Broken Pieces

Chapter Ten

By Roofles

“Your boyfriend is crying, again." Logan frowned looking towards where he'd left Alan with these wolves. The older guy was holding that tattered furred brown wolf. He might've been attractive once, but all Logan could see looking at PB is the harsh reality they lived in.

Wolf packs were brutal with their hazing and even worse when they chose to exile one of their members. It was a rare occasion that some packs had even abolished over the years. To see the aftermath turned Logan's stomach, making it hard to work with these wolves… a lone wolf like PB surviving this long was unheard of. He could already figure out there was more going on. Things he needed to know in order to do his job this time.

Logan needed to get more information about them. PB? Reese? This Gristle person? He needed to know what was going behind the scenes, what even the wolves wouldn't say aloud. What they kept buried away.

Reese was looking towards his mate, ignoring the human at his side. Watching as Alan took a seat next to PB once more, wiping his face off and most likely apologizing for the display of emotion. The two of them talking and now laughing about something else entirely, trying to play it off. Smiling at each other as they reconnected after all these years. The two of them getting lost in their little world, forgetting everyone else there.

Including him.

It brought things back. Dark thoughts Reese had thought he'd pushed into the recesses of his mind. Times where Reese would be the third wheel with the two of them. Standing behind them, off to the side in the shadows, away from prying eyes. Away from them... Watching the two have their happy little lives together, blissfully unaware of the world they lived in. The world Reese had kept from interfering in their little dream. Letting them believe. Believing that a wolf and human could be together without consequences.

Without brains and brawn to back it up. Such childish dreams…

Reese's jaw tightened, just thinking about it. How many wolves Reese had to put in their place after they tried to get on PB about it. To hunt down the human he was dating. Reese had been covering his tracks for years. If Reese hadn't been there, the two of them wouldn't have lasted a month together…

“He seems to be miserable, being here." Logan dared to say, keeping his voice low as he looked over at Alan. “Wouldn't it be alright to let him… go?" The human glanced at the Alpha who stood there rigid, stone still as he stared at the corner his mate and their ex were at.

Sitting away from this party that Reese had thrown for them.

There was a saying that the more you loved something, the more you needed to let it go. Reese never understood it. He'd ask a teacher once about it. He'd raise his hand in the middle of class and asked, one of the few times he ever spoke in class. They couldn't give him a proper answer, so he approach them after class. Cornering them in the teacher's lounge. Just a wolf and his teacher.

“Why?" Reese had asked back then. “Why should I let it go…?"

“W-well, R-Reese," the goat had stammered nearly falling over as she backed away from him. He had only been a teenager, no older than Salt and Pepper, and yet he was so much larger than she had been. A teacher. An adult.

Even as a teenager, Reese made those around him seem small and insignificant underneath his unnerving gaze, scrutinizing them for what little they were.

“If you love something, a-and you set it free… T-then it returns to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, t-then it never w-was." His old teacher had tried to explain. Explain to him something so simple. Something that every other man or woman his age could understand. “Let the one you love go and if they really love you, they'll return."

“Why…?" Reese brow had lowered as he glared at her, anger beginning to pool in his chest and growl out his throat. “Why would I ever let it go…?"

She couldn't answer him. Slipping to the floor, cowering before the wolf standing above her. She smelled of fear and piss. Reese remembered that. He remembered the way she looked at him. And still, didn't understand as he left her in a pool of shame for becoming so frightened by one of her students. Unable to answer such a simple quest.

“Why…?" Reese covered his mouth, not wanting to show that he was baring his fangs at the two sitting in the corner of the yard. The human, his mate, talking and now touching his ex. Smiling at them. Being as caring as he always was. Understanding. Loving. Sweet…

As he had been with Reese.

Reese wasn't annoyed about Alan. He never was.

Him crying? Him talking to someone else? That was his right. Reese owned everything and everyone here. If Alan wanted to do that he could. Alan could do whatever he wanted to. He could shout or throw something, or just retire for the evening if he wasn't feeling up for it. Alan could do anything he wanted to do. That's why Reese had done all this. He would create the perfect place for the two of them. A safe haven for them to, one day, retire safely in.

A cage of his own making. To protect the pretty little bird, the lost little lamb that the wolf had stolen away from the rest of the world. To make him happy here. In a safe, secure environment that would let him grow and thrive, even if under constant supervision…

To, maybe, help Reese understand the one thing he never could.

That was why he had done this. To understand the one thing eluding him.

“Why?" Why does it hurt. Why did this hurt? Why did Reese hate PB so much in that moment? Why could he not look at anyone else there at this party, a joyous occasion filled with food and drinks. Why did he think that Alan would look at another like he looked at Reese…

Was it love? Reese couldn't answer that. Is this what love was…?  

Was it an obsession? Thinking about them twenty-four seven? Was it a feeling inside? Some kind of warmth in the pit of your stomach, like after you drink a particularly strong rum? Was it when you laid awake, unable to sleep, thinking of them. Thinking of what you wanted to do with them. Feel them, touch them, mate them. Breed them. Feel your seed running between their legs after you pull out? That arousal, that heat, the smell of sex in the air…?

Was that love?

That was his dream. To understand that with the one person who he might be capable of saying those words too… To create the very thing that PB had once coveted and wished for. A life with him and Alan that Reese had stolen, just like he'd stolen Alan. Stolen his dream and pretended it to be his own.

Running this wolf pack was just a means to an end.

Was all this in the means of doing what he could for the man he… loved?

Reese's looked away, still covering his mouth with a hand trying to figure these thoughts out. These strange foreign, almost alien feelings he had inside.

There were times when Reese had the darkest of thoughts a predator could have. Lurking in the middle of the night with clawed fingers over his face suffering from a bout of insomnia, a deep hunger keeping him awake. Hungry for the most forbidden of things. Biting his arm, his hand, anything to make sure he didn't make that mistake that had led so many of their kind to an early grave and still savoring the idea of it. Craving it.

The darkest of desires.

If Alan was the sun, then Reese would be the wolf chasing after it in the night sky. Wanting to devour the sun and keep it forever, trapped inside.

Like this place he had built. A poor metaphor. Reese never liked them anyways. He rather just say how things were if he decided to say anything to begin with. Reese was aware of this and yet felt no issue with these thoughts. He just needed to adjust things, make things better so that Alan would be happy here.

