Kyle watched as his packmates shouted over one another, their fear and anger assaulting his senses as the bond between the pack made their emotions more vivid. Saying anything now would be like screaming into a hurricane. The bloodbond between them was much too agitated at the moment. Emotions building wildly like an avalanche.

The bond in a pack was one that's instinctual and powerful, and above all, controlled by the pack leader. Joining a pack meant swearing to serve the pack and obey the leader—the resulting bloodbond offering protection. It could communicate highly intense bursts of emotions like fear or anger through the pack, a warning of sorts.

The pack was loud and aggressive, and with everyone shouting to be heard, Kyle stood back and let the excitement die down. Steven finally broke away from the chaos, still wearing the navy blue jacket he had put on for the supply run, and calmed everyone down with a question that had them all turning to Kyle in fear.

“What about Benny? He was with them, did he take it too?” Steven asked, his green eyes shining with emotion as he looked to the pack leader.

Everyone stilled, the air charged like a late summer thunderstorm. Kyle shook his head no, inky black hair shining in the low afternoon light.

“He didn't. Josie said they didn't give it to him. They passed out before I could ask them anything else, so I don't know where they got it or why they took it.”

Steven looked at Kyle and away again just as quickly, his green eyes filled with pain and annoyance. Kyle sighed. Things were still awkward between the two of them after their breakup, but he hoped that they could get along again. 

It'd been two weeks ago, but after dating for a year things had ended on an uncomfortable note. Kyle had to sort this out soon, it wouldn't do any good for the pack to be tiptoeing around the two of them. 

It's just that I need time, how the hell can I just go straight back to leading the pack my cheating ex boyfriend is still part of, Kyle's anger welled up again as he thought back to that day. 

If he hadn't followed his instincts and questioned Steven, then he would have never found out. Kyle sighed and rubbed his hands down his tan face, he was so tired and just wanted to get through this whole situation so he could deal with his heartbreak. 

The mood suddenly shifted and Kyle lifted his head as he sensed Gareth's anger spike. Gareth glared at Robyn, and before Kyle could move he lunged at her, grabbing her shoulders and slamming her into the wall. Robyn's head slammed against the wall, teeth slicing into her lip. Anastasia yelled out in surprise as blood dripped from the side of the weregoblin's mouth.

Gareth was a huge guy, as an alpha by birth he towered over everyone in the pack and had incomparable inherent strength. Robyn held her own and immediately pushed him off with ease, the half goblin possessing a super strength that far surpassed any werewolf's. Gareth stumbled and fell but immediately got up, swearing violently. 

Kyle was ready this time and held Gareth back as he tried to lunge at the goblin werewolf hybrid again, stopping him with ease. Although not an alpha, Kyle was much stronger than Gareth, easily subduing him as he tried to hurt their packmate. He pinned Gareth down, twisting his arm up behind him. The alpha growled up at him but Kyle didn't let up, pulling harder on the arm. 

Gareth yelped in pain and struggled, swearing up at Robyn who calmly stared down at him. Her eyes were completely black—lacking any white surrounding them—so her stare felt that much colder. Her horns seemed sharper than ever as she looked down her nose at the alpha and Gareth couldn't hold her stare for long. 

Robyn's ethereal beauty made her seem that much more dangerous, and as she grew silent it felt as if just moving in the wrong direction would have heads rolling. There was a reason she was second in command and Gareth felt in the pit of his stomach that he would be done for if not for Kyle. If this pack ran by the old laws, Robyn would have the right to fight him to first blood or death. 

Thank the gods Kyle created his own laws, Gareth thought as fear set into his bones. 

Deep down Gareth knew that the weregoblin was not his enemy, not to blame for what happened to his sisters. Even though he had been in this pack for just over a year it wasn't easy to forget old prejudices. Werewolves hated goblins almost as much as vampires.

“Calm the hell down, Gareth” Kyle tightened his grip on the alpha, “Robyn is your packmate and by virtue of this alone deserves your trust and respect. She had nothing to do with this.” 

Kyle looked at the rest of the pack as he said this, making sure they all understood where he stood on this matter. As leader his word was law, anyone who didn't agree could take it up with him. No one dared challenge him and slowly they all nodded their assent. Turning on each other right now wouldn't help anyone, and Kyle wanted to make sure they knew that Robyn was one of them and always would be. 

Robyn glared down at Gareth and wiped the blue blood from the side of her mouth. She lightly ran her tongue over the cut on her bottom lip and sneered, letting the alpha know that she would not forget this anytime soon. She would have her lick back, whether Kyle allowed it or not.

Anastasia ran up to Robyn and held the sleeve of her dress against the cut on her girlfriend's lip, and it took everything in her to not stomp on the werewolf who was still glaring up at Robyn. She hated to see someone she loved get hurt, especially by someone they both thought of like a brother.

“Big bumbling idiot,” Robyn spat her blood at him, “Why the hell would I have wolfsbane when I was cast out of my tribe when I was younger than the twins?”

Kyle felt Gareth calm down beneath him and stood up, reaching a hand down to help the big guy up. Gareth took his hand, embarrassed now that his anger had dissipated and could barely meet Robyn's eyes. 

“Crap, sorry.” He said, as he held onto the arm Kyle had twisted, “Ow, did you have to twist it that hard?”

Robyn grinned fiendishly, “You're lucky Kyle stepped in or you would be one arm down.” She said half jokingly.

The pack laughed softly as her joke did its trick, room feeling lighter as the tension died. Kyle was grateful for his packmates, once again reminded why he fought so hard for them. This pack where their differences would have had them divided by tribalism, but somehow here, together, brought them closer.

Wolf packs rarely welcomed any hybrids, but perhaps it was because they went against this norm that they were so powerful. They were perhaps capable of so much because of this difference. A thrill of pride went through Kyle.

They were his pack.

The only thing we're missing is a damn vampire, Kyle realised and immediately frowned at the thought, maybe we're not yet at that level of cross species trust.

The pack was fierce and determined. They have survived so much, they would survive much more.

Even this.

© babystarubyrose