Shawn yawned, his jaw cracking, as he walked into his tiny little apartment. He felt like he could just pass out in the hallway. He spent almost the entire flight stressing, and he was emotionally drained already, his stupid brain coming up with new scenarios for what could be happening to Miles, or because of Miles.

 

He checked every news site he could find on the ride back home, scouring for any mention of a plane crash due to a giant monster alike to what he'd seen Miles shift into, or the Alpha that had attacked them. Still, he was unsure, even with no sign in the news about werewolves. He was sure there were countermeasures that the supernatural world had to cover up any incidents that occurred.

 

He stretched, groaning as the bruises on his shoulders throbbed. He would really love that healing ability Miles and Naomi had. The young man pulled his phone out of his pocket, checking to see any messages he might've received in-between being dropped off by the taxi and going up to his apartment.

 

Absolutely nothing. He frowned, he'd hoped Miles would've messaged him already. He did find a text from Naomi, letting him know the supplies would be ready in about an hour from now. At least there was that, but it did mean he couldn't take a nap like he wanted.

 

Oh well, time to make some coffee, I guess. Shawn set his luggage into the seat closest to the door and moved to the kitchen. He ground some local coffee beans he'd bought just before he left and tamped them into the filter basket, filling the water reservoir with cool, filtered water. He set it to brew and yawned again, rubbing his eyes as the scent of coffee filled the room.

 

Shawn found his favorite mug, pouring some milk into a pitcher to froth. He finished up with his cappuccino, pouring a shot of espresso into his mug and tilting it as he drizzled in the perfectly steamed milk. He sat down at his tiny excuse of a breakfast bar and sipped, humming in content as the drink warmed him from the inside-out.

 

As he sipped, Shawn pulled out his phone, looking again for any message, sighing when he found his inbox empty of anything new.

 

He felt... a little lonely now. It felt like he was gone for months, spending almost every hour around Miles and Naomi. He frowned, thinking on how his relationship with Miles had shifted. He knew he hadn't felt like this about Miles before the life-threatening occurrences. Or... at least he thought so. They teased each other in videos, throwing flirtatious comments back and forth, but that was mostly because their fans loved it. Right?

 

Ugh, Shawn thought this would be a lot easier to think about when he was alone and away from Miles, but it just made him realize how much he missed Miles. After Miles was turned he seemed to get much more tactile than before, touching and hugging Shawn whenever he could. Shawn knew it was probably some werewolf instinct, especially since he knew his scent helped Miles with his control, but... he didn't know why his scent would help.

 

Maybe because he was there when Miles was turned? That would mean that Shawn's scent would be one of the first ones he'd recognized as a werewolf.

 

Shawn jumped, his phone buzzing loudly against the countertop. He tapped at the screen until it lit up, he sighed when he didn't see Miles name. He just wanted to know he was okay...

 

Instead, Naomi's name popped up, along with a long list of instructions.

 

The wards are ready. She says she'll meet you at her shop. She'll need to know it's you, so she wants you to enter, make sure the door is closed behind you, and go to the tomes in the back, pull out the tome titled 'Protection and Prevention for Any Ancient Evil' and bring it to the front. When she comes to you say it's been awfully rainy recently. She'll then make sure any other customers are gone and take you into the back to give you instructions for the wards.

 

Shawn stared at the instructions for a while. He wondered who exactly this shaman was. He figured there was a reason for all the precaution though, as he drained the last bit of his coffee and pulled on his light jacket before he left.

 

The shop was a short drive from his apartment, deep in old downtown with all the other tiny mom-and-pop shops. It looked plain, especially for what it was. At first glance, you would definitely not guess it held inside books of the occult and supernatural wards, packets of herbs and pure iron crucifixes.

 

Shawn pressed the door closed behind himself carefully, looking around the store to take in all the various items lining the shelves. He leveled his gaze with the back wall, taking in the books that, really, could only be called tomes. They were large, thick books, looking old and worn from ages of use. He scanned the titles, glancing around before he pulled off the book Naomi had messaged him to pull. Bringing it to the front he found a young, dark-skinned woman, watching him with an interested half-smile that made him instantly uncomfortable.

 

Feels like she can read my mind... Shawn squirmed, stuttering as he finished the requirements. “A-awfully rainy recently, huh?”

 

The woman stared at him for a few more moments, then burst into laughter. Her laugh was booming and musical all at once, filling the otherwise empty shop. “I can't believe you actually did all of that, young’un.”

 

Shawn stared after the woman as she snatched the tome from his hands and gestured for him to follow her to the back. What just happened?

 

“Um.”

 

“Well.” The woman spun around, propping her hands on her hips. “Aren't'cha gonna follow, child?” Her accent was thick, something he hadn't quite heard before. It sounded somewhat between a Southerner's accent and something that he'd only heard in fantasy movies. Musical, light, and lilting.

 

Shawn looked around the store another time and followed, the woman smirking in a way that made Shawn's skin crawl. She spun around and sashayed down the hall, leading him into a large stockroom. The shelves were overflowing with satchels and jars filled with fresh and dried herbs and petals. The back wall had bushels of flowers drying, dangling from the stems some powdered with what he could assume was a curing type powder.

