The tour was surprisingly short.

Mark had made a wide circle around the territory, pointing out gathering points and border patrols before pausing as a presence approached. My fur stood on end at the dormant waves of power that rippled towards us.

Yet Drake didn't seem the least bit threatening, smiling easily as he approached with a lazy wave of his hand. For being an Alpha, he sure lacked ... well, he didn't really lack anything. I quickly realized it only seemed as if the Alpha lacked self-preservation but that was simply because Drake knew how powerful he was.

And he wasn't being cocky about it.

I growled to myself and shook my fur, irritated at my train of thought. Meanwhile Drake came to a halt a few steps away, warm boots strapped around his feet to protect from the creaking snow.

His dark jeans barely hid how muscular his thighs were and I was honestly impressed how his sweater strained over his chest, barely hanging on yet refusing to break.

"Alpha." Mark nodded with a polite smile before turning towards me. "I was just giving Kyle a tour of the territory. Since you're here, I'll leave that up to you so I can finish the paperwork."

Drake smirked thankfully, "Good, you know how I can't stand to deal with those lawyers. Pompous, egotistical peacocks." He said disdainfully and I couldn't help but snort. They both glanced my way before Mark nodded "It's the reason why I prefer dealing with them and not be at risk of dealing with another lawsuit, Alpha." and took his leave.

We watched the grey wolf lope into the distance before Drake spoke up. "Personally I don't understand why anyone wants to deal with paperwork in the first place. Thankfully I have Mark for that." He smirked and shook his head, proceeding me to the town.

I hesitantly followed in his footstep, feeling his Alpha powers fluctuate and pulse like a heartbeat. "I apologize if any of the pack has triggered you." His eyes flicked towards me, a graceful nod hid his expression behind a curtain of thick hair.

My wolf hesitated on the edge of my mind, unwilling to make the link and allow Drake in our minds once more. It was still too unnerved and agitated, especially with having to trust someone else.

After everything I've been through, I'm not surprised.

Drake seemed to understand but didn't take any offence, merely slowed his gait so we walked side by side.

"Mark told me he explained you the basics but I doubt he explained what this pack does for a living." He proceeded to point to the forest beyond the town and the mountain range behind it.

"Partially we get our funding from the wildlife reserve we run. Wolves, cats, bears... any kind of endangered critters, we rescue and provide them with nourishment, care and a territory to roam freely on. Our patrols make sure no poacher tries anything."

I tilted my head, already interested. It would be easier for us to connect with wildlife, as they could sense the beast within, making it easier for us to interact with a wounded or sick critter.

"Which is also part of the reason why Mark has to deal with those blasted bloodsuckers humans call lawyers." Drake continued with a snort, his gorgeous features pulling in a sneer of disdain. "Apparently those mountain tops are rumored to be riddled with gold, ruby and all kinds of mineral veins that the mining industry wants to lay their grubby hands on. They've been harassing me into selling part of my turf or at least allow them to excavate the mountain."

Drake snorted almost wolf like, shaking his head while his powers lashed out for a second. "As if I'd allow any gold-diggers set a single toe in my territory and demolish my homeland." He paused, inhaling the cool air deeply before sighing with a content grin. "The view alone would make it a crime to alter it in any shape or form."

I huffed, glancing at the houses surrounding us with sarcasm. Drake noticed my look and shook his head. "This clearing was here naturally, way before we even settled here in the first place. And as you can see with our new additions, we don't adapt the landscape to our needs, it's the other way around."

He pointed a finger towards the edge of the forest, where I saw a few lone houses blending right in with their surroundings. And just like Drake said, none of the surrounding trees seemed to have been messed with, nor were there any signs of deforestation so that they could have a garden.

"As for our other source of income, we provide both pest control and remove unwanted critters from human turf, though I guess our security jobs is another way of pest control..." He grinned while scratching at his beard before shrugging.

A cool gust of air blasted us in the face, pulling at my fur and whipping Drake's hair around. I averted my face to avoid being overwhelmed with all the scents that trailed along the wind, shaking my fur out when it passed.

Drake smiled pensively before glancing at my hip. "Does it still bother you?" I blinked before slowly stretching, yawning a bit in the process. It felt good but...I could still feel the pain of old fractures.

He nodded in understanding when I whined softly before continuing further towards town. "You know, you're welcome to get all the surgeries you need so that you can move and act like you want without being in pain."

I twisted my ears back, grunting slightly. Getting more surgeries meant staying longer. Then again, Winter has only just started so I could use the time being to recover fully for Spring.

They spotted Erina in the distance, talking quietly to Cedric before shooting a worried glance in our direction. My fur bristled, an uncomfortable feeling pulling in my gut when they made a move to separate for my benefit.

That isn't what I wanted either.

