RAIDEN ||

Beep.

Beep..

Beep...

Beep....

Shuffling. Whispering. Foreign voices.

"Thank you Doctor, I'll call you if he needs anything else." That voice, it's familiar yet softer than what I'm used to.

Slowly, I try to open my eyes. Allowing my eyelids to flutter open, I blink a few times trying to focus in on the blurry outline of a person next to me.

Bit by bit, the image becomes clearer and then my vision comes to. I flinch when I see exactly who it was.

Dylan.

My mate.

He's here.

And he's staring down at me.

Yet, I don't want him to be.

I go to stand up and I'm instantly met with another pair of hands on my shoulders, pressing me further down into the bed. I look behind me and there was Dylan's Beta, Gabe.

I turned my lip at him, sending a snarl his way.

"Try to calm down Raiden. You can't move too much with these machines hooked up to you like this?"

His words bring my gaze down to my body, which was now covered by some sort of gown, white blankets laid over my legs. Looking around the room, I seen machines to my left and my right, an IV in my arm, chairs in the corner, a bed pulled out from a couch that had blankets and pillows on it. A laptop, cellphone and dufflebag on top.

My surroundings tell me only one thing that makes sense, I'm in a hospital, but Dylan and his Beta are here. So I can't be out of his pack, unless what Garrett and Theo said was true and I'm with the Council.

Dylan's scent was strong in here though.

"Where am I?" I ask, shrugging Gabe's hands off my shoulders. His touch didn't bring the same euphoric feeling that Dylan's did. Gabe's touch made it feel like spiders were crawling under my skin.

"You're in the pack hospital Raiden." Dylan said and I frown at him. I was glad I wasn't with the council, but why the heck was in the pack hospital?

"Why am I here? Who got me out of the cells?" I ask, my voice sounded more hoarse than I thought it would.

"We don't know, but right now we're not going to worry about that. Right now, we're going to focus on getting you healthy." Dylan said, making me frown again.

Why would he care if I was healthy or not?

He didn't care when he had his pack fight me.

He didn't care when I was in those cells.

He didn't care when he called me a prisoner and called our bond a predicament.

He didn't care when they fed me a diet that I clearly couldn't eat.

He didn't care to visit me or talk to me or anything when I was down there.

He didn't care when he allowed his brother and cousin to take their rage out on me.

"Why do you even care Dylan?" I ask, turning away from him only to wince in pain and clench my stomach, memories of Garrett and Theo taking turns holding my body up to punch me.

"I care Raiden. You're my mate." His voice was soft, but I couldn't help glaring at him or attempting to.

"Now you care about our bond? You called me a prisoner Dylan. You called us a predicament. You weren't there for me when I needed you, so please don't call me your mate." I explain, trying my best to hold back the tears that forced their way to the surface without my permission.

I watched as he took a few deep breaths before his own tears forced their way up. My eyes softened seeing him hurt, even though they shouldn't have. I couldn't help but feel bad for hurting my mates feelings.

"Raiden, I didn't-" He started to speak before he cut off by a thunderous roar from outside the hospital room.

"WHERE IS HE?!" A voice boomed from the hallway as I heard a bunch of screaming and shuffling. Something hit the door hard and I flinched from the impact. I seen Gabe's eyes glaze over and he rushed out the room.

Dylan was staring at me, wide eyed before he walked over to the computer next to my hospital bed, then his eyes glaze over.

It didn't take long for a nurse and doctor to enter my room, the noise from the hallway erupting into the room.

"WHERE IS HE HUNTER?!" That same voice boomed from the hallway before the room door closed again. Clearly whoever it was, was yelling at Dylan's Gamma.

The same jerk that injected me with that numbing agent that took Onyx from me.

"Kyle, I need those medical records I asked you for pulled up quickly, please." Dylan said and the doctor rushed over to the computer, while the nurse was standing at the door trying her hardest to keep it shut.

"Here you are Alpha." The doctor says, Dylan walks back over and after reading whatever was on the screen, his eyes grew wide.

