All eyes were on Fenris waiting for his answer.
"What's there to think about?", Gwendolyn said, eyes twitching.
"Gwendolyn…", Lycan trailed. "... be civil. This is an important decision for him.".
"No!" Gwendolyn exclaimed, rising. "We don't owe this silent ingrate anything. The only reason we're doing this is because Buck wouldn't shut up about bringing this supposed best friend into the pack.
Fenris' eyes dropped. 'Best friend? Really?'
"And now that we have, he's acting like we owe him something. It's vexing!"
"Gwen, I don't think Fenris—"
Gwendolyn shot Buck a threatening death stare. Buck turned away, clearing his throat.
Fenris took notice.
'So my stares don't work anymore, but hers does? I wonder what she has over him.'
"If he doesn't want to be in the pack, he can just leave," Gwendolyn said. She furiously extended her hands, chanting some incantations.
A portal appeared behind Fenris.
"If you don't want to join the pack, then fine, we don't need you. This was just us doing you a favor. So shoo, you're not wanted here."
Gwendolyn began to wave her hand at Fenris like he was a pestering bug. Fenris frowned in response, growling silently.
'Maybe I should leave. But the barrier—'
The alpha and the whole crossing between worlds thing still sounded like fantasy to Fenris. He would need to see more proof. But he had confirmed that the barrier would shield him from the hunters, at least for a little while.
'I don't like it but I guess I'm going to have to swallow my pride again'.
Fenris opened his mouth to speak. Buck rose unexpectedly, staring down at Gwendolyn.
"If Fenris leaves, so do I," he proudly declared.
All eyes looked at Buck, surprised.
"What?" they all said in unison.
"You heard me," Buck said. "There's no point to this if he isn't a part of it too. He and I are a bundle, you can't separate us."
Buck turned his gaze to Fenris and gave him a wink.
"I got your back," he whispered.
"Augh—" Fenris let out, uncomfortable. Buck's actions, to the rest of the pack, might have seemed selfless and maybe a bit foolish, but not to Fenris.
He had known him too long to believe it was that.
'Another manipulation. He wants to guilt me into joining this pack.'
Gwendolyn's jaw almost dropped. Her face wrinkled, almost showing pain.
"You're… you're bluffing. You know what happens to deserted pack members."
"Not this time, Gwen," Buck said. "I mean it. Fenris stays or I don't".
"Careful, Buck," Lycan said in a low tone. "I'd hate to lose such a valuable member of my pack."
"Well, that depends on you now, doesn't it?" Buck said. "It's not like I want to… leave, but Fenris is just too important to me. I won't abandon him."
"For the love of all gods, will you please stop!" Fenris exclaimed, covering his face in embarrassment. He let out an exhausted breath. "I'll join your stupid pack".
Buck chuckled uncontrollably, ecstatic by Fenris' answer.
"I knew you'd come around," Buck patted Fenris on the back, causing Fenris to give him a death stare.
Buck backed off jokingly, with both hands up.
Surprisingly, Buck wasn't the only one glad with Fenris' answer. The bulky werewolf had stayed silent through the entire conversation, not reacting in the slightest.
But now, his smirk grew wider and more vicious.
"Another warrior to forge. How exciting." The bulky werewolf began to slowly chuckle and began to rise in sadistic laughter.
'Maybe these people are crazier than I thought,' Fenris thought, beginning to regret his answer.
"However…" he spoke aloud. "…I have some requests."
Gwendolyn's hands became trembling fists. "The spine you must have," she said spitefully.
"Hold on," Lycan said, stopping Gwendolyn. "Let's hear him out."
Gwendolyn let out a puff of air and slammed back into her seat, her gaze still fixed on Fenris.
"Lycan, you're a noble, aren't you?" Fenris asked.
"And what if I am?" Lycan asked.
"Normally I wouldn't care. But maybe someone with your power and connections can help me with something," Fenris said. "I've been looking for someone for some time now
"There are many people in Pyros, Fenris. If I were to help you look for this person, they'd have to truly stand out," Lycan said.
"She does," Fenris said, breath taken. "She's special."
"Yeah, really special," Buck teased, elbowing Fenris.
Fenris punched Buck, dislocating his jaw. Gwendolyn stood, hand signs pointed at Fenris, ready to attack.
"I'm okay," Buck said, voice muffled. His jaw snapped back, and he gave Gwendolyn a smile, basically saying not to worry. She once again begrudgingly took her seat.
'Huh,' Fenris thought. 'Are they…' Fenris turned away. '…it's not like I care.'
Buck was always a charmer, especially when it came to women. The only time that trait had bothered him was when it came to Luna.
Buck, for some time, had tagged along on their adventures. Fenris outright was against it. But Luna seemed to enjoy Buck's company. And they were starting to get uncomfortably close.
Even thinking about it now made Fenris' skin crawl. He pushed those memories aside.
"She's a blessed one. Purple hair and tends to wear robes with crescent moon patterns."
For a second, Lycan's eyes lit up. He slowly scratched his shaven jaw. "You're right. She does sound special."
'What was that? Intrigue,' Fenris thought.
"I can't promise you anything, but I will keep my ears on standby. If my associates, or if any of their associates, spot a blessed mage with those descriptions, you will know," Lycan said.
Fenris let out a small sigh of relief but refrained from thanking Lycan. It was little, but there was hope that he would see her again.
"Is that all?" Lycan asked.
"No," Fenris said. His gaze turned to Buck and fixed with uncertainty.
"Uh… do I have something in my teeth?" Buck asked, uncomfortable.
"I'm half-sure I dreamt this, but when you fought those hunters, you used magic, didn't you? With no items. How?" Fenris asked.
Buck smiled greatly. With no explanation, Buck began to undress. Fenris could ask what was going on, but with Buck, he knew his oddities had to lead somewhere — at least he hoped they did; they usually did.
Buck stopped. Thankfully, only his top clothes were removed, showing his well-defined muscles.
"Are you trying to show off?" Fenris asked, annoyed.
"Yep," Buck answered proudly. "But now, with these. Keep looking."
Like chaotic dominoes, symbols began to appear all over Buck, traveling everywhere to his neck. They began to glow, shift, and interconnect.
Fenris felt a slight chill, and a cool breeze slowly crept into him. Fenris' eyes widened; he knew what those symbols were.
"Are those… runes?" he said, bewildered.