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Humanity would hunt them...? The wheels are turning in his mind now while Rowan continues. Milla is clearly not human. Ren is... stronger and faster than anyone their size should be. And Rowan is...

A werewolf?

Max gasps. His fingers close tighter around Rowan's arm. Erik had always cautioned him against werewolves. They aren't as civilized, he always said. Not as human as vampires. They let the beast inside rule them.

But that's a lie. Clearly, that's a lie. Rowan isn't like that. Not at all. Is it the difference in worlds? Like Jackie, a vampire but not the same? It has to be. Or... maybe Erik lied.

"I'd never hurt you. No matter what. This doesn't change that so please... tell us more?"

They're still here. Max and Lucas heard the truth and they're still both here, still both holding onto them. Rowan lifts their head, just enough to make eye contact, first with Lucas and then Max. Their head is swimming and stomach aching, but they haven't been struck down and they're still here.

"I'm Rowan Rallies-Protests, galliard of the Gay Agender pack, Glass Walker of the London Bridge Sept." Slowly, hesitantly, they uncurl enough to offer out their hands, one to each. "The Garou are, we're Gaia's chosen warriors, blessed by Luna to protect the earth from the Wyrm.

We ain't like what you see in horror films. I ain't a beast at full moon, but there's a rage within us and for some it burns stronger than others. Silent and Ren, they were both born at the full moon, and they're full of it, that's why they are how they are. I... Neither of you could hurt me. Only by leaving by me. I don't think..." They drop their head again, shaking slightly as tears fall again, breaths turning into sobs. "I've made a mess of everything and I need my pack!"

Almost all those terms go right over Lucas's head, and he wants to know what they mean, because clearly they carry weight for Rowan. There'll be time for that later, because he's not leaving them. Max isn't either.

But it makes the memory he's experienced from them a bit more clear now. The rage in them, winding them tight as a spring, and how they pushed at Ren at the bonfire. It clicks into place, alongside their final cry. How Ami and the others rallied around Rowan at the end of that memory becomes even more important, so he moves without thinking, to wrap one arm half around them and pull in closer, kissing the side of their face.

"It's...we can worry about the rest of that later. Rowan." There's so much to unpack there, but Lucas looks to Max, knowing the man will likely feel the same, and hopefully complete the small circle just like before. "I know...we're not your pack, but, you're not alone. We're not leaving you!"

Max doesn't understand the terms either, but he doesn't need to, because the important stuff comes through regardless.

"No, we're not leaving," Max affirms as he follows Lucas' lead to lean in with his arms wrapped around them both.

"Remember...found families don't replace the old but it does mean you have people here for you. That's what we are. We are here for you now. Thank you for trusting us with this."

The problem that Rowan knows deep down is that without permission, they have already co-opted the other two as pack. Without really realising it themself. They've become their rock, their comfort, and both men are working their magic now, protecting Rowan from their homesickness with a warmth of their own that fills the Garou up from toes to the tip of their hair. They uncurl enough to grab onto both of them, pulling them in closer, sobbing into them as all the worry about losing them and all their grief from losing the contact to their pack and family washes over them, finally released.

But their sobs do eventually slow, and then subside, and Rowan is left between them feeling empty, but at the same time fresh. As though the darkness that's been building between them, keeping them awake or plaguing their nightmares has been washed away by Lucas and Max's love. They lift their head to look at them both in tearstained disbelief. "You both... you're both fucking amazing, you know that, right?" They murmur, through a voice still thick with tears. They struggle for words, gazing from one to the other with unashamed love and adoration. "I thought you'd hate me." If not for the truth of what they are, at least for the lie.

Easily Rowan pulls him in and Lucas also reaches to hook his fingers into the fabric of Max's shirt. Just like before it's a natural comfort, as if they all had known each other for years instead of a few months, slotting together like connecting puzzle pieces. He can't keep his eyes dry while Rowan lets out all their pain, but he does hold them tight. They can ride this all out together.

When the storm clouds part as Rowan finally peeks out, Lucas smiles and nuzzles his nose against their cheek. There's some spark in the way they look at them both that twists in his chest. A very familiar feeling now when he's with Rowan or Max.

"Takes one to know one," He shoots back gently, they are just as amazing, "I can understand why you wouldn't tell us. I mean, it's not like I was being honest, at first. But this place is different, you know?" The feeling in his chest pulls tighter, "There's no way I could hate you, Rowan, I..."

He stops short, the word catching in his throat. Swallowing it down to try again gets him no where, so Lucas looks to Max for back up.

Max makes no attempt to stem the flow from his own eyes while he clings tight to his two loves. Rowan has already held him through his own cleansing tears. He's so happy he can be here to return the favor.

