The Rules

                                    

                                          
Over the next few weeks, things stayed quiet at the Abbey. Quinn had gotten used to the routines there and he had learnt a lot from the other ghouls about ghoul/human interactions. Imperator had thankfully left him alone and the Siblings had realised that they shouldn't approach him.
He was getting on well with the other ghouls, despite his initial reluctance to get to know them. He found it hard to resist the pull of their bond, as much as he had tried to. Water and Air had worn down his resolve by constantly trying to include him in everything pack related. They knew when not to push him now, though, but he had interacted with them a lot more than he thought he would. He had grown fond of them all, even Earth. Although their relationship was still one of edging around each other. 
Despite Quinn's initial submission, Earth now knew that he couldn't bully him into doing something he didn't want to do like he sometimes did with the others.
He was closest to Air out of all of them and they often spent time together when they weren't on duty. The ghoul had a spark of chaos about him, and it was difficult not to like him. He was also very thoughtful and patient when Quinn asked him questions if something new came up. He was popular with the Siblings, and he knew it.
It was Secondo's birthday, and he had arranged a get together in the gardens. Several fire pits were dotted around and the residents of the Abbey had bundled up in warm clothes, drinking mulled wine under the stars. Quinn and Air were both off duty and huddled together by a fire at the edge of the gathering. The ghouls had a different type of drink. It was stronger than the human version, and Quinn was enjoying the warmth it brought him.
A group of Siblings were milling around by the fire next to them, laughing and joking. Quinn watched them intently. Well, them wasn't quite right. He was watching one of the Siblings.
"Why don't you go talk to her?" Air said, breaking him out of his thoughts. He turned to the ghoul who was grinning at him. "You're glowing, Quinn. You're probably scaring the Siblings."
"What?"
"Your eyes," he said as he pointed to them. "And Sister Martha. She's definitely willing. She watches you back sometimes."
Quinn frowned.
"I don't watch her."
Air snorted.
"You watch her like you want to eat her for dinner. It's a wonder she hasn't run a mile away already. Just get it over with. It isn't healthy, Quinn. You haven't fucked any humans yet. It's wrong to deny your impulses."
Quinn gave him a sideways glance.
"I don't deny them."
Air snorted a laugh and shoved at him.
"Fucking me doesn't count. I'm pack," he laughed. "Are you worried about breaking them? Humans aren't as fragile as Secondo makes out. Sometimes they like it rough. I think that's the appeal."
Quinn choked as he sipped his drink.
"I'll be sure to remember that, Air. Thanks."
"What is it? Why won't you go to her? She obviously attracts you."
The other ghouls knew Quinn had lost his mate and his family by now. He hadn't gone into the details, but at one of their whiskey nights, Water had asked him about his reaction to Cirrus, so he had told them he'd had kits a long time ago. They hadn't pushed him, and he was grateful to them for that.
"I just can't. I can't get attached to someone. I can't have them getting attached to me. It would feel like I was betraying her."
Air sighed.