Reese would give him a home no one else could. A home that Alan would never want to move away from…

Make little red riding hood as comfortable as she could be inside the wolf's stomach; after he killed the hunter and grandmother. Leaving her no one else but the comfort of a wolf's embrace. Forced to learn to live with it.

Forced to live with him…

When there weren't any alternatives such a home, even someone like Reese would sound appealing.

“Uh, Reese…?" Logan interrupted his thought and he turned his ice cold sapphire blue eyes towards the human standing there next to him. He snorted when Logan took a nervous step back. Even someone as arrogant as Logan knew not to push his luck around Reese.

What truly annoyed Reese was this cocky human next to him. This other wolf, his old pack brother, returning after all these years without warning. The dogs, his old pack and those he thought were his friends getting in the way with their “suggestions" and “ideas," convincing Alan to move out… What annoyed Reese was that there were still wolves here that thought they had the right to look down on his mate.

That's what annoyed Reese. New problems arising like small fires that needed to be stomped out before they could grow into raging infernos. It was so hard to make others like you. It was so much easier to make them fear you instead.

Things had been going so well for the two of them, despite it all these past couple years. Alan was beginning to fit in, others were reluctantly accepting him for starts. Salt and Pepper seemed to love him. While Reese's plans were going slower than he would've preferred, things were becoming stable, livable… until these unexpected variables showed up at his door.

Logan and the wolves, forced to take up the mantel of Alpha after disposing of yet another one. Now PB and his cubs. The idea that his uncle could be in danger… they just wouldn't leave them be. Reese knew that would always be the case, though.

For someone like him.

As a wolf, he knew that others wouldn't just let them be. Someone would find issue or fault with them, even if they had to make one up. They would try and take away their territory and home. That was what Reese had been planning for, not this. He was looking at the bigger picture of things, as how he was taught by his father… not that “human element" that always needlessly complicated things with their feelings and emotions.

He spat to the side at the very thought. It disgusted him.

Maybe that was why Reese had been expected to be the next Alpha. Not just because of his strength and brutality but because he could so easily separate the two things. Focusing on the betterment of the pack instead of the good of an individual. His father would've never guessed how wrong he'd been about that.

For Reese, the one was so much greater than the whole.

When that wolf had attacked Brigsby, Reese hadn't even hesitated to put them down. He made sure the other dogs and humans here didn't know about it. But with a simple word, Reese had a man killed. He wasn't a good man, no. But still a member of his new pack. He was a scummy fuck that had wanted things to go back to the way things had been, not how they were becoming. The wolf deserved every hit Barrett had given him with that tire iron. Caving his skull in until his body stopped twitching.

Reese hadn't even flinched watching the scene. The Alpha standing there as his lieutenant, his right-hand man, took care of the issue. Barrett was one of the few wolves here he could trust. That was why he had been ordered to watch over Alan.

If something were to happen to Reese… he knew that Barrett would continue his duty and take care of Alan in his stead. Barrett had even been given permission, that if Reese couldn't, to satisfy the human's every need. Every one of them…

That kind of power was a bit intoxicating. Reese had to hide his cruel smile behind his hand thinking about it. Understanding, now, why Bale had wanted the mantle of Alphaship so badly. And why his father had done everything to keep it…

That was one good thing about being in a wolf pack. You always, at least, had someone watching your back. Those to watch out for you and help as needed. Expendable soldiers, frontline guards, or drug runners to name a few things.

Those Reese could use and put at risk for their benefit.

Tools for Reese to use as he needed. They were his things. His property. That was what it meant to be Alpha, to him. He took good care of his things. Made sure they were fed and watered. Made sure they were clean and had a place to sleep. They could play with who they wanted to, so long as it didn't cause issues with the pack. Reese wasn't a traditional Alpha, but he was good at the position, even if he saw things differently than everyone else there did.

For one might think Reese would have an issue with another touching Alan, to satisfy his needs if Reese wasn't able to. That wasn't exactly the case. It was the emotional aspect Reese would never allow. Reese didn't see Barrett as a person in the same way others might. He was more of a tool. A very reliable, trustworthy tool. One that you would pick first and search for in your toolbox when they went missing. Something you knew and could rely on. Something you would miss, if gone but not something he'd shed a tear for.

That was what he was. What they all were. If he needed, he'd use Barrett to make Alan happy.

A tool, a dildo in this case, for Alan to use and play with if he wanted to before tossing back into the bottom drawer of his nightstand.

PB was another story. There was that emotional aspect between the two. And just seeing them there, together, was getting Reese's blood boiling. It wasn't like back then. Reese wasn't the one intruding on their relationship. It was PB who was intruding on Reese's…

Reese's eyes shifted over to look at Logan. What kind of tool was this…? How could Reese use Logan to his fullest, for their benefit…? Could he use Logan to get rid of PB without anyone else knowing? It was hard to say in what way Reese wanted to get rid of that nutty brown furred wolf right now. Dispose of him? Relocate him? Bury him…?

Logan was looking at the two in the corner, having put it all together quickly enough.

The human was standing closer than others would dare to next to the Alpha. He was watching another group of wolves now, the younger betas arguing over food, wrestling for ranking, and just laughing during this party that Reese didn't even want to throw. Something he'd done because he knew Alan would enjoy it.

Alan enjoyed these social interactions. It was foreign to Reese, a mystery he could never crack. He saw the benefit in it, of course. He wasn't stupid. That was why it was that much harder. For someone as intelligent as Reese to not be able to understand something as simple as a party was a blow to his ego.

Throwing the party, for Reese, was a tactical move to make the others in the pack happy. Something his brother Bale might've done. To throw the wolves a proverbial bone in order to keep them sated during these rough times. He had thrown the party to make Alan happy, a reward in itself. He had done it as an almost apology to PB for his neglect in the past…

But, still, that was only the surface level of things. The logical thing to do, not the emotional. And Reese struggled with that.

Was that why Reese had kept Logan around? To put some human perspective to things, so that Reese might be able to understand Alan better? To watch Logan, study him, learn from another human. So that, if only a little bit, Reese might be able to pretend to be the human Alan needed him to be when the time comes.  

If Barrett was Reese's right-hand man, then Logan was quickly becoming his left. The human was far more useful than Reese thought he'd be and, for once, he was glad he didn't kill the man when he had the chance. Having something to use against Logan helped, knowing his secrets. Keep the human in line. That, and, Logan had a strange interest in Alan that Reese understood on a more instinctual level than anything else.

A familiar bond with his fellow human, seeing him like a brother than anything else.

