Chapter 4: A rocky start

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh

Atem sighed as he continued to lay amongst the pelts as his newest pack member slept curled up against him. This whole thing was a mess, one massive mess that was all Duke's fault. Just because he couldn't find a mate within the pack did not give him the right to go into the human settlement and forcefully make one. He had died for his crime, as law dictated he should, but it was left to Atem to pick up the pieces that he had left in his wake.

Which was why he had made it his responsibility to help Yamira to adjust to her new life. A part of him knew he didn't need to. He was pack Alpha, he had a hundred other things that he could be seeing to that in a way were more important than guiding a new wolf.

But deep down Atem knew this was a different situation. Unlike bites in the past this time the bitten did not chose to become a wolf. This time the bite was not a simple nip on the wrist, but instead a vicious bite after she had been tackled to the dirt.

And a tiny part of Atem blamed himself that she had been bitten in the first place. If he had gotten to Duke a few minutes sooner he would have been able to stop the attack before it had happened, thus sparing Yami from the attack. Something Seto had been quick to point out to him was just plain idiotic and almost human like in nature. He'd deserved the bite Atem gave him for that particular comment. He was not some damn weak willed human, not in any way. He was a wolf. He was an Alpha.

His responsibility was to the pack. And Yami was now a part of that pack, her adjustment and subsequent survival was essential and it was his job to ensure it.

"It's not like you to laze about this much. And in your lesser form even? Has our newest member managed to civilize the untamable Atem after all?" Seto barked from the entrance to Atem's wigwam.

Atem snorted, "Unless you want me to rip your throat out like I did Duke's, cousin or not. You will NEVER say that again. Are we clear Seto?" Atem snapped.

Seto snorted, "Fine. Whatever. So, where do you want me to put Duke's pelt? The women skinned the Dead-wolf before we ripped him apart. We knew you'd want the pelt." Seto said.

Atem nodded, "Set it out in the sun to dry. Once it's dried hang it up on the hook there. Black was always more my color." Atem replied.

Seto rolled his eyes, "And how do you think your new companion will feel about seeing you walking around wearing the pelt of a wolf you killed?" Seto replied.

Atem snorted, "It's frankly none of her business what I chose to wear in the rare event I assume my human form. I don't intend to be assuming my weaker form again any time soon." Atem replied.

"If you say so Alpha, it must be so." Seto replied.

Atem frowned, "I assure you Seto; it is so. Now unless you have something productive to say get out." Atem growled, subconsciously baring his teeth despite being in his weaker form. Seto dipped his head in a sign of respect before he departed Atem's den as instructed.

Atem snorted before he glanced back down at the sleeping female. Why am I letting her continue to use me as a, pillow? Is that what human call those pointless things?

Atem slowly began to slip out of Yami's grasp. She whimpered slightly at the loss but Atem ignored her. He had much better things to be doing than sleeping the day away. Like helping to provide for his pack. Atem shifted with hardly any conscious thought back into his true form before he bounded out of the wigwam. He nipped Seto on the flank as he ran past as a warning about his earlier comments. Atem was no human and he would never identify as a human. Not in anyway.

"Get together a party. We're going hunting." Atem barked.

XXXXXXXX

Yami woke up several hours later alone in Atem's wigwam. Yami sighed, she had really been hoping Atem would have still been here when she woke up but clearly he wasn't. Then again, could she really expect a man who identifies himself as an animal to be able to understand human emotions like fear, or loneliness? Of course not and she was being ridiculous thinking he did.

Yami slowly rose to her feet and made her way outside. The clearing was dotted with wolves and humans alike that all seemed to be relaxing in one way or another. The pups were once again chasing each other around as they played while their mothers looked on. It was truly hard to believe that almost every person here had been born a werewolf. No one could understand what she was going through.

Well, that isn't entirely true. Ishizu it sounded like would understand her. She still was a human who turned into a wolf occasionally against her will. Yami did recognize there was one inherent difference between her and Ishizu. Ishizu chose this life for herself whereas Yami was not given a choice.

"Hey!"

