Getting to Know the Family

John waited awkwardly while Red’s mother and aunt changed into the clothes he’d brought. He couldn’t help but let his eyes wander over their supple forms, despite it feeling incredibly wrong under the circumstances. Cheyenne, at least, while not actively encouraging it, didn’t seem to mind when she noticed his attention.

Ellyn, however, was in no state to dress herself, or even walk. John, being the only one with any substantial amount of strength at the moment, had to carry her up the lengthy set of steps. Under Adelia’s direction, he took her into a room on the opposite wing of the floor, near Cheyenne’s room. Judging by the maid uniform neatly folded on the dresser, it was Ellyn’s own room.

After Adelia arranged the pillows, John laid Ellyn gently down on the bed. “There are medical supplies in the kitchen downstairs,” the blonde milf informed him. “Among them should be a thermometre and a pain relief ointment labelled Cesserin. Could you get those, several clean cloths, and a bucket partially filled with warm water, please. Saccharine will show you where to look.”

“Yeah, of course, anything to help,” John nodded. “But the sooner we get out of here, the sooner you all can get medical attention. I’m working with a faction who have healers waiting for us.”

Adelia nodded and smiled faintly at John. “I’m grateful, but for now we must wait. I take it that your presence here means my husband is not close by; however, we must deal with the rest of the pack now if we wish to undermine his rule.”

“Okay,” John sighed unhappily and headed for the door. He didn’t want to stay any longer than they had to. “I’ll get those things for you,” he promised as he stepped into the hallway.

“We’ll also bring you both some food,” Saccharine added before following John downstairs.

True to her word, Chey was already in the kitchen making sandwiches. “So…” she began, glancing at John and Saccharine as they entered, while laying some bacon in a pan. “Is my darling niece’s virginity still intact?”

“Uhm… no,” John replied sheepishly.

“Heh, that ship sailed the night they ran away,” Saccharine snorted.

Chey’s eyes narrowed harshly, and sharp teeth gleamed from between her lips. “And you made it good for her?” Her tone suggested it wasn’t so much a question as a threat.

“Uh, yes? I hope,” he mumbled under the weight of her intense gaze.

He was spared any further response as Saccharine burst out laughing. “Take it from me, Chey, this guy doesn’t leave you wanting. Gaia herself has turned him into a nerdy sex machine.”

“Oh?” Cheyenne grinned. “Had a ride, have you?”

“You bloody betcha.”

The aunt’s grin spread from ear to ear. “Mmm, well then, I look forward to getting to know you as a member of the ‘family’ later.”

“Right…” John blushed and hurried to do what Adelia had asked of him. It was one thing being comfortable around Red, Saccharine, or Moira, it was another thing entirely getting accustomed to Chey’s sheer intensity and forward nature.

After collecting everything, including some bacon sandwiches which Chey served to him on a tray, John paused at the kitchen doorway and looked back at the aunt. Despite putting on an air of strength and composure, her breath was ragged and heavy, and she had to support her body with one arm propped against the kitchen counter.

“Are you going to be alright by yourself?” he asked with concern.

The raven-haired warg glared sharply at his question. “I like you, John, but do not coddle me,” she snapped. “I am older than you, I am stronger than you, and I have suffered far worse than what my whelp of a brother dealt. So you can go and shove your concern up your arse. If you want to help, take those sandwiches upstairs to Lia and Lyn ”

“Noted,” John swallowed any further comments. He wasn’t about to argue with a warg who had a clear disposition towards ****.

She eyed him for a long moment, before letting out something between a strangled sigh and a growl. “Forgive me, I’m not angry at you, just a tad prickly in general right now,” she explained, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Sure, it’s fine,” John replied quickly, curious at her rapid change in demeanour. ‘I wonder where we stand right now?’ he thought as he activated Observe.

His eyes widened at the abnormally high RP he had with her; though, her emotions were running hot right now. It was clear that she wasn’t handling herself quite as well as she insisted.

“I’ll be back soon,” he told her.

“Whatever,” Chey muttered, before devouring an entire sandwich in one bite. She’d hardly swallowed before she opened her mouth to allow for a second.

‘I guess I know now where Red’s eating habits come from,’ John thought, stifling a small laugh as he turned and carried the tray of sandwiches Cheyenne had given him upstairs.

After eating one of the bacon sandwiches, Adelia, assisted by Saccharine and John, helped wash Ellyn with the warm cloths. The maid was fast asleep now and didn’t stir as they carefully scrubbed some of the grime off her. “She’ll still need a bath later,” the blonde milf said softly, before applying the magical ointment. The sleeping maid let out a sigh as it was applied, her strained expression turning to one of woozy bliss. “But thank you for your aid, John, both in freeing us and caring for Ellyn. You’re a sweet boy, and I hope I can return the favour one day.”

“Don’t worry about it,” John said lightly. Like with Cheyenne, he cast Observe on Adelia now that he had a moment to sit and talk with her.

‘Well, at least one of Red’s parents approves of us,’ he found himself thinking wryly. “I’m glad I could help you,” he said out loud. “Though, admittedly, I did so with an agenda.”

Adelia raised her brow at this. “If it’s within my ability to assist you, I would be pleased to do so, though I suspect it concerns my husband?”

“Yeah…” John confirmed with a dark expression. “The short of it is he’s **** my mother in an attempt to trade her for Red.”

Adelia smiled sadly at this revelation. “Ah, I understand why you seem so tense now, despite my husband’s absence,” she sympathised, before her eyes turned to stare absently out the window. “Believe it or not, there was once a time where he was quite a remarkable individual — nothing like the monster you knew. He was kind, loving, selfless, but also incredibly weak and sickly.”

John shifted uncomfortably at her words; it was hard hearing her speak about Vulpis with any sort of affection when John himself despised the man. One would certainly struggle to find any trace of those traits in Vulpis now.

”Oh, I’m sorry,” Adelia continued, glancing at him apologetically, “my intent is not to make you sympathise with, nor even pity, my husband. He is not the same man and must pay for what he has done.”

“What… happened, then?” John asked. “I mean, if what you’re saying is true — something must have happened.”

Adelia shook her head gently. “I wish I could say with certainty what happened, but I cannot. All I know is that he went on a business trip to discuss exports in the Asia-Pacific. When he returned, he was in remarkably good health, but when I pressed him for answers, he would only reply with a vague answers.”

“What would he say?”

“That he was healed,” Adelia replied with a bittersweet laugh. “A load of tosh, I say. While he grew strong physically, a different kind of sickness had seeped into him. At first it was subtle: he was distant and irritable and hardly ever slept. But over time he grew cold and violent. I didn’t want to believe the heart I loved was gone, but every time I tried to help, his condition only worsened, but you already know what he’s become…” the mother’s voice choked, but her eyes were dry. She must have shed her last tear for her husband long ago.

John wasn’t sure whether he should comfort her or not. Ultimately, he chose to remain silent, knowing the best he could muster would be a half-heart expression of sorrow. He had little sympathy for Vulpis. The warg had **** his mother, **** and beat these women, and intended to do the same to Red. ‘But who or what could have possibly changed him so drastically?’ John couldn’t help but wonder.

“Regardless,” Adelia continued. “I will gladly assist you in getting your mother back safely, and I’m sure it will be the same for Chey. We must deal with my husband, at any rate.”

“Thank you, but rest first,” John smiled warmly. “I’m going to go make sure Cheyenne’s okay.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than an ear-splitting howl reverberated through the house. John gulped as the hairs on the nape of his neck bristled.