At Lucas' words, Max smiles and squeezes them each with one hand. His nod of agreement says it all. Yes, he's sad that they lied, and he will always be a little sad about that, but he understands. After all, he's keeping his own secret, for Jackie. How can he ever expect forgiveness for that if he isn't willing to give his own now?

Lucas looks at him and Max smiles. If the Medium needs help finding the words, Max can provide them.

"We love you, Rowan." There, if Lucas can't say it himself, Max will say it for both of them. "We could never hate you."

Rowan doesn't understand how the two of them can be so forgiving, so easily forget all the times when they claimed there was nothing interesting about their world, but they're grateful for it, and cling onto them needfully. And they would have told them sooner, if they'd been allowed to.

They open their mouth to tell them both this when Lucas continues and then trails off. Rowan follows his gaze to Max, brow winkling and heart pounding. And Max picks it up with a sweet smile at Lucas and...

Love? Platonic love is the only kind they've ever had directed at them before, so that's what they must mean, right? Max and Lucas are, after all, like pack to them, and that's a platonic love. But oh, Rowan's heart aches in their chest for something more, the glimmer of hope that whispers that the impossible has happened, that there's not just one, but two people who are not Garou and not Kinfolk but know what Rowan is. Two people that they could love - that they do already love - that they could actually enter into a relationship with that isn't based on a lie.

"I love you too." The words stumble out all too easily, as Rowan leans forward, pressing their forehead to Max's for a moment, before turning to Lucas and replicating the movement. "Both of you. But I think maybe in a different way... My pack always says I give out my love too easily, and apparently it ain't no different when it's romantic, not platonic. But I can ignore that. I don't want things to change between us."

Thankfully Max picks right up where he leaves off. For so long he'd denied himself the chance from anything more than a one night stand, but here? There's the chance for something more. His forehead touches theirs and it feels like his heart is exploding like a firework, his grin is so wide it makes his cheeks hurt.

"I think...I get you on that." His smile crinkles on its edges now. "But I also think our friendship won't change. This is just...extra?"

At least, it feels like their time together was building towards a relationship deeper than friendship, but the whole idea is still new and terrifying. That's the best he can do to put it into words.

"what I said before still stands." Max nuzzles into them. "Whatever you're willing to give is more than enough for me. I know we're all in...uncharted territory here. But what we have..." he squeezes Lucas' shoulder too, "is perfect just like it is. Because it is and always has been. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have enough love for both of you and I'm not willing to let either of you go."

Max doesn't know how he's come to be so wise in these things, if he even is. He just knows that after living a life denied of even the possibility of more, he's not going to put a muzzle on himself anymore. He's going to say what he feels because they deserve to hear it. Because he should have been doing that all his life with the people he loved, his sister, his dad. He lost that chance. He won't make that mistake again.

"I do have questions. Since it's already said and done, I think we need to know exactly what being a Mate means to a werewolf."

Rowans’s heart leaps in confusion and hope. Do they love them, then? Actual, romantic love? It’s too much to take in, the emotional overload is starting to wear them down.

“Let’s move to the bed.” They decide abruptly. They only sat in the chair to put some distance between them - and look how well that worked. “Before you both hurt your backs.” They add, hands moving to both shoulders at the same time, marvelling at how easy it is to hold them both, to share their attention. They’re such a perfect pair together, it feels right to have them both.

Careful not to dislodge them, they unfold completely and stand, encouraging them both to take the short distance with them to the bed, where they can curl up properly together, meld into one warm ball of love. “I’ll answer anything you want when we’re all comfortable, starting with that.” They promise, giving Max a soft smile.

At Max's words Lucas smiles, nodding along. It's a sentiment he shares even if he lacks the words to voice it, but thankfully Max can and does with ease.

"Okay, okay," Normally he'd be asking questions, too, but Max has the most important one in his mind and getting comfy on the bed with both of them is exactly what they all need at the moment. "I've got like a million questions so we might as well curl up on the bed."

Lucas kicks his shoes off before flopping out on the mattress, waiting until the other two join him to pull in and complete the circle.

"We definitely need to get comfortable for this," Max jokes, lightly prodding Lucas' arm. He has a feeling once Lucas gets going, they will be here a while.

He slips off his shoes and settles onto the bed next to them, instantly curling in to fill the space between them, as if a single inch apart is too far. This is what home feels like, he thinks. He belongs here. He always will.

"Okay," he nuzzles his nose against Rowan's cheek. "Better start explaining before Lucas bursts from curiosity." And Max too, to be honest.

As Lucas jokes and Max plays along, Rowan feels like their heart will burst, pausing to watch them as they shift to the bed. How they can take a situation that felt like the end of all things and still come out the other side laughing? Their positivity is beautiful in so many ways.

Snuggling into the space between both of them, they take advantage of it to pull them both in closer. This is the closeness they wanted, curled up around one another until it's hard to tell where one starts and another ends. They kiss both of them; Max first since he's right there, and then Lucas.