Loping forwards, I nudged Cedric back to his mate before walking inside, noticing that the scraps of fabric had already been removed. I quickly went to my room to change before returning back to the living room, where Cedric, Erina and Drake were all conversing quietly.

They paused when I entered, making me grumble quietly to myself as I stood there awkwardly, rubbed my neck in annoyance. "Sorry... for the mess..."

Erina's smile widened as she shook her head. "I understand perfectly. Well, perhaps not perfectly but still, I understand where you're coming from Kyle. It happens."

I nodded, though I couldn't stop the odd bolt of jealousy that sparked through my body as Cedric pulled her close to his body, eying me curiously. My wolf growled before forcing to avert my head, not wanting to make Cedric feel challenged in any shape or form.

I'm so done fighting.

"Is it because I'm pack?" Cedric inquired, sounding genuinely interested. I shook my head, following Drake's gentle directive to sit down on the couch. My wrist ached as I glanced between them, fingers already unintentionally rubbing over the malformed joint.

Judging from the way Drake's eyes narrowed and darkened the slightest bit, he already knew what I was thinking about. He held up a hand when Cedric's eyes flicked to my wrist, mouth opening to ask the obvious question.

"All in due time Cedric. Remember, we don't pry for answers of anyone's past here." His eyes flitted to me, a reassuring tilt in his head as he continued, "If he's ready, he'll share."

I snorted softly, feeling a pang of pain in my chest. "What's there to explain? Found my mate, he was Pack and I was rogue. I loved him but he didn't love me back. The end."

My wolf winced at that, pulling back at the bitterness of my tone. There was nothing else to it though; if Max had truly loved and accepted me, he'd taken my side or at the very least, listened to what I had to say before letting the pack rip me to bits.

But he didn't and here I was, struggling to survive enough that I needed help of another Pack.

There was an awkward silence in the room as Cedric and Drake sighed heavily, Erika eying me with a calculating glint in her eyes. Her look was one of understanding as she easily made the connection.

She and Cedric were the exact opposite of Max and I. She had her happily ever after while mine was ruthlessly destroyed by the hands of my own mate and his pack.

Drake brushed his hair back from his face and scowled slightly to himself. "I still feel that your previous Alpha," he sneered at the title, as if the man was unworthy of his rank, "should've thought before he acted out."

I thought about it, tossing the idea aside after a moment. "He might've always been a bit rash when a lot of issues piled up but he kept the good of the pack in his mind. If he had doubted his own pack member's reaction during a rogue attack, if he hesitated at the wrong time, it could've ended up with a lot of casualties."

At Cedric's thoughtful frown and Erika's raised eyebrows, I sighed deeply and explained while rubbing at my wrist. "There was a rogue attack the day I got banished. Left several of the pack seriously injured and the breach dangerously close to the shelter, where the Luna and pups were held. I was assumed traitor because I was close to one of their wounded and swiftly dealt with."

Understanding filled their gaze as they both nodded, Cedric's eyes tracking the movement of my thumb, following the awkward tilt in my wrist joint. His eyes flitted over my scars, seeing them in a new light before he released a troubled sigh.

"Still, though they need to act quickly, a true Alpha thinks before he acts." He said with distaste, having Drake nod his agreement. I crossed my arms over my stomach and averted my gaze.

"What happened, happened. There's no turning back time, even if I could." Erina squeezed Cedric's hand when he seemed to want to ask more and he stilled, smiling lovingly at her, thumb caressing the back of her hand.

Once, I had been in their position, feeling comforted and loved by my mate, thinking he was the only one who truly understood me. Know I knew how foolish I had been, to think I could entrust anyone with my life, hopes and dreams.

Trust was frail, easily broken and tossed back in your face.

A crash of several plates shattering on the floor made us all jump, Erina shooting to her feet with a frustrated snarl that nearly deafened the two growls from Jake and Alric's testosterone filled argument.

"If I have to geld you two to have some peace and quiet in this house and save the furniture, I WILL!" Erina barked with annoyance, causing dual pained and fearful whimpers from the kitchen before the scurrying of fearful paws announced their hasty retreat as they headed for the front door.

Drake snorted and shook his head. "At least for once they agree on something." Cedric let out a bark of laughter before standing up to help his frustrated mate clean up the mess of the two teen wolves.

As for me, I felt a hesitant smile pull at my lips at the way Drake and Cedric laughed and joked with one another, allowing me some privacy after the painful conversation. Drake gently patted me on the shoulder, "Don't worry about the past too much, just try to look ahead. Let me know if you've decided if and where you want a job. And if those two get too much, I can always rehouse you somewhere quieter."

I gazed up at him as he stood, walking to the kitchen to help in the clean up while I stayed seated. I shook my head with a slight smile before pushing up to go and help out.

This truly is a pack of misfits.