Eduardo Faukes

Werewolf ~ No pack ~ Omega | 34 | Aviation Rescue Swimmer (Navy) | Currently resides in The Shipyard District of Vievecor City [Vievecor City RPG]

[esmeraldabheriya]

eduardofaukes​:

“If it meant you wouldn’t die.” Eduardo answered honestly. He knew he’d lose and that it would be pointless and meaningless at that, but he decided he would have done it for Esme.

Eduardo wondered then what their children looked like, how many did they have, what where their names, was he a good father? But all of those questions blurred into the back of his mind when Esme told him she loved him. “You do?” His lips spread into a wide grin, momentarily forgetting that they had been fighting, or that Esme was going to throw herself into a fight to the death. “I love you too.” He replied, because it felt like it had been stuck in the back of his throat since that first time he’d uttered it.

He exhaled heavily, “Maybe… just for tonight, we could pretend none of this stuff exists?” Eduardo suggested, because he didn’t know how to process needing to witness this, and potentially lose her, “Go somewhere. Just us.”

-

It was the answer that Esme had expected. Which was exactly why it wouldn’t do anything to help. The fact that he would die for her was stupid and he should know that. It didn’t escape her the kind of sacrifice he’d be willing to make, but she wouldn’t entertain it in case he decided to play hero. 

She could see all the questions in his eyes, about their children, what happened to them and their future together. She couldn’t bear to tell him about the heartache, especially if they could avoid it now. He had been the best father, the best partner and husband. “Of course I do, Eduardo,” she replied. It was impossible to see him smiling at her and not give in, finding herself smiling up at him. It was good to know that he still loved her and that hadn’t changed, despite her not deserving it. 

“Maybe,” she agreed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I think I’d like a chance to pretend the other stuff doesn’t exist.” If she could recall, that was how she had ended up pregnant in their future but she was prepared for that now. “I’ll follow you anywhere you want to take me.”

[eduardofaukes]

Eduardo’s arms easily wound themselves around Esme’s waist, pulling her against him, “Then we’ll pretend none of this exists.” He murmured, leaning down to press their foreheads together. Even if it was only for one night before the realisation came crashing down again. He stayed like that for a moment, before his arms slipped away to take one of her hands instead. “Come on.” Eduardo grabbed a few blankets off the side of the bed and led her back through the house to where his truck was parked around the back. He opened the door for her, deciding to steal a kiss from her on her way past him, “Do you want to stay on land this time?” He asked her with a smile lifting his lips. Somehow being on the water made Eduardo feel like they could be further away, but he would settle for a quiet spot on land for her.

[lucasxholt]

eduardofaukes​:

Eduardo rolled his eyes at Luke’s joke, but followed his friend gratefully inside anyway where he settled on the couch. “No, no I didn’t kill anyone.” He exhaled, planting his hands on his knees to drum his fingers against them. “I just… wanted to ask,” He paused, wondering exactly how much Esme would hate him for all this, “how much can you guys do to protect packs? I know it’s supposed to all be internal,” He waved his hand, making it clear that he didn’t think that it was enough, “But If someone’s threatening someone, if they’ve already hurt people. Can you do something?” Eduardo paused, knowing that Esme didn’t want the help of the police after everything that had happened with her daughter. “Are there like… watched you guys can do?”

Luke sunk into his favorite recliner as he reached for a beer, quickly popping the top of with his hands and tossing it onto the coffee table. “Oh thank gods, man. You know how much work it is to cover up a body? I mean, don’t get me wrong, i’ll still do it if you need, but man is forensics a bitch,” he rambled before bringing the beer bottle to his lips. He passed his friend an easy grin as wiped his mouth a bit. Seeing Eduardo so tense had Luke’s eyebrows climbing to the top of his head. Whatever had brought his close friend here tonight clearly had him on edge, and Luke couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen him this bothered.

Luke rubbed his beard idly as he contemplated Eduardo’s words. Clearly, he was bound by some other verbal contract or else he would have completely spilled the beans on what was going on. “I mean yea, man. I can put a couple of my guys on it, set up some patrols, and set up a guard ship. I mean, hell. I’ll even do it myself if it means I get peace and quiet to catch up on some paperwork I’m drowning in,” he added, the judicial wheels already turning. “Who exactly would I be watching? And more importantly, who has been hurt?”

