Heeeey...
"slowly pushes large chunk of meat into lion cage with a long long stick"
Here you go, big and juice, just the way you like it. Please don't eat me.
~~~~~
The hot water cascading down from the rain showerhead was not enough to power through all the dirt and grime caked onto Dominic's skin. He picked up the hand sprayer, putting the jet inches from his body so that the spray could really get to work. Looking down at what was already swirling around the drain, he could see this would not be a quick shower.
He didn't feel too much pressure to be getting back, though. In fact, he was very much dreading it. Day was out there, terrified, while Ben took turns glaring at him and Misty.
The situation in the door way had not been pleasant. Ben had flipped his lib, demanding Day leave while trying to explain to Dominic why he shouldn't have been there. Misty and Day had also jumped in, talking over each other to try and explain the situation from their respective points of view. All Dominic got out of it was "He has the right...", "...already told him...", "...please, Alpha Dominic...", "...pedophile...", and "...ass kicking...".
As they three continued to yell both at him and at each other, Dominic searched deep within himself for the inner peace he needed to get through this emotionally trying day. His wolf was making it extremely difficult by becoming excited and restless. Locking the beast down once more, Dominic had let out a thunderous "Shut up! All of you!" He glared Ben down, silently telling him to be quiet, before turning back to address Day, who was practically on the floor cowering. "Come in and sit down. If I'm going to be dealing with all this crap, I need to shower first."
Ben had not been pleased in the least about Day being allowed in, and had attempted to tell Dominic just how much he didn't like it, but Dominic had shut it down until after his shower. He couldn't focus on the situation while being so filthy.
When he had left for the bathroom, Day had been nervously rubbing his hands together in one of the sitting room chairs, Ben was standing against the far wall with his arms crossed in annoyance, and Misty had curled up between them as calm as can be while also ready to pounce if anything went sideways.
Dominic realized he probably should hurry with his shower.
After thoroughly scrubbing himself down, Dominic stepped out from behind the stone wall to grab his towel. He dried quickly, not caring about his hair so much as he pulled on the clothes he had been wearing before. The droplets of water clung to the ends of his hair, and in a moment of irritation from their cold plops onto his skin, he shook his head vigorously to get them off. They flew everywhere, landing in a spread of tiny rain all over the bathroom floor, counter, and mirror. He continued on out into the bedroom, still contemplating the scenario he had just found himself in, completely focused on the different ways the approaching conversation could go.
Day was still sitting in his seat, but he seemed to have melted into it. Ben's angry gaze had liquefied him into a jittery mess, leaving him in a state of panic and fear. Dominic wasn't sure if he was going to run, cry, vomit, or perhaps do all three simultaneously. There just didn't seem to be any telling.
"Alright, Ben, that's enough. I think he gets it." Dominic said, plopping down on a couch across from the terrified werewolf. It struck him then that, despite being able to turn into a snarling beast, this guy was absolutely petrified of Ben, who for as big and strong as he was, was only human. It was an indication of just where in the hierarchy this kid was.
In lengthening awkward silence, no one was to keen on starting the conversation, so that left Dominic to contemplate the nagging feeling of knowing the man in front of him. He pushed it around in his mind until it finally dawned on him.
"You're Lark's brother. You were there at the trial."
The sudden topic of his brother's trial caught Day off guard, but he nodded without hesitation. "H-he was my brother, yes, but I no longer recognize him as such, just as I do not recognize my father. They were traitors to the pack, planning to push out our Alphas so that they could take control.
"I have re-sworn myself to the Five Rivers Pack. My mom and I had nothing to do with their radicalistic views; we are no threat to you."
Looking to Misty, she nodded in conformation. She would be the one to know if someone from her former pack was trustworthy. Trusting her judgment, but still not happy with it, Dominic put it on the back burner for the time being. There were more important things to worry about.
"What do you mean by Penny being your Destined?"
Misty cut in. "It is no different-"
"I want him to explain." Dominic snapped. His calm demeanor was beginning to slip, his wolf trying to come forward again. He took a deep breath and tried again. "I want to hear his words, not yours. That's the only way I'm going to get what I need."
Misty looked slightly peeved that she had been told to stand down, but did not try to interrupt again. Satisfied, Dominic once again focused on Day, who looked even worse than a moment ago. "W-w-well, I'm uh. I-I mean I'm Penny's... her, um..." Day continued to sink into his chair, unable to form a complete sentence.
"What the freak is trying to say is that three weeks ago when he came in to clean up the Wing, he caught a whiff of Penny and his pervy little heart went a flutter and he snatched her from her crib!" Ben took an aggressive step towards Day, who responded by leaping up and crab crawling over the back of the chair in fear. He was dexterous, landing in a crouch behind the large piece of furniture before huddling behind it.