Logan looked bored, as if he weren't interested to be here. Wearing that ugly Hawaiian shirt that was a size too large for the human. Reese could tell that Logan was keenly aware of every wolf there around them. Watching them, analyzing them, judging them, trying to understand what they were thinking… it was the same thing Reese did. Watching others. Trying to figure them out.

Reese knew what that was like.

“Alan's fine." Reese finally answered with a flick of his ear now that he had compartmentalize his thoughts.

They'd been together for nearly four years now after reuniting. These past two years had been going so well. Alan had been getting his shit together. He wasn't as sensitive, he was laughing more, he hadn't cried or had a panic attack in over a year…

Then PB had shown up.

“Doesn't look like it." Logan frowned.

“It's… complicated." Reese tried to explain. “When times are tough? Its fine to feel… something." Reese quoted Alan instead of feeling the words themselves. Just mimicking what his mate had told him one night. “It isn't healthy to suppress such things. When something bad happens? It's okay to feel… something. Good or bad. Laugh when you want to. Cry when you need to. Be angry when its right. Be upset if something bad happens to your friend. It's okay to feel… Don't let others tell you otherwise."

“It's okay to feel something, Reese." Alan had told him the last time the two of them had a chance to be together. Their naked limbs entangled with one another as the human just looked into his face. Alan had been smiling. A soft, small smile as his eyes just stared into Reese's.

The same one he was giving PB right now, and that made Reese's fur bristle.

Alan was the only man, the only person who could look at Reese with those eyes. Those kind, caring, understanding eyes. Always giving Reese a chance. Always coming to his defense. Eyes that said so much about their relationship that Reese knew that Alan, no matter what happens in the future, would love him.

“Don't push me away," Alan had begged Reese in no more than a whisper. It was hard for Reese not to. To push the one, he cared so much for away, even if only subconsciously to protect him. “I'm here for you, Reese. Just. Let me in…"

To love someone didn't mean to always be with them. He could see that. Reese could see that now, watching PB and Alan talk together. Love hadn't been strong enough to keep the two of them together. No matter what PB had claimed he felt about Alan, what he'd be willing to give up to be with the human… it hadn't been enough.

Reese needed to be better. He needed more than this. He needed to be stronger, smarter, richer, more successful in order to make sure he could keep the things he… loved?

“Still." Still. “It was," it was. “Nice." Nice. “To hear the words." To hear the words… Every word Reese spoke, he would say inside first. To hear them. To try and feel what they would mean to others listening. To think of them, turn them over, dissect them and try to figure each one out and how, together, they would turn out to be.

If those words could be used against him, used for him, and how he was supposed to emote after saying them. All in order to fit in.

“It was still nice to hear Alan say it today." Reese said aloud, just so he could hear those words. He wished Alan would tell him that more often. How much he loved him and cared for him. Reese needed to hear such words.

For he couldn't understand the emotions behind them.

He wouldn't be able to understand, if, one day, Alan stopped feeling them. If something changed. If something happened. Reese wouldn't be able to understand…

“I just…" Reese couldn't even finish the thought, thinking of his mate. It was the only good thing he felt he had left in his life. The one thing he deserved to have. Deserved to feel happy about.

Reese wished Alan would pet him more. To touch him. To sniff him. To hug him. He wished Alan would be with him always. Right now, he wished Alan would get up from that chair and walk over here to check on him. To ask what he was thinking and feeling. Alan was the only one who had ever offered him that olive branch. Trying to understand the predator. Reese only felt whole when the human was there with him, able to fill in the missing pieces that he hadn't been built with.

“That sounds like something Alan would say." Logan frowned, glancing at the wolf before looking back towards where the other human was sitting. He was talking with Barrett now. Getting on the large wolf about something or other. It was impressive to see a human, practically half the body mass as the large wolf standing before him, teasing the guy about whatever it was.

“It was. Of course." Reese snorted as if that had been something stupid to say. “You think I give two fucks about that." Reese spat the words to the side, snarling at a wolf who had dared to get to close to the two while they talked. “Leave," Reese flashed his fangs.

They instantly ducked their head, folding their ears back, with a tucked tail before crawling away like an insect on their belly.

“He just wanted to garner your favor." Logan teased, watching the wolf slink away.

“They all do. It's disgusting." Reese grumbled. “The farthest thing from understanding, is admiration, Logan. They worship the ground I piss on and then claim to understand me? Disgusting… Come. I tire of this party." Reese lifted his arm up and, with a simple snap of his fingers, everyone around him came to a standstill.

The others alerted those who missed it and the word spread quickly before the wolves gathered around Reese and Logan, surrounding their Alpha, and listening to whatever he had to say. It was rare that Reese spoke to them.

“I hope you enjoyed my kindness, this night, and ate your fill." Reese spoke with a low growl, something that even Logan struggled to understand. The two knowing Alan wouldn't be able to. Alan and PB had stayed in their corner with Barrett, who listened in on the conversation for them. “We will not have such luxuries again in the future if you do not all do as I've ordered." Reese begun. “There is a meat shortage after what happened last year. We have stockpiled and hoarded our fair share away before the market came to a full crashing halt."

Reese nodded to a square faced wolf and Hart came forward quickly, pulling out some papers and nearly dropping the lot of them on the ground. The boxy looking red wolf scrambled to pick them up before trying to sort them and speak at the same time.

“Y-yes, sir." Hart nodded so deeply towards Reese it might as well have been a bow. “The price of meat has skyrocketed in the past three months alone. Our stores will last through winter but not long after." He cleared his throat before going over the specifics of it all. “Alpha has assigned and allotted you all a food bill each. Every wolf will be given one. It does not matter if you are in a couple or you have pups," Hart struggled with that.

There was a low murmur. Only one wolf here, the newest member, had pups with them. Some began to bicker. Argue with others. Letting their annoyances and worries be heard as their voices rose up with the fear of going hungry clawed at their bellies.

“Will he get more food than us?"

“He just got here!"

“Wasn't he exiled?"

“Did you see the way he looked? Heh, some wolf."

“The cubs will eat us out of our homes." The worries, the concerns, the building threat of it began to get them worked up. Wanting to fight about it. To punish this new wolf and force him out of the pack, worried his very presence would disrupt the order of things here.

“Enough!" Reese said, getting angry now. The closest wolves could feel it and backed away with lowered heads. “PB is my pack brother. You will not, I repeat, will not harm him or his pups. The first wolf who does… well, you remember what happened after the dog incident." Reese sneered, thinking of what he'd done to the wolf who had hurt Brigsby.