[eduardofaukes]

“I appreciate the sentiment.” Eduardo replied with a faint chuckle that didn’t quite manage to shift a smile or touch his eyes. “As much as I hate to ruin your idea of a chilled night, I don’t think this is the kind of thing where you get to sit and do paperwork.” Eduardo replied honestly, exhaling and taking a moment of consideration before he spoke again, “It’s Esme and her pack. Wolfram, her ex husband, is in the city. He wasn’t good to her, and he’s out to hurt her again.” Eduardo started, not knowing quite how to put it, “Bodhi—one of their sons— was the guy that I fought in the fight club video. He was sent there by Wolfram to try and kill me. The other day he sent someone to attack somebody else Esme loves, Persy Weiss. She’s a witch.” Eduardo sighed, “She’s staying with us now while she recovers and tries to find a potion to stop the change.” His brows had furrowed together, “It’s only so long before they attack someone else. Esme says eventually they’ll need to fight for the pack, the two of them…”

[eduardofaukes]

Eduardo peered inside, nudging open the door to carry in the small tray with the pot of tea and a packet of biscuits. If he’d learnt anything growing up in his family, it was how to make a woman feel better, or at least try. “I took Leela’s biscuits, don’t tell her.” Eduardo smiled at her, placing them down beside her bed. He could see the chair that had been set up beside it, likely where Esme had set herself up to look after her and where Persy’s partner had been perched in-between those hours. “Just thought I’d see how you are with everything.” The omega answered. He had been born a wolf, he didn’t know any different or what it was like to have to deal with being turned. “Can I help with anything?”

[persyweiss]

Seeing the tray in his hands, she smiled, even chuckling at his explanation. It was nice to have people check in on her and remind her how much they cared about her. It certainly made her recovery feel a lot easier. "I appreciate that. I'm so glad to have a visitor who isn't overthinking the whole situation or looking guilty." Not that she didn't love them, but she didn't know how to comfort them when she wasn't well enough to even take care of herself. "I'm just happy to have a friendly, smiling face. How is your family doing? I hope I haven't scared them too much with my condition."

[eduardofaukes]

“They just care about you, is all. They don’t like seeing you unhappy and in pain.” Eduardo replied. He knew how guilty Esme felt, she didn’t need to verbalise it for him to know that she blamed herself for everything that was happening lately. “Oh, they’ll be okay.” He nodded. Perhaps it was a bit of a lie, but he didn’t want to worry Persy further with how Hannah had been feeling over the past week. “Nothing I can’t fix with this smile, of course.” Eduardo replied, flashing a grin that he hoped was convincing. He passed her the tray, sitting on the chair beside the bed. “Did it make you feel better to see your… partner?” Eduardo asked, realising he wasn’t entirely sure who Elijah was to Persy.

[caleb-lycaon]

smoothie | eduardo & caleb

eduardofaukes​:

Eduardo wanted to argue that the supernatural police, surely, should have a rule book that was abided by rather than letting the packs ‘settle things on their own’, but he kept his jaw tight and his mouth shut. The last thing Esme needed was Caleb telling her that her boyfriend had mouthed off to the leader of another pack and told him how dumb all their rules were. “That doesn’t seem very helpful…” Was all he muttered instead. No wonder Nihira ended up in Zamok.

“I’m staying with Esme and her pack, so are my family. I don’t know where we go from here regarding packs.” Eduardo admitted, maybe a little too bluntly, “I guess we’ll see.” Perhaps he was just on the defence. Joining a pack seemed like a trivial question when they were talking about Esme needing to fight for her life. “Guess it’s not of the most importance to me right now with what’s going on.” He admitted.

“There aren’t enough of us compared to the humans to form an actual police force,” Caleb said with a shrug. “It’s why we need to look out for our own.” He could also tell that Eduardo was getting prickly.

Alphas were naturally protective of their own and coming from his own experience, it gave him a sense of comfort when someone he cared about was officially part of his pack. It was the reason he got anxious for his cousin, a certain lone wolf who had been kicked out of the Lycaon pack after he was sent to Zamok. “I suppose it could seem trivial, but it might mean a lot to her if you officially joined Thoda Laal. I don’t want to tell you what to do, but would you think about it?”

[eduardofaukes]

Eduardo paused, if there was anything he cared about, it was making Esme happy and she could do with some more happiness lately. He nodded, “Yeah, I will.” It would be a big change, something his mother and sister would also need to decide for themselves when the time came. “So, what’s plans for the rest of Earth Day?” He asked.

[gwen-lycaon]

eduardofaukes​:

Eduardo couldn’t help but to notice the reluctance when it came to speaking about her brother, perhaps that was the tension that came between two sibling alpha’s. It was something Eduardo hadn’t cared to stop and contemplate until now. “Nice to meet you.” He nodded in response, glancing down to the large dog at her feet. “Does he like being petted?” Eduardo asked, already keen to give the dog all the belly rubs. When she said he was friendly, Eduardo knelt down to the dog to start petting him, “Hey boy.”

