transformation. He couldn't believe how difficult it was turning out to be to control himself.

He didn't bother to stop as he passed people, ignoring the wide eyes that took him in. He slammed his apartment door behind him, rubbing his head as he slid down the door. It had been so many years since her last lost control and his mind reeled as he tried all the avenues of calm he had to use. None of them were working, none of them were helping him regain his human form. Something made his breath hitch and his ears perk up a few moments later.

He looked up, his eyes catching Shera's gaze as she stared from a bit down the hallway. She had just showered, her hair dangling in wet tendrils from her head. Her smell filled his nose and he found himself breathing in deeply. She slowly started walking towards him, her eyes slowly looking him over. There wasn't much shock in her gaze but there was that gentle gaze he had seen her hold with her pack.

It took a moment for him to register that she had knelt before him, her hand drawing him from his trance. It gently trailed up his jaw, her palm settling itself against his cheek. Gerard closes his eyes before smiling to himself. Whatever anxiety Galvin rose in his chest was slowly dissipating, her scent taking hold of his lungs. His eyes opened as his control returned, the focus falling on her straight face.

"Hard day," was all she asked. He relaxed against the door as he took in the scars on her face and the color of her eyes. That's why they hadn't worked, his techniques. It wasn't the person in his past that could calm him anymore. It wasn't Ally by his side anymore but Shera.

To his silence she smiled a bit, taking his hand and pulling him forward, "Come on. I'll make something warm and we can see the stars."

"The stars are your thing," Gerard felt like it had been hours since he spoke, his voice hoarse. Shera stopped and stared at him as he stood straight, an eyebrow rising.

"They are but you relax under them too," she stated. Gerard stared at her and smirked, poking her nose and watching her pout.

"I relax because there's a spitfire of a woman next to me," he chuckled. "You're there, that's why they're so interesting." Her face turned a bright red and he felt his chest flip. "I will take something warm though. I fear my lack of control has been revealed to you."

Shera stared at him thoughtfully before smirking a bit, "How else would you know how to gain control, hm?" He hummed before his smile fell a bit. He leaned and lifted his case, staring at it before pulling the treaty out and holding it to her.

"As my future mate and wife," he mumbled, "It's only fair you see this before I gather the alphas together to discuss it." She stared at the papers, taking them and starting to read. She was doing so slowly, taking in every word. He could see the gears in her head turning, the thoughts and confusion slowly turn to understanding and imagination. Shera moves to the couch and sat down, rubbing her head.

Gerard walked to his room, changing from the suit he wore into sweatpants and a tank top, finding his pace slow as he walked back to the living room. He watched her as he leaned on the wall and held his breath. If she was what helped him gain control now, he'd have to find new ways to calm down.

"This could work," Shera called. Gerard shook his head a bit and blinked at the large smile. "This could work! If we did it right no one could be against it!" Gerard was slightly surprised at her, the happy expression screaming as her words sunk in. He chuckled lightly before walking forward.

"We," he asked. She stared and her face slowly turned red.

She focused back on the treaty, "Look, its a group effort. It's not just between you and them, it's for everyone." Gerard sat next to her, pulling the treaty over to read it as thoroughly as she had.

"I hope you realize who would be sitting there with me," he nodded slowly. Shera stared and shook her head, her face paling at the small print presented. "You'd have no choice, foxy."

"Can we be honest," she snapped quickly. "What leadership qualities have I shown? I'm not built to be an alpha. The only thing I've proven to be good at is fighting."

Gerard stared and sighed, laying his head back on the couch, "That's not what matters."

"Than what does," she asked. "What matters for this?" Gerard closed his eyes as she continued, "Don't force new into another position I don't want to be in, Gerard. You've been doing it since we met and I-"

"Is becoming mine that repulsive," Gerard asked. He pulled his head up to look at her, Shera's eyes wide at his question. There was a long silence between the two, neither of them breaking eye contact. "Shera," Gerard took a deep breath, spreading a half hazard smirk, "I claimed you the minute I saw that pretty red fur. "I'm not letting you become less than what you're worth."

He heard her breath stop and he saw her shift ever so slightly as her face reddened. Shera moves away from him a bit, her shoulders falling slack as he moved to keep the distance the same. "Shera, my things and my people are worth more than the average. This is a messed up way of saying it, but I want the thing that's worth more than my own pack right next to me at all times."

"That's not," her voice trailed off as Gerard held her cheeks in his palms gently.

"I'm a collector you know. I like rare things," Gerard smiled a bit. Shera frowned at that but soon her eyes widened, making Gerard chuckle at the innocent look in her eye. "You're a person but you're a rare one in more ways than you think."

"I'm not fragile," she scowled a bit and looked away after swiping his hands from her.

"I didn't say you were," Gerard chuckled. He pulled her closer to him, Shera struggling a bit before sighing and letting Gerard have his way. "I'm just saying that you're rare and priceless to me."

"Stop flirting," Shera muttered and pouted. "I won't do it. I'm not cut out for that sort of thing."

"I want you by my side, Shera. I don't care how," Gerard adjusted the both of them, pulling Shera onto his chest and leaning back so that they sprawled on the whole couch. "I do want you to marry me though, that's indisputable." Gerard pulled his phone out and started messaging other packs. Shera watched the screen, her head beginning to roll to the side against Gerard's chest.

"I'm sorry," Shera sniffles and yawned, "I'm not ready." Gerard's hands stilled and he took a deep breath. He placed the phone down and wrapped his arms around the woman, burying his nose into her hair to breath her in.

"I know you aren't. That's why I'm not pushing," Gerard smiled. "So stop pretending that we haven't started to build something. I'd like to hold you more often."