"Raiden.. what's your last name?" He asks and I narrow my eyes at him before answering.

"Silas." I answer and he let out a heavy breath before rushing over to the room door with the nurse, but before he could actually get to help her or leave the room or whatever he was going to do, the door was shoved open.

Dylan and the nurse flew across the room, the door hanging on nothing but one hinge and there stood the one person I didn't think I would see ever again. I thought I was going to die in that cell, I didn't expect to see him at all.

The shock of it all leaving a metallic taste in my mouth.

He was so much bigger than I remember. He has to be at least my height now. His dirty blonde hair cascaded past his shoulders and his hazel eyes were bound to mine. He's grown into his muscular frame beautifully.

He looks like..... home.

My brother.

"Roman?" I breath out as he rushes over to my hospital bed and crashes his body into mine. I groan at the sudden impact and from the pain that radiates through me, but I quickly pushed all of that aside to soak in all that is my baby brother. I breathe in so deep, I can taste his scent. A scent so familiar, so much like home. A scent that described my family.

My brother was here. My baby brother was right here. In my arms. In my mates pack.

But how?

"F-Fuck R-Raiden... A-are you o-ok?" Roman stuttered through his sobs against my shoulder.

Out of pure instinct, I start rubbing my little brothers back soothingly and holding his head to me. He needed me right now and I needed him. I held him to me like he was my lifeline because right now, that's exactly what he was to me.

The only person here that I knew without a doubt, loved me. The only person here that I knew would protect me like I would protect him, who would cherish me, who would never mistreat me.

I missed my baby brother so much.

"I'm ok Rome. I'm ok." I tried my best to reassure him, even though I knew I was far from ok.

Roman reluctantly pulled back from me after what seemed like forever, tears stained his cheeks and I didn't hesitate to wipe them away as he closed his eyes and leaned into my touch.

"What happened to you brother?" He asked slowly opening his eyes, his voice was deeper than I remember it from a few years ago when I visited my family last. The memory made me chuckle before wincing in pain again.

Roman noticed my reaction and his eyes narrowed, immediately starting to take in my appearance, which I'm sure looked terrible. I hadn't showered or washed my hair for 20 days. I hadn't eaten anything either because I couldn't eat their hot soup they served me.

I knew I probably looked like skin and bones at this point and I'm sure my body was riddled with bruises from Garrett and Theo's punk asses. I promised myself if I ever got my hands on them again, I would make their asses red and take joy in doing it.

"What the fuck brother?! Who the fuck did this to you?" Roman growled as his eyes continued to dance around my body.

Before I could answer, Hunter, Gabe, Garrett and Theo run into my hospital room. Dylan and the nurse had gotten off the floor and he was helping her sit onto the pull out bed.

I growled weakly at the sight of the men that just entered my room. I hated every single one of them, the only reason that Dylan wasn't on that list was because he's my dang mate.

Roman turned around to see the ones who entered and held his arm, motioning one of them towards him. I looked between him and the 5 men in the room as Dylan joined his pack wolves by the door.

Who the heck was he calling out for?

"Come here, I want you to meet someone." Roman said, bringing my attention back to the men by the door. They all held fear in their eyes, so I couldn't tell who my brother was talking to.

"Hunter, come here please."

My eyes widen at my brothers words and my eyes shot back to the one responsible for taking Onyx from me. Hunter's eyes met mine as his heart rate picked up to a dangerous level.

I narrowed my eyes as he slowly made his way over to my little brother, I was desperately hoping it wasn't what I thought it was.

Hunter stopped next to my bed and took Roman's hand, my eyes traveled down to the sight of it all, making me nauseous.

"Brother." Roman called out to me and I looked into his eyes, trying to keep my mouth shut.

"This is Hunter. He's the umm.. Gamma here. He's the leader of their strongest fighters." Roman smiled at the description he gave me of the man that angered me to no avail.

"I met Hunter maybe 2 weeks or so ago. He rescued me and brought me back to his pack here."

"Rescued you?" I asked and Roman nods.

