My fuming father had managed to grab a secure hold of Max's right arm, the one that was pressing his palm firmly into the door frame, and my father purposely started to dig his fingers into Max's dense skin until Max could feel the extremely short distal edges of his nails.

Without a doubt, Max had gone through much more critical situations compared to this. It was obvious. He was one of the main warriors, and he had actually been forced to deal with a violent rogue just a couple weeks back where he was slashed repeatedly with claws sharper than knives while he tried his best to keep the peace. Viviana had spent the entire time he was away explaining the situation, she was on a call with me while she waited and worried for him to get it done and over with. Along with Johnny, our eyes and ears when we need him. And, even though she would most likely not react the same way he would in moments like those if it was her who was a warrior with their supernatural abilities, she always bragged about how sweet he was. He was even known around the pack, and by some of the human townspeople, as being more open to solve conflicts with his words than to succumb to the fight. An admirable trait to many.

Besides, I doubt that a human's basically fictitious nails could deal even a sting of pain compared to that of a wolf's claw. Nevertheless, the guilt was there, pestering me instead of my father.

Figures, am I right?

However, this was quite different. Viviana was bordering the invisible line that separated danger and safety, or in other words uncomfortably close to the drunk rager. Even I could spot her from the corner of my focus, which meant that Max could definitely sense her, could have already caught a glance of her and realistically speaking maybe a whiff of her, as well. All with his back turned away from her. His grip on the entrance noticeably tightened. This wasn't him dealing with a matter that was miles away from where she stood, she wasn't out of reach or out of view. She was right there. And, because of the slim distance between them, he instinctively deemed my father as somewhat of a threat.

A threat that he could easily deal with.

I nibbled at my bottom lip until it felt sore, and then I swallowed the lump that had seemingly taken up most of my throat. My eyes scanned the area, flicking furiously between my father, Max, Viviana, Annora, more than enough curious pack members, and Morpheus. The idea of being 'cool' in a situation like this appeared impossible, as embarrassment continued to grow uncontrollably, and the feeling of humiliation worsened the longer I stood there. The heat from watchful eyes bothered me to no end, my father daring to stare at me in front of everyone with the look of disappointment and mortification was burning holes into my skin, and while everyone near seemed to eye him cautiously, he didn't care. And, I felt their stare for him. Morpheus placed his hand on my hip and drew me closer, allowing me to feel both guarded and terrified at the same time. The mate bond tried it's best to ease me.

Oh, sugar.

The entryway had gained multiple onlookers in the brief time from when my father first came banging madly at the door. Pack members were witnessing his outburst from the top of the stairs, others were peeking out from behind the walls, and some were standing right next to us. It was a crowd, that's for sure. Their stances were all ready to jump out, to block, to shield. And, their faces and forms all spoke the same genre. Shocked. Astonished. Perplexed.

It made me wonder if this was the most unfavourable experience with a grieving, hating, and unaccepting human that they've ever encountered. Although, they must have seen worse, right? Rumours have always been quick to spread throughout the entire area, and I vividly remember a story about someone trying to light the packhouse on fire with a relatively petite red container of gas and a barbecue lighter. Strange, considering the building is mostly made of stone. But, I suppose that was an 'it's the thought that counts' moment.

"Emmy-" my father shoved his upper body against Max's arm at the sight of Morpheus coiling around me protectively, and his tone deepened, darkened, as he spoke. Max's top lip pulled back on impulse, and a low, unexpected growl emitted from his puffed-up chest. My father aimed back at him, "What the hell is this? You better get your filthy hand off of me or-"

I felt the bones of my back mould into Morpheus' chest as I tried to suck up his confidence like a parasite and play it off as my own, but in reality, I was cowering. Abruptly, I felt his body vibrate as he reached his hand forward and surprisingly demanded, "Let him in. Now."

Excuse me, what-

"No!" I blurted loudly, startling not only myself but others. Maybe Viviana jumped at my newfound assertiveness, maybe Max did instead, or maybe the both of them at the same time. Upon hearing my voice, Max immediately gaped at me, his arm trembling just the slightest in reaction to the unforeseen forceful act of choosing between either Morpheus or me. A type of struggle that he never went through before, as a challenging view to the Alpha was new to him and just about everyone else in this pack. My mouth was dry in horror. "Just let him go, Max," my lip quivered at my firm words and doubt bubbled up in my chest at the thought of looking at my father, witnessing his response. "Lock him out. Please."

I hesitated. The words remained at the tip of my tongue, staining like hard candy, and stinging like a sour sugar coating. 'I'll walk him home'.

Irritated, Morpheus took it upon himself to push forward, shifting my short body behind his defensively. He seized my father's shirt by the collar, and hauled him straight in through the door, knocking poor Max to the side as if he was a bag of flour. My eyes glazed over in realization as soon as I spotted a detached figure off in the distance, and remembrance clicked, well, more so awareness. There was something in the dark, hidden beneath the overpowering forest of green, and basking in the coldness of the forgiving moon. They were crouching, observing, and waiting. But, for what?

"Keep everyone inside," Morpheus commanded. "I don't want to see a single unauthorized member roaming outside these very doors, and that includes everyone living in private houses along the pack borders." He turned, spinning my body with him as he kept me pinned against his back, holding me there like I was a baby bouncing happily in a carrier, and he locked eyes with Leo who was standing nearby, "You make that happen."

"And, you-" with a pointed finger, Morpheus began to size up a few members who I just knew from their stance were trained the same way Max was, inadvertently intimidating them by the appearances of their suddenly pale faces, "-you know where to put him. Make sure he stays there under a steady watch. I want no mistakes. I want no issues. And, I certainly do not want any complications."

Facing Max, he simply urged him on, "Come with me."

His next move made me panic as his hand simply edged me away, and I found myself slumped into Annora's caring embrace. I felt like a child being encased in a mother's loving arms. Still, I couldn't believe that Morpheus pushed me away. Me? Away? Huh? Now, if they keep passing me around as if I'm a- "Do not worry, Alpha! I will make sure that she is safe, even if my life depends on it!"

It seemed like we stood there forever, much to Annora's dismay, observing how members scrambled up the stairs, carrying and dragging children as the intense voice of Morpheus lingered in the air. And, I watched as he disappeared, and how the room dulled at his absence. Annora tugged gently at the sleeve of my shirt, "We should really get to the Alpha's floor, Miss Luna, it will be safe up there. The Alpha wouldn't want you to be so close to the door, especially in a peculiar time like this, so I must take the proper steps to ensure that you won't be put into any type of risk."

She let me take multiple breaks on our way, and I don't know if it was intentional of me, or if my legs were silently begging to stop working. Or, if I was naively expecting someone else to accompany me there.

I relied on Annora for the rest of my lonesome night.

💕