DYLAN ||

After we all discussed the future of our surprise guests in extreme detail, the decision to allow them to stay or not in the pack was decided.

Raiden and I came to an agreement along with everyone else that gave their opinions and we settled on allowing them to stay in the pack under one condition, which was Quiweeme and Weheil watching their thoughts.

I didn't even know that was a thing until the elves offered their services, but I was grateful because that would give us an advantage and every little bit counts.

We ended up going back to the cells and releasing them from their restraints after that.

My Dads led Sophie, Theo, Kaylie and Ruby to the same wing of the packhouse that they lived in. Eva said she would work on expanding the packhouse within the next week, so until then Bennett and Taj moved into the Silas wing.

With no other space until Eva could do her thing, Bennett and I brought Garrett with us to the Silas/Haller wing now and set him up in one of the spare bedrooms, while Raiden and Taj spent some time together doing their Leopard thing. They both were showing extreme signs of anxiety, so Bennett and I knew that they needed to get away.

Plus I was happy to just spend time with my brothers alone, without our Leopards hovering and doing their whole overly protective feline thing.

If I'm being completely honest, I didn't want to send my little brother away and I didn't want to be so harsh towards him earlier in the cells either, but I was scared and a little skeptical after everything that's happened.

It's hard to just move on from all of this and forgive, but I'm trying because I want to be a better person and I feel like I've worked really hard to get to where I am today, so I can't let this one little hiccup take me back to where I used to be.

8 months ago, I was a selfish, misguided, angry prick, but I don't want to be like that anymore. I totally still have some asshole tendencies, but I don't want to completely act like an asshole anymore. I want to be better for my new pack, for my mate, for my boys and for myself.

Garrett, Theo, Sophie and Kaylie have suffered at the hands of the fuckers just as much as I have.

Thinking back to the years of hell under their leadership, I hated my life so much.

Dean and Jake used to make me fight them at the same time to build my strength, my speed and my stamina. They even made me fight their wolves while I was in my form and if I shifted even by accident, I would be forced to endure 10 lashes. They kept me on a strict diet between the time I was 16 years old until I was 20 years old because they said Alphas needed to have discipline and food was the best way to start according to them.

Sometimes they would even make me train with them without my hearing aids, so I could learn how to fight under any and all circumstances.

I would be given wolfsbane injections once a week for years before Dean forced me into the title of Alpha when I was 21 years old because Dean and Jake said I needed to build a tolerance for it in case anyone tried to poison me one day. Knowing what I know now, they probably were doing that because they didn't want me to lose an Alpha challenge if someone tried to sabotage it the way they did with Liam.

They would beat me down or belittle me if I ever made a mistake or did anything on my own. I couldn't be too soft, I couldn't cry in public, I had to learn how to force others into submission even though using my aura used to make me physically sick to my stomach. They didn't care though, to them an Alpha had to be strong, show no weakness and apparently I was the epitome of weak in their eyes.

Selfishness was like their mantra. They lived by it. They taught me that an Alpha is selfish because he needs to think about himself before the pack in all aspects, he needs to think about how each situation would affect him first so that he could lead his pack with his "sound frame of mind." They said the Alpha's opinions were always right and should never be questioned, his mate should bow down to him and be perfectly submissive, everyone around him should look up to him because of his strength and power. He should hold himself to a certain standard. Alpha's should never socialize with the entire pack, never get too close to the entire pack, never allow the pack to know too much about him. He should be mysterious and feared at all costs.

They said an Alpha should always have a female Luna, forcing me to take random shewolves on dates. I wasn't allowed to get to know myself sexually or individually, which is why I fought my bond with Raiden so much. I was afraid in the beginning of our bond because he is a man and because I was taught the complete opposite. I didn't want to accept it because I feared the punishment that would come if they knew I was not only mated to a man, but attracted to a man.

Then when they accepted it so willingly in the hospital that day, I was throughly confused because they taught me the complete opposite. They made me question myself for years, only to show false acceptance and further confuse me.

As time has passed, I've realized that I'm bisexual and I'm totally comfortable with that now. Raiden isn't the only man I find attractive, there's plenty of men here in the pack that are downright gorgeous, but Raiden is the only man that I'll ever love and the only man that I'll ever want.

Dean and Jake were the ones that brought the whole leopard attacking rogues thing to my attention, they forced me to keep Raiden down in those cells when I wanted to get him out after only 7 days. Dean is the one who called the Council to get a mandatory sentence for my mate just to further have control over my decisions and I had no choice but to listen because I wasn't stupid enough to go against the Council.

They were the ones that told me that an all raw diet wasn't a real thing for shifters, so I questioned my own mate's needs and ended up starving him all because I was too weak minded and allowed Dean and Jake to walk all over me.

They were the ones to suggest injecting Raiden everyday with the numbing agent would be in the packs best interest and I listened because I was a dumbass. I took my mate's Leopard from him for over a month because I didn't stand up for myself. I never once stepped to them and showed them that I could make my own decisions and that they wouldn't control my life.

