Summary: A street skirmish ends up pulling Ezra into the underworld, where he discovers that he's not only a werewolf, but a submissive one at that. Just try ordering him around though and you just might find yourself waking up sore with a concussion and gravel in your mouth. Slash/MxM.

Chapter 1 – Psycho gangsters are after me

"See you later Ezra!" Maya's black locks reflected a shimmering blue in the sunlight. It bounced to her light steps as she slid into the driver's seat of her car, flashing me a cheery smile and wave before taking off.

I plopped onto the street bench to wait for the bus, leaning against my backpack as a cushion against the uncomfortable stone support. I pulled at my tie to shake out my long red hair, resting my chin near my chest. The strands served as a curtain against the glaring light, watching from the corner of my eye with pleasure at how the reds took on an almost golden glow.

As I admired the fiery strands that fluttered in the breeze, I noticed someone sitting on the other end of the bench turned in my direction. I frowned. The person wasn't being very discreet about it either. I cautiously shifted in my seat to get a better look at the stranger without lifting my head.

It was a boy, probably seventeen or a year older than me. His eyes were dirt brown and his hair lacked the luster of a healthy blonde. He sniffed the air in my general direction, finding something he liked – or at least that's what it seemed like in the way his frown had morphed into a sly grin. It was unsettling how it was directed right at me, and it only grew more malicious as he stared into my narrowing eyes.

I wasn't hiding behind my curtain of hair any longer. I held his gaze, daring him to speak. This seemed to amuse the man and he chuckled. "You're a submissive, aren't you?" He cocked his head with a smirk.

"Excuse me?" What the heck was this guy on? "I'm sorry but I have no idea what you're talking about." I sighed. Great, I was stuck waiting on a bus bench with a psycho. I slid my cell phone out of my pocket to check the time. I still had about fifteen minutes until the bus would come. I surveyed my surroundings to find the area pretty much desolate. The trees lining the street covered us from anyone peeking out into their backyards and the few cars that actually took this back street were a rarity. Just my luck.

I was alone, but I wasn't completely powerless.

"Aw, don't be like that! Say, you aren't from our pack. Who do you belong to?" The boy shifted in his seat to directly face me. I noticed he wasn't carrying a backpack like me, which was strange, because usually the only people who took the bus around this time and in this area were students.

I really should have just been ignoring the dude but the stranger was leaning forward steadily, only pausing for my reply. "I don't belong to anyone or anything, pack or gang or whatever it is you're talking about." This guy was nuts. I didn't even look like a delinquent. Unfortunately, I knew I had the more feminine features and artsy type of look, which was consequently the exact opposite of who I really was. I did like art, but me? Girly? Hell no. It took some of my fists and eating gravel for several jerks at my old school to learn that I was not the type of person who took shit from anyone.

I realized that the boy's eyes were… no longer brown. Okay, I know his eyes were definitely brown earlier when I checked. Now they seemed almost yellow. This was freaking me out but I wasn't about to let it show.

"Hmm, I wouldn't peg you for a loner. Such a," the man leaned forward licking his lips, "lovely little pup like you shouldn't be all alone without protection in this huge, scary world." With startling speed the stranger grabbed my arm and yanked me up, trying to pull me towards him.

That was it. I would not be blamed for any broken arms, or heads for that matter. Before the guy could surround me in his arms, I swung my right fist right into his exposed stomach. My left leg followed and found its target right into the left side of his head, his expression one of shock before he crumpled onto the ground. He didn't get up. The way he had carried himself had seemed like he thought he was strong, but I guess he never met someone like me. My acute hearing told me he wasn't dead, his unconscious breathing assuring me that I wouldn't be going to jail for murder anytime soon. And if they decided to track me down, well I had my reasons.

I decided I wasn't going to wait around for the loony dude to wake up and learn of his defeat. I positioned my backpack more comfortably on my shoulders and started my long trek home.

-/-

"Alma, I'm home!" I dropped my bag at the entrance of the doorway, agilely slipping my combat boots off with my toes. I was hit with the sweet, savoring smell of chocolate chip cookies. I once again thanked my lucky stars for sending this heavenly gift that came in the form of the couple that had plucked me off the streets and adopted me into their warm home. I couldn't have wished for anything better.