Yami whipped around to see a young man who looked like he was around her age. He was about six feet tall with long blond hair and warm honey colored eyes. He was wearing a pair of light denim jeans and a white t-shirt.

"Can I help you with something?" Yami asked slowly.

The man shrugged, "Look, I was just sayin' hi. Dats all. Alpha asked me ta keep a look out fer ya while he was gone."

Yami frowned, "Gone? Where did he go?" Yami asked.

The man shrugged once more, "Earlier he an some ah da pack went huntin'. Dey were able ta get a couple a nice deer. We'll be eatin good fer da rest a da week, dat's fer sure. Afta dat, I'm not sure. I tink he said he was headin up da mountain. Alpha does dat sometimes when he wants ta tink." The man said.

"And he asked you to keep an eye on me?" Yami asked.

The man nodded, "Dat's right, Alpha knew dat he could count on me ta keep an eye on ya. Yer safe wid Joey." Joey proudly declared.

Yami couldn't help but chuckle, "I don't know how confident of that I am." Yami replied.

"Is this knucklehead giving you a hard time dear?"

Yami glanced up to see a young woman who looked to be around Yami's own age with short brown hair and bright blue eyes had joined them. She casually slung her arm around Joey's shoulders as she addressed Yami, her blue eyes shining with what appeared to be mirth.

"Hey, 'Zu, I am not a knucklehead." Joey spluttered.

Zu snorted, "You are too a knucklehead, my knucklehead. Aren't you my big strong mate?" Zu practically purred.

Yami rose a brow at the unexpected question…Zu and Joey couldn't be older than sixteen and yet here they were talking like they were married to one another. Or was she completely misunderstanding the phrase mate? Maybe it was just as loose as the term 'boyfriend' was back in the real world.

Something inside Yami told her that was not the case.

Zu turned her attention back onto Yami, "But seriously where are my manners? I'm Anzu and you've already met my mate Joey. If you don't mind my saying you look a bit lost. Would you like to join Joey and I back at our den?" Anzu offered.

Yami shook her head. She knew she as being kind of ridiculous but these two were literally strangers to her and she honestly did not feel comfortable just going back with them to their home. "No thank you, I think I might end up just do a little bit of exploring if that is alright. Do I need to ask someone's permission or can I just go for a walk?" Yami asked.

Joey shrugged, "Far as I know if ya want ta go fer a walk den ya can just go fer a walk. We aren't keepin' ya caged up er anyting like dat." Joey replied.

Anzu nodded, "Joey is right. The forest is as much your home as the clearing is. You can go for a walk if you want. Although, given how new everything is to you it might not be the best idea for you to go off by yourself, you know in case you get lost." Anzu said.

"Zu does have a point, her an I could come wid ya." Joey offered.

Yami shook her head once more, "No, that's alright really. To be perfectly honest I'd much rather be alone. But thank you for the offer." Yami said.

Joey sighed but nodded, "Kay, just try ta stay on the north side a da clearing. I'm guessin ya can't really control yer shiftin' yet and da hill ta da south is a real pain ta climb up or down in human form." Joey cautioned.

Yami smiled, "Thank you for the information. I'll keep that in mind." Yami replied before she walked back past Atem's wigwam heading to the north. A part of Yami thought about trying to make a run for it but she wasn't really sure if that was the best course of action right now. Especially with the looming full moon, would she really want to return home to be around her grandfather and Mai and end up endangering them if she completely lost her mind in the full moon? And ultimately that was what kept her to just going for a walk instead of heading back home.

The forest to the north of the clearing was incredibly thick and the terrain was very difficult for her to pick her way through. Yet a stubborn part of her refused to immediately turn back. She was not some helpless damsel, she could go for a fucking walk if that was what she wanted to do. However, the further Yami walked from the clearing the more she began to regret her prideful decision to press on. She tried to turn back but everything looked the same. Didn't I pass that tree three times already? How is that possible? Aren't I walking in a straight line?

Yami sighed, quite frankly she had a lot more important things to be worrying about than getting lost in the woods. Not only was she now an entirely different species and tomorrow she was going to be forced to transform into a wolf for who knows how long. She also had the whole issue with Atem she needed to sort through.