I was weak and they loved that.

I was weak because that's what they made me.

They completely turned me into someone I wasn't proud of and someone I hated.

I hated myself.

I don't even remember how I used to be. I don't remember my personality or anything that I used to like before Bennett was taken from the pack.

I know what I want now though.

I know who I am now.

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Watching my brothers now as we all sat in my livingroom, each of us with one of my boys in our arms, I couldn't help but smile. It's been almost 8 years since we all were together in one room like this, spending time together and enjoying each others company.

Quiweeme and Weheil confirmed the truth behind Garrett's words and offered to watch his thoughts and the others, so I really have nothing to worry about.

Plus Garrett is my baby brother, he wouldn't hurt me, he wouldn't hurt Bennett and he's been through some of the same bullshit we have with Dean and Jade's hovering.

Theo and Kaylie aren't my cousins by blood, but that doesn't make them any less family. I've grown up with them, I love them and they love me and Sophie is one of the strongest women I know. Despite not being blood either, she will always be my crazy Aunt, who speaks her mind and isn't afraid to pop me upside the head for doing or saying something stupid.

I'm happy with this outcome and I'm happy that I actually thought it through before making a split decision.

Something that Dean and Jake never taught me to do. I did this on my own and I'm so proud of myself.

"I can't believe you actually have pups." Garrett chuckled as he rocked the clingy fucker, Rhys, who was loving every moment of being held.

"Correction, Dylan has one pup, one cub and one awesome, terrifyingly powerful hybrid and I'm his favorite by the way." Bennett laughed as he popped his lips at the creeper fucker, Ezra, who gave his uncle BenBen one of his signature frowns that only his uncle and his dad could pull out of him.

"True.... Ezra is pretty cool man, but I don't know if you're his favorite." Garrett teased.

"Excuse me? I'm definitely the favorite, he doesn't frown for anyone else except me and Raiden, but he's the dad so he doesn't count, I'm the favorite, it's ok to be jealous Garrett." Bennett argued back with a smile.

"We will see about that, I'm sure the moment he sees how cool I am, he will frown at me too." Garrett laughed as Bennett now glared at him.

"You won't get your paws on our nephew.. I am the favorite and I take my favorite uncle duties very seriously." Bennett growled playfully.

"Whatever you say uncle BenBen." Garrett laughed while shaking his head.

I smiled at their nonsense before looking down at the no touchy fucker, Gage, who was sleeping peacefully. Sprawled out across my legs as usual.

"You know Garrett, I was skeptical of you and the rest at first." Bennett states, pulling my attention to him as he addresses our younger brother.

"I know, I would be worried about me too if I were you guys, but I hope you know now that I would never hurt you, you're my big brothers and I love you guys." Garrett says looking between both myself and Bennett.

"I lost a big part of myself when you disappeared Bennett, you were like the glue that held all of us together and without you, I became super attached to Dylan because I didn't have anyone else."

"You had Theo." Bennett smiles softly, but Garrett shakes his head.

"He was there and I love him as anyone would love their cousin, but he's not you and he's definitely not Dylan." He pauses to take a deep breath. "I was only 13 when you disappeared Bennett, so when I lost you, in my opinion everything went to shit literally and then the only brother I had was Dylan, but then it felt like I lost him too because Dean and Jake forced him to become Alpha and he was always so busy, I never really seen him, so I had no choice but to latch onto Theo because I didn't have anyone else."

I frown at my little brother's words, but I couldn't disagree with him. Everything did go downhill when Bennett disappeared. He was our big brother, our hero, our everything and he loved us like nobody else could ever.

Bennett was always there to help us with whatever we needed even when he was in Alpha training, he helped us with our homework and made sure we got to school on time. He was always there when we got picked on or just when we wanted our big brother. He was the one that started our family game nights and made sure we all came together to spend time even if we didn't want to.

Then he disappeared and I was forced to become Alpha, going through my own torture while Garrett was left in the shadows and felt like he lost both of his big brothers.

"I hate that you felt that way Garrett and I'm sorry that I didn't do more to be there for you." I tell him, unable to meet his gaze.

"It's not your fault Dylan, you had your own shit going on, I don't blame you or Bennett for what's happened, I just missed you guys and.." He let out a shaky breath. "I'm happy that we're all together again and away from that hellhole."

"Me too little brother." Bennett smiles.

"Same here." I tell him, now lifting my head to look at him.

Garrett looks between us with a soft smile before looking back down at Rhys and sighing. "You know you guys are really lucky."

"How so?" Bennett asks.

"You both found your mates and you're building your own families, you have a pack full of beings who love you and you actually have a dad that's pretty awesome if you ask me..." He frowns while rubbing Rhys little head. "I hope I can be this happy one day."

"You will be, you deserve to be." Bennett tells him as I offer him a reassuring smile.

Garrett nods before sighing again. "I love you guys."

"I love you too." I tell him.

"I love you both." Bennett tells us.

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RAIDEN ||

Sitting in the woods with Taj again, we both we're definitely in our element.

