Kris’s ordeal was notified to the StarDust and other surrounding clans. Kris ended up being taken along with surviving pack members into holding at the were-tiger pride more northeastern. Far far away from everyone. It left a slow settling relaxation.

The Martens and Binturongs apologized and thanked the Carnation pack for their help now and once spring comes to repair their homes. The elder and the Alpha were still at swollen throats but tolerated one another for the sake of the packs and families.

It may have been only a day since the eventful hell the older brother drug out, seeming to be gone just like a fever dream, but the wounds left behind reminded the eyes that it did happen. Quiet voices, by spying eyes, were surfacing more by the hour, whether it was the healers of the pack healing the Deltas or the Alpha and his Beta brother and friends.

It’ll all be over. And the trouble will be gone. Unless.

☽ ☆ ☾

Chloe and Duncan had held Erien against the wall, for many reasons. One, so his wounds wouldn’t reopen and two, he wouldn’t kill his once upon a time best friend.

Erien’s teeth were sharp and baring with the look of bloodthirsty hate boiling in his burnt honey iris’. The person, TJ, was on the floor, surrounded by broken flipped over chains and papers, his shirt nearly ripped off him and bruises forming vastly. This body shaking from the outlast that just occurred.

“Y...Yo man come on! You know she did it first! She came to me! Came to us! Her idea!” TJ was trying to justify his reason for a once past situation. The time his one lover was cheating.

Duncan butted in, only to be slammed head deep into the wall and dropping and Chloe let go of Erien to aid Duncan. The brunette Alpha grabbed the male below him off the floor and slammed his back into the frosty glass study door. TJ groaned from the impact as Erien leaned close. The fading intoxicating smell of cigarette smoke and whole clovers from his tea nearing drugging his enemy into a high state.

“You...allowed her to. You gave her permission to use you to cheat on me. You welcomed her, touched her and she touched you. You did not once say you tried to stop her,” Erien’s grip tightened, bruised the oak tree skin tone of TJ until it was white,” So the fact you waited this long to come and try to save your pitiful ass, you waited a year no less! You can not save yourself now. And you wouldn’t have even if you came to me back then.” Next thing anyone through the pack grounds was TJ being thrown through the building window and landing on a pile of ice and snow.

“Get the fuck off my territory. If I see you here again, I’ll rip your vocal cords out myself.” Erien leaned out the window, grinning politely as his fingers dug into the wooden windowsill, “And I’ll neuter you too. May your child, Ruvus, be your first and last seed mistake.”

TJ didn’t say anything and fled the moment most of the Betas, Warriors, and Hunters started to swarm around him. Erien looked out, catching the eyes of many then leaned back in, and confronted his brother for his stupidity. Chloe had him on the desk, icing his bump.

☽ ☆ ☾

Diamond was sitting in the living room area. Last time she was here, was she with her sister and Rayna. Now, it was just peaceful to be here, no worries.

She was chin down in a sweater with a blanket covering her to stay even warmer. Tien, Everdeer, Opal, her other sister Emerald, and one of the pups was playing a game. Diamond chimed in once in a while with an idea if their game called for it. It made funny moments and some cringy ones, but nothing short of fun and lighthearted.

“Pardon me ladies, mind if I join in on the party?” They all looked up to see Erien holding a tray of, probably thieved cookies from Auntie Bobo’s kitchen. Oh, the crime.

“I don’t see why not.”

Erien took a seat in front of the couch that Diamond was sitting on, placing the tray on the coffee table and pressed his knees to his chest, arms wrapping around them tight watching the game continue on. Diamond was sipping at the honey chai tea she found.

“You should add mint to that. Or even a bit of lemon. Next time, so the Butterfly Pea flower tea.” Diamond blinked, turning her head to see Erien was staring. Okay, maybe not staring but it did make her jump a bit from the unexpected eye contact and made her embarrassed.

He smiled,” Sorry. But really, if you add lemon to the Butterfly Pea flower tea, it turns from blue to pink.” Diamond nodded, turning her gaze away as she took another drink of her tea,” I’ll remember that. It sounds cool. And nice.” Erien nodded, focusing back on the game between the fest of giggling females.

A semi-comfortable and uncomfortable silence between them both. Both of them tapped on something now to try and distract or even think of something to say. Then they did.

“Want to go walk?”

“Can I mess with your hair?”

Both of them fell silent. No expecting to ask questions in unison and one of them be completely random at best. Diamond turned red as though she was back outside in the freezing air. Erien only laughed making Emerald, the pup, Opal, Tien and Everdeer listen in confusion. Erien stood up and pulled Diamond up with him, dragging her away in a squeaked confusion herself.

☽ ☆ ☾

Erien and Diamond had fled to the library that was thankfully vacant. He closed the door, turned his body around and chuckled,” Okay first, why?”

“Why what?’ Diamond leaned on one of the tables, Erien crossing his arms,” Why do you want to mess with my hair? That is random, and I feel like even for you.”

Diamond shrugged a small pale pink blush on her warm-toned skin, smiling innocently. Erien sighed, looking around to make sure no one else was around. He stepped over, flipping out two chairs, Diamond taking a seat in front of the one Erien sat with the back being his arms resting area.

“ I will, on one condition. No one gets told about this. If they find out, I will be teased for months about it.” Diamond nodded her head, eager and ready to touch the messy state he always kept it in.

“So much fluff,” she muttered out, making Erien snort.

Her fingers raked through the unkempt brunette and, surprisingly, semi-bleached locks. They were soft, smooth-like, and even some pieces curled up like little antennas. Diamond giggled as she felt Erine’s head drop a bit. He must’ve liked when his hair was messed with, it seemed it never really happened.

Erien raised a hand, waving it a bit and chuckled relaxed,” Just be careful.”

“How come? Soft spot?”

Erien was going to continue on with his half warning request until Diamond accidentally gripped and Erien let out a pleased groan, dropping his head down with a hard thud to the hair back. Neither of them moved. Diamond was frozen, her fingers inches from where she had gripped him. Her face was warm now.

Erien was burning. His facial features a haloing glow red as he felt even ounce of him dying inside from the sounds that uttered from him. He mentally cursed himself, pushing up now too see Diamond just staring at him. He didn’t even try to make conversation at this point. She was gone, mentally. Probably think of ways to poke fun at him for the noise or even horrified by it. Embarrassing now less.

“So. You. That’s um,” Diamond was starting to talk again. Erie just nodded to her, his lip being chewed in visible desperation to try and move past the situation. Diamond stood up, ran her fingers through his hair again to mess with the silkiness before she gripped and tugged some, earning the same groan from before. She giggled as Erien’s face turned redder by the second.

“Very cute Mister Alpha of the Carnation Pack.”