 

The counter in the center held a basket, the woman pulling out tinctures, pouches, and... holly branches?

 

“Do werewolves not like holly?”

 

The woman grinned. “Werewolves don't have an issue with it.” She rubbed a thumb over a leaf of the branch. “The leaves when infused into an herbal water is a simple, yet effective protective potion. The branch laid across every entrance also wards off evil.”

 

She held up a bottle of ground, purple-gray leaves. “Aconite, or wolfs bane. What the name implies, it wards off werewolves. Burn the leaves and line the ashes around the perimeter to keep werewolves away. The scent is effectively an extremely powerful toxic gas for them, causing sores on the lungs, blinding them, and eventually, causing death after prolonged exposure.”

 

A pouch this time, made of clean, unbleached burlap. “If you happen to get into a situation with a were, set the contents on fire and throw it at them. Try to aim for the face and it will blind them and knock all evidence of your scent from their nose for a half hour. They'll heal from the burn... eventually.”

 

“Do you want me to hunt them or protect myself from them?” Shawn asked, a little amazed at what she was arming him with.

 

“One less crazed Alpha the better.” She huffed. “I'm only following lil' miss Alpha's orders, otherwise she'd be happy to show me my own innards.” She tucked the items into the basket again, along with rose water, holy water, various incense, and the tome he'd picked out earlier. “In case you have any other issues with the Supernatural, darlin'.” She winked, making it feel like his skin shrunk and grew all at once.

 

“Um, okay...” Shawn stuttered, taking the basket from her when she reached it out to him. Their fingers brushed and Shawn jumped back what felt like ten feet. A spark shot up his arm at the contact, unpleasant and completely out of the ordinary. It felt like literal electricity running through him, bone deep from fingertip to shoulder. What the hell was that?

 

Shawn looked up at the woman, only to find her smirk gone, now intrigued, glancing over him with interest that felt somewhat like someone looking over an exotic animal exhibit. She hummed, reaching under her shawl, taking a card from inside.

 

“Tell you what, sugar... you're an interesting one so I'll give you my card. If you have any issues you contact me, alright, honey?”

 

Without any answer from Shawn she tucked the card into the basket, and then, quite literally, whisked him out of shop. Shawn turned around only to find an abandoned shop, not even two seconds from the door closing behind him.

 

What in the holy hell just happened?

 

 

Shawn got back in, setting the basket down on the kitchen counter and checking his phone again. He could wait a couple seconds to put up the protection. He figured the Alpha would be repelled enough by the scent of the wards that were strong enough for even his weak human nose to pick up.

 

His heart lightened, seeing a message from Miles. He was okay... Shawn opened the message to read it fully, settling at the breakfast bar.

 

When u get the chance plz skype me miss ur face cloths not enough

 

Shawn shook his head, he really wished Miles would take a couple extra seconds to make his texts less painful to read. Still, it was good to have something from Miles...

 

He turned on his computer, decided to pluck some of the holly leaves from the plant and starting the setup of placing branches and berries above window sills and doorways. He was drawing out the wolfs bane jar to line the perimeter when his computer finished coming online. He logged in quickly, bringing up Skype only to see Miles' username grayed out. Must've missed him... Shawn glanced at the time and winced. It was already about three in the morning here. He should probably just set these up and get to bed. Still, he ought to at least send Miles a message back to let him know he got back alright.

 

Shawn made sure his webcam was set up, then clicked on Miles' username to send a video message. As soon as the video feedback popped up Shawn waved. “Hey, Miles. Just letting you know I got back fine. I got back from getting the protection Naomi talked about not too long ago.” He held up the jar he'd just set on the desk as proof. “I'm going to turn in for the night once I've got these set up, since I'm only running on caffeine now, but I wanted you to know I'm fine.” God, was this always this awkward? Shawn felt like he was making this awkward. He huffed and reached toward the mouse to click end. “Bye, I guess?”

 

Bye? I guess? He didn't have any reason to be this nervous leaving a message, did he? He felt like he was... crushing on Miles, or something...

 

Shawn shook himself, maybe a little more violently than needed, and put his computer into sleep, before he finished off the wards, taking a handful of the crushed wolfs bane to burn in an oven-safe bowl, carefully lining the entirety of the apartment with the cooled ashes. It felt odd between his fingers, tingling with what he could only guess was magic repelling power or something.

 

Whatever, he was as done as he was going to get, and Shawn desperately needed to sleep. Especially needed to just shut his brain off for a while because if he thought about Miles anymore he'd probably never get to sleep.

 

Though, it was bugging him. Why would Miles send messages like that he misses Shawn's face if Miles wasn't feeling the same as he was? What if it was just a thing the wolf was causing out of some weird wolf hormone? Was that a thing?

 

Shawn groaned, flopping onto his bed and holding a pillow over his head. Maybe he could suffocate himself... then his stupid brain would shut up.