“No way, no way, NO WAY!” Gareth was yelling, shaking his head as he backed further into the kitchen door. 

He could feel himself getting worked up and it took everything in him not to throw up right there on the kitchen floor. He felt like he couldn't breathe as he pulled on the collar of the beige turtleneck that he wore, that suddenly felt like it was a few sizes too small.

Katie started silently crying as she spoke, “Do you think something happened to them? Is that why you're leaving us?”

“But still,” Devon interrupted, “You can't go alone. No way.” 

Kyle tried to respond but was cut off by Devon.

“You said it yourself, it's pack law! No one goes anywhere alone!” Devon yelled, his face twisted in a fierce grimace.

The werefox was bristling with anger and fear, and it took all his control to keep himself from shifting. Just like last night, he wanted to volunteer to join, but he knew in his heart that Kyle wouldn't let him. If he had resolved to go by himself there was no way the pack leader would let Devon join. But still, he wanted to try.

“Take me with,” Devon said. “Gareth can stay here and protect the pack with Steven and Katie, so let me will come with you.”

Kyle didn't respond and kept his gaze on the fridge door. It was covered in drawings that the pups had done over the years, all of them featuring the pack in some way. Kyle especially liked one in the corner that Benny had done last week. It was a colourful wax crayon drawing showing the whole pack ice skating on the lake. 

When Benny showed Kyle the drawing, he said that he wanted them all to skate on the lake together when it froze this winter. Kyle had smiled at the time promising to make sure to get Benny a pair of ice skates so that he could join them this year. The pup had been beside himself with excitement, as last winter he had been too young to go on the ice.

The drawing just made Kyle more determined. He needed to protect the pack and there is no way they would be safe if anyone else left with him. 

“I will go alone.” Kyle said.

“Pack law is there to protect the pack,” He said, nodding at Devon, “But it's useless if there's no pack to protect.”

As one of the strongest packmates in Kyle's pack, Devon was an adorable short guy, who tended to dress cutely in bright colours that complimented his dark skin. The werefox was quick, smart and tended to think in ways the other werewolves wouldn't. Honestly if it weren't for Robyn, Kyle would have made Devon his second in command. 

He would not feel at peace if Devon was not here to protect the pack. With Gareth worried about the twins, the pack would need the werefox there to keep a level head. If Devon was older Kyle would have left him in charge instead of Gareth, but the werefox, for all his strengths, was still quite inexperienced.

“Gareth needs you here, Katie needs you here, Steven needs you here.” Kyle told the werefox. “They need you here to protect the pups with them. They can't do it alone”

“But you too,” Katie said softly, her voice breaking, “You also can't do it alone.”

Kyle went up to her and gently pulled the crying girl into his arms, gently patting her back as Devon joined the hug. Gareth was still hyperventilating at the kitchen door, but came over and pulled them into his huge arms in a warm bear hug.

“Did you forget who I am Katie?” Kyle asked softly, leaning his chin on top of her head. 

The minty smell of her shampoo tickled his nose and reminded him again of Anastasia. The werewitch was not just talented in magic, but also had a hobby of making soaps and shampoos. Honestly if it weren't for her the pack would probably need to visit the city more often for their hygiene needs. Each member of his pack was just so important and he couldn't bear the thought of losing any of them. So he had to do this, no matter how dangerous and risky it was, he needed to protect them.

Katie shook her head, “You're the pack leader.” she mumbled. “You protect the pack.”

“Yes,” Kyle said, “I protect the pack.”

Kyle left on foot at daybreak. He had packed lightly, taking just the bare essentials in a small backpack. He wore his old white trainers and a stone grey sweatsuit, that would be easy to put back on as he shifted between his human and wolf forms. 

The pack had all gathered on the front porch to see him off, the mood tense and somber. Annie and Josie had still shown no signs of improvement even with Katie trying her best caring for them. They needed the cure, and they needed Robyn and Anastasia.

Benny held onto Kyle's legs sobbing, the little pup was upset and inconsolable as his tears soaked his little dino pyjamas. With the other pups still comatose and feverish, and the pack leader leaving, he was taking it hard. And once again Steven was missing. Kyle assumed he had come home at some point, because Benny didn't seem to be worried or looking for him, but that didn't stop the anger from pooling in his stomach.

Where the hell is he? Kyle thought, I know we broke up, but he cannot possibly be acting like this when the pack needs him.

Gareth reached down and pulled the crying pup into his arms, vowing to Kyle that he would make sure to keep the pack safe. He was in a worn black t-shirt and pyjama bottoms, the same dino print that every member of the pack owned. A surprise gift that they had all received from Devon a few months ago, the werefox having worked double shifts at the lumberyard to afford it. The work was tough with low pay, but it was one of the only few places that hired non-humans.

“Don't worry about us and just stay safe.” The tall redhead said as he patted Kyle on the shoulder.

Kyle nodded and with one last round of hugs he left his pack behind for the first time ever.

Kyle kept close to the highway, making the trek through the woods with the highway in view. He had shifted, putting his clothes in his backpack, and as he sprinted through the woods he felt a sense of freedom he hadn't felt in a while. 

His wolf form was large and covered with thick inky black fur, and just like with any other werewolf, was much bigger than an ordinary wolf. His frame was thickly muscled, and contained massive power and stamina, that made quick work of the sprint.

Usually when he went hunting he had to hold himself back so that whichever packmate he was hunting with didn't fall too far behind, but today he could go as fast as he wanted to. With nothing holding him back and a need to quickly find his missing packmates Kyle pushed himself to his limits as he ran.

Kyle felt as if the faster he went, the lighter his body felt and soon it was like he was flying through the woods like a bullet slicing through the air. The early morning sun shone through the bare trees and cast the ground in a beautiful dappled light.

All alone now the feelings Kyle had kept in control finally burst free from his chest and he let out a loud ferocious scream. The sound echoed through the woods around him and he did it again, louder, deeper, fuller. He kept screaming as he ran, letting out all of his pain and anger. It felt that by letting out the loud painful sound, he was letting go of all the emotions he felt as he thought of Steven's betrayal, and the pain he went through that day. 

The unfamiliar smell of another werewolf's scent on his partner had been engraved in him, and Kyle knew he would never be able to forget that it. Steven hadn't told him who it was or where they met, and the not knowing had him feeling extremely anxious. All Kyle really knew was that they had been together in every sense of the word. 

The pain cut through his chest anew and Kyle let out a low growl. He hated feeling like this, and although he wouldn't admit it to the pack he was glad to be away from them for a while. He needed this time to sort through his feelings and figure out a way forward. 

If it weren't for Benny, Kyle wouldn't have thought twice about casting Steven out of the pack. Cheating wasn't just a betrayal of trust between the two of them, but a disregard of everything the pack meant to each other. If the others found out about this it would be hard for any of them to accept Steven as a packmate anymore.

Werewolves protected their own, and by betraying the pack leader Steven went against the founding laws of a pack.

Despite what Steven did, the pack would not abandon Benny. No matter what, the pup needed to be protected and the pack would agree. Maybe it was because Steven knew this that he felt he could get away with it. He figured that since Kyle would never let go of Benny, he could do whatever he wanted without consequences.

And although it hurt Kyle to admit it, Steven was right, there was no way he was letting go of Benny.

Steven had won.