Morning came and it took me a moment to fully realize where I was. The warm, soft fabric against my skin, light filtering through the windows and soft flutter of snow...

Very different from the freezing chill I had grown accustomed to, the wind that howled around and through the house, wood creaking at the slightest movement.

A soft sigh escaped me as I sat up, rubbing a hand over my eyes to get rid of any build up gunk. Right... I was back at Drake's pack...

Our pack...

The idea brought a smile to my face as I slowly relaxed, letting my hands fall in my lap after a good stretch.

It wasn't hard to point out the differences between Max's pack and Drake's. There was no suspicion in their gazes whenever they spotted me.

Drake's pack was accepting with open arms, understanding that sometimes the past was better left unspoken, too painful to mention.

They didn't look at me to compare me against the poor unfortunate souls that lost their humanity, wolf running rampant.

For Drake's pack, I wasn't just another rogue. I was... me. Even if I hadn't gone through some pompous ceremony, I was part of the pack. A valued member that deserved love and respect.

Nothing like what I was used to from Max's pack. The only genuine love and respect I remembered earning there, was from the pups.

Nobody is born a racist, you're turned into one.

I snorted at my wolf before stepping out of bed, feeling muscles and joints tense after been forced to strain to get back here.

Another long soak in a hot bath sounded really attractive, especially when I felt like an old man, trying to perform simple tasks.

Though I assumed that part of the trembles and shakes that were going through my system was due to the added stress. Knowing Max was lurking just outside the pack, planning who knows whatever plot to do whatever he's intending to do...

I huffed, dressing myself with some difficulty before I slowly walked out the room. There wasn't anything I could do about my ex-mate skulking around, besides going outside the pack to confront the bastard.

Muscles tensing and hands quivering slightly, I managed to make my way to the living room, not feeling the urge to eat anything for breakfast.

Possibly due to the fact that Drake's mother and grandmother had seen to it that I ate my weight in food, and then some.

The memory made me chuckle slightly, stomach still bloated from the several servings stuffed down my throat.

"Morning." Jake grumbled as he looked up from his bowl of cereal. I blinked, giving a slight nod before realizing Alaric wasn't anywhere to be seen.

Judging from the healing mark on Jake's neck and the blush that rose up on his cheeks while he drew his shirt over the bite mark, they had seemed to finally resolved their ... issues.

"Congratulations? You don't look too happy..." I paused as Jake shuffled in his seat with a huff.

He made an exasperated motion with his hand, scoffing "We've spent months, nearly a year arguing with one another because neither of us wanted to submit to the other... And now I'm the sub in this mess."

I blinked again, cocking my head before huffing, "Has it occurred to you two that maybe, perhaps, you could switch? There doesn't need to be a defined top or bottom in any relationship."

Jake paused mid chew, looking up at me with the spoon levitating halfway to his mouth.

It was almost visible how the gears in his mind stuttered and then clicked, a slow smile blooming on his face before he dropped his spoon with a loud clatter.

"Where are you- Never mind. I don't wanna know." I murmured as Jake darted around the table with an eager grin and sped down the hallway.

It was all too clear where he was going and after depositing Jake's bowl in the sink, I hurried out the building as fast as I could. Happy that I had managed to help the couple somehow.

"Guess I'll give Shadow a visit. Who knows what that surly pup is up to." I grinned, happy to see that while it had snowed overnight and there was still some slight snowfall, someone had been thoughtful enough to salt the pavements.

I could only imagine the world of pain I'd be in if I were to slip on ice and fall on my aching joints.

When I arrived at the center, I saw a few people lingering around, Drake standing inside with crossed arms as if he was observing something.

Pushing past the doors, his eyes quickly darted in my direction, an easy smile flashing over his face.

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

I smiled, following his gaze before realizing why so many of the pack were gathered here. Ellie was connecting to one of the wolves at the rehabilitation center.

"Oh boy, here he comes...." Drake murmured, giving me just enough time to see Shadow squeeze his massive frame through the gate before he loped in my direction.

Even in his excitement, he seemed to realize that I was in pain, simply circling around me and sniffing every inch of my body.

When I slowly crouched down to scratch through his fur, Shadow wasted no time rubbing his scent over my body, growling at anyone getting too close.

"Hey bud. How've you been, pup?" I murmured, fingers weaving through his fur, scratching at his warm skin. He grumbled, as if contemplating to act unaffected before his jaw drooped open in a happy pant.

Five minutes of scratching and pets had reduced Shadow into a squirming furball, laying belly up and demanding his bared stomach to be scratched.

And each time I made to pull my arm back or simply shuffle my weight, he'd press his head firmly under my hand or press closer to the point where I had my lap full of the massive enforcer.

"Like I said, he missed you." Drake said with an excited grin, keeping an eye on Ellie as she was being approached by the wild wolves one by one.

