Hey all. Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Yugi gulped as he stood across from Bakura. Atem had him training with him and boy did he hate it. Bakura seemed to enjoy hurting him. He never did it enough to do actual damage but Yugi definitely had bruises after the sessions. His legs felt so weak afterwards as well.
"You need to move faster. Think ahead. Anticipate your enemy's move before they make it." Bakura said. He went low. This time Yugi saw what was coming. He grabbed Bakura's food before it could hit his knee and pulled. Bakura fell onto his back. He smirked up at Yugi. "That's what I'm talkin about."
Yugi panted as he looked down at him. He was exhausted. He'd been training with Bakura for days. And if he wasn't training he was running in wolf form with Marik. Apparently he wasn't fast enough.
"Ok that's enough." Ryou walked in with Malik. "He's exhausted. Give him a break."
"I'm just following Atem's orders." Bakura said standing up.
"You and my mate. But he's clearly had too much. We're taking him for a while." Malik said.
Yugi looked at them. "To do what?"
"We're gonna show you good part of this pack and territory. Atem just got done marking it so it's safe to go out." Ryou said. "Kura you and Marik go get dinner please."
"Of course baby." Bakura went to him and kissed him deeply.
"Just volunteering us for shit now huh?" Marik asked coming in. He went to Malik and pulled him close. Yugi suddenly felt like he was intruding on private moments.
"I'll be waiting at the door." He muttered before going.
It had been 3 weeks since he'd joined their pack but he still felt like an outsider. Atem kept to himself, focused on protecting the pack and territory. Ryou and Bakura were mates. Marik and Malik were mates. And then there was Yugi. The newest wolf and according to Malik the youngest of the pack. He was the baby as Bakura liked to call him when they actually got along.
Not paying attention to where he was walking he was shocked when he walked into Atem. "S-sorry." He stuttered and backed away.
"Easy Yugi. It's ok." He said. "You seem distracted. Everything ok?"
"F-fine." Yugi muttered. "I'll s-see you later." He ducked around him.
Atem watched him go with an eyebrow raised. "He seemed so nervous."
"Can you blame him?" Bakura asked coming over.
"Well…" Atem trailed off.
"You used him to get to Dartz and yet Yugi was the one who saved you." Bakura said. "You'regonna have to work to get his trust."
Atem sighed. "You're right. Where'd he go anyways?"
"Ryou and Malik are gonna show him around the territory." Bakura shrugged. "Marik and I are going hunting. Wanna come?"
"Sure." Atem nodded.
Yugi stared amazed at the giant water fall in front of him. The water was beautiful. He had the urge to get in and swim.
"Last one in is a dirty dog!" Ryou yelled before jumping into the pool under the waterfall. Yugi blinked as he watched Malik jump in next.
"Come on in Yugi." Ryou waved at him.
"I-I shouldn't." Yugi backed away.
"Why not?" Malik asked. "It feels so good on a hot day like today."
Yugi looked away. Last time he'd stopped and cooled down before going home he'd been severely punished. He wasn't about to make that mistake again.
"Yugi?" Ryou got out and went to him. He shook out his hair making water go all over Yugi. Yugi guarded his face from it. "Atem knows where we're going today. He knows we're staying in the territory and that We are showing you around. He isn't going to be mad at us for this. Or you."
Yugi glanced at him. He tended to make Atem mad a lot though. Every time he was near Atem the man was angry. His presence seemed to just irritate the alpha.
"He's angry a lot. Don't get me wrong. But it's simply because he's under a lot of stress. The vampire kingdom is talking about coming out to the humans and if they do wolves will have to as well. It's a lot of stress honestly. Kind of scary too." Ryou explained.
"But when I'm around him it seems to get worse." Yugi muttered.
"It doesn't I'm sure." Malik came out of the water. "Look enjoy today and if he gets mad I'll punch him for you."
Yugi's eyes widened. "You can't punch your own alpha!"
"Why not?" Ryou asked. "Sure he's alpha but he's just a wolf like you and me."