Eduardo huffed quietly in surprise. “He’s your cousin? Huh…” the last time they’d met, the man had briefly mentioned that his pack hadn’t wanted him to return after his stint in prison. Eduardo laughed quietly, “Not sure what ‘looking like a team player’ means, exactly… but. I haven’t had one in years. Bad experience to put it lightly.” He shrugged, “But I guess I’ve been contemplating it again recently.”

“He would be more offended if you didn’t pet him,” she joked playfully. After giving a command, the large hound was released from his hold and given free rein to interact with the fellow. He sniffed around him carefully before moving closer to him and tapping his feet excitedly for attention. Gwen only rolled her eyes, always amazed at how goofy her dog was.

“Don’t let his big, grumpy demeanor scare you. He’s a total teddy bear… but don’t tell him I told you that,” she added with a chuckle. She listened to him spin his tale, even more, curious when he stated he was contemplating joining one again. “I get it. Packs aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be,” she stated with a sigh. The blonde moved to stoke the fire in front of them, adding more wood and watching it blaze. “Have you now? And which pack are you considering joining?”

[eduardofaukes]

Eduardo looked up from where he was petting the dog, surprised to hear her actually agree with him. “You know you’re the first wolf I’ve met here that actually agreed with me when I say that.” He told her. “Thoda Laal,” He answered, “I’m dating their pack leader.” Eduardo added in explanation, breathing a chuckle, “I guess it makes sense… just, been out of it for a long time, y’know? It’s hard stepping back into it.” Eduardo didn’t know why he was divulging all of this to her, but at least her dog seemed to be enjoying his attention.

[esmeraldabheriya]

eduardofaukes​:

“What if I want to take care of you?” Eduardo asked, trying not to sound demanding, but it certainly came out that way. “Haven’t you looked out for yourself your entire life, Esme? Has anyone ever stopped to actually look after you for a change instead of expecting you to just be what they want you to be?” He asked her. Eduardo’s eyes changed from soft and pleading to flashing with anger for a brief second, “Right. I just don’t understand.” He huffed as he repeated her words, “Then why am I here, Es? If nothing that comes out of my mouth means anything to you anyway. What is the point of me being here with you? Being with you.” His breath stilled all at once.

“You went to the Effendi?” She hadn’t mentioned anything to him about doing so and Eduardo hadn’t seen that there was any good in knowing, until now. “We what?” He asked, his voice suddenly softening. It didn’t seem like the right time to talk about their future children, not when they were arguing, not with what he had just said, but it thoroughly silenced him for a long moment. “Is that what you want, with me?” Eduardo asked her, not wanting to ask, but it kept coming to the tip of his tongue, “Do you love me?”

-

“What would you do, Eduardo? Are you going to fight him on my behalf?” she asked. She didn’t want to offend him but he would die and she would not allow that to happen. It felt like he was ready to leave again and she knew he’d likely end up hurt again. She bit her tongue, stopping herself from scolding him like she normally would because how could she? He wanted to be with her and for her to live, she couldn’t be angry about it even if he didn’t understand. He wanted an easy solution but there was no easy solution to this one. “It does mean something, I just don’t have an answer you want to hear,” she answered, sounding as tired as she felt. 

Maybe it wasn’t the right time for him to find out about the future. It wasn’t much but it was a possibility, one where they lived and they loved each other. “I did,” she answered, knowing she should have told him but with everything going on, there wasn’t time. “The council meeting made me curious so I went to see what happened.” The softness returned to his voice and she shifted from foot to foot. They hadn’t talked about having children, it was too soon for that kind of thing even if the future she’d seen meant that it could happen soon. 

Her lips pursed, unsure how to answer his questions. The version of Esme in the future did want that. It had happened by accident but they had been happy before things started to get worse. “Yes, the future version of myself was very happy with our children,” she answered. The other question shouldn’t have been hard to answer given how much she did love him. She still held fear that Wolfram would destroy Eduardo if he knew, but he had to have known already.

“Yes, I love you…” she trailed off. “I’ve loved you this whole time.”  

[eduardofaukes]

“If it meant you wouldn’t die.” Eduardo answered honestly. He knew he’d lose and that it would be pointless and meaningless at that, but he decided he would have done it for Esme.

Eduardo wondered then what their children looked like, how many did they have, what where their names, was he a good father? But all of those questions blurred into the back of his mind when Esme told him she loved him. “You do?” His lips spread into a wide grin, momentarily forgetting that they had been fighting, or that Esme was going to throw herself into a fight to the death. “I love you too.” He replied, because it felt like it had been stuck in the back of his throat since that first time he’d uttered it.

He exhaled heavily, “Maybe… just for tonight, we could pretend none of this stuff exists?” Eduardo suggested, because he didn’t know how to process needing to witness this, and potentially lose her, “Go somewhere. Just us.”