Some unknown primal part of her really enjoyed having him around. She had never been around a guy before that made her feel like Atem did. Not only like she could trust him but like she genuinely felt safe with him. Like there was no doubt in her mind that he could protect her if he needed to.

But at the same time a part of him scared her. She literally watched him rip out the throat of another wolf. He was powerful and strong. Much stronger than her. She already knew he was faster than she was too. If he ever meant her harm she knew there would be nothing she could do to stop him. Wasn't that a terrifying thought?

Yami kept walking, and sadly she no longer even had any idea which way she was heading in. Hopefully back towards the clearing but she might have been heading further away from the clearing by mistake. Worse still the sun was also beginning to set which meant that it was getting even more difficult for her to see where she was walking, which meant she was stumbling more and more.

She stumbled once again, this time on an unseen tree root that sent her tumbling down a rocking hill. She tried to catch a hold of grass, roots anything to stop her descent but she couldn't. She finally came to an abrupt stop when her bruised and battered body slammed into a broken tree stump. Even worse still the hill she had fallen down was different than the one Kaiba had carried her up on their way to the clearing which meant she was still hopelessly lost.

Yami slowly tried to climb back to her feet but her ankle burned terribly with the attempt as did her side from where she had harshly collided with the stump. No, I can't just lay here. I have to get up. I'll die if I don't. Yami thought to herself as she stubbornly pulled herself back up onto her aching feet. She squinted in the darkness up at the hill she had just tumbled down. It looked pretty damn steep but she had no choice but to try and make her way back up it and find her way back to the clearing.

Yami carefully began to try and pick her way back up the hill, using her hands to grab a hold of grass and roots to help pull her body up. This was taking forever. She was tired, she was sore and she just wanted to get back to the clearing. I should have let Joey and Anzu come with me. I shouldn't have been so stubborn. Yami thought to herself as she tried to pick up the pace. Her hands were no doubt a bloody mess from the sharp roots and pointed rock's she grabbed a hold of as she climbed. Her knees were also no doubt bleeding.

Yami reached up once again, grabbing a hold of a stone, however as she began to use the stone to pull her body up the stone gave way and Yami was once again tumbling back down the hill. Her head smacked into a protruding rock as she tumbled and everything went black as her body continued to careen down the hill.

XXXXXX

Atem sighed as he bounded back into the clearing just as the sun began to dip. He had made good use of his time up on the mountain. Like his father before him he had found the mountain to be a perfect place to be able to be alone with his thoughts and get himself back onto some semblance of an even keel. Yes, the situation with Yami was an awkward one but they were just going to have figure it out. He was not going to coddle her along. In order for her to survive out here she was going to need to not only learn to trust the wolf inside her but she would need to be strong. Winters especially were brutal, as was the terrain. Not to mention there were other predators in the wild they needed to be on the lookout for. And any humans they did tend to encounter this deep out in the woods were usually carrying guns in their hands.

In order for the pack to survive every member of that pack had to be able to count on the other members of that pack to contribute. Yami would need to learn her own place in the pack. No matter what that place might end up being, she would have a role.

Once Atem had arrived he immediately headed back into his wigwam to check on his current den-mate. She really shouldn't be sleeping this long but given the trying time she had this one time Atem was willing to give her some slack on the matter. Although, his patience on that subject was low.

Atem frowned as he entered the den to find it empty before he turned and immediately headed out into the clearing, heading for Joey and Anzu's den. He had asked Joey to keep an eye on their newest pack member, so Yami should have been with them.

"Joey! Where is Yami?" Atem barked as he entered their den without any prior warning.

Joey looked up from the deer leg he had been in the process of eating, a piece of meat hanging from his muzzle as he briefly locked eyes with Atem before lowering his gaze in respect.

"Uh, shouldn't she be in yer den Alpha?" Joey replied, his tone cautious. He clearly did not know the answer to his own question.