We didn't exactly want to leave our mates, but they insisted on forcing us out of the house because apparently we were showing signs of stress.

Taj and I were stressed, don't get me wrong, but not for the reasons that Dylan and Bennett may have thought. I just didn't want to leave him or our boys and Taj didn't want to leave his mate for obvious reasons.

I wanted to shift when we got to the tree line to give Onyx and Bane a chance to run, but when Taj told me he couldn't, I was confused. So of course I asked why and when he told me, suddenly his wanting to stay near Bennett was all the more clear.

The man is 3 weeks pregnant.

With twins.

I knew we rejected each other 4 weeks ago, so the timing scared me because I didn't know if he and Bennett waited until my DNA was officially out of his system. So when I asked him, he told me that Miles and Allio did blood work before Taj actually wanted to get pregnant and everything came back clear as far as my DNA being gone, so Taj and Bennett went ahead and started their family.

I'm happy for them, honestly I am and I'm ecstatic to know that their cubs or pups won't have any of my DNA because that would just be weird.

Being around him like this again after weeks of avoiding him was different though. I missed the brotherly love we shared before the whole bond fiasco because the close proximity between us brought back the feelings of the bond we shared.

I noticed that my feelings for him were still very much present. They weren't as strong as they were when our bond was in full effect, but I do still have something in my heart for the guy, which scared me.

Sitting on the edge of a cliff that Taj brought us to, I stare at the beautiful view in front me. The trees, the mountains, the silver river below us. Everything was breathtaking and the only thing that could make this even better was if my mate and our boys were here with me.

"Raiden, do you ever feel like you've been through so much shit, that when you finally have some form of happiness, you start to question it or wait for something bad to happen?" Taj asks as he looks out at the view in front of us.

"I never used to, but ever since I've met Dylan, there does seem to be one thing after another." I answer honestly.

"That's how I feel too, ever since I found Bennett, so many different things have happened back to back and I was never able to focus on the good." He sighed before shaking his head. "But now, things seem to be looking up."

"I agree."

"These last 7 and a half years, all I've done is take care of Bennett, help Liam run his pack, attack the Wolf's Claw pack and try to get Dylan back to his family, so it's nice to be able to sit back, have help with responsibilities and finally be able to start my own family." Taj whispers his last word as he looks down at his stomach. "It's nice to be able to focus on myself and my happiness too."

"And you deserve that Taj, you've sacrificed your own happiness for so long just to make your mate and his dad and his pack happy, you're truly a selfless man." I tell him, subconsciously rubbing his back.

The moment he looked at me, I pulled my hand back and frowned, hating the way we've become now. It's so freaking awkward... I just want our brotherhood back.

"I'm sorry." Whispering my apology, I look out at the view once again. I didn't expect Taj to reach out and grab my hand, so I flinched at his sudden gesture before looking back at him.

Staring into his eyes, finding nothing but understanding. I sigh at the same time he does.

"I hate it too." He tells me, tightening his grip on my hand. "But I have a suggestion to help get through this, so we don't end up hating each other and losing our brotherhood."

"What do you suggest?" I ask, holding his gaze.

"Maybe using the love we feel for each other through the bond as something that strengthens the love we have for each other through our brotherhood."

"What do you mean? How can we do that?"

"By understanding that we don't actually love each other the way that we love our mates, by understanding we share a connection now, but it's nothing more than knowing we have a stronger brotherly love than we did before." He smiles as he lets go of my hand and touches his stomach.

"You gave me something that no one else would have been willing to and I will always love you for that Raiden, but I also know that the love I feel for you is not romantic, but more the strongest love I'll ever feel for a friend, for a brother, even stronger than I feel for my own blood brothers." He laughs, bringing a smile to my face.

That makes total sense. I do love Taj, but these feelings are nothing like I feel for Dylan. Searching my own heart, we was right. I don't love him on a romantic level, more so a deeper friendship, a deeper connection that nobody else would be able to understand, except Liam and Allio.

The deepest love you feel for a friend, for a brother that you would do anything to help them achieve happiness and that's what I did for Taj.

He feels complete because of our past sacrifice, he's happy because of what our bond created for him. He's building his own family, the greatest way possible. By carrying his own cubs and that's because of me.

I did this for him, I helped him become this happy and that alone made me feel happy.

The man has been through so much and has sacrificed so many years of his life to take care of and help others, he deserved his own happiness and now he will have it in about 17 weeks or earlier Goddess willing.

Dylan isn't the only one that has changed for the better, I guess I have too.

It's a huge honor to be able to give someone the gift of life and I gave that to Taj.

I did that, so I'm content with the love I feel for him because I know what it means.

"I love you Taj." I tell him, holding my smile.

"I love you too Raiden."

"But only as a brother." I chuckle, playfully shoving him.

"Yes, only as a brother." He agrees quickly before shoving me back.

Looking back out at the view, I sigh happily as Taj does.

Everyone's future seems to be looking up.

Finally.

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