[esmeraldabheriya]

eduardofaukes​:

“And who takes care of you, Es?” Eduardo replied, “Does anyone here stop to think about you? Or is it just common place that when one alpha drops another just takes their place, like you’re disposable?” Eduardo frowned. “Then why do it? Why can’t you fight together? Be strong, together?”

Eduardo didn’t want to shout, especially not when he knew how close she was to breaking, but he couldn’t stand by and let her do this. His expression dropped to something softer when she included him in the list of things she loved and was afraid of losing. “I don’t want to lose you…” He murmured, closing the gap between them to slide his hand against her cheek and hold her face with both hands. “I don’t want a life without you in it.” Eduardo swallowed around the lump in his throat. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to do just watch you do this and hope you don’t die, Es. I can’t…” His eyes searched hers, “There… there has to be something….”

-

“No one has to take care of me, I can take care of myself.” The argument came easily because she often used it, often thought she could handle things herself. Even now, when everything was crashing down, she didn’t know how to let anyone in. The stupid leaks had destroyed all the safeguards she had spent years putting in place, she had given her blood and soul for some kind of protection and it was all useless now. “You just don’t get it.” The alpha sighed, her steps slowing until she was standing across the room from him.  

As much as she wanted to hold and comfort him, the alpha was worried she’d fall apart if she did. He was upset and angry but there was no words to console those feelings because Esme would not be backing down from this fight. Her heart lurched as he moved closer, leaning into his touch even when she knew she shouldn’t. There was one, small thing that popped into her mind, something to comfort him. “Well, I went to see the Effendi coven and saw what that future held,” she began. 

To Eduardo, it must have seemed like she was just saying things to distract him but it held importance. “In my future, I was very much alive and you certainly didn’t lose me,” she assured. Her hand went to his chest, resting over his heartbeat. “In fact, we had cubs of our own and were very much in love with each other.” Just like they were now, despite the loss and pain it would come with, despite the world coming to an end. They had each other through all of it. 

[eduardofaukes]

“What if I want to take care of you?” Eduardo asked, trying not to sound demanding, but it certainly came out that way. “Haven’t you looked out for yourself your entire life, Esme? Has anyone ever stopped to actually look after you for a change instead of expecting you to just be what they want you to be?” He asked her. Eduardo’s eyes changed from soft and pleading to flashing with anger for a brief second, “Right. I just don’t understand.” He huffed as he repeated her words, “Then why am I here, Es? If nothing that comes out of my mouth means anything to you anyway. What is the point of me being here with you? Being with you.” His breath stilled all at once.

“You went to the Effendi?” She hadn’t mentioned anything to him about doing so and Eduardo hadn’t seen that there was any good in knowing, until now. “We what?” He asked, his voice suddenly softening. It didn’t seem like the right time to talk about their future children, not when they were arguing, not with what he had just said, but it thoroughly silenced him for a long moment. “Is that what you want, with me?” Eduardo asked her, not wanting to ask, but it kept coming to the tip of his tongue, “Do you love me?”

[leelabheriya]

eduardofaukes​:

Eduardo wasn’t sure what time it was. With everything that had been going on with the attack and the extra security checks around the house, his sister Hannah had fallen into one of her panic attacks. She’d been doing well since arriving, but the high stress situation was beginning to bring up old memories that played on her fragile mental state. The last time an alpha had had it out for their family, she’d been trapped in a burning building and had partially lost her sight. Eduardo was in the kitchen making some hot milk when Leela returned inside from the gardens.

He huffed a small chuckle, “Yeah, you know keeping up with your mom is thirsty work.” He teased her, as usual, before quickly relenting, “No, I’m just making some hot milk for my sister. She’s having a rough night.” Eduardo admitted.

~

She had to keep herself from gagging. She was never bothered to think about her mother’s sex life, considering she had many cubs and young ones even now, but having him make the joke was almost intolerable. Somehow, she managed to refrain. “Oh,” was all she could say. Leela really hated how much their family drama was affecting Hannah, someone who should have been far from this mess, somewhere safe. She wasn’t, though, and that made Leela was to keep the pack safe even more. “If it would make her feel more comfortable, she’s welcome to sleep in my room with me.” Maybe it wouldn’t be much but Leela wanted to help if she could.

[eduardofaukes]

“Thanks… I’ll ask her.” Eduardo nodded. Usually, he would have been defensive about even the possibility of her insinuating he wasn’t able to look after his little sister, but right now, it just seemed pointlessly argumentative. He just wanted Hannah and his mother safe, that was all he cared about, and right now he was needing to deal with the fact that Esme was going to be in a fight to the death too. Eduardo had to believe Leela was feeling all the same stress and worry, too. The thought made him swallow around a lump in his throat and he turned to where the milk was now boiling in the pan. “Maybe you could just talk to her. It might mean more coming from you, she’s used to me telling her everything is going to be okay.” Eduardo admitted, pouring the milk into a mug.

