Oliver Burton

It did not take long for the ivory-haired man known as Frost to make his way to the door of that large home. By the time the alpha appeared Abigail was a force of unrestrained energy. It multiplied within her like she were a factory of it. It was impressive, truly. Oliver hardly knew where she could store it all or if she would eventually crash from burn out. She babbled excitedly, bouncing about the tall stoic alpha like a maypole as she all but rejoiced in the man's potential horns. The sheer enigma that was this Frost seemed to remain, Abigail easily adding fuel to her own misfiring machine. The woman had no idea what Frost. It was clear as that ever-expanding list grew even longer than it had before. A hippo??? Really? How did one even survive a hippo attack? Though, did it truly matter what the unflappable were-animal was? With Abigail's sheer enthusiasm over the man, it would seem her excitement extended to just about anyone and anything placed in front of her. It was nothing short of amazing to watch. Oliver wondered what it felt to be so excited for life. Her questions did little to unveil the mystery as to what he was and he was certain the poor girl would never find true peace until the alpha put her growing assumptions to rest.

Frost hardly seemed bothered by the pairs random appearance, nor the sheer onslaught of questions that all but assaulted him. Interesting. That brief barely-there smile temporarily appeared just as quickly as it had disappeared at Oliver's own words. Didn't Abby say he was an elephant? Surely that seemed more fitting of an alpha. However, it hardly fit his stature or the unusually pale locks of his own hair. Not that he looked a thing like the polar bear he was, or else his own hair would be just as pigment-less as Frost's own ivory locks. Not even did he flinch by the mention of his potential mammoth tusks, Oliver could hardly help her then. He shook his head in solemn defeat. There was no stopping that vivacious force now.

Frost hardly eluded to any of it, his vague answer not even offering a morsel of an indication to any of it. Perhaps he enjoyed people's inquisitive, perhaps it was all some elaborate game. It hardly deterred Abigail from continuing her ruthless pursuit, suddenly and completely convinced that Frost was a panda, like her. She briefly broke her utter fixation on the alpha to peer back at Oliver, as if he was supposed to know if she was right. Truly her own guess was as good as his. But that was not where Oliver's own mind lingered as both men seemed to be trapped in some never-ending assessment of one another, in what could only be described as an act of intense act of almost toxic masculinity. One could practically see the current of testosterone crackling between them.

Oliver hesitated to answer Abigail, the woman clearly did not need his opinion at all as she already seemed to assure herself she was right. He was quite sure the woman was going to blow from excitement. A sudden high-pitched squeal escaped her as if she could barely control her delight as she all but threw her arms around Frost in an oblivious hug. Oliver watched in complete bafflement, how grateful he had remained off the woman's hug radar.

Unfortunately, the killjoy Oliver's words seemed to suddenly burst her bubble as quickly as it had inflated. How the businessman felt entirely villainous to steal her light as that her face crumbled. Women, he would never win. His brusque attitude so often a disappointment to them. His rose his hands, finding it impossibly difficult to simply stand there. Someone had to put an end to this emotional rollercoaster. Or perhaps Frost was better equipped to deal with them? "You could simply ask him." His accented words rang clearly, as though it would satisfy them both in knowing and yet for some strange sense of pride he refused to ask that question himself.

For a long moment longer of what seemed like harmless posturing by staring between the two men, minus blinking, to not blink would have been utterly ridiculous. Oliver decided to cut to the chase as to why they were even here in the first place. If Abby were left to her own devices, they would likely never get anywhere but a million new tangents further and further from the objective. At least Frost was not elusive in his desires, confirming his own wants in Abigail's recruitment. In that bear could respect, the unabashed bluntness. Perhaps they could cut right to the meat of it. But those use of words were rather short. The man hardly elaborating as to why. Was there reasoning behind it? Or did he perhaps enjoy Abigail's infectious curious personality as Oliver did? That little panda seemed to garner a renewed interest in the two men, taking part in that staring match.

Oliver was the first to break into those introductions, a formality he issued smoothly, his manners business-like like his attire. Frost broke that assessing gaze as if to peer down at his hand before offering his own in that firm shake while oblivious to the intrusion of his own mind. That brief amusement that flickered within the alpha only seemed to suggest that he was not used to shaking hands, Oliver could only assume that much. Which was completely mystifying to consider it was basically the language of businessmen. A lot could be said about that brief transaction and even more said about those preliminaries and nuances.

Frost seemed willing to at least entertain his unannounced guest then, before gesturing inside to invite the odd pair inside. Oliver kept one eye trained on the other man at all times, an indication to the predator inside of him. Abigail was the first to curiously eye that entranceway before she declared its safety. Wasn't he supposed to be him keeping the girl safe? Barley a moment longer she darted inside, as Oliver followed closely behind with an assessment of his own. He was met with a wide array of scents that provided him with a whole slew of information to digest. Once clear of the door, Frost closed it behind him before that unusual question. Abigail, fortunately, was quick to provide that very answer after a burst of lilting laughter escaped her that was followed up shortly after an explanation. He was unsurprised about the mention of her boyfriend, no, it was the mention of being called her 'bestie' that seemed to cause the man to perk up in a way as subtle as it was. He seemed to find it amusing in some inexplicable way. It was that innocence and complete willingness to put trust in people was the reason why he wished to see she didn't lose that untarnished shine to her soul. It was that jubilant gleam that reminded him of his sister that would forever be a weakness to him.

His nutmeg hued gaze seemed to watch her with amusement before he returned his attention to Frost who they waited to lead the way into his home. He nodded in affirmation before Abigail mentioned something he was hardly prepared for. He said nothing about joining Frost's pack! He was here to make sure it was safe.... For her! But perhaps if the alpha considered him a prospect, he would be more inclined to offer up information. "As you can see, I am invested in making sure Abigail remains safe. There are not many people quite like her and I would wish to see she does not end up.... In a situation where she is unsafe or exploited. I am sure you can agree that this city is full of unworthy characters that would happily corrupt and manipulate the likes of her. " Oliver watched him closely for any subtle twitch, a tell anything that seemed amiss.

Any trace of Abigail's once sadness was entirely obliterated before she began to speak once more. What he hardly expected was for her to throw him so casually under the bus. He could not help that rough exhale. Him an alpha? How little interest he had in taking on that responsibility when he struggled with the people he had under his protection now. "You make a very compelling bargain. We will see what we make of Frost here and his pack first. But should I ever be an alpha, you can be my vice president." If it meant keeping the panda out of trouble, it seemed like a small price to pay to allow her to believe he was, so long it didn't grow. It was no easy burden to care for others, truly. But even he knew he was hardly in the right place to offer her that true protection when his family was so tirelessly hunted and she had a boyfriend to care for her. A dark thought entered his own mind, perhaps a pack, should this one be considered safe wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for her. After all, he would not forgive himself if she was in harm's way because of himself, he had suffered enough loss. That look, however, was quickly chased back to that resting stern expression once more, his jaw tightened. There was no sense in dancing around the subject and he suspected Frost felt very much the same.

"We both know so little about this pack... Why don't you start from the beginning and walk us through it all, step by step. That is if you have something else that requires your attention." Oliver offered, right to the point. It seemed like a sound enough place to start.