"Technically the first duty of a mate is kids." Rowan admits. "But I weren't never going to be mated honourably, and it's irrelevant in this place anyway. For some tribes, mates are... well, they're basically their connection to the human world, 'cos some of us are more removed from it than others. Our kinfolk interact with humans for us, protecting us from the shit that humans do that Garou don't understand, and we protect them in turn from physical danger."

They pause, and then smile a little at both men. "That's what I wanted for you. Ren's tribe's got a real thing about kinfolk, protecting them and keeping them safe, and I knew if I claimed you she'd take you both under her wing.

And mates, well. If you're lucky your mate is a love match too, or at least someone you can love, or love platonically. You can support one another, be a trusted back up." Rowan's voice turns soft, wistful. It's been a dream until now, too out of grasp to even be worth dwelling on. But now... as they speak the words they can't hide how much they want it. "Like any other loving relationship."

Lucas scrunches up his nose a little as he nestles in even closer, Rowan's kiss only affirms that they need to understand this werewolf thing as a whole, that waiting to hear it all is the right move. Just like with Max, just as they both had done for him and he's glad that somehow they'd managed to find each other.

Catching himself before he can laugh, the first thing should have been obvious - kids. There's no way in hell he'd ever be a father, but it is obvious why Rowan wouldn't have a mate back home when it's framed this way. It's a little sad, too, but nothing for it here. The fae made sure of that, allegedly.

"Mmmm," Lucas presses his lips together, pausing after they are finished. It's a lot of information to absorb at once and he has a feeling it's only scratching the surface. "You kept saying Ren's dangerous, but...are you like a pack or something? I'm not sure how ti works, even back home. Not my field of study."

Another pause, but his expression brightens, eyes twinkling with a little bit of mischief even if his tone is just as wanting as theirs. "So does this mean we're like official now? 'Cause I'd really like that."

Max goes quiet as he listens. Some of this sounds familiar in uncomfortable ways. Obviously, vampires aren't going to be concerned with having babies, but it's the words surrounding it that strike a chord. Honor, duty, protection. And the idea that if you're lucky it will be a love match, but the implication is there... that it might not be. And you might be stuck mated anyway. Honorbound to someone forever, like it or not?

But that isn't the case here. He can hear it in the wishfulness of their voice. Rowan does want more, don't they? Well, they got it. They have it from both him and Lucas. He needs them to know that.

Lucas, it seems, is ahead of him on that one.

"Yeah. Does that mean we need to bring Rowan along when we go pick out rings?"

Sorry, Lucas, the question about pack is immediately forgotten when he asks that. Official? Rowan stares at him, heart racing. As in dating? As in romantic love after all?

And then Max mentions rings and Rowan forgets how to breathe for a moment. "Rings?" They just about manage to repeat the word, brain caught on it. It's one thing to start to be able to maybe imagine themself in a relationship, rings implies something that they can't even start to imagine. It's too much.

"I- I love you both so much, I want - something, I want you to stay close, it's just..." They struggle for words, completely overwhelmed - in a good way, but still overwhelmed. "It's more than I ever dared dream of."

"Promise rings!" Lucas interjects, almost afraid that it might be too much at once for Rowan. It's still almost too much for him, so he definitely understands their sentiment.

He nuzzles against their cheek with his nose. "Promise rings." he repeats, "We promised to be there for each other, and love each other. So, we could...all of us have one, as a reminder? To carry with us. I've been saving up, so why not save just a little bit more?"

The idea is terrifying and exhilarating all rolled up in one neat little package, but Lucas hopes the eagerness in his tone makes up for that!

"Shit. Sorry! Promise rings, yes. To wear around our necks." Good job, self. No wonder Rowan freaked.

"It's a symbol that we mean more to each other than just...than just normal friendship I guess." He looks sheepish again. He shouldn't try to railroad them into it. That's wrong.

"It's okay if you don't like the idea. I just figured if we're mates... that's a little more than just friends, isn't it?"

Max leans over to nuzzle into Lucas a moment too and whisper, "Lucas, I've managed to do pretty well gambling at the Revelry, you probably don't need to save up as much as you think."

Okay. Rowan can’t help but show a touch of relief when Lucas explains the rings, nosing into him, and then turning to Max to share the affection with him as well, as they think about it. They can understand the sentiment for needing something physical to represent a relationship in this place. It still feels too good to be true to be included in that though.

“I never expected you’d ever want to be my mates. Or that you could be or, I thought it’d just stay between me and Silent and Ren.” That’s an easy thing to answer at least. And speaking of the other two. “It was when I claimed place as alpha.” They add, a tiny touch of pride slipping into place, but mostly they’re watching Max and Lucas to see how they’ll respond to that tidbit of information.