Several lowered their heads, their hushed mutterings coming to an end.

“If you don't like it? Then leave." Reese pointed towards the exit. His coat draped over his left arm that was safely tucked away inside. Most thought it was just a look Reese was going for, little knew the truth of his injury. “I own everything here." Reese stated. “Everyone of you. Every house. PB and his pups? Are my property! I have the papers for everything. Legally. I. Own. You." He couldn't help but laugh at the cruelty of his words. “You wish to stay? Then obey. Sit when I tell you to. Bark when I order. Do as I command, and you may stay. Together, we will survive through this. You and your loved ones are protected under my banner as long as you listen and obey my orders. I am Reese Elysium, son of Mauler, and the one who will get us through this winter!"

There was howls and cheers as Reese worked the crowd up. Getting them pumped and bringing back his old title to reinforce his position to them all. Reese had been bred to stand above them. Even as a pup, he was leagues above the rest.

He hated it. Hated the fact he had used one of Bale's old speeches just then. He would need to get someone to write these things out for him in the future, not giving a shit if the lot of them were to leave or not. Every last one just packing up their bags and moving on.

They didn't.

New wolves were arriving by the month and Reese was struggling to keep the numbers in check. There was a strict rule of never raising a pack more than you could feed, or control. It ended badly. Reese had been harsh and cruel, needlessly so at times and still these wolves, crawling on their bellies, would follow after him.

Was this what his father had wanted? His ultimate achievement? An Alpha bred to the point that, even if he struck them, these wolves would follow after him? As if he were to lead them to some promise land.

“Impressive speech." Logan clapped at the end, getting a cold look from Reese. Reese had continued for almost thirty minutes, going over everything that he had planned for. He wasn't about to risk things with the stress put on them during this crisis.

It was like four years ago when there were riots downtown because his brother Bale had stuck a pig's head on a stake. Like when The Pride had attacked them. Or when The Market went up in flames before being drowned underneath the city. There was something dark brewing here and Reese was one of the few aware of it.

Sometimes the most dangerous of things were the ones you never even knew about. Reese did. Reese knew what was coming and was preparing for it.

“None of you will travel alone. There will be no lone wolves in my pack. Find a buddy, I do not care who you choose. But you will be together with them whenever you leave The Den." Reese had made sure to put in several new rules to protect them all. Harsh as they were, they weren't aware of what was happening behind the scenes. Not like Reese did. They could hate him for it. Yell at him, try to argue against it and, still, Reese would do it to protect them. Because that's what it meant to be a true Alpha. “You will report in. You will work and give all your earnings to the pack holdings. Everything must be checked first before coming in or going out. Am I clear?"

They howled in acknowledgement and Logan covered his ears, laughing uncomfortably as he watched all these wolves obey without question. They followed Reese not just because he was the strongest of them, but out of an instinctual trust that a wolf needed to have in their leader.

Hart went over several different things, their wages, and budgets and what they could and couldn't afford. Tate and his sister Justine stepped up to go over the perimeter checks and the new boundaries of their territory. The two siblings being in charge of their borders. Every couple of months, the wolf street grew. Grew larger, taking up more and more of the field it was built in.

It wasn't a simple street any longer. It was a growing community that lived on the outskirts of the city. The land being bought up through shady means and new housing being put in. It was a lot of work, but they were one pack with one mind. To create a new home.

“One last thing." Reese snarled at the wolves getting antsy, wanting to leave. Their excitement from it all was getting them riled up. They stopped, staring up at their Alpha who looked them all over. “Alan's birthday is coming up and so help me if you forget a present." He bared his fangs and Logan had to laugh at that, quickly covering his mouth.

Reese gave them a cold glare before turning away, dismissing the lot of them. Logan followed behind him with another laugh.

“For a birthday?" Logan couldn't believe after that speech, all the new rules Reese had set and the warning he'd given, he'd finish it up with talking about a birthday party for an almost thirty-eight-year-old man.

“He likes parties." Reese huffed as the two of them, tailed by several others, headed inside. With a single hand signal, Reese told Barrett to watch Alan. The other wolf nodded towards him as he led Alan and PB towards the back house where he and his pups would be residing. Close enough to be protect by the Alpha but far enough from the others not to draw unwanted attention. Reese wanted to make sure to keep an eye on him.

“But, a birthday party? What is he? Forty?" Logan snorted, shaking his head. “What do you even get a guy that old…?"

“Going on thirty-eight." Reese huffed with a roll of his eyes as he turned and headed up to the second floor. Logan followed behind. Two other wolves stopped at the stairs, taking their position once more as guards. “And just get him a gift card to Buckstars. He likes that."  

“And you made everyone come to the party…?" Logan groaned at the very idea. “That is going to be so uncomfortable for the guy."

“No." Reese rolled his eyes as if that truly would be stupid. “They just have to get him something. They aren't allowed to attend the party."

“But, you just said, all their earnings go to the pack funds." Logan said slowly, as if trying to help Reese understand the issue with this.

The elongated second floor of the house didn't have dividing walls in it, creating an open space like that of a trailer. The back room, behind Reese's desk, had a small bathroom installed with a storage closet next to it where Reese kept most the papers for the pack. For the time being.

He really needed more space with how quickly this pack was growing.

“They can withdraw money from the pack as needed." Reese waved the complaint off as he took a seat at the far desk pushed up against the wall. No good Alpha would have their back exposed to a window or allow an assassin room to sneak up behind them. This way, Reese could watch anyone coming up the stairs and keep an eye on the entire room when anyone else was allowed up here with him.

Usually, it was Salt and Pepper. His two younger brothers playing games while, somewhat, keeping Reese company. Alan of course would be allowed up here, and in recent months so would Barrett. The wolf earning his place by his side.

“Yes, but, the money they withdraw from the pack is the very money they put into it!" Logan shook his head. “You are a cruel son of a bitch."

“With interest." Reese smirked as he look over the papers on his desk. “Tate," he called loudly and there was a scrambling downstairs before a lanky, brown furred wolf came up. “Who was in here? My desk was touched…"

“My apologies, Alpha." Tate bowed towards him, shooting a glare towards Logan. “This human said he had permission from you to get something… I knew it wasn't true but," the wolf lips quivered. About to get on Logan for getting him in trouble.

Tate's fur was standing up and his face twisted into a vicious snarl, about to attack Logan for getting him in trouble with the Alpha.

