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Karen stared unseeing out the kitchen window as the rain beat against it in a steady rhythm. Her forgotten cup of tea steamed on the counter. Today had been the worst day of her life. Sighing and fighting back a fresh onset of tears, she grabbed her cup and headed upstairs to change out of her black dress, gently placing her veiled hat back in it's box as she went. She made it to her dresser, setting the cup down and opening a drawer, before the pictures on top had her falling to her knees sobbing. There he was holding her as they dressed in matching cowboy Halloween costumes when she was four, the next was them at her first horse show, yet another was them at her college graduation, both with happy tears in their eyes. How was she going to live without the one constant in her life, the one man who was there from skinned knees to broken hearts? He was the only one she had since her mother had walked out 22 years ago leaving with him a one year old daughter. He was her everything, and now he had been taken from her, all because of some idiot who thought it would be fun to get behind a wheel after a New Years Eve party.

She cried for what seemed like hours, curled in a ball on her bedroom floor, running through a future that would never happen. The soft ringing of her cell phone over and over again, slowly brought her back to the present. Numbly she got up, and picked up her phone.

"Hello?" she asked, attempting to keep her voice steady

"I'm on my way over, I'll be there in 5 minutes." said the voice in her ear.

"Josh don't be silly, I told you, I'm fine, really, I'm okay."

"Riiight." He drawled out in his soft southern accent "that's why you walked home, leaving your jeep at the cemetery."

Despite everything else that had happened, Karen couldn't help but laugh as she realized that she had walked the 5 miles home. "Alright, you're right, the doors unlocked". With that she hung up the phone, and finally slipped out of her dress and into a pair of teddy bear pjs. Picking up her cup of, now cold, tea, she sighed, once again, and headed back downstairs to heat it up. As she was reheating her tea, the front door opened and in waltzed her best friend Josh.

"Hello my darling," he said with a flourish, as a light spray of water hit everything because of the umbrella in his hand. Smiling through the tears that were already spilling over, she rushed over, throwing her arms around his waist, finally able to hold on to something solid as all the pain washed through her once again.

"There there now, let it all out sugar," he said as he gently rubbed her back and head. "It'll be alright."

They stood like that for a while, Karen soaking the front of her friends t-shirt, while he whispered soothingly, though not really saying anything. Finally, Josh gently grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back.

"Come on now, Kare-bear, I brought over your favorite movies, and some jelly beans." She laughed and wiped her face on her sleeve as he went over to the tv and put in the first dvd. As he settled on the couch, she fixed another cup of tea for him.

"I drove your car back with the spare key you gave me. So it looks like you'll have to drop me off at the bar tomorrow when you go into work."

"Did John take your car home?" she asked as she handed him his cup, smiling at the dreamy smile that played on his face.

" Yeah, he did. This will be his first night home alone without me. Oh lordy, you don't think he'll hire some man whore to entertain him do you?" he asked with mock horror as Karen sat down next to him.

It had the desired effect and had her laughing once again.

"No Josh, I don't think he'll hire anyone just because you're not there to keep his bed warm tonight. Besides," she said with another giggle, "Have you seen the way he's constantly undressing you with his eyes. I doubt anyone else would do it for him."

"Yeah," he drawled in a dreamy way "I know, I do the same to him. He has such a nice ass."

Karen laughed and lightly hit his chest "JOSH!!"

He laughed and pulled her closer as the movie started.

* * * *

The next morning Karen got up, and walked into the bathroom, groaning when she saw how puffy her face was from crying. She went through her morning routine, keeping in mind to keep quiet so as not to wake Josh who was still asleep. As she got out of the shower, the smell of breakfast hit her like a ton of bricks and her stomach growled its approval. Since she was forced to go into work she threw her long, thick, brown hair into a bun without bothering to dry it. She wrapped an oversized towel around her petite frame and peeked into her bedroom. Seeing that Josh was truly downstairs and the smell of breakfast wasn't imagined, she walked out and rummaged through her clothes. She chose a pair of faded, stained jeans, and an old, stained t-shirt that was missing the sleeves. She packed her pockets with the necessities and bounded down the stairs, her stomach urging her on.

