Tristan
I thought watching my home burn and losing my parents would be the hardest thing that I would have to witness, but like with everything else in my life, I had been completely and horribly wrong.
There are all kinds of stories in books, movies, and even fairy tales about what a broken heart looks like and feels like, but nothing, not a single one of them could have ever come close to describing this.
As I sat right beside the sister that I had just been reunited with, that I hadn't even told that she was my sister yet, I was forced to watch and listen as her heart didn't just break but shattered. Knowing that there was absolutely nothing that I could do about it was pure torture.
Words were great right, at least that's what I've been told. They could be used to ask for things, describe, inform, and so much more, but there were just some things that words couldn't do. This was one of those times when they were absolutely and utterly worthless. Because there was not a single thing, I could say to stop this from happening.
I had watched as the light slowly faded from her eyes as her so called friend Lecia spoke the last words that her mate left for her. The shimmery gold that resembled my mother's so much it hurt began to dull as that girl continued to speak the words that would damn her soul forever.
Dylan started to grab at her chest. I had a feeling that she was trying to link with him, but I couldn't be sure because I didn't see any sign of it in her eyes. I had heard that they had used all kind of charms and enchantments on her so maybe her abilities were different than others.
But just when I thought that she might be able to withstand this sudden shock, her eyes dimmed completely, and she let out the most awful sound I have ever heard another being make.
Worry be damned, I didn't care if she would be upset if I touched her or not, there was no way that I could sit here and watch her go through this. Grabbing her to me, I pulled her against my chest and tried consoling her, but the screaming didn't cease.
Almost immediately the doctor rushed in the room. He wanted to know what happened to cause this, but I could barely make out his words over her screams. As if that wasn't bad enough, a vicious storm like one I've never seen, began to rage outside so suddenly that the building began to shake.
The doctor kept trying to get close to her, but I didn't want him to touch her. I didn't want anyone to touch her, but I had no idea how to help her, and Kesh was thrashing inside so hard that I had to use more strength than usual to keep him from forcing a shift.
What is wrong with you Kesh, if we shift right now, we'll hurt Dylan, is that what you want?
He didn't respond, but I felt him calm down a bit, but only a tiny bit. It was enough for me to focus, or at least I thought it was until I smelled her blood. That was too much for Kesh. He thrust himself forward, but only to where we shared my body, and he demanded for the doctor to sedate her.
If I was being honest, I was glad that he had done it because I didn't think I had it in me. I continued to hold her and rock her as her scream died down and the fight left her body. Others were entering the room, but the smell of her blood was overwhelming my senses. Kesh was full blown feral and if anyone came near her right now, I had a feeling he might actually kill them.
There were many other wolves in the room now and Kesh was monitoring everything while all I could do was continue to rock Dylan's now limp body as I held her against my shoulder. As her hands unclenched and fell to her sides I found where the blood had been coming from.
How had I let this happen? She was right here in front of me, and I had not only let her get injured, I hadn't done anything to keep her from breaking apart. What kind of brother or protector could I be to her when I couldn't even protect her from herself?
Grabbing her head, I held it close to me as I continued to rock us on the bed and weep. So many different sensations were going through me and there was still so much going on around us in the room, but I couldn't focus on any of it.
I felt the bed shift as Lecia moved forward and grabbed one of Dylan's hands. The blood was no longer flowing from the four moon shaped cuts on each of her palms, but it wasn't fully dry either.
Lecia held Dylan's hand and pulled it close to her face. Some of the blood smeared across her slim fingers and there was even a smudge against her cheek, but seeing it only filled me with annoyance. I didn't want this girl to be closer to my sister than me.
Kesh was about to snap at her, but Micah's voice somehow cut through the haze that had started to cloud my thoughts. There were so many people in this room that I was starting to get pissed off, but I focused on him and what he was saying to a young wolf I didn't recall seeing before, but who looked a bit familiar.
Micah seemed to be questioning him about something. Not interrogating him, though. I saw some of my team holding the boy, and a quick glance around the room showed me the doctor slumped against the wall clutching at his very colorful neck.
Had this boy done that? And if so, then why? Kesh heard his words at the same time I did, but at first, I couldn't register what he was describing. "She called out to me and my wolf. It was an order and request all in one and it was one I would never deny."
Kesh knew. He knew immediately. I felt his understanding ease slowly into me and I thought the word I could not even whisper aloud, Alpha. I felt the hum from Kesh as my thoughts had finally caught up with his and for a moment, I couldn't do anything but squeeze Dylan a but tighter to me.
Alpha powers are similar in some ways to all alphas, but they each are granted their own unique abilities and traits depending on the size and strength of their pack and the rank of their wolf.
What this boy was describing right now sounded something like an alpha call, but I just didn't understand how that could be possible. According to all of our intel, no one had ever been able to communicate with Dylan's wolf.
For her to have been able to use such a power, especially while unaware of what she was even doing, was unheard of, but the fact that it actually affected the wolves around her was the most shocking.
Kesh had been quiet as my mind plundered through all of the thoughts that were coming and going as I tried to grasp what had happened, but when he spoke, I had nothing left to say.
The boy is right. I felt it as well. There was a command in that cry, and I had to fight it because I bore witness to the pain being wrought by an internal dilemma and not a sentient being I could destroy or protect her from.
