Not So Secret

Malachi watched her work as did the other two. Cameron's mother was eyeing Ariel unsure of her. She'd only met the woman a couple of times. He knew that she was worried that Ariel might be a danger to them, Tessa was also able to change. One of the rare few women that still could, they weren't sure why, but ones like them tended to have more males, and some chose to not change nor learn it.

Ones like Malachi and Cameron, they couldn't help it, it just happened. They didn't have to work at it. The animal was there and strong. Sometimes it felt like a curse, sometimes not. He let the energy flow into Cameron as Ariel asked. He felt the pull all of a sudden, how strong it was from Ariel. She had to be like them, just unable to change. It was the only thing that made sense.

To him it was like his ribbon of energy was but a small stream. Hers a great tide that pulled everything in. He was amazed at that, he'd never felt anything like it. Most of her energy seemed lost, like it just didn't know the direction with her inexperience. He didn't say anything as she worked, and he could see that she was becoming a bit drawn. Finally he spoke up.

"Ariel, you can stop. You're draining yourself and the worst of the wound has been taken care of." Malachi said. After a moment Ariel sat back and wiped at the cold sweat that was on her forehead.

"Thank you." Tessa stated giving Ariel a one armed hug. "There is a lot of blood here, he might have been in serious trouble if you hadn't helped. If you'd just left him, he could have bled out." They were special, but they were not gods.

"He's always been good to me, why wouldn't I help him? Regardless of some might think I would spit at those that have helped and care for me." She commented giving Malachi a look that was a bit annoyed. He just raised an eyebrow at her. Was someone holding a grudge?

"He's a good person." Ariel added touching Cameron's side who was out again. Sally was wiping at her face.

"You seem to enjoy throwing words back in people's faces." Malachi commented annoyed at her. She brought that up right now? In this situation? What a Standish thing to do and the thought kind of nearly made him smile.

"I didn't really think that, I just wanted you to think clearly for once. You were ignoring what was right in front of you." Ariel just gave him an angry sound.

"Ariel you're amazing. I wish I could do what you can, or they can. I feel so ordinary and boring compared to all of you." Sally said looking down at Cameron.

"Trust me Sally, it's not as fun as it looks." Malachi warned reaching down and scooping Cameron up in his arms and the wolf hung there limply. Ariel stared at Malachi who turned and walked in the tree line toward the back of the building. Could he do what Cameron had done? Or was he just odd in his slight healing talent and obvious strength? She had felt the energy, and now she was curious.

"I'll get the doctor to look at him." Tessa said following with Sally and Ariel in tow. "Doctor Amble he can't change but he feels it. He's good to go to." Tessa said and Malachi frowned.

"I don't like others knowing who aren't like us Tessa." She might be older but he was still higher than her socially and in standing. They were really a pack in a sense. They didn't meet as much as they used to with the changing times but still.

"You trusted her." Tessa said sternly gesturing at Ariel.

"Seeing that she just healed Cameron and probably saved his life… Ariel is fine and she lives with me so I can make sure she doesn't feel like talking about what she's seen." Besides without proof who was going to believe her? It would just be another tale.

"I won't." Ariel said looking at the ground as they walked. "One ,no one would believe me, and I care about Cameron and Sally. They treat me kindly and I wouldn't want to hurt them, nor you Malachi. You're going to be family soon." Sally wrapped an arm around Ariel shoulder. Malachi just glanced at her slightly. How he wished Natasha could be like her. It would be so much easier, he felt an odd bitterness suddenly that he wasn't sure where to aim it. Right there he wished so much it had been Ariel and not Natasha.

"Just wait here." Tessa said as they came to a smaller parking area in the back. Tessa left them in the tree line as she jogged over to where a couple of people were standing.

"I'll be right back, Cameron's dad is there I want to see what happened." Sally informed and she jogged off as well. Malachi just let out a breath looking around. Hoping that no one was looking out here and saw two women just go running out of the tree line. That they wouldn't wander over here to see him holding a wolf in his arms. The rest were mostly out front dealing with the police that had arrived and the shooters that had run. Ariel stepped in front of Malachi and put a hand on Cameron's shoulder helping it on a bit more.