Josh looked up and smiled as he finished piling the last of the bacon onto her plate.

"I see you're going to actually work today, did you come up with a new idea, or are you just going to tweak something old?"

She sat down and took a few bites of food before answering.

"I got a new idea a few days ago. I figured since I had to drop you off I might as well start on it. I would have started it earlier, but," The words died on her lips as she sat and stared into her eggs, her stomach clenching.

Josh was immediately there and hugging her, before the first tear could fall.

"What am I going to do without him Josh??" she sobbed into his shirt. Grasping her chin, he tilted her face up to his,

"You're going to live, Karen. You're going to pick up the pieces, put them back together again, and carry on. You are too strong to wilt away like some delicate flower. Your dad would be tearing you a new one if he thought you'd give up."

"What do you mean?? You don't think I can be delicate?" She asked smiling through her tears

He laughed out loud, letting go of her chin, and mussed up her hair.

"There is no way, in Dante's seven layers of hell, that I would ever consider you delicate Ms. Karen DeRusse."

They ate their breakfast, laughing and talking about light trivial things until it was time to leave. Karen threw the dishes in the dishwasher, and then followed Josh out to her lime green Jeep Wrangler. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day outside, so she decided to take the top off. As they drove to town, they talked about the bar and how it was going, and how she was finally able to start selling some of her pieces. Josh didn't say anything as they took the long way, so as not to have to drive by the cemetery. Once they reached town, she parked on the side street that was right next to both her shop and her best friend's bar. They said their goodbyes and Karen couldn't help but giggle as Josh rushed off to meet back up with his boyfriend who was waiting in the doorway for him.

She stood and looked up at her store for a few seconds. Stained, was it's name, and in the large bay windows hung all of her best stained glass pieces for the world to see. As she walked in, she was bathed in a veritable rainbow, as the sun shone through the different colored glass. She took a deep breath and let it out, heading towards the back of the shop past the counter and all the finished pieces for sale. She flicked on the lights, and sat at her drawing table and started to put her newest vision on paper. Soon the picture on paper would become a scene in glass. It was going to be of a large grey wolf standing protectively over it's little baby cub that peered out from behind one of it's massive front legs. Karen felt that this would be a perfect piece for herself to always remember that she had someone watching over her, no matter how small she felt.

* * * * *

The sun was warm and pleasant as Theo walked down the street towards his office building. He had just finished his lunch and was heading back to deal with the hectic life of a running the many businesses that the Pack had under their control. As he turned the corner, he caught wind of the most wonderful scent. It smelled of Cinnamon and spices, with an undercurrent of what seemed to be apples. He staggered as his wolf came roaring to the fore front and had to lean against the side of a building to keep control of himself. Taking several deep breaths to calm, both himself and his raging wolf down, he looked around to see where it was coming from. His jaw dropped when he spotted a petite woman standing in front of the stained glass shop across the street. She had to have been the most beautiful female human he had ever seen in his entire life.

She was 5'4 at the very most, with dark, chocolate brown hair, that was piled on top of her head in a bun. Her frame was short and thick though it was clearly visible that she had more muscle than fat on her. As his gazed traveled lower, his heart nearly stopped at the firm round ass that looked back at him through a pair of tight jeans. His eyes dropped down to look at well formed thighs, and on to what he could only imagine as a pair of amazing calves. He let his eyes travel back up her frame, letting it once again pause at her hips, before going back to her head. While he was admiring the view, she unlocked the shop and walked into it. As she moved about, he caught his first glance of her voluptuous breast. Each one was nice and round and looked as if it would just barely fit into his large hands.

He kept staring as she sat down at a table and began to draw. Her face was perfect, slightly oval in shape, with an adorable button nose, and full lips, of which the lower one was in the process of being worried by her straight white teeth. At that, his groin twitched into life, and he found himself walking towards the shop. He hesitated for less than a second before pushing the door open. As he walked in the same smell hit him like a freight train, she looked up and smiled, making his breath catch, as he looked into her almond shaped tri-colored hazel eyes. He also noticed, that while she had a breath-taking smile, the smile didn't reach her eyes. He then noticed the slight red tint, and the puffiness that surrounded them. She had been crying, and strangely, it made his wolf go nuts. He battled with him for a moment and pushed him down, shrugging off the surge of protective nature to him being the Alpha's second. His wolf tried to act up again, but Theo just shoved him down harder and told him to stay there.