I snorted, having to lean back as Shadow huffed and drooped completely in my lap. "You don't say." I murmured sarcastically before blinking in surprise when the wolf pawed at Drake's leg.

The Alpha grinned, crouching down to gently pat Shadow on his stomach. "He wasn't the only one who had missed you... I guess we bonded over that."

I averted my gaze while chewing on my lip, fighting back a blush. Drake mentioned it so casually but to me, it felt... thoughtful of him to show my presence was appreciated.

The mood was broken when, true to his nature, Shadow huffed and kicked his leg out.

Catching Drake off guard and hitting him straight in the groin.

A small groan followed before Drake faceplanted the floor as I cringed in sympathy and awkwardly patted his back.

"You fucking mutt." He squeaked out, making Shadow huff and wiggle, pawing at my hands when he realized I had stopped petting him.

"He sure has a unique way to show he cares." I snorted, remembering the day our places were reversed, where Shadow had landed a solid hit on my groin.

Shadow pushed off the ground, snorting before he sniffed at Drake's face. "Oh, now you act like you're sorry huh..." Drake grumbled, pushing the wolf out of his face as he got back on his feet, cringing slightly.

A happy giggle drew our attention to the other end of the room, where Ellie was failing fighting off the female wolf that was lapping at her face.

A smile slid over both our faces as we watched the child giggle and squeal, pushing the muzzle away for a few seconds before the she-wolf persisted.

My eyes flitted over the female, eyebrows raising in surprise at the swollen stomach, showing she was expecting.

Drake noticed my look and smiled. "While these two might be the Alphas, it doesn't mean they're the only ones allowed to breed." He said with a pat to the two wolves by his side.

"Isn't that rare though? At least in wild wolf packs?"

Drake chuckled, sitting down and allowing the Alpha female to plop in his lap while the male rubbed his scent on Drake's shoulders.

"You'd think so. But at least twenty percent to up to forty percent of wild wolf packs have at least two breeding females." He nodded towards the heavily expecting she-wolf.

"She was brought in at the same time as the Alpha female, possible litter mates. Most likely she mated with a wild wolf before she got relocated here."

I nodded with understanding, grinning as Ellie shifted on the spot. The she-wolf promptly picked Ellie up by the scruff, jumping on the bench before curling protectively around the pup.

And it felt so good, to see Ellie close her eyes and lean in, accepting the warmth and affection from this wild she-wolf. It was clear the wolf could easily sense the pain and sorrow of the pup and bathed her in love and affection.

In fact, I was quite certain it would be quite a pain to leave without the she-wolf throwing a fit over losing her pup.

A knock sounded on the door before it opened, revealing Mark, one of Drake's Betas, with a troubled expression on his face.

Drake took one look at him before casting his eyes to the heavens with a deep, tired sigh. "Where is-"

The door slammed open as a new man stepped inside, eyes flitting around before landing on Drake.

And me by Drake's side.

His darkbrown eyes nearly blackened, teeth bared as he snarled. I could clearly see the intent of the dark-haired man before he even shifted, hopping onto my feet to ready myself for a possible fight.

Even Drake was lifting the Alpha female out of his lap, obviously intending of preventing a fight from breaking out. I didn't even need to guess who this was, as the envy in the strangers' gaze was clear, combined with the rage aimed my way.

Elliot snarled, snapping his teeth before lunging forwards while I shifted quickly.

Neither Drake, myself or Elliot had expected Shadow to come out of nowhere, snatch Elliot by the throat and slam his form down.

Elliot yelped and squirmed while Shadow snarled around the mouthful of fur he had. Not shaking and tearing, simply pinning the smaller wolf down.

Each time Elliot squirmed or tried to move out of Shadow's hold, the massive enforcer snarled, snapping in Elliot's face and even biting his muzzle a few times.

And all the wile his deep, rumbling growled filled the room, positioning himself above Elliot.

Dominating Drake's ex-mate as if he were a mere wild wolf. Elliot slowly seemed to learn his lesson, curling up with his tail between his legs and licking his lips.

"Well... I'll be damned." Drake muttered, both of us staring in awe at Shadow. The black and grey wolf kept standing above Elliot, tail raised and wagging stiffly.

Elliot tried to push Shadow away with his paws but regretted that instantly as the wolf bit him in the paw, showing Elliot down once more.

The rest of the pack was restless, pacing back and forth and grumbling lowly. Even the Alpha pair joined Shadow, standing over Elliot and snarling whenever the wolf squirmed.

Drake didn't step in, allowing the wolves to deal with Elliot as he stood upright, brushing the dirt off his hands before sighing.

"What were you even thinking Elliot? Why are you here?" the Alpha asked tiredly, holding a hand out to me. I didn't dare shift back, refusing to be vulnerable when Elliot was a possible risk.

Instead I pressed closer to Drake, standing against his legs and growling lowly when Elliot glared at me.

Well... this is going to be an interesting conversation...