A sweet soprano voice called from the kitchen with a strict but playful tone. "Ezra darling, don't call me by my first name! Mom! Call me Mom or there'll be no cookies for you!"

I roll my eyes, unable to contain the soft smile at the sight of my adoptive mother twirling in the kitchen and humming to the beat of the broom she was using to sweep the floor. I grabbed for the broom before she could protest and took to the cleaning instead. She frowned in annoyance, but grinned mischievously as she turned in the direction of the stairs and belted out a commanding whine. "Dear, our son just stole the broom from me and now the cleaning will never be finished and now all of you will have to tend to the cooking instead, and I want my broom back! Now!" She tossed her head back in a mock maniacal laughter, the back of her hand to her mouth.

"Jorell, your wife is being a brat!" I teased, swinging the broom away from my mom's grabbing hands.

Loud thumps resounded down the stairs as my father entered the kitchen to swing his wife into a bear hug. A twinge of envy stabbed at my heart, but the relief and warmth replaced it in the realization that these were my parents – and no matter what, I wasn't going to give them up. They were a sight. Alma's hair was a lush honey brown, her eyes a twinkling green framed with happy wrinkles from age that only added to her soft beauty. Jorell was tall and thick, very much resembling a bear with his earthy brown hair and growing beard, his brown eyes matching the light of his beloved. He jabbed a finger in my direction. "Father, boy. I'll have none of this name calling from our son and that's final. You haven't been with us for very long but you'll have to get used to it." He turned his attention back to his wife and pecked her forehead. "And you, my love, don't even cook because I do that, so you don't even have to worry about Ezra returning your broom!"

Our son. Every time I heard them say that, an inexplicably joyful shot of energy flooded out any anxieties that were troubling me. I never even realized how much I needed someone beside me, knowing there was support that I could lean onto, knowing that I was no longer alone. It scared me sometimes at the thought that if I ever lost these two, I would revert back to being the cold, cruel, and lonely person I had been before they had changed me. I knew with guilt that I'd given the couple hell for almost half a year before I soon found myself doing something I never thought I could do – trusting. As I warmed up to them and them to me, I was really thankful for Alma and Jorell. It was no exaggeration to say that they had saved my life, gifting me with this new life where I was actually alive and not just trying to survive.

The sun was just starting to set when the three of us sat down to dinner. In the middle of a conversation with me updating my parents on school, the doorbell rang insistently twice followed by a few rough knocks.

"What in the world?" Alma moved to get up from her seat, but I stood up quickly to direct her back into her chair across from Jorell. They looked concerned, and I could almost feel worry radiating from my mom. That really pissed me off, but I smiled at the couple as I pushed my chair in.

"Don't worry about it Mom. I'll get it. Besides," I clenched my fists in the air, "if there is any trouble, which I highly doubt, you know that I can easily fend for myself." I gave them a wink before heading for the entrance, slipping my boots on just in case we needed to step outside.

I struggled to see through the door's peep hole. Two police officers stood outside, eerily staring straight back at me. Well shit, this better not be about what happened this afternoon. I turned back to yell over my shoulder as I unlocked the door. "Mom, Dad, don't worry about it! I'll be outside for a bit!"

I closed the door behind me, eyeing the officers. They didn't really look that old, like they were in college or something. The two were both a lot taller with more obvious muscle compared to me. Still, if worst comes to worst, I knew I could take them down somehow.

"Ezra Walker?" The taller blonde questioned, leering down at me. His eyes were yellow, much like the guy from this afternoon. The same went for the other black haired officer. They both had long, tied back hair and yellow eyes. If that doesn't scream suspicious, I don't know what else does.

When I was allowed to walk down to the driveway, only to be followed by the yellow eyed muscle men, I knew something wasn't right. What cops let their potential suspect just walk away from the door and into the open with a way for escape?

I spun around with one hand on my hip. "That'd be me. What can I do for you officers?"

The dark haired one laughed. "A smart one, ain't he?" His eyes scanned my whole body, but the way he did it told me he wasn't looking for any hidden weapons. It just felt… gross.