Doubt still sat in the back of my mind, but it wasn't because I didn't believe him. No, it was because I didn't want this for her. Dylan hadn't even had a moment to figure out who she was and find out where she truly came from yet.
If this is true, she will have to figure out how to handle what she might become and how to deal with the target that will immediately get placed on her back. Kesh growled and I wrapped my arms around her just a bit tighter.
"Are you trying to smother her, or is this some kind of weird fetish you have about fondling unconscious women again?" I knew immediately who was speaking and when I turned to glare at her, I didn't let the mess of tears and swelling deter my anger.
"I would think that after you caused such damage to her, that you would feel some sort of shame in even being this close to her." I saw her flinch at my words, but she held her head steady as she glared at me.
"You think I wanted to do that to her? Dylan is my best friend and I owed her and him those words! Who are you to judge me and pretend that you know anything about her?"
This little wolf had no idea who she was dealing with and what I may or may not be capable of, but right now my nerves were stretched too thin and so was my control. "I'm the only family that she has left in this f*cking world, and I would never do anything to my baby sister!"
The moment the words were out of my mouth the entire room, no the whole damn floor fell silent. I felt the eyes of everyone around us on me, but I didn't let my gaze waver from Lecia's.
Her mouth popped open, and I saw the green darken in her eyes a bit the way it did when one's wolf is speaking with them. Kesh was giddy and on edge all at the same time. Not only had I just acknowledge who she was, I had made my claim on her.
Damn me and my god's damn temper. I had wanted to share this privately with Dylan and let her adjust before everyone else knew. I even dreamt of the time that we would spend just telling stories of our lives with each other.
Of course, I would blurt it out in a moment of anger in front of everyone before she and I even had a single moment of privacy to talk about this together. But I had to admit, it felt good having others know that she belonged to me.
Micah spoke up suddenly, and while I hadn't taken my eyes off the girl who seemed like she wanted to try to rip Dylan out of my arms, when Micah moved, I couldn't stop my attention from going to him and I had to look away from her.
"Everyone in this room is to keep everything that they saw and heard here classified and shall not repeat it. Do I make myself perfectly clear!" He finished off his threat with a flicker of dark purple sparks flickering atop his outstretched palm.
Most of my men stood to attention and bowed in Micah's direction. Again, I noticed that all of the ones in here were wolves, so I linked with them quickly, and asked them to leave the suite, but do rounds of the perimeter.
In a matter of seconds, they had all left the room, leaving behind the doc who was still slumped against the wall, the young boy, Micah, Lecia, Dylan, myself, and Roane who had walked in sometime in between all the chaos.
Roane was leaning against the wall next to the door. I saw the shock and fear on his face that he quickly tried to hide when he looked at where I still sat on the bed holding Dylan. I just wasn't sure what it was that made him look so angry even though he had quickly tried to hide it.
To my surprise the young boy, walked over to the bed and not only sat beside Lecia, he pushed himself all the way up to my leg where I felt the warmth of his body touch my own. I knew that it wasn't me that he was trying to get near, but Dylan.
Anger flooded me as, yet another person seemed to be trying to take her away from me. Looking at him, as he seemed to reach out and assess Lecia, I noticed the physical resemblance between them. This must be the brother that she had mentioned before.
I didn't miss that while they were both inspecting each other, Lecia had not let go of Dylan's hand, and somehow this newcomer had not only wriggled his way into Dylan's bed, but he now had one hand on her as he used the other to check over his sister.
Losing my cool yet again, and this time I wasn't sure if it was anger or jealousy, I snapped, "if you two don't mind, this is my suite so you can go and catch up somewhere else, preferably wherever it was you came from."
If I hadn't already guessed, I would have known immediately that these two were related because they looked and acted exactly the same way. Two blonde heads turned towards me, and dark green eyes starred daggers at my face. I'm sure that they were both about to tell me off, but something stopped them short.
A large warm hand touched my shoulder just then, and instantly I knew it was Micah. He spoke over my head, but I felt him sit on the bed next to me.
Momentarily, I was thankful that I had put a king size bed in this room, but I immediately pushed the thoughts away as I never wanted this many people on this bed at the same time ever again. Kesh grumbled his agreement, but also his amusement at where my thoughts had randomly wondered.
But leave it to Micah to pull me back to reality. "Doctor Sean, can you please get up and come and check to make sure that all of Dylan's vitals are okay so that we can get her comfortably put in bed and have a much needed discussion with our guests."
All eyes turned to the man whose face was now as red as his neck while he quickly stood and adjusted his coat and glasses. Walking towards the bed, I couldn't help but bristle as he asked me to lay Dylan down so he could examine her.
The other two let go of her first, and I quickly stood, still holding her in my arms, and laid her down on the side of the bed closer to me, but I kept one hand on her even while he checked her vitals.
"She is sleeping. The sedative I gave her should last a few hours, but I will be around in case you have further need of me," he said before quickly leaving the room, and I couldn't help but notice the way that he looked at Roane as he walked past.
Deciding it was time to take charge, I spoke before anyone else moved. "Please get some chairs brought in for our guests. I have a feeling that they will not be leaving anytime soon, but no one will be touching my sister again unless I give them permission."
And just like that, I had not only drawn a line in the sand, I had moved my knight to attack anyone stupid enough to disobey my command. I may not be their alpha, but my word commanded many and I'd be damned if they didn't obey.