Atem growled as he began to advance on the smaller wolf. "Had she been in my den Joey I would not be here demanding to know her whereabouts. You were the one I put in charge of keeping an eye on her. So, I ask you again. Where. IS. She?" Atem snarled.

Joey immediately dropped the bone before he flopped onto his back, completely exposing his sensitive underbelly to the superior wolf. "I dunno. Last I saw she went fer a walk. I told her to head north of da clearing cause the hill to da south is rough an I didn't think she could transform at will." Joey whimpered.

Atem snarled, baring his teeth as he advanced down on Joey, who only whimpered in response. "You IDIOT! How could it not possibly occur to you that since she can't transform at will she can't scent the trees. How the hell did you expect her to find her way back to the clearing? And did you not forget about the rocky hills to the north as well?" Atem growled.

"Sorry." Joey whimpered.

"Not as sorry as you will be when I get back from finding her." Atem growled before he turned and sprinted out of the den and back to his own where he began sniffing. He needed to get Yami's scent so he could track her down. Joey better fucking hope that she didn't end up hurt because of his incompetence.

"Something the matter Alpha?" Seto inquired.

Atem grunted, "Joey was supposed to keep an eye on our newest pack mate while I was away from the clearing. His idea of keeping an eye on her was to let her go out for a walk alone north of the clearing. She can't transform at will nor does she know how to scent the trees. So now I need to go out and find her." Atem snarled.

Seto frowned, "Do you have her scent?"

Atem snorted, "Of course I have her scent! Not exactly that difficult to pick up the scent of the wolf that's been sharing my den, Seto."

Seto nodded, "I'll send Akefia and Marik with you. If she's hurt you'll need their help getting her back." Seto said.

Atem nodded as he began to sprint out of his den, "Akefia! Marik! With me! Now!" Atem barked as he headed into the woods, "And Seto, howl if she returns before we get back."

"I will. Good luck Alpha." Seto replied as Akefia and Marik both raced past him to follow Atem into the woods.

Atem raced into the woods, following the trail of Yami's scent. It didn't take Atem long to realize she had clearly gotten lost like he had suspected. The tree loops past the same tree was a big indicator. Atem could not help but growl as he continued to run. Joey was in deep shit when he got back to the clearing.

Atem frowned as the path turned to what he knew was a very steep and rocky hill. If she had fallen down that hill there was no chance that she hadn't have gotten hurt, that was if the fall hadn't outright killed her. The sun had already set long ago but the darkness did not impact Atem's ability to navigate the terrain.

He bounded down the steep hill like it was nothing. His nose still locked on Yami's scent. She was near, he could smell it.

Atem skidded to a halt beside a large rock more than halfway down the hill where Yami's prone form was lying. Atem pressed his muzzle in and could not be more relieved when he felt the puffs of her breath against his snout. She was still alive at least, but now they needed to get her back up the hill and back to his den before he began addressing her wounds.

"Marik! Akefia! Transform and help get her onto my back. She's hurt. Badly." Atem barked.

Akeifa and Marik immediately transformed before helping to lift Yami up onto Atem's back. Marik bounded back up the hill before coming back with long piece of vine which he looped around Yami's body and Atem's torso to secure her.

"You're good to go Alpha." Akefia barked.

Atem didn't reply but instead just began racing back up the hill. He'd get her tended to as best he could once he got her back to his den. As a general rule the pack did not rely on human doctors which meant that if they couldn't cure it themselves then the wolf was just going to be forced to deal with it. Some wolves had chosen to seek out human hospitals but that was on them. A personal preference, often made by those who identified more with their weaker human sides as opposed to their wolf side. This would certainly make teaching her how to hunt tomorrow a lot more challenging. Joey, you are in for a world of pain. Atem thought to himself as he raced back to the clearing.

Atem bounded into the clearing and immediately headed right into his den. Seto, it appeared had been waiting for him to return because he was right behind Atem heading into the den. "Fuck Atem, this looks bad." Seto cursed as his hands made quick work of the vine Marik had used to secure Yami to him.

"Lay her down on the pelts." Atem barked before he transformed as well and marched out of the den to grab what passed for medical supplied here. He returned with some sticks, pieces of vine, as well as some ointments and pain relievers that had been made from ground up plants found in the woods around them.