As for rings, though. Even knowing what they mean by it, it still makes their heart beat faster. “I want to be with you, with both of you. And I want everyone to know that I’m yours and you’re mine.” They want it more than they can bear right now. “Any relationship here’d couldn’t be exclusive. You know that, right? I can promise you that you both have my heart, but my body you’ll have to put up with sharing.”

"Alpha?" Lucas's brows raise, trying to piece that together with what he already knows, what little he actually knows. "Wait, so you're in charge of the rest of them? Oh boy, that's like full time work."

And it's tempting to ask if there's others but somehow he manages to hold that question back. Rowan obviously wouldn't have told them if this little tidbit of information hadn't come to light. That thought does sting a little in hindsight, but he meant what he'd said. It's different here.

Now his expression softens a bit. Max was very, very clear when they talked about being exclusive or not. "I know, there are way too many fun people here not to get around, but this," His hand drifts to their chest, just above their heart, and he looks to to Max, "is more than I ever thought I could have back home. Both of you are so amazing, it's...the whole thing is kind of overwhelming."

"I mean...I'm flattered you wanted to protect us but It feels a little, hm, like you were going around behind my back saying we were a couple without actually... telling me that." Max nuzzles against them to soften the reproach in his words, "But my answer wouldn't have been no, and I don't want you to take it back now.

"Even so, I don't want an exclusive relationship either. Lucas and I talked about that too. You'll both always have my heart. And, my body is yours any time you want it. But you'll have to share with others. For me, not just my body. I might have other loves too. Other people might also get a piece of my heart. I promise you, that will never diminish what I feel for you. Either of you." He had a hard time explaining it before, but he means every word of this. He really does feel he could love the entire world at once and never run out of more to give.

His brow does raise along with Lucas' when he asks about that Alpha status. That's...surprising. Forgive him if he didn't really picture Rowan as the Alpha type. Maybe he should have. Next to... Milla and... Ren, yeah, those two he can peg immediately now at wolfs, Rowan seems the least confrontational. Maybe that is the key to good leadership, actually. He'll sit quietly and wait for the answer.

"Being in charge implies in control and I don't reckon that'll ever be the case. We need the structure, and Ren's too young and Silent's... she weren't born a wolf, I always forget it, but she basically was, and in this place we really need a homid. Someone born human." Rowan sighs deeply. It wasn't what they expected when Ren turned up, but here they are, and they're trying to make it work. "It wouldn't work in any other situation, but we wouldn't be stuck together in any other situation either. We're too different."

"And I did go behind your backs. I'm sorry." Rowan winces a little, glancing away from both of them. There's no beating around the bush. They felt bad at the time, and they feel bad now. They could point out that they had good intentions, but it doesn't change what they did. At least they found out before it went too far outside the pack, but even so.

"If I'd ever dreamt it could be real..." They add, looking up again, heart pounding. Look at them both. Max with his stupid puns and incredible inner strength, and Lucas with his infectious laughter and sweet kindness; of course Rowan has been thinking of them as pack. Because they love them, and have done for a while now, and that was the closest comparison they had. "I want it to be real. I want to - I'm already yours, both of yours. Please, let's make it real."

So many questions bounce around in his head; Are they from the same world, if not then do the same rules really apply? And a litany of others concerning how and why and whens that just threaten to tumble from his lips. It could shed light on why they didn't say anything, but right now it doesn't matter quite as much as how his chest twists at Rowan's words. The very same way it has for awhile, and how it aches for Max. Terrifying and beautiful all at once.

"Let's...yeah. I was going to get Max a, uh, a gold chain to wear his on and I figured I'd wear mine on my dog tags. You know, so no one thinks we got hitched," A nervous laugh rattles out, glancing from Rowan to Max. It's still unbelievable any of this is happening. "And I know you said I don't need to worry so much, I guess you got a better poker face than me, Max, but I want to chip in. I...it's, I don't know. God, I can't even with words right now, sorry."

Max nods, and there's a softness to his eyes that suggest tears might not be far off. "I want it to be real."

All the rest they will figure out as they go, but this he knows with no shadow of a doubt. He can't picture life here without both of them at his side. Not anymore. So, if that makes him part of the pack, then he wants in. He's all-in.

"When you play poker against a vampire," Max says lightly, "you learn to have a real good poker face." He reaches a hand to Lucas' face to stroke him lightly. "I know. You're going to chip in. I just don't want you stressing yourself out or running yourself ragged for it. Either of you," he shoots a look at Rowan too.

"If this is going to be real then...we have to make a commitment to share the load. Help with each other's burdens and not take it all on ourselves. That's why they call it partners, right? And I guess... maybe that means if Lucas and I are part of the pack for real now, we can help with that too? I know we've got some learning to do but, I'd like to do what I can.

"It shouldn't just be them protecting us, right Lucas?"

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