"Hello"

* * * *

Karen looked up as the gentle chiming of bells signaled that someone had entered her store. She took a moment to practice her greeting, before looking up and smiling. The man who stood before her was unlike anything she'd ever seen. He had to have been around 6'5, with a strong athletic build. She could see the muscles in his shoulders and chest even under his expensive Italian suit. His chest led down into a small waist, giving him a swimmer's body. She glanced down as far as she could without leaning over the desk to see the rest of him, but she was sure it was just as gorgeous as the top part. Her eyes darted quickly back to his, which was a mistake. His eyes were a deep, dark, honey brown that seemed to suck her into them. It took all of her willpower to break eye contact and respond to the gently spoken greeting he had given her.

"Hello, How are you today? Is there anything I can help you with?" she rushed out as she stood from the bar stool she was perched on. Theo chuckled softly, sending shivers up and down her spine.

"Oh, no, I'm fine, I've just always wanted to come in and see what was here. How about yourself, how are you?"

"It's been a little hectic, I had some family business that came up so I haven't been in lately," her thoughts trailed off, and she had a brief moment where her smile slipped before she plastered it back on and tried to act normal.

"Anyways, I'm back and in a creating kind of mood, is there anything you'd like me to make for you?"

He didn't show that he saw her smile slip, saw the raw pain in her eyes, before she bravely pasted on her 'normal' face. Again, his wolf tried to act up, as if he was trying to tell him something, but Theo ignored him until he huffed angrily and curled into a ball at the back of his mind.

"I don't have anything right now, but if I think of something I'll let you know. Is it alright if I look around a little?"

"Of course! Everything with a white tag is for sale, if it has a green tag, it's either been bought, or commissioned by someone and they just haven't picked it up yet." She said pointing to various pieces around room. "If you see something that sparks your interest and there isn't a tag on it, let me know, and I'll give you its details."

She turned her back to him and went back to the desk, picking up the finished drawing and moving it over to her work station. As he browsed the art, she began to dig through the glass to find the perfect colors.

Theo walked around the shop, he tried to look at the pieces, but he found his eyes constantly going back to where the women was, now digging through shards of glass. His wolf paced restlessly in his mind. Mentally growling at his beast. He tried to push him back down and convince him that this silly little human female was not what his wolf thought she was. Finally after a heated battle, the wolf whined dejectedly before curling back into a ball and leaving his other half to himself. He was going through the list of females back at the compound that were always willing to please him, when he was pulled out of his thoughts by a pained gasp and the sound of breaking glass.

The string of curse words that flew out of Karen's mouth would have put a sailor to shame. That had been the perfect shade of blue for the sky and she had dropped it. She balled up her shirt into her left hand to stem the bleeding from the cut on her palm, while she bent over to pick up the pieces that had scattered all over the floor. As she muttered under her breath, she didn't notice that the man had walked up behind her.

"Need any help?" He asked softly, causing her to squeak and spin around, almost dropping more glass.

"Good lord you scared me!" she exclaimed grabbing her chest with her bloody hand " Thank you for the offer, but I've got..." her thoughts trailed off as she turned to look into his eyes.

Gone was the deep honey brown, in it's place, his eyes were a bright gold that seemed to glow. She slowly backed away, until her hip hit her drawing desk.

"Uhm, Sir? Are.... Are you... alright?" she asked in a shaky voice.

He didn't hear anything she was saying. He had walked over to see if she needed any help, he wasn't expecting to see her bleeding. The sight and smell of so much of her blood sent his wolf crazy. It was all he could do to keep himself from changing right then and there to help heal the cut on her hand.

"You're bleeding..." he rasped out in a low voice, as he slowly approached her like the predator he was.

"I'm well aware of that, but at least my eyes are staying the same color." she bit out as she slowly slid around her drawing table and backed toward the register. If she could just get to the pistol that she had under the counter, she would be okay. The crazy man in front of her seemed to ignore the words she was saying, as he kept stalking closer. Three more steps, and she would be there, two more.

