Kierra

Of course, just like things usually work, it's while I'm in there that I hear my phone ring. Ain't that always the way? Bastion answers it, gave him permission to do so if I won't get to it fast enough. Like now for example. When he says 'hello, Bryanna' I know it's important.

Finishing up, I get out quickly instead of dawdling as I might have usually. Have a towel hanging up for drying hands, but I rarely use it, just flinging my hands about instead and inevitably using my shirt. Childhood habit that has yet to go away and more than likely never will.

When walking back into the room, Bastion is holding the phone out to me. By his facial expression, I can tell it isn't good news. Before he even gets to me I hear the shouting coming from the speaker, a loud male complaining and bitching. Hmm.

"Bryanna? Are you alright?"

Silly question, but that's how it goes, right?

"Kierra? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to call so late, but I didn't know who else to call."

Her voice is low, almost a whisper. Have a feeling whoever the male is, he isn't aware she's on the phone. Here we go.

"It's no problem. Are you in trouble?"

A small snort is heard from her end, can just imagine the wheels turning in her head. Her voice stays low, the timbre starting to shake as it fills with emotion.

"I don't know what to do, and I don't want to hurt anyone. Can you help me?"

The inside of my cheek gets bitten. Wanting to help but unsure of just what I'll be stepping into. With everything else going on though, domestic abuse is hardly a big thing. Well, for me anyway, probably a big thing to her. Nodding, I swallow down a sigh.

"Of course, where are you?"

She gives me her address, the area familiar and known for not being a good part of town. Rockford has its upscale areas and its dark, just like any other major city. The west side is known by everyone to be...harsh. Lots of gang activity.

"I'm sorry to impose, but you're the only other like me that I know, and I'm scared I'll hurt someone."

I know the feeling. Not sure if felines have the same urges wolves do, but if so, she can be very dangerous if pushed too far.

"No worries, I'm heading out now. Stay in the bathroom or another room until I get there."

Without waiting for a reply, I hang up and get my shoes pulled on, talking to the others absently while I get ready.

"Have to go pick her up, she's afraid of hurting whoever it is that's yelling. I'll take Zypher with me, can you stay with the kids?"

I look up to Xavier, who'd stopped playing at some point. He's usually the one to go with me on quick trips, but with the new charges being so uneasy around other wolves, he has the 'short stick', as it were. When he moves to protest, I flick my eyes to Rika and Diego. His lips purse but then he nods.

Maii moves closer to the couple, unsure of his welcome but attempting to make nice. When not rebuffed in any way he gets even closer, touching noses with the small fox in the girl's lap. I smile, touching on Bastion’s head and looking him in the eye.

"Watch over them all for me?"

Blue eyes light up as he takes on a serious air and nods. Turning, I head out, calling for Zypher as I step outside, aiming for my jeep. Habit, and since I don't have a posse coming with, don't need the SUV. The purple-haired male comes out from the treeline, his wide and bulky mass what I think I'm needing for visually imposing.

Of course, that won't matter much to a gun, so still have to be wary. Being over six-foot helps too seeing that no one's going to be scared by a short female. A wide, non-ghetto white one at that.

"Need you to come with me, friend needs help and I may need some bigger muscle."

Not sure what to call her, but friend seems to be apropos for right now. He nods, lifting his head and making a high pitched whistle. I stop abruptly, ears really not happy as I shake my head to rid myself of lingering echoes.

"Ow."

He grins, winking as he follows after me, getting into the vehicle.

"What was the purpose of that?"

When his head motions to the side of the house, I see his brother come trotting from around it. Ah, I see. He salutes his animal sibling as we pull out, my mind curious as to what's so interesting at the back of my house that everyone seems to be coming from that way.

"No problems with the Reds, right?"

He shakes his head, the flexing of his arms making his tattoos dance and move. Tall, tanned, tattooed, and sarcastic, the Arctic Werewolf gets comfortable in the seat.

"None, but it's always better to keep an eye out. With all those hunting you, your sister, and Bastion, warnings will be helpful about anyone who approaches."

Put that way, guess it does make sense. Still, being new to all this, it's a wonder my fumbling about hasn't attracted more attention.

"Speaking of which, has Xavier filled you in on the new place?"

Zypher nods, rolling his window down as we speed down the road. Late hour means a little less traffic and more room to move. The sharp burst of air coming through lifts his long hair, blowing it back.

"He has. The Alpha of this Pack, I would like to meet him and see who we're dealing with."

My head inclines to him.

"Need to get everyone out there soon to see it and meet up with some of them. The only wolves I know are him and the younger kid, Dirk. I've caught hints of the others, but not faces to put with those scents."

I bite and chew at my lip, flicking my tongue ring against the back of my teeth.