Reese glanced up. “I did tell him." Reese lied to cover Logan's ass. Wishing the human would mind his own fucking business. Reese could only help him for so long. It would be a shame to have to kill one of Alan's friends but if need be… “I was just making sure you were aware of it. You have performed beyond my expectations in your new role, Tate. I am pleased. You are dismissed."

“Yes, Alpha! Thank you, Alpha!" Tate saluted again before shooting a look at Logan and heading back downstairs wagging his tail at the compliment he'd received.

“What was that about?" Logan glanced back.

“You throw a dog a biscuit, it'll be happy when it does a good job." Reese glanced up at him. “Why did you touch my desk, Logan?" The wolf tapped a clawed finger on it.

“Just making sure you were keeping up your side of the bargain." Logan smiled back.

“You are playing with fire, boy." Reese warned in a low tone as his fur stood up on the nape of his neck. “Things are different now. You cannot keep pushing it with me, especially in front of the others…"

“And here I thought I was playing with daddy woof woof." Logan shrugged as he walked over. “You call me in, on my day off, and what? Expect me not to stick my nose where it doesn't belong?"

“I've told you before." Reese just gave him a blank look. “I have no interest in you."

It took Logan a second to figure out that Reese had thought Logan was offering himself to the Alpha.

“N-no! Not like that, fuck." Logan grumbled, placing a hand on the desk.

Reese moved and Logan was already withdrawing it before the wolf stabbed the spot with the pen he had in hand, nearly skewering Logan's hand to the desk. It dented the desk, leaving a mark behind as the wolf dragged the pen back, sitting back down.

Logan couldn't help the quickening of his heart as he glanced down at the spot.

“Sorry," Reese smiled spread across his face, showing every one of his pearly white fangs in the sea of darkness of his fur. “There was a bug on my desk." The wolf warned and Logan swallowed, holding his hand close knowing if he put it out of place again Reese would do that to him.

“Some way to ask for a favor." Logan chuckled uncertainly. It was hard to read Reese and the human was struggling even more now that Reese was in one of his rare moods.

“A favor from me to you? Or you to me?" Reese glanced up at the human who wisely took a step back. “I'm waiting for the others, then I'll give orders." Reese turned in his chair to face the wall. He never turned his back on anyone these days.

There were too many wanting his position as Alpha. Far too many targets on his back ever since he'd been forced to take up this mantle from outside the pack. He only found solace or relief when he was with Alan and those times were becoming few and far apart from each other.

It was one reason why Reese risked bringing Barret in. The wolf would help be an extra set of eyes and ears to keep them all safe. When Salt and Pepper came of age, Reese planned would bring them in as well. It would be three other wolves Reese could rely on in the days to come.

Salt and Pepper were already in training for the family business. Reese had made sure Alan didn't know about it. It kept his brothers busy and gave Alan a break from them. It just seemed like a logical move to make. A win-win even if Reese knew Alan wouldn't approve of it.  

“Right." Logan didn't press his luck and stepped aside. The human fell back onto the sofa pushed against the wall and stared up at the ceiling blankly. “Any luck on…?" Logan dared to ask, not even looking over at the wolf.

“Not yet." Reese picked at his nails, at least willing to answer his question. Just like how he'd done with Tate, Reese would throw Logan a biscuit every now and then to keep him happy. The human didn't even seem to be aware of the manipulation. “All my sources have come up empty handed on the matter, Logan. It was like he just dropped off the face of the planet…"

“Right…" Logan didn't sound relieved. Not that Reese blamed him.

“Possibly fled the country." Reese went on. “It's what I would've done, given the position he ended up in. Then again, I wouldn't have failed to kill you." The wolf snorted. It had almost been a joke. Reese was just stating a fact.

“Right…" Logan looked towards the stairs, hoping the others would hurry up and join them. This silence was beginning to drag on and Logan pulled out his phone to kill time while waiting.

A good ten minutes later, they did.

The first one to come up the stairs was a dog. Clementine. The dark orange furred boxer standing closer to Logan than the other two following up behind him. Barrett had arrived second, reporting Alan's status and that he'd spent the time with Salt and Pepper, helping PB settle into the back house with his pups before retreating down to the basement for the night after PB wanted time alone to… adjust.

“At your order, I let Salt and Pepper go down with him." Barrett nodded his head as he stood before the Alpha. Reese glanced up at him.

“You have my permission to enter my den as well, from now on. Barrett... If it's to help Alan." Reese went back to picking at his nails, an irritating habit he was forming under all the stress he'd been under lately. At least his fur wasn't falling out, yet. It was beginning to lighten in places and the wolf dared to think to begin dyeing it in the future or he feared he'd end up looking even more like his father.

“Thank you, Alpha." Barrett glanced up at him. “Tonight… do you wish for me to be there in your absence?"

“We'll see how the night goes," Reese looked towards the other two there in the room. “Clem," he nodded at the boxer whose stubby tail wagged at being acknowledged. Clem tried to put on a serious face though. “It's good to see you again. If anything comes up, make sure to let me know from now…" There was a tone to his voice and Clem shifted at that.

“Right. About moving out…" Clem cleared his throat, about to go on but Reese lifted a hand to stop him.

“We will talk about that more in the future, Clementine." Reese used his full name and the boxer shivered. “I think it's best if we discuss that in private."

“Yes… Alpha." Clem nodded his head.

“Reese," the wolf said softly and the dog looked up at him. “I'm still just Reese, to you and the other dogs. I promise." Reese tried to smile but his face didn't seem to register the action and he just stared blankly at the boxer.

Being genuine was truly a difficult feat to undertake at times. Instead, Reese looked at the other two there.

Logan was next to Domino; the dark brown furred wolf having been called up at the Alpha's command with the others. One of the few other wolves Reese trusted.

“Alpha," Domino nodded towards Reese before glancing at Logan. “Logan…" He began but the human wasn't in the mood to catch up. His eyes lingering on Logan before falling to the floor between them.

“We expecting anyone else?" Logan hoped to get this over with. He had too many things planned to be sitting around here all night. He'd have to buy another energy drink, maybe pop a few more caffeine… whatever it took to keep going.

The city never slept, and neither could he.

Domino's ear flicked at that, but he didn't say a word about it, just grumbling to himself.

“Not yet." Reese sighed heavily, turning in his chair to face them all. “The fuck you standing around for. Sit." He barked the order out and everyone scrambled to find a place to sit.