[caleb-lycaon]

smoothie | eduardo & caleb

eduardofaukes​:

“Right…” Eduardo replied. Esme had told him in the midst of a disagreement that she’d involved the Lycaon pack in this business with Wolfram, and from what Eduardo understood, it was no easy task for an alpha to have to ask another for help. “I appreciate you helping Esme regardless.” He replied, “Is there nothing else that can be done? Esme tells me that calling the police isn’t something you guys normally do.” Sometimes, Eduardo felt as though he spoke like he wasn’t a wolf himself.

“The police will not be helpful in a supernatural situation like this. Unfortunately, not everyone in the precinct are of our community so we have to look out for our own,” Caleb replied and it was obvious then that Eduardo did not know much about the deeper workings in Vievecor City. But then again, the omega was a relatively new resident and from the sounds of it also not much used to being in a pack himself.

“It would not be easy to explain werewolf pack dynamics to a human,” he added with a small smile. “Although speaking of packs. Have you considered joining one yet? Being part of a pack is natural for werewolves and right now, would be much safer for you given your tie to Esme.”

[eduardofaukes]

Eduardo wanted to argue that the supernatural police, surely, should have a rule book that was abided by rather than letting the packs ‘settle things on their own’, but he kept his jaw tight and his mouth shut. The last thing Esme needed was Caleb telling her that her boyfriend had mouthed off to the leader of another pack and told him how dumb all their rules were. “That doesn’t seem very helpful…” Was all he muttered instead. No wonder Nihira ended up in Zamok.

“I’m staying with Esme and her pack, so are my family. I don’t know where we go from here regarding packs.” Eduardo admitted, maybe a little too bluntly, “I guess we’ll see.” Perhaps he was just on the defence. Joining a pack seemed like a trivial question when they were talking about Esme needing to fight for her life. “Guess it’s not of the most importance to me right now with what’s going on.” He admitted.

[gwen-lycaon]

eduardofaukes​:

Eduardo finally let himself chuckle a little. Where he usually would have been defensive around all wolves, this business with Esme’s ex-husband actually made Eduardo glad to know that she was Lycaon. As he’d learnt, it wasn’t that all wolves were terrible. “Uh— you just smell familiar is all.” Eduardo admitted, “I met Caleb a while back, so that’s probably it. You kinda smell like someone else I’ve met too.” Eduardo paused, this would have sounded really strange if they weren’t stood, alone, in the middle of the forest. “My name’s Eduardo. I’m—“ Thoda Laal? I’m not though… not really. Am I? “I don’t have a pack.”

At the word familiar, Gwen’s eyebrows rose in curiosity. “Oh?” She grimaced slightly at hearing her eldest brother’s name, specifically coming out here to not have to think about him. “Ah yea, Caleb’s my big brother,” she answered reluctantly. “The name’s Gwen,” she offered making a salute with two fingers on her forehead in greeting. “And this big baby is Edgar. He’s friendly, I promise- I’m guessing you probably mean my cousin, Augustine. I hear he’s growing in popularity around here.” Gwen considered his words with a tilt of her head, wondering why someone such as him didn’t have a pack. Had he been thrown from a pack for some reason or was it a persona choice? In her experience, it was usually the former which piqued her interest. “A lone wolf, hmm? Might I ask why that is? You look like a team player to me,” she teased, idly scratching behind Edgar’s ears as she spoke.

[eduardofaukes]

Eduardo couldn’t help but to notice the reluctance when it came to speaking about her brother, perhaps that was the tension that came between two sibling alpha’s. It was something Eduardo hadn’t cared to stop and contemplate until now. “Nice to meet you.” He nodded in response, glancing down to the large dog at her feet. “Does he like being petted?” Eduardo asked, already keen to give the dog all the belly rubs. When she said he was friendly, Eduardo knelt down to the dog to start petting him, “Hey boy.”

Eduardo huffed quietly in surprise. “He’s your cousin? Huh…” the last time they’d met, the man had briefly mentioned that his pack hadn’t wanted him to return after his stint in prison. Eduardo laughed quietly, “Not sure what ‘looking like a team player’ means, exactly… but. I haven’t had one in years. Bad experience to put it lightly.” He shrugged, “But I guess I’ve been contemplating it again recently.”

[esmeraldabheriya]

eduardofaukes​:

“This isn’t just about my family, Es.” Eduardo replied. It was, of course it was, they were always in the very forefront of his mind, especially when it felt like they were reliving trauma they had purposefully being trying to stay away from all these years. He could feel the tension within his mother at all times— knowing she wished they had stayed away— he could see how it was affecting his sister Hannah and how many panic attacks she had had recently, but he loved and wanted Esme safe too.