The other man didn't seem so amused. His eyes took on a dark gleam and for a minute a flash of fear caused my intake of breath to hitch when I met his eyes. Immediately I settled my nerves to glare down both of the fake officers'. Fear was no enemy of mine. If anything, it was my ally.

"Not very smart if the submissive isn't lowering his head to us dominants. Stupid is more like it."

Wait, what? The words from the psycho at the bus stop came into connection with what I'd just heard. That was the second time I'd heard the term 'submissive' to describe me, but the first time to hear the word 'dominant', which the men seemed to call themselves. They were acting somewhat similar to the other guy whose ass I had totally whooped, and I assumed these guys weren't law enforcers but possibly from whatever gang that was mentioned before and in cahoots with the loser for revenge. They all had yellow eyes. Wow, how lame were they to make all of these gang members wear matching contact lenses?

A black strand crossed my vision before I realized with a grunt that I was flush against the garage door. Fuck, this guy was inhumanly quick. The man had both hands around my neck, slowly exerting more pressure in his hold. I grabbed his arm and in one fluid movement, brought both legs up to kick him square in the stomach.

My attacker stumbled backwards holding his stomach and I slid down coughing, but alert in the defense. I was sure my neck would be slightly bruised from the way it was throbbing. I used the garage for support to stand back up, eyes flickering between the two strangers. The blonde one was practically snarling at me, his hands clenching and unclenching.

"What the hell are you guys doing!" A high pitch screech radiated fury from around the corner. I glanced behind the officers to find Maya mirroring the blonde's clenching fists.

The black haired, having recovered from my kick, was laughing and pointing at my friend. "Oh my gosh, who does this human think she is?" He almost doubled over. Human? The way he said it implied that he wasn't, unless he usually referred to other people as so. This was getting stranger by the second.

"Who do you think I am?" Maya's fingers swept through the air. A flickering ball of flame grew into slithering, snake-like flames that coursed dangerously around her in a spiral.

What in the world? Maya wasn't burning, nor was she sweating. The tendrils whipped out at the officers who were starting to back away.

I noticed the two attackers glance at each other before the blonde haired grabbed my arm just as the other launched himself at Maya. I couldn't see what happened after, as my attention was focused on the guy who was currently trying to drag me away in the direction of the forest across the street from my house. I punched at his arms and kicked at him, but even when his arm started to bruise a bright red, he wouldn't relinquish me. I couldn't use full range of my legs as they were trying to keep me from tripping over. We were nearly half way across the street when two ferocious roars echoed in the empty neighborhood.

My head swiveled around to find a massive black wolf facing off against a flaming lion. The wolf was colossal, even bigger than the bug parked on my driveway. Its fangs snapped at the small lion, but the lion dodged the jaws in a counter swipe with its claws. The golden lion was normal size, but its mane was a mass of red flames that also clouded various other parts of its body.

This was a dream. It had to be. Except, the iron grip around my arm really was painful.

"Let him go." I swung back around to find Maya standing in our path, her eyes glowing a fiery red, no longer the usual emerald. Her finger was directed at the blonde haired guy who was starting to sweat nervously. His eyes flickered over to his partner behind him. Taking me by surprise, he shoved me into Maya who yelped as we stumbled together. A whoosh of air had me clinging to Maya in fear that we'd be blown away, my eyes trying to search for the source of the wind that was quickly dying down. A sandy colored wolf was running in the direction of the forest, the black one trailing behind.

I turned around with Maya still in my arms to find the lion sitting behind me. I stumbled back once again as Maya wiggled out of my hold. She patted my arm. "Don't worry, Ariel here is my familiar. He won't hurt you as long as you aren't threatening me."

The dizzy spinning in my head was telling me I should have fainted by now. But knowing me, fainting was never an option.

To be continued. Yeah, so this is sort of still based in the 'magical' modern world of Noblessed. It's sort of a sidestory but at the same time a stand alone main story, if that makes any sense. I couldn't get this story out of my head and I'm exhausted from lack of sleep. Wait until you meet the yummy Alpha… ;) Ezra definitely won't be as excited to meet him. Please review!