"If I so much as raised my voice to Dartz.." he trailed off. "It wasn't good."
"You aren't with him anymore." Malik said gently.
"But he will find me. He doesn't take being made a fool of lightly. He will search for me till he finally kills me." Yugi said.
"Yugi you are in our pack now." Ryou said. "No one will let you be hurt."
Yugi wished he could believe that.
"How about for now we keep looking around? We'll show you the hide outs. We have a ton of them in case of emergencies." Malik said.
Yugi nodded and followed them.
Atem sighed as he sat listening to the announcement. The king of vampires was about to admit to their existence. He would have to let his pack show theirs as well if they chose to. Sometimes he thought that would be better or safer. Out in the open meant no one could target them specifically. But then there was the hunters. If they came out hunters were likely to come after his pack.
"Atem can we talk?" Ryou knocked on his door that was cracked open.
"What is it Ryou?" Atem asked putting the letter away.
"It's well it's Yugi." Ryou said closing the door behind him.
"Is he alright?" Atem asked.
"Well he knocked Bakura on his ass today." Ryou said proudly.
Atem chuckled, "Yes I listened to Bakura whine for hours about it. He is improving."
"Yeah. Physically." Ryou said sadly.
"And mentally?" Atem asked.
Ryou shook his head. "He's terrified of everything. He wouldn't even swim with us today. He was scared to come home to a punishment for it."
"Why would he be punished for that?" Atem asked confused.
"Dartz used to punish him for stuff like that. And well.." Ryou looked down. "Look I know why you're stressed. I heard about the vampires coming out."
Atem sighed. "Ry."
"I'm sorry. I over heard you talking to Seto about it. But Yugi…he doesn't get it. He didn't know anything about it and you being angry around him scares the shit out of him. Not to mention the nightmares-" Ryou said
"Nightmares?" Atem asked.
Ryou nodded. "I don't know what they are about specifically but some nights I hear him waking up screaming."
Atem gripped his nose between his fingers. "Alright."
"Can you just maybe watch your anger around him a bit?" Ryou asked.
"I can try." Atem agreed.
"Thanks." Ryou smiled and hugged him. "I gotta go baby Kura now."
Atem laughed. "Yes cause that will help his ego." He waved the boy off.
That night Yugi was curled up in his bed. He slept in wolf form every night. He had better strength that way. He felt his eyes grow heavy as he slowly gave into the sleep.
"Run all you want Yugi! I will find you!" Dartz laughed as he chased after Yugi.
Yugi panted as he ran digging his claws into the ground to push himself forward. Tears fell as he looked for a hiding place. He needed somewhere he could wait it out till Dartz lost interest. Somewhere dark and quiet.
"Oh Yuugiii!" Dartz sang out darkly.
"No no no." Yugi whimpered as he ran. He found a dark cave and ran in. Panting he hid as far back as he could.
"There you are." Dartz said as he came into the entrance. He growled as he stalked closer to Yugi. "You think you can run off and I wouldn't find you? Big mistake." He lunged at Yugi.
"NO!" Yugi jumped awake screaming. He panted as he looked down at himself to check if he was ok.
"Yugi." Atem's voice came. Yugi's eyes darted up.
"A-Atem. I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake y-you." He stuttered.
"Shh it's ok." Atem came to him. He sat on Yugi's bed. "What happened?"
Yugi gulped as he sniffled. "I-It's was Dartz again. He f-found me."
"Yugi you are safe here." Atem said.
Yugi changed to human form and covered himself before pulling his knees up. "S-sometimes the dream changes."
"ok. Feel like you can tell me?" Atem asked.
Yugi gulped. "I'm running and Dartz is chasing me. But then you appear. And I think I'm safe, because you should protect me." He paused. Should he really tell him? Is it safe to tell him? Didn't have much of a choice now. "But then you hand me over to him. You're mad at me as usual and get tired of me s-so you give me to him."