Logan, Clem, and Domino took the sofa. It was a cramped fit, but they made it work. Barrett awkwardly sat on one of the bean bag chairs that usually Salt or Pepper used. Though no one pointed it out, they all noted how their sitting position was now beneath Reese's as he glared over them.

“You're the only ones I trust here," Reese started up with, growling the words out to the point Clem had to help translate for Logan. The wolf closed his eyes for a second, taking a heavy breath. “Peanut Butter has shown back up to the house…" Reese wasn't sure where to begin and just laid things out. He hated to talk this much. “He had been exiled from the pack and refused to return, no matter how much I asked him to… Now he has."

“What changed?" Logan was the one to ask, needing every single ounce of information he could get. He already knew most of it, but this would be the only briefing he'd be able to afford to get before heading out.

“Uncle Gristle… his uncle, went missing." Reese frowned at that. There was no point of hiding these things, but he struggled to talk about it still. “Gristle was known to be a helper, in the pack. He would help those who wanted out of it, get out. Even a moron like PB. Gristle… Uncle Gristle," Reese couldn't help himself from saying. “Also helped me leave the pack. When things went down…"

“That was how you got out," Barrett was the one to say, mulling it over. “After you left, Alpha, there was… disputes in the pack. Mauler had to put a few wolves in their place and convinced everyone that you went in for training."

“I'd imagine he would." Reese snorted. “My father was waiting for my return. Like all of you seemed to have been… I joined the marines. It was an easy escape. Uncle Gristle could convince my father that it would be perfect training for when I return. I picked up a thing or two, for sure. When I returned..."

Reese had never spoken of this, even with Clem. The boxer only knew the rough summary of things. Not the whole thing.

“When I returned, my brother Bale had already killed our father and usurped his position in the pack." Reese didn't look at anyone, just down at his desk. He wasn't sadden by this. In fact, he had been proud of Bale for it. It was something Reese had, once, planned to do. “Uncle Gristle was already gone by then, sheltering and helping PB out…"

“He kept his connections with the pack. Continuing to help others escape." Barrett added in. “He helped me, and Lilith," the wolf paused thinking of his departed sister. “Helped both of us leave and join Diamond's crew. Before…"

“I killed her, yes." Reese grumbled. “She didn't exactly leave me a choice in the matter." He chuckled thinking of her brain's being blown out in front of him. She had been so cocky, so confident in that moment. It was sweet to take it all away right when she thought she'd won. “Leaving Vicky in charge of her crew. My condolences." Reese said the words but didn't feel them.

“Correct." Domino spoke up but his eyes continued to glance over at Logan, making Clem, who was sitting between the two, very uncomfortable. As if the boxer was a third wheel in their messed-up relationship.

“Then, just a couple years ago, she died…" Reese hadn't fully told anyone what had happened. Just that he returned with Salt and Pepper and that Vicky was dead. Barrett listened intently. “I put a round in her gut and she bled out. Left me little choice," Reese frowned. “Her and Diamond were cut from the same cloth, I swear."

It didn't bother him, the killing. Just the fact that it wasn't his choice to do the dirty deed. Everyone seemed to want to be killed by Reese. Forcing his hand. They were asking for it. Setting themselves up to be knocked over by the wolf, and in doing so Reese had claimed alphaship of the pack. Leaving no one else to run to after the dead he left in his wake.

Taking the throne of Alpha, crawling over a mountain of corpses.

“You killed Bale, Diamond, and Vicky…?" Logan wasn't sure what to say to that. He knew it was a good thing. At least Reese was somewhat reasonable. Bale had been power hungry, Diamond arrogant to the point of getting herself killed and Vicky had been insane.

What did that make Reese…?

“I never killed Bale." Reese corrected getting a few looks now. “I just simply… returned the favor. For what he did to PB. I did to him." Reese face was a void, and no one could read how he felt about that. “I dumped his body off to the other wolves there," he glanced up at Barrett who quickly jumped in.

“Bale was left to rot, Alpha." The wolf nodded. “Without ears or a tail, he wasn't seen as a wolf anymore. Let alone our Alpha. We just left him there, bleeding out."

“Diamond didn't kill him?" Reese lifted an eyebrow.

“No, Alpha. She thought it was hilarious and amusing. Then turned her attention to you. That was when you, uh…" Barrett didn't need to finish.

“Pop." Reese said and he smiled recalling it. “Like a balloon. Yes. She is dead. I'm sure of that one." The others in the room shifted uncomfortably at his dark humor. “Well, Bale won't be a threat, if he's still even alive." Reese snorted at the idea of Bale looking how PB did now.

“And Vicky was taken out when The Market was burned down." Logan nodded along aligning everything in his head on a timetable. “That doesn't leave much else…"

“Then who could've taken Gristle…?" Clem asked, looking around the room. Out of everyone there, he was the one left in the dark about most these things. His skin was crawling just hearing them brag about their exploits.

While Clem always helped Reese clean things up, he never asked for specifics and preferred it that way. It made it easier to sleep at night.

“There are other threats out there than wolves, Clem." Reese said but his voice soften, speaking to his long-time friend. The dog eased up at that. “I didn't make this place to watch out for my kind. I did it for those who hate wolves. Keeping us all here might seem cruel, at times, but it is safe here unlike in the city…"

Barrett and Domino, the two other wolves there, just nodded along. Knowing what it was like in the big city for a wolf to just walk down the street. Domino had more bottles thrown at his head than he could count, and Barrett refused to head out during daytime for the looks he'd get. That was before he was ordered to watch Alan.

At least with the human, others tended to ignore him.

“So, let's just say we cross off wolves from the list of people who would want to kill Gristle... Who does that leave?" Logan crossed a leg, resting back now as he thought it over.  

“The Pride?" Clem offered, trying to be helpful. Logan waved it away.

“Not after what you guys did to them. Sure, there are some that want revenge, but it isn't smart and the, uh, new pride male, or Mane, isn't interested in that. He already lost enough family to The Pack and doesn't want further conflict, right, Reese?" Logan asked at the end as if to verify it.

It was one of the agreements Logan asked for to stick around and help out. To leave The Pride out of any future conflicts.

“I've touched based with The Mane. He and I have an understanding about things. We both know what it's like when family fucks things up." Reese frowned back. He and Logan were the only two aware of who the new Mane was of The Pride and neither of them wanted to bring Sloan into this if they could help it. “He'll let me know if he finds anything and I doubt he had any reason to take my wolf. Wouldn't be beneficial for what he's trying to pull…"

The others noted what Reese said but didn't comment on it. The heads of the two major gangs in the city were in communication with each other. The implications alone were huge.