“Why is it just your duty? I know I don’t understand these things as well as you all seem to, but it shouldn’t have to all fall on you. Isn’t that point of a pack, that you’re supposed to all be there, looking after each other? That’s what you always say and yet you’re supposed to fight this on your own? Why can’t this be done together?” Eduardo was getting more heated with his questioning, because he didn’t want her to die. It made even her touching him difficult to calm him down. “I don’t care if everyone’s accepted it. I haven’t. It’s not some great honour to stand by and let someone die fighting alone, and you can’t try and convince me that that’s normal. Or that Leela taking over would just be picking up after some inconvenience. She should care.”

Eduardo got up from the bed, the furrow still in his brow, “I don’t want to lose you, Es. I won’t lose you to some asshole that’s already taken so much from you.”

-

Esme knew it wasn’t just about his family. It was about what it meant for their future. The future she had been shown by the Effendi Coven wasn’t the happiest but for them, they had a family, they had been as happy as they could be before the world came to an end. Esme wanted to believe that she would get that still, she wanted that with him. There was only one thing standing in her way and she needed to take care of it so they could have that future.

“Because I’m the leader. If I can’t take care of the pack, I don’t deserve to have on.” She knew this was about more than just if it was right or wrong. Esme was scared too but she was trying to hold herself together because fear would get her nowhere. Wolfram wanted her to fear him. He was too far for her to pull him in, to try and reassure him with her touch. The insinuation that Leela didn’t care made her eyes narrow at the omega and she sat up on the bed. “She does care,” Esme growled out. She could understand that he was upset but he wasn’t the only one. “Do you think she wants to watch her mother die and then have to pick up the slack and take care of everyone? Of course she doesn’t. No one wants this.” 

She had tried to be calm but with everything that was going on, Esme had been on the urge of breaking and falling apart for weeks. She got up as well, glaring at the omega as she paced a few steps. “Do you think I don’t know that, Eduardo? I don’t want to die. I don’t want to face him. I’ve been running for so long that I don’t know if I can but I have no other choice. There’s no choice. If I don’t kill him, he’ll keep coming and coming until everything I love is dead or destroyed. Should I just let him do that? Should I let him kill my children? Should I let him kill you?” she asked, her voice rising louder as she spoke. 

“I have to fight him because I have no other choice.”

[eduardofaukes]

“And who takes care of you, Es?” Eduardo replied, “Does anyone here stop to think about you? Or is it just common place that when one alpha drops another just takes their place, like you’re disposable?” Eduardo frowned. “Then why do it? Why can’t you fight together? Be strong, together?”

Eduardo didn’t want to shout, especially not when he knew how close she was to breaking, but he couldn’t stand by and let her do this. His expression dropped to something softer when she included him in the list of things she loved and was afraid of losing. “I don’t want to lose you…” He murmured, closing the gap between them to slide his hand against her cheek and hold her face with both hands. “I don’t want a life without you in it.” Eduardo swallowed around the lump in his throat. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to do just watch you do this and hope you don’t die, Es. I can’t…” His eyes searched hers, “There… there has to be something….”

[caleb-lycaon]

smoothie | eduardo & caleb

eduardofaukes​:

“Oh…” Eduardo began, he shouldn’t have been shocked that Caleb knew, given that mostly everyone in the city knew. Eduardo had come to learn over the passing months that apparently pack leaders needed to know all about lone wolves in their area, too. “Yeah, that was uh— a mistake. It was dumb.” Eduardo scratched the back of his head, “I didn’t know someone would be filming it, or that—“ He trailed off. That it would be Esme’s son trying to murder me. “Sorry about that.” He wasn’t sure why he was apologising, he wasn’t part of Caleb’s pack, or anyone’s for that matter… maybe he was just starting to care about what other wolves thought of him.

“It’s fine. No need to apologise when it’s something you had no control over.” The video was the least of Caleb’s worries by now. “But I was also asking about your opponent. I hear that he’s been causing trouble in the city and that you were their first target. We have been trying to help from our end but there is only so much we can do since it is a Thoda Laal pack issue…”

[eduardofaukes]

“Right…” Eduardo replied. Esme had told him in the midst of a disagreement that she’d involved the Lycaon pack in this business with Wolfram, and from what Eduardo understood, it was no easy task for an alpha to have to ask another for help. “I appreciate you helping Esme regardless.” He replied, “Is there nothing else that can be done? Esme tells me that calling the police isn’t something you guys normally do.” Sometimes, Eduardo felt as though he spoke like he wasn’t a wolf himself.

[esmeraldabheriya]

eduardofaukes​:

“We could at least ask? I have a friend in the force, maybe they could do something… even if it’s just small? Watches or something.” He suggested, though Eduardo would have a feeling the pack would inform him that they were already doing that and that they didn’t need anyone’s help.