"Akefia! Marik! Get a fire going in here!" Seto barked as Atem laid out the supplies he'd collected.

Within minutes Atem's den was illuminated with the light from the crackling fire Akefia and Marik had started. The two wolves did not stick around, instead leaving to let the Alpha and Beta work.

"Ankle's sprained, thankfully not broken." Seto muttered as he examined the swollen and heavily bruised appendage. Atem nodded as he carefully straightened the ankle to the proper orientation, steadying it on either side with sticks which he then wrapped tightly with the pieces of vine.

Seto and Atem worked for over an hour treating Yami's wounds before both sat back. "Thank you for your help. Did you keep a list?" Atem inquired.

Seto nodded, "I did keep a list." Seto confirmed.

"Good. We'll deal with that come morning." Atem replied before he lay down in amongst the pelts, pulling Yami's body against his own. Seto quickly tossed dirt on the fire putting it out before he took his leave, trusting that Atem was more than capable to keep an eye on Yami from here.

XXXXXX

The first thing Yami noticed when she began to wake was that she was warm. The second was the pain, great gods above was she in pain. Everything hurt. Yami let out a small whimper as she tried to curl in on herself, however she was not permitted to do so.

Yami slowly cracked an eye open to lock gazes with the blood red eyes of Atem. "I would rest if I were you Yami. You were badly hurt and rest is the only way for you to recover. Thankfully we heal faster than humans but still you won't be doing any moving about for the next two days while we wait for your body to heal. This means I won't be able to have you shift again until the day before the full moon." Atem said, his voice coming out almost like a growl despite being in his human form.

"What happened?" Yami asked. To be honest, everything was a bit of a blur to her. She remembered going for a walk and getting lost in the woods before she fell down the hill. After that there was nothing.

"What happened was that you were an idiot going off into the woods by yourself. You are damn lucky I went out to find you otherwise you would have died out there." Atem growled.

Yami as she sunk further into the pelts, almost as if she was trying to subconsciously hide from Atem. "I'm sorry. Joey and Anzu said I was allowed to go for a walk." Yami said.

"And I will be dealing with Joey tomorrow. His stupidity and decision to not follow my orders nearly got you killed. One thing you will come to learn rather quickly around here. My word is law. When I give a command no matter if you agree with it or not. No matter if you think you know a better way. You are to obey me without question nor hesitation. Same with Seto. If the pack Beta tells you to jump, you ask him how high." Atem growled.

"I didn't think I'd disobeyed you. You never said I wasn't allowed to go for a walk." Yami replied.

"I didn't think I needed to leave such an obvious command. You are unfamiliar with the area and still not in tune enough with your wolf to be able to change at will or scent trees which would make finding your way back to the clearing unaided almost impossible." Atem replied.

"I needed to think. That's why I went for the walk, I just wanted to think about some things that don't make sense to me. You in particular don't make any sense to me." Yami mumbled.

Atem snorted, "And what precisely is it about me that doesn't make sense you? I am exactly who I claim to be. I behave exactly as any Alpha would." Atem replied.

Yami just shook her head, or tried to. Her head throbbed painfully with the attempt. "How you make me feel. That is what doesn't make any sense to me." Yami replied.

Atem snorted once more, "Don't worry about that. Your reaction to me is completely unimportant. Completely natural but at the moment irrelevant. Now, get some sleep. We will discuss this further in the morning." Atem replied.

Yami sighed, "Fine." She replied before she allowed herself to relax further into Atem's embrace, breathing in deeply the musky scent that she was coming to see was purely Atem.

"Atem?" Yami asked as her eyes once again began to slip shut.

"What?" Atem replied with a sigh.

"Thank you. For saving me." Yami whispered.

Atem merely snorted, "You have nothing to thank me for. As I said, you are a part of this pack. That makes your safety my responsibility. I would have gone after any member of this pack. Now, go to sleep." Atem replied.

Yami felt her body begin to relax further before she finally drifted off to sleep.