“And we don't take his lions. It's a fair trade." Reese shrugged a shoulder. “The Cackle wouldn't be involved either… at least, they better not be. They don't got enough teeth to bite at my pack."

The Cackle, the resident hyena gang, had stationed themselves in southern part of Seattle. They had been the weakest of the three top gangs that original resided in Washington. They had stayed out of The Pack and The Pride's affairs, leaving them mostly unscathed from the recent gang war between the two. Run by two crazed sisters, they were usually left to their own misgivings.

“That's still forgetting those marina bastards and The Brotherhood," Logan thought it over. “Unless a new gang has taken things over…?"

“The marina stays off land," Reese just shook his head. Run by an Asian small-clawed otter, The Marina was a host to all those from the sea. They worked the docks but didn't run them. They had a tight hold over anything coming in or going out to sea and mostly consisted of sharks and orcas. “Zhang keeps to himself. We give him a hefty fee to pay for what we transport but otherwise he stays out of our business. He has little care for those on land."

“That leaves The Brotherhood, I guess?" Logan frowned, talking about the insane human-rights group that had been growing over the years. With humanities numbers dipping and the rate of births to herbivores and other non-humans rising, they had become increasingly active. An aggressive online terrorists group run by humans claiming superiority to everyone else.  

Every couple of months there would be a new attack that had their symbol marked on it. An animal skull with red X's for eyes.

“Possibly," Reese couldn't be sure. “There are a lot of people with vendettas against predators. They could've taken Uncle Gristle out of revenge, because he was a wolf, or a numerous other reasons. We have very little to go on… PB didn't do fucking shit to help out in this," Reese snarled getting annoyed once more with his old pack mate.  

The group took a moment on that.

“I thought you and Diamond cleared out their stronghold here in Seattle?" Domino thought that over. “Slaughtered them all."

“Diamond hunted down the spare groups she could find after the attack," Reese nodded. He almost wished she was still around to ask about it. “She had her own reasons for why she agreed to help. Before trying to stab me in the back." Reese let out a single laugh and the others shifted again from it. “Seems like everyone who tries to betray me, gets it in the end."

Reese glanced up at the others as if in warning and no one could meet his eyes.

“That's what I thought…" The wolf growled.

“Relax. Fuck. This isn't about you," Logan sat up, placing his arms on his knees, and facing towards the Alpha. “We get it. You're the big bad Alpha. Everyone here knows it. We're trying to help you here, don't forget. We're your friends first…"

Reese ear twitched at that as he looked at the human. Wondering how hard it would be to break that scrawny neck of his between his jaws.

“All I'm saying," Logan held up his hands admitting defeat with a heavy sigh and shake of his head. “We are trying to help you, Reese. Not because you're the Alpha, but because we care. We all want things to go well here. Not just you. Not just for Alan. For everyone sake. Fuck, we all deserve a break from this!"

Reese frowned at that, easing up as he rested back in his chair. He could see how tired Logan was. The bags under his eyes, the unshaved face. The way he was a bit greasier looking… as if he hadn't had the time or luxury to shower.

“Right. Right." Reese let out his breath. “I suppose I should fill you all in what you don't know then and what I expect from you." He said and yet didn't continue.

The others exchanged looks before waiting for Reese to go on.

“Gristle isn't the only one missing," Clem was the one to speak up catching the others attention. The boxer shrunk in on himself at their looks. “W-what I mean is that there have been reports around the city, and the state, of predators going missing. And not just in Washington… Not just Gristle… there a dozens of missing preds out there and the numbers are growing by the week."

“How don't I know about this?" Logan asked and Clem was the one to laugh.

“Dude, you are barely in the office anymore! Always chasing leads into dead ends. The police chief is cutting you a break after… uh, everything that transpired last year…" Clem didn't want to talk about how they had gone into that place, The Market, and recovered both the mayor of the city as well as the police chief after he had sold her out to The Pride and got betrayed himself.

“Right…" Logan sighed, rubbing over his face. He needed a break but just couldn't bring himself to take one. There was so much to do. He couldn't stop looking…

“Clem knows his orders. He's my mole in the police department." Reese glanced over at the boxer. “Relax," he said to comfort the nervous dog. “I'm familiar with the police chief. Chief and I… well, he knows how to play ball." Reese smirked, using Police Chief Bernard's favorite line.

Logan was the only one there who got it, making the human question just how many people around this city that Reese was in contact with. Or for how long he had been…

“He'll stay out of pack business, so long as we don't involve civilians." Reese waved it off as if that was the last thing he'd do anyways. “He also wants to find out who is kidnapping predators around his city."

“Pfft, why? I figured a dog like him would hate us preds." Domino growled, crossing his arms, and baring his teeth. Domino hated that dog.

“The police chief might only be a Saint Bernard, but he's still a canine and he sees the entire city as his territory." Logan explained. “Dogs and wolves, not so different." He said and the three wolves there glared at him as Clem shrunk in on himself again, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.

“Logan. Stop antagonizing the freaking wolves here." Clem begged and whined at the human.

“Anyways," Reese grumbled. “Clem will continue using the police to look into things on his end. It'll be safer for him that way. Barrett, I will need you to stick with Alan while I hit up a few of my own sources…" Reese sighed, already hating this. He hadn't been able to go out since he'd been forced to become Alpha. He even quit his job to take the full-time position. “Domino and Logan, I want you to use the back alley means."

“Back alley means…?" Logan gave him a look.

“You know what I mean," Reese smirked at the human.

“Actually, I don't." Logan just smugly returned the look.

“Your fuck buddies," Reese couldn't help but laugh at the end and Domino folded his ears back. Domino had once been one of those fuck buddy contacts Logan had known. “We all know your escapades around the city. I need you to hit up the channels that I or Clem can't. Look into it. I want to know what these fuckers did with my Uncle."

“You keep saying your Uncle as if you are related." Logan couldn't help himself, fishing for information even now.

“He's my father's brother. Thus, my uncle. Dipshit." Reese snorted at the end. The other two wolves looked over at him.

“Uncle Gristle is actually your Uncle…?" Domino frowned, needing to think that over. Everyone knew who Gristle was in the pack. He was infamous. Always fighting against Mauler and arguing with the Alpha.