"Do you know how much you can handle doing that? I'm sure that you have a limit." He said to her. She gave a shrug stroking Cameron's side and the soft yet coarse fur. Now that the shock had warn off this was really kind of cool. It made her wonder about all the different types of people and creatures out there. It was kind of refreshing to know there was more than just you.

"It's okay. I don't care, not like I have anything else useful to do anyways." She said and glanced up at him. "It was you in the garden that night wasn't it?" She asked staring at Cameron's fur still stroking it. She remembered seeing that wolf in the rain stare right at her.

"That's how you knew I was out there." Ariel added when he didn't speak right away.

"If I said yes, what would you do?" He asked seriously and she gave a sigh.

"I guess I'd be thankful that you like to go 'running' so much, because I wouldn't be standing here right now." He studied the top of her head glancing at the others who had looked this way for a moment. She was calm and not upset at all, she was odd.

"You don't seem very disgusted by it."

"Should I be?" She asked looking up and meeting his gaze solidly. They looked tired and a bit sad as always but nothing else. "I'm a bit shocked, but if I can heal with my mind, why can't others do things that are different? After all there is the rumor that your father reads minds." Malachi smiled at that. She looked down touching Cameron's shoulder examining the work again.

"Well to an extent he can, some people are more open than others. But it's taxing, minds are multileveled." He just felt like sharing with her. Seeing how far she could accept.

"Oh." Ariel said. "Can you?"

"No." Malachi said. "I can sort of heal like you, well maybe not as well. Like Cameron I can change, but all my talent tends to be physical than mental. Senses, strength, speed, all of it is far more than even most of my kind have." He admitted and she looked over to the others.

"You are a different kind? Aren't you just human who's a bit more?" She asked his ice blue gaze took her in as she spoke and looked back up at him. "You're much better than most the humans I know, perhaps it's better to be different."

"Not when you are outnumbered." He stated to her and she just gave a nod. Ariel wondered how long he could just stand there and hold Cameron like he was carrying a child. Guess that stamina and strength were nice to have.

"Well, I think that Natasha might be a bit more than surprised if she knew."

"Which she isn't going to." Malachi warned. "I don't want a single word uttered to her about this. I see how she is with you. I can just imagine the difficulties and what she'd try to pull."

"I know." Ariel said. "But for the record it doesn't bother me, and I won't tell her." God damn it, why couldn't she be the sister that he was marrying. She was the complete opposite of Natasha and right now so much more appealing in more ways than one. Before he could respond Michael came over to them.

"We're bringing a car around, just get in with him. We are all leaving. The others have already been escorted out. We got one of the shooters as there were three, but only two shot. I got a little carried away I'm afraid and killed him." The shooters clearly did not expect a wolf to hunt them down across the terrain. How wrong they were.

"I hope he felt it." Malachi said and Michael gave him a smile.

"I knew I liked you." Michael checked his son and was happy to see that he was alive and breathing. "I figured I left him in good care to get the sons of bitches."

"That you did. Cameron is more like a brother than a friend. You know I'd see to it. Ariel though is really the miracle worker though." He gestured with his head to her.

"Yes, Tessa hinted at that." Michael moved and extended a hand to Ariel and she took it. Giving a surprised sound when he pulled her into a hug. "You are welcome in our home any time Ariel. Sally has taken a liking to you, as has Cameron. The fact that he will be okay, you got him to the point his body will heal itself. That means a lot to help save my son."

"Thank you Mr. Corvich." Ariel felt really good right then, and a blush.

"Michael is fine." He said as a car pulled up near the tree line. Michael moved first and opened the back door before the front passenger side.

"Come." He said and Malachi was fast moving and getting into the car. They didn't want anyone to see as media was showing up now. Ariel hesitated a second, but then hurried around the car and got in on the other side. Michael closed the door and then got in the front. Ariel found Cameron's head in her lap and she just positioned herself to make sure that she didn't jostle him too much. They drove out leaving the place and none of them looked back.