Eduardo frowned as soon as Esme told him. “What?” He responded, sitting up, “You can’t do that.” Another socially unacceptable move, to tell an alpha she couldn’t do something with regards to her own pack. “So that’s it? You have to win or die, and everyone just has to accept that? I have to accept that?”

-

“They can’t help with this,” she replied, shaking her head. She understood that Eduardo wanted to help but this was pack business and if anyone interfered it would just cause more trouble. “We have people watching the perimeter of the house at all times. Even the Lycaon pack is helping with the area. I’m making sure we keep your family safe,” she replied, hoping that would ease some of his worry though she knew it was impossible to do that. It had almost killed her to ask Caleb for help but she knew she was out of her depths. The hacks had stolen away any sense of protection she had and now she was scrambling to get it back. Her brow rose when he told her she couldn’t do something. “Yes, I can,” she replied. “I’m the leader of this pack and it’s my duty to protect it and I am failing.” Her large dark eyes implored him, hoping he would understand. Pack members were going to start dying or they would start leaving if she couldn’t protect the pack and solve this issue. It was her baggage and everyone was suffering from it. 

She reached for him, wondering if he would allow her to soothe his worry. “Yes, that’s it. I win or I die. Everyone has accepted that, Leela knows what she will have to do if I lose,” she explained. Esme had spent years training her youngest for this role, she would excel at it. As much as she wanted to believe she would survive it, Wolfram had spent most of his life as a wolf, only choosing to shift because of her. He was strong, he was brutal and he was ruthless. The chances of her winning weren’t high at all but she had seen a glimmer of a future they could share and she hoped that they would get their happiness. “I’m sorry, I know you might not want to accept it but it’s just… it’s how it is.” 

[eduardofaukes]

“This isn’t just about my family, Es.” Eduardo replied. It was, of course it was, they were always in the very forefront of his mind, especially when it felt like they were reliving trauma they had purposefully being trying to stay away from all these years. He could feel the tension within his mother at all times— knowing she wished they had stayed away— he could see how it was affecting his sister Hannah and how many panic attacks she had had recently, but he loved and wanted Esme safe too.

“Why is it just your duty? I know I don’t understand these things as well as you all seem to, but it shouldn’t have to all fall on you. Isn’t that point of a pack, that you’re supposed to all be there, looking after each other? That’s what you always say and yet you’re supposed to fight this on your own? Why can’t this be done together?” Eduardo was getting more heated with his questioning, because he didn’t want her to die. It made even her touching him difficult to calm him down. “I don’t care if everyone’s accepted it. I haven’t. It’s not some great honour to stand by and let someone die fighting alone, and you can’t try and convince me that that’s normal. Or that Leela taking over would just be picking up after some inconvenience. She should care.”

Eduardo got up from the bed, the furrow still in his brow, “I don’t want to lose you, Es. I won’t lose you to some asshole that’s already taken so much from you.”

[leelabheriya]

location: bheriya home with: @eduardofaukes​

She had been going around the edges of the property, ensuring all of the fences were properly in place with no damage and the various security cameras had a good view of the property while also not being plainly obvious. Sure, they couldn’t necessarily hide the cameras but the cameras could match the color of the siding and blend in, that wasn’t a crime. Leela headed back inside, deciding to get a snack before she checked on other security measure. She found Eduardo in the kitchen, doing who knows what. Probably baking.

“Taking over the kitchen again, twinkle toes?” she asked as she moved to the fridge, pulling out an apple. She didn’t mind the man too much, most of the time anyways. When he was making dumb decisions, she found it harder to give him a pass. 

[eduardofaukes]

Eduardo wasn’t sure what time it was. With everything that had been going on with the attack and the extra security checks around the house, his sister Hannah had fallen into one of her panic attacks. She’d been doing well since arriving, but the high stress situation was beginning to bring up old memories that played on her fragile mental state. The last time an alpha had had it out for their family, she’d been trapped in a burning building and had partially lost her sight. Eduardo was in the kitchen making some hot milk when Leela returned inside from the gardens.

He huffed a small chuckle, “Yeah, you know keeping up with your mom is thirsty work.” He teased her, as usual, before quickly relenting, “No, I’m just making some hot milk for my sister. She’s having a rough night.” Eduardo admitted.

[caleb-lycaon]

smoothie | eduardo & caleb

for: @eduardofaukes

“Yeah, that’s me.” Eduardo returned with a nod. “Uh— I mean, it’s definitely different to the kind of parties I’m used to. It’s gorgeous, but I think I just drank beetroot.” Eduardo pulled a face, unable to get the taste out of his mouth as he set the smoothie down to the side. Besides, it was kind of difficult to enjoy when it seemed like they had to be on watch for an assassin at all times. “Are you?” 