* * * * "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?" Josh roared as he marched into the shop toward the stranger that was stalking his best friend.

Theo looked up at the intruder to see who dared to barge in. A low growl started in his chest and rose slowly as the new man approached him. Yet the metallic sound of a gun being cocked, had his attention back on the little women in front of him instantaneously.

"I suggest you leave while you still posses the ability to." she said with cold steel in her voice. The second that josh had burst into the room was more than enough for her to grab her gun, cock it and have it aimed at man in front of her.

The sight of the silver gun pointed at him was more than enough to cool his wolf and give him the ability to push him back down. He had no idea why the sight of her blood had affected him so much. He could still smell it in the air though, and it was the sweetest smelling nectar he had ever smelt. It set his blood boiling, and his cock straining against his pants. He had to have this women, no matter what, she would be his.

"I'm sorry I scared you, I was just trying to look at your hand to see if there was anything I could do to help." he said softly and slowly, holding his hands up.

"I thought I already told you, I don't need any help." Karen spat back with a fire that danced in her eyes "I will only say this one more time, leave now, while you can still walk, or you'll be leaving in a stretcher and handcuffs."

Theo bowed slightly, and briskly walked out of the shop. He walked down a few blocks, before circling around to watch her through the shop windows from across the street. His hackles rose as he saw the man from earlier holding the petite brunette. His wolf got him halfway across the street, before he realized it. He turned around, figuring it was best to wait a little bit before approaching her again. So he turned and headed back to the office.

Karen sat sobbing once again into Josh's chest. "Why does all the horrible stuff happen to me??" she choked out as he stroked her hair.

"Shhh now chickadee, you handled yourself spectacularly. Your Daddy would have been mighty proud."

After she had gotten more composure over herself, she stood up, finished cleaning up the broken glass, and finally cleaned and bandaged her hand. Then she closed up shop early and went home to take a nice long, relaxing bath before bed.

* * * *

Theo barely made it through the rest of the day. He was angry and restless, and no one could get through to him. Finally, he packed it up and left to go back to the compound. He took a small detour by the little woman's shop. It was dark and locked up, somehow disappointing him that he wouldn't get to see her again today, even though he had told himself the whole day that he'd never see her again anyways.

Once he got back to the compound and into his apartment, he called for one of his usual women to come and try to get the day's tension out of his shoulders. He sat by the fireplace in his favorite armchair to wait. A few minutes later, in walked in Annie, a tall, slender, blonde female. She had small curves, though they suited her long frame. She sauntered over and sat boldly in his lap.

"Hey there handsome, had a bad day huh?" She asked as she started to rub his chest with one of her hands.

"Yes." He growled out before forcefully dragging her head down to his for a demanding kiss.

He dominated the kiss, his tongue forcing it's way into her mouth to duel with hers. He was rough in his treatment, grabbing her small breast through her shirt.

"All of it.. off....now." he demanded, indicating her clothing.

She obliged readily, shedding each piece of cloth and letting it fall to the floor. He stood, and grabbed a nipple in between his thumb and forefinger, pulling on it hard, while the other hand roughly grasped at the other breast making her moan loudly. His cock was hard and painful against his pants, so he pushed lightly on her shoulders to send her to her knees. She licked her lips hungrily, and she undid his pants.

As she slid the offending articles of clothing to the floor his enormous cock sprang free, sending her into excited giggles. She gently grasped it and began to stroke the soft velvety shaft. Slowly she started licking the head of his cock, while her hands worked his shaft and balls. Theo groaned, urging her on, as she slid his cock deeper into her mouth, while still working her tongue around the head. He grabbed the back of her hair and urged her to go faster. She obliged by taking him as far as she could, while letting him work her head in an increased tempo. His grunts and groans filled the air as he fucked her mouth, but it wasn't enough, he needed more. He pulled her head off his cock and and pushed her onto all fours. He positioned himself behind her, reaching around to flick her clit a few times to get her wet before he entered her. He slammed into her hard from behind and soon she was moaning and pushing her hips back against him. He set a fast, hard pace, trying to pound out all the frustration of the day away.