"Yes, I was trapped in some human thing. Silver. I couldn't get out on my own, I honestly thought I was going to die brother, but Hunter and Gabe over there and some of their other wolves found me and Hunter rescued me. They brought me back here and they found out that I had silver poisoning. I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for Hunter finding me."

My eyes travel back up to Hunter after my brothers explanation. I hated the guy, but I had a new found respect for the wolf jerk only for the sake of him helping my brother.

"Are you ok now Rome?" I ask and he nods happily.

"Yes I'm ok brother. It's been 8 days I believe, since I got here and I feel amazing now."

"So why are you still here then?" I ask, still desperately trying to figure out why my brother was staying in a wolf pack when we both knew that he needed to find his mate and build his own pride on his own territory.

"I'm here because of Hunter brother." His words bring no resolution to me. I just shake my head in confusion.

"Hunter is my mate." Roman smiled, the biggest smile I've ever seen on his face.

My brother found his mate?

And it's one of these wolves?

One of the wolves that has mistreated me?

Starved me! Allowed their members to beat me? Gave me no comfort in that cell.

The same wolves that inject me everyday with something that caused me a great deal of pain?

That continued to keep Onyx away from me!

"You found your mate?" I breathed out and my brother nods again, his smile never fading. "And it's Hunter?" I ask, looking at the one mentioned. Hunter's gaze meets mine again and he offers a small smile that never met his eyes.

I continued to stare at Hunter as I noticed Dylan, Gabe, Garrett and Theo walk further into the room from their place by the door.

"Yes brother. Hunter is my mate and I'm beyond happy that I've finally found him. His Alpha right there." My brother says pointing at Dylan before continuing.

"He's alright, I'm not that fond of the wolf, but the fact that he's taken such good care of my mate while I've been searching for him, has put Dylan in my favor... Besides he's good entertainment, the guy likes cracking jokes, they're terrible but he likes them." Roman laughs and I nod, bringing my eyes back to Dylan, who immediately looks away.

"And that right there is his Beta Gabe.. he's better than Dylan." Roman laughs again.

"Gabe has a mate named Avery, super small dude, but he's pretty awesome. He reminds me of the runts back in the pride and Gabe worships the ground his mate walks on. Gabe reminds me a lot of you brother, he's strong, confident, helpful, selfless, he would give someone the shirt off his back even if it meant they were comfortable and he wasn't." Roman says again and this time my eyes meet Gabe's. He doesn't look away from me, but his whole expression holds guilt behind it.

"Then there's Garrett and Theo." Roman says and for my brothers sake, I look at the two wolves responsible for torturing me all of those days in the cells. Their eyes never leave mine as I hear their heart rates spike.

"Garrett is Dylan's younger brother. The pup is pretty smart man. He's my age but like seriously, he could solve any damn math problem you put in front of him. Theo is Dylan and Garrett's cousin. Same age as Garrett. Theo is pretty chill and laid back and trust me when I say, the guy can cook his wolf ass off. Dylan and Garrett's parents are awesome too."

I try to take in everything my brother was telling me without letting my expression slip to that of pure rage for the wolves in my presence.

"They remind me so much of Ma and Pop, you would really like them brother. And Theo's parents are just as awesome. Hunter's parents are pretty chill like him." Roman explains his description of all of the wolves in the room happily as my eyes dance around to each of them. Listening to my brother intently.

"It seems like you've built a good relationship with the wolves here Rome." I force a smile at my younger brother, trying my best not to show my disgust for them.

"Yeah I have and I'm not in too much of a rush to leave because Hunter is important here in his pack, but once I've reached my limit, I would take him with me and build our own pride on our own territory." Roman says and I nod.

Hunter looks at Roman like he was confused about my brothers words, but surely they've had this conversation before. I know Hunter couldn't possibly believe that he would stay in this pack when he's mated to a male Lion. That's just stupid thinking, which after the last 3 weeks, is probably the real way he thinks. Just stupid.