"Um, I'm not sure if he knows or not, so he may not have told you, but the Alpha is a dire wolf. I didn't know that was possible."

Looking at the road, I don't catch his expression, but I can feel him tensing.

"It's very possible, just highly uncommon. Didn't think there'd be any around here. They tend to be more northern; Canada northern. Do you know how old he is?"

I shake my head. Gabriel looks to be in his thirties but being immortal, there's no telling how old he is. For all I know he could be centuries old.

"To be an Alpha, he already has to be at least a couple hundred. The moon doesn't have the pull on them that it does younger animals, who have to shift when it's full. They can choose to shift or not and don't have to stay in that form. It requires a lot of power."

I glance over to find him watching me, gray-blue eyes unreadable. Already know the Gray leader is a badass, have first-hand knowledge of that. To know he's that old is a bit daunting, but interesting. The things he's had to have seen...

"All Alphas are over two hundred?"

My question has me thinking of Alarico as well; the Red Alpha. Being around him, he feels older. That feeling you get when around an older male family member. Not necessarily 'fatherly' or anything, but similar.

His wife, on the other hand, she can't be that old, can she? It's possible of course, but I'd think after a few years with her attitude she'd know to have more sense. Then again, I don't know what all she's been through, so can't know for sure.

"Not all, but the vast majority, yes. For one to break off and claim Alpha status, it has to be approved by the council. If not found to be powerful enough, the title is denied and the wolf sent on his way. Alphas themselves are rare since such a high power level is needed to hold a pack together."

My mind chews on that as I make my way closer to Bryanna, the lioness who I'd only met hours earlier. Thinking about just how powerful Gabriel is...is just scary. The small hairs at the back of my neck even rise at the thought. Not to mention the muscle he can throw around just because he's such a higher rank.

"The Silver Wolf is said to have more power than an Alpha, being a whole separate entity. So even though revered for that fact, they are also held in wary regard, since that much power in the wrong hands can rip our world apart. From things I've heard from other wolf packs, Alphas and a Silver are on shaky ground with each other, since loyalties of the pack are divided."

Green eyes go to him in alarm, widening as that sinks in.

"I don't want that."

Zypher nods, keeping his gaze on me even as mine returns to the road. His intensity is a bit uncomfortable.

"Maybe not, but it's already happening."

My eyes jump back to him again, startled.

"You and Alarico are on good terms, but his wolves talk. Right now, you're planning on moving several foreign wolves into another’s territory without the order to obey the current standing Alpha. That could be seen as an act of aggression and even war. We can think for ourselves, but you will need to reinforce order with those you keep around you, making it clear who's in charge."

Wincing, I shift in annoyance. I hate doing that. Making the others show their subservience isn't something I care for but would seem to be something they all need. Not to be lorded over, but the comfort of knowing there's someone caring for them.

"It's his land, his rules. You're all mine, yes, but he's still the owner of the place we'll be residing in. I'll have to talk to him about his rules versus my own, but I'm sure everything should work out just fine."

My side glance to the male next to me reveals both his amusement and exasperation. Well, I'm sorry, but I clearly don't know what the hell I'm doing half the time... Most of the time. The only person I was all too happy to dominate was Lucia, but that was because she'd pissed me off.

"I'm no Alpha, I haven't been like you guys for any length of time to call status like that."

He shrugs. That's comforting.

Not.

"Doesn't matter, you are set apart because of who and what you are. There are many others like my brother and I, Xavier, and the kids, who are all drawn to you because of what you are. From what you've shown all of us of who you are, is what draws us closer, makes us willingly serve under you."

Scowling, I shoot him a glare, but he's unrepentant, grinning at me instead.

"None of you serve under me, I consider you guys equal to me. You're my friends."

His brow raises in a look of humor.

"Friends after only knowing us for such a short time?"

I squirm in my seat, uneasy about it myself now that I think and dwell on it. I'm not the kind of person that makes friends easily, especially since before all this as I avoided people most of the time. Everyone under my roof right now, I've known for less than a month, yet consider them close friends and will protect them from everything I can.

Shrugging, I turn onto the street given to me by Bryanna. Had slowed down quite a bit, but at the same time, I don't want to go slow enough to look suspicious. Lots of shootings in this area, not to mention robberies, home invasions, assault, and other various unpleasantness.

"Even for the short time it's been, I've felt each of you. If there was something wrong or off, I'd still be wary. You, your brother, and Xavier have all saved my ass at least once, I owe a debt."

I can see his headshake out of the corner of my eye, but I ignore him as I look for the house needed. The duplex is relatively easy to find given her directions. Looking at it as we pull up, the lights are lit up on both levels.

"So what's going on here?"

Oh, whoops. Should probably tell him, huh?