Atem watched him for a moment before he sighed. "Yugi I'm never angry with you. I am sorry for making you believe that. The truth is with everything going on with the vampires coming out in the open I am worried about the pack. You just came to it and need the protection along with Ryou and Malik. Bakura and Marik I know can handle themselves. But you three are young and not as experienced. I'm angry at the situation. But not you."
Yugi wiped his eyes as he looked up at him. "Really?"
"Really." Atem nodded. "As for your dream. I will NEVER hand you over to that bastard." Atem laid a hand on Yugi's head. "I will protect you at all costs."
Yugi looked up at him with wide innocent eyes. "Promise?"
Atem smiled slightly. "I promise. Now rest."
"S-stay with me? Please?" Yugi asked.
"Of course. Lie down." Atem said gently. Yugi turned a bit and grabbed PJ pants from the floor where he laid them. He put them on before turning and laying down so his head was on Atem's lap.
Atem blinked but didn't push him away. He ran a hand through Yugi's hair repeatedly relaxing the young boy. He smiled as Yugi slowly fell asleep. Leaned back against the wall he didn't move for the rest of the night, staying with Yugi to watch over him.
Yugi laughed as he knocked Ryou back. "Ha! I win!"
"Lucky shot." Ryou grumbled and got up.
"Yugi play nice." Atem said from where he sat reading.
Yugi pouted cutely. "But I am!" he whined.
"Don't give me that pout." Atem warned
Yugi huffed. "Yes Atem." He crossed his arms.
It was nice to have a day to relax. No training, no running, no meetings. Just relaxing. Atem took them to a small flat land by the waterfall pool. They were able to swim and play and relax. With three months behind him Yugi needed it. It'd been a struggle letting himself heal. Atem had gotten him a therapist in the city. He took Yugi to her 4 times a week in the first month. Now he saw her three times a week. He was slowly getting better.
"Yugi. Hello?" Ryou waved a hand in his face. "Earth to Yugi!"
Yugi blinked and looked at him. "Huh?"
"You ok?" Ryou asked concerned.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just thinking." He shrugged.
"Well stop thinking. Today is about relaxing. Not thinking." Ryou said before tackling him in wolf form. Yugi changed as well. They wrestled.
Atem shook his head to himself. Having Yugi around was like having a brand new pup. Yugi wrestled Ryou whenever he got the chance and loved when they designed his room. Yugi ate a ton and seemed to always want more food. Atem hadn't dealt with a pup in years.
Yugi rolled over till they were in the water.
"Yugi Ryou!" Atem stood.
Both boys came up and gasped for air. Yugi coughed a bit as he climbed out. He shook his fur out. Looking back he saw Ryou climb out next.
"Honestly you two." Atem sighed.
"He rolled us in!" Ryou pointed at Yugi.
"He tackled me!" Yugi pointed at Ryou.
"I see you're having fun." Bakura walked to them with Marik and Malik.
"Kura!" Ryou smiled. He went to him and shook out his hair.
"Ryou!" Bakura groaned. Ryou giggled.
Malik changed and went to Yugi. Yugi looked at him before for a moment before tackling him.
"Here we go again." Atem shook his head. "Please tell me you brought food."
"Food?" Yugi and Ryou said simultaneously.
Atem laughed. "You two never stop eating."
"We brought food." Bakura said
Yugi got off of Malik and went over to them.
Atem watched him. He couldn't imagine the pack without Yugi now. Ryou and Malik have grown so close to him. They were all inseparable.
"Ok ok relax. There's enough for everyone." Bakura said as he served everyone.
Yugi smiled as he changed and got dressed. Ryou did the same.
The youngest of the pack looked at Atem. "Atem?" his head tilted cutely.
Atem smiled. "yes young one?"
"Aren't you gonna eat?" Yugi asked.
"Of course I am." Atem chuckled. He ruffled Yugi's hair. His stomach flipped whenever he watched Yugi. His smiles, eyes, attitude, cuteness. It all made Atem feel so….fuzzy inside. He really needed to figure what it was about Yugi that made him smile for no reason at all.
Hey all! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! It was fun working on it!