Beacon Hills, Home of the Supernatural

After a minute or so of hesitation Ria wrapped her arms around Cedrik, "He'll be fine, you're both going to be just fine."

"Take him camping with you," Cedrick muttered. "However long it is, and I'll sort something out."

"Not without you, you're coming too if he is."

"If we're separated, it's better. They can't get us both at once if we're not together."

"They wont get you at all."

"It's bigger than fucking money skimming, it's..." Cedrick just made a frustrated noise.

"Just keep calm..."

"He made it personal though..."

"It was always personal."

"Stealing the Alpha's money? He'll be pissed. Fucking the Alpha's mate? He's going to be fucking livid." Cedrick lifted his head to snarl at Cassius who flinched again.

"She did it too, it wasn't just your brother."

"Dulcet's not going to care about that. The fact Cassius didn't say no is grounds enough for him to fuck him up, regardless of whether or not Cas was threatened into it or -" Cedrick froze, staring at Cassius as he asked softly, "Did she threaten you into it?"

Cassius gave a weak shrug, trying not to make eye contact.

Ria frowned at that, looking between the both of them.

((brb))

"Was I shouting at you for -"

"So, camping!" Cassius interrupted, sounding almost desperate to change the topic. "This can happen, right?"

Ria nodded at that. "As long as you don't mind being in company with humans who know who we are and a vamp or two, possibly a witch depending on who's coming... We have an agreement though, nobody gets hurt and we all act like we're normal for a while."

"What, does half the school go or something? Cause -"

"I've already said I'm not going. Small cramped tents and large crowds. Not a good mix." Cedrick shrugged.

"Started off as a little project, we'd all go out together camping as kids in order to build inter species friendships or some shit like that, minus the vamps of course, they just tag along whenever they feel like acting human."

"No hunters? But when you say witches, are they hunting witches, neutral witches, witchy witches...?"

"No hunters, they want to kill us, no other interests, why would we invite them? And it depends on who comes to the witches. Isabella is an elemental witch, the nature-y ones that make flowers sprout and shit, Lola's a druid, depending on the time of year..."

"So the witch with the tiny girl Cedrick frightened won't be there? Cause she approached the group you called the local hunting family, so..."

"Nope, as far as I'm aware they know nothing of it."

"Cool. So long as the vamps stay away from me and nobody makes sudden movements, I'll be fine. Cedrick'll have a sensory overload and kill someone if he comes along."

"I don't feel comfortable leaving him here, if needs be he can pitch his tent further away from everyone else."

"You afraid he's going to do the selfless martyr act while we're all gone? Because you're completely right."

Cedrick just grumbled from where he'd pressed his forehead to Ria's shoulder again, breathing in sync with her, as if completely fine with the fact he was being talked about.

"That, and I quite frankly don't trust him not to eat the entire supply of meat we have in the freezers." Ria joked, laughing a little. "Wolves appetites are insatiable."