I know it's mean to even think that way, but I can't help it. These wolves have shown me absolutely no kindness

"Romey, I'm not leaving the pack. We've talked about this." Hunter whispered, not very well though. If I could hear him, the whole room could hear him and what the heck did he just call my brother? Romey?

"Babe, we have talked about this and we won't talk about it again. When my lion's tolerance has reached its limits, we're leaving your pack."

"But-"

"No buts, that wasn't up for suggestion or discussion." Roman spoke softly to his mate, but Hunter pouts before sinking further into my brothers arms. The sight of their dynamic made me chuckle. It's clear who runs the relationship and I thought Hunter was supposed to be "leader of the strongest fighters"... yet he bends to my brothers will so easily. Hilarious.

"I know you prefer your solitary lifestyle Raid, but I'm sure with you being my brother, the wolves here wouldn't mind letting you stay. Right babe?" Roman says turning back to Hunter who nods quickly.

"R-Raiden is m-more than welcome to stay, right A-Alpha?" Hunter stutters looking at Dylan, who in turn looks at him, then at my brother and then his eyes slowly travel to mine. He nods without hesitation.

"Of course. Roman any family member of yours is pack to us and Raiden is more than welcome to stay." Dylan says smiling at my brother before his smile falters and he looks back at me. Fear was seeping from his pores, heavily and guilt was written all over his face.

I held his gaze after that. Not uttering a single word, not one. Just holding his gaze and my mind wonders back to the stone waterfall.

The day I first laid eyes on him, the next day when I was supposed to meet him and get to know each other. That same day when the same wolves in my face right now, kissing my brothers ass, we're fighting me. My brother's mate injecting me with some type of poison. They all rendered me immobile, took Onyx from me. Made me feel weak, my own mate allowing it all to happen then participating in taking me down.

Calling me a prisoner, calling our bond a predicament, denying me because I'm a man and a feline.

Tossing me in those cells, starving me, barely bringing me water, allowing his family members to beat me, continuing to inject me with that same poison, keeping Onyx from me.

The most alone I've ever felt and he didn't care. He never cared. Never showed he cared except bringing me a damn blanket and pillow.

Even after I explained my diet, they still continued to bring me food that I couldn't eat. Effectively starving me in the process.

Never hearing my cries for help, never feeling my pain, my tears, my anguish.

Never being there for me when I needed him and his "pack", his "family"... they didn't care either. Nobody ever turning a second glance, blindly following him and his orders without pause. Even if it meant mistreating someone who didn't deserve it.

Gabe and Hunter knew that Dylan was my mate and they didn't care either and now... Now these same wolves want to be in my face, feeling guilt, feeling remorse, feeling upset about their actions because of their relationship with my younger brother. Not because they know they're wrong, but because of their relationship with Roman.

It's bull.

I shake my head at the memories of the last 3 weeks in this pack, the memories of my mate, the memories of my pain.

I look at Garrett and Theo first. "Thank you Garrett and Theo for being kind to my little brother while he's been here in your pack. I'm sure with the fact that he's been alone for a few years searching for his mate, that your welcoming him brought him great joy."

Then I look at Gabe. "Thank you Gabe for being someone that my brother could look up to. For him to say that you remind him of me is a huge compliment. So thank you again."

I look at Hunter next. "Thank you for rescuing my brother Hunter. I appreciate the fact that you accepted your bond with him immediately and you haven't turned me away because he's a feline or a male." I say, giving Dylan the coldest side eye, which he avoids by hanging his head.

"That's very big of you to do so and thank you for loving him. If there's anyone that deserves happiness, it's him. Please don't break his heart, he's my life and I hate to have to hurt you if you hurt him." Hunter smiles at my words, a genuine smile before he nods and leans even further into my brother's arms.

Then I look back at my mate.

"Alpha Dylan, I appreciate you being willing to allow me to stay in your pack. My brother included, you didn't have to open your borders to us and help, but you did so I thank you..." I started and Dylan went to open his mouth to say something but I spoke again before he could.

"And with allowing me to stay here, I hope I'm ok in assuming that you finally seem willing to accept our bond.... Mate."

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