“Oh, well,” Caleb laughed because it was most certainly beetroot. The elves enjoyed food in it’s most wholesome forms which also usually leaned towards the vegetables and fruits side of things.

“I am. The dragons this year are really cool,” he grinned when he noticed that Eduardo seemed a little on edge. “How are you really doing though? I heard about what happened at the Punch Cage…” Caleb started with that first to ease into the subject first.

[eduardofaukes]

“Oh…” Eduardo began, he shouldn’t have been shocked that Caleb knew, given that mostly everyone in the city knew. Eduardo had come to learn over the passing months that apparently pack leaders needed to know all about lone wolves in their area, too. “Yeah, that was uh— a mistake. It was dumb.” Eduardo scratched the back of his head, “I didn’t know someone would be filming it, or that—“ He trailed off. That it would be Esme’s son trying to murder me. “Sorry about that.” He wasn’t sure why he was apologising, he wasn’t part of Caleb’s pack, or anyone’s for that matter… maybe he was just starting to care about what other wolves thought of him.

[esmeraldabheriya]

eduardofaukes​:

Eduardo couldn’t exactly blame Esme for not believing in the police after what had happened to her daughter, something that was still without resolution to this day. “I get that…” Eduardo nodded, “But maybe that gives you more leverage for something to be done?” Maybe he was being naive, but he couldn’t settle on the fact that they just had to let this play out with no protection.

“Then what doesn’t make you look weak?” Eduardo asked, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at her.

-

The police had never helped her. They had accused her and her family, they had stolen her daughter. She had no reason to trust them and she wouldn’t now. They couldn’t assist when it came to pack matters and she was certain the wolves who ran the police force in Chissob Hills would tell her just that. “Maybe,” she conceded, wanting Eduardo to have faith that something would happen. 

It was his next question that made her sigh again, her eyes closing. He was moving away and she just wanted to pull him back so she could listen to his heart beat, finding comfort in the familiar sound. This conversation was inevitable. She would have to have it with Leela soon as well because if things went badly, Leela would be pack leader or they would need to run. Esme was certain her ex would happily cut down all her children to see her legacy burn. “I have to fight him and I have to kill him,” she replied finally, her eyes opening after a moment to look up at her lover. 

“It has to be one on one. If I lose, I die and he will take the pack.” 

[eduardofaukes]

“We could at least ask? I have a friend in the force, maybe they could do something… even if it’s just small? Watches or something.” He suggested, though Eduardo would have a feeling the pack would inform him that they were already doing that and that they didn’t need anyone’s help.

Eduardo frowned as soon as Esme told him. “What?” He responded, sitting up, “You can’t do that.” Another socially unacceptable move, to tell an alpha she couldn’t do something with regards to her own pack. “So that’s it? You have to win or die, and everyone just has to accept that? I have to accept that?”

[lucasxholt]

@eduardofaukes

Eduardo snorted quietly at Luke’s response. The bad thing was, he wasn’t even that far off base. Eduardo took some beer’s out of the fridge and headed out, but not without telling someone where he was going first— it felt like he was a teenager again, making his mother aware of his movements and what time he would be back—except this time he actually had to be honest about where he was going. He made his way to Luke’s apartment, knocking at the door.

“Hey.” Eduardo greeted once Luke answered, trying his best not to be solemn as he held up the beers.

Luke made it back to his apartment quicker than he had anticipated, grateful for the opportunity to change and tidy up a bit before he had company. The whole ride hoped he considered what it might be that Eduardo might need to talk to him about. Had his closest friend actually killed someone? He sure hoped not, but his mind was already running through the steps he’d need to take to cover it up when he heard the knock at his door. Luke swung it open with his usual smirk on his lips, giving Eduardo a once over to asses for any damage as he nodded his head in greeting. “What’s up, man?” he added before smiling at the beers. “A good murder cover-up always needs provisions,” he teased as he ushered the man inside. “So what’s going on? And please tell me you didn’t actually kill anyone?”

[eduardofaukes]

Eduardo rolled his eyes at Luke’s joke, but followed his friend gratefully inside anyway where he settled on the couch. “No, no I didn’t kill anyone.” He exhaled, planting his hands on his knees to drum his fingers against them. “I just… wanted to ask,” He paused, wondering exactly how much Esme would hate him for all this, “how much can you guys do to protect packs? I know it’s supposed to all be internal,” He waved his hand, making it clear that he didn’t think that it was enough, “But If someone’s threatening someone, if they’ve already hurt people. Can you do something?” Eduardo paused, knowing that Esme didn’t want the help of the police after everything that had happened with her daughter. “Are there like… watched you guys can do?”