For some reason, Mauler had never kicked Gristle out of the pack. In fact, Reese's father seemed to let Gristle get away with shit that no one else would've been able to. The fact the two came from the same litter and even referred to each other as brothers explained a lot. It was extremely uncommon for wolves to stick with their siblings, usually being split up and raised with other pups from other litters instead.

Domino and Barrett just weren't sure what to make of it.

“Shit," Barrett muttered shaking his head. “How is that possible? Gristle is… and Mauler was…"

“Bale and I are brothers," Reese stated as if no one was aware of the fact. “Salt and Pepper are my half-brothers. And…" Reese wasn't sure if he could say it.

If he could admit to it.

There was a reason why Reese had given him such leniency unlike so many others.

“PB is my half-brother. My mother…" Reese struggled to say the words. He hadn't even told Alan this. “Vicky was my mother."

Barrett's ears folded back at that, going wide eyed as he stared at his alpha.

“She…" He couldn't say more. Barrett just staring at him before looking away. “And you had… we asked you to…"

“Kill my own mother, yes. I am aware of all the shit you all ask of me. Just like my brother wanted me to kill our father. Just like I had to almost kill Bale, instead just mutilating him…. Just like I had to kill Diamond, my mother's lover…" Reese laid it all out for them. “You fucks don't know how to get the job done and always put that shit on my plate to finish…"

No one said anything after that.

“You have your orders. Get the fuck out of here," Reese just snarled at the end, turning away from them as he sulked over it all.

Logan and Clem headed out first, only pausing as Reese stood up. The four of them standing there, waiting for Reese to say something.

“Clem. Keep playing the good cop. I don't want you getting caught," Reese warned the dog, growling by the end. “And you." Reese turned on Logan. “Domino will be sticking with you from now on."

“What? I don't need a chaperon." Logan glared back, acting like a child.

Reese approached him and the human tried to stand tall, look intimidating but yelped like a startled dog as Reese moved.

“Yes. You do." Reese picked Logan up by the front of his shirt and slammed him against the wall. Domino almost stepped in to help the human out, before stopping at the last second from the look Reese gave him. “You look like shit, Logan." Spittle flew from the wolf's mouth against Logan's face. “You are making Alan worry… I don't care what you do with your free time. Who you fucking bang or where you go," he added in warning, reminding Logan of his secret project that Reese was helping him with. “I do care if you bring that shit back with you. Leave your baggage at the door like everyone else does." He let Logan go and took a step back. “Domino. You are to shadow Logan. Protect him as needed, even if only from himself. And make him take a fucking shower, he stinks." And Reese turned away from them as Logan quickly headed down the stairs angrily.

Domino looked back at the Alpha before bowing his head. “Yes, my Alpha." And quickly followed after Logan with a wag to his tail.

Reese just hoped they could keep their personal shit apart from their job.

“Alpha…?" Barrett asked, standing nearby, and awaiting further orders.

“Salt and Pepper are with Alan." Reese wiped a hand through his hair, looking back at his desk. “I need to finish stuff up… Tate will stand guard until I retire tonight. If you need to go somewhere or… something… personal, you may leave." Reese looked back at Barrett, expecting Barrett to take the chance to take a break.

Since Barrett had joined the pack, he had been working as much as Reese had. Even if it mostly was just to watch over Alan, the wolf was always on duty. Reese had wanted to throw him a bone as well and give him a chance to relax.  

The other wolf just bowed though.

“I will protect your mate with my life…" Barrett paused, taking a moment. The wolf's black fur was lighter than Reese's was but was sure he might also be related. It was hard to say in a wolf pack, at times. Without proper records, it was hard to know who was related to who. And all that information had burned up when Reese had burned the manor on the hill down. “I think.. I think Lilith would've liked him, Alpha."

Barrett never called Reese by his name and, at times, Reese wondered if he wanted to say brother instead…

“I know she would've," Reese clapped a hand on Barrett's shoulder. “Alan and Lilith would've been the best of friend. He would've taught her how to dance, I promise…" Reese hesitated before, moving a step closer, put his forehead against Barrett's.

The intimate action took the other wolf off guard and Barrett froze, unsure what to do as he lowered his eyes between the two of them as Reese rubbed his shoulder a moment longer.

“I…" Barrett wasn't sure what to say. “If Alan needs anything, I swear… I swear on my life, I will get it for him." Barrett just nodded once more before leaving Reese alone.

He hesitated at the steps, glancing back at Reese. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something? Admit to something? To tell Reese something…? Reese wouldn't know as Barrett just bowed once more.

“Alpha," he said before leaving without looking back.

Barrett was the perfect example of what his father, Mauler, had tried to create. Perfect obedient soldiers with little will of their own. They would follow their Alpha's orders to their graves. Gristle had helped save Lilith and her brother Barrett from such a fate. Unfortunately, it seemed he was too late with Barrett.

Where Barrett had conformed to what was expected of him, Lilith had secretly hid away from the Alpha's cruel gaze. Her brother covering for her out of the familial bond they weren't supposed to talk about or address. After finding out that Lilith was to become another wolf used for breeding, Barrett finally began listening to her. Spiriting her away to Diamond's crew with Gristle's help in hopes of keeping her safe from that fate.

Diamond, having experienced similar things in her lifetime, had welcomed the two with open arms. Gristle had been their go between. Allowing the two to meet up with Diamond, where Barrett would serve until Vicky had betrayed them and where his sister had lost her life...

He had nothing left after that.

Barrett had no likes or hobbies. The old Alpha had made sure of that. He was an obedient soldier that didn't know what it was to fit into society. That was why Reese had felt for him and trusted him, knowing that Barrett would obey every one of his orders to the end. His father had created the perfect tool for Reese to use. What he had tried to turn Reese into...

Reese had always had a rebellious side, never liking to do what others told him to do. To be. Unlike Barrett…

The wolf would head down to the basement and watch over Alan. Barrett had nothing left but the orders given. Not after losing his sister. The last of his litter. The two of them had been close, only having each other. It was how Bale and Reese had been, once.

A long time ago. A lifetime ago.

At times, Reese wondered if he could've saved his brother from himself.

He knew he couldn't have. Reese wasn't… bred to be that kind of support his brother had needed back then. Maybe if Alan had been there, things would've been different. If Alan had been a wolf, Reese was sure Bale would've listened to him. Before it had become too late.

Reese hoped Alan could get through to Barrett, as he had done Reese. If anyone could, it was Alan…

Before it would become to late for another wolf.