Chapter 14: If I Die Young

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh

Atem moved through the woods as quickly as he was able although he kept having to stop and wait for his dawdling mate to catch up to him. Atem knew that Yami was intentionally moving slowly and that fact was really not helping his temper any.

Atem was forced once again to come to a stop beside the river while he waited for Yami to make her way there and that for him was the final straw if it wasn't for Yami right now he'd have already been back to the clearing already.

Atem trotted back down to her. "Either move quicker or shift back and climb on my back and I'll just carry you. We need to get back to the clearing as quickly as possible." Atem growled.

Yami snorted, "Oh, and what's the big rush?" Yami asked.

"That's just it, as of this moment I don't know all the details. What I do know is that Seto said there was an emergency and that I needed to return as quickly as possible. Which is why I don't appreciate having to waste so much of my time trying to get you to move." Atem barked.

Yami cocked her head to the side, "An emergency? Why didn't you say so sooner?" Yami asked.

"Because you were too busy defying me and running off that I didn't have the time to even mention it. Now are you going to move quicker or do I need to carry you? Because I am tired of stopping every twenty feet to wait for you to catch up." Atem snapped.

Yami sighed before she shifted back into her true form and clamoured awkwardly onto Atem's back. Atem said nothing further before he turned and sprinted over to the river, making quick work of the boulders before racing up the massive hill. Yami had to lean forward and take a firm grasp of Atem's fur to keep from being knocked off as Atem ran as full speed.

"I'M HERE!" Atem howled just as he was cresting the hill.

Yami did not hear a response to Atem's call but she did see Seto come bounding out of the clearing to meet Atem.

"Alpha." Seto greeted before he came up to the pair, Atem coming to a stop as his beta joined him.

"Seto, what happened?" Atem growled.

Seto sighed, his hard blue eyes drifted briefly to the forest floor before flicking back up to meet Atem's. "There's been an attack." Seto said.

"An attack? Where? When? Who was hurt?" Atem barked.

"From what I have gathered a few of the pups decided to take their hunting practice out into the woods and thought that they did not need to notify an adult to accompany them. Three pups left the clearing and only one badly injured pup returned. I don't know if he'll even make it. He did tell me that they had encountered some of the rogues and that the other two pups were killed. He was lucky to have been able to escape." Seto replied.

For several moments it was almost like Atem was frozen as he tried to swallow the information, "Which pups?" Atem finally asked.

Seto's response actually had a bit of a whimper to his tone, "Julian, Mokuba and Noa were the pups. And right now Mokuba's barely hanging on." Seto said.

Atem nodded taking a step forward to lightly bump his snout against Seto's side. "I cannot begin to say how sorry I am for your and Kisara's loss Seto. Mokuba is a strong pup, if anyone can pull through this it would be Mokuba." Atem whispered.

Seto nodded, "Thank you Alpha. Your words mean a lot." Seto said before he turned to make his way back into the clearing with Atem trotting along beside him.

"Have you tried to contact Ishizu? Perhaps she could be of some assistance in caring for Mokuba?" Atem asked.

Seto snorted, "I tried but Ishizu refused to take my call." Seto replied bitterly.

Atem nodded, "Then we will make do with what we have here and we'll just have to trust that Mokuba is strong enough to make it through. Have faith Seto. We will do everything in our power to save your other pup." Atem said.

The pair reentered the clearing and Atem quickly trotted over to his own den before he shifted to dislodge Yami from his back. "Stay. Here." Atem growled.

Yami awkwardly stood beside Atem who transformed briefly to slip off the duffel bag he'd slung over his shoulder which he tossed into the corner, "Atem? What's going on?" Yami asked.

"Seto and Kisara have lost one pup, Noa, and right now the pack is doing everything we can to keep them from losing their second. Rafael and his mate, two Weres I'm not even certain you've met lost their son Julian leaving only their daughter Sophie. Our pack is grieving what has been a great loss. Now I need to go and help Seto and Kisara in anyway that I can. In order for me to do that I NEED you to for once in your goddamned life do as I say and STAY PUT!. It is clearly not safe outside of this clearing and I will not have you getting yourself hurt or worse because you decided you needed to be stubborn." Atem growled.

Yami nodded, "I'll stay. But please, I want to help." Yami said.

"You can help by staying in this den so my attention is not divided between worrying about you and focusing on helping Mokuba win his fight with death." Atem growled before he shifted back and trotted out of the den without even waiting for Yami to reply.

And thus began Yami's waiting game. She sat tensely on the pile of pelts as she waited for someone, anyone really to give her news about Mokuba's condition. She had never met Mokuba but she did know Kisara quite well from all the days she'd spent with the women sewing. Kisara certainly did not deserve to lose one of her children...not that anyone ever deserved such a terrible thing. And not only that she is facing the possibility of losing her second son as well.

A part of Yami wondered why they had not had Mokuba transform and taken him to a real hospital where there were doctors who would be able to do so much more for Mokuba than the pack would be able to do with their no doubt primitive supplies.

Her mind could not help but wonder what had attacked the pups? From what she'd overheard from Seto and Atem's conversation Mokuba had said it was the rogues. Did he mean the other wolf pack that Atem mentioned shortly before the full moon? The ones that were causing problems on the eastern border of Atem's territory? Yami wondered. But, if that was true then it really didn't make sense, since and Yami was just guessing, why would three young pups wander all the way to the edge of Atem's massive territory?

So, that left either the frightening conclusion that something else had attacked the pups. That or the other pack was moving further into Atem's territory. Neither of these thoughts provided Yami any comfort. They were both actually truly terrifying to think about.

Yami was drawn from her musings by a different wolf entering Atem's den, dragging what appeared to be part of a deer carcass in his jaws before he dropped it not far from the pile of pelts Yami was still sitting on, fiddling with Atem's pants more to have something to do than anything else.

"Alpha says you need to eat." The wolf relayed.

"Any news on Mokuba? Is he going to be okay?" Yami asked. This waiting game was driving her mad. She just wanted to know that Mokuba was going to be okay.

"Alpha and Beta are still working on the pup. You will be told news once there is news to relay. Now, eat and stay put as Alpha has instructed." The wolf replied before turning and leaving the den just as quickly as he had entered.

Yami sighed as she starred at the deer carcass. How was she supposed to eat something when her stomach was churning with worry while she was worried about Mokuba. Yami went back to fiddling with Atem's pants. She had almost managed to finish reinforcing the one seam that had appeared to be holding itself together based on sheer will and nothing more.

Once Yami was satisfied with the one seam she then turned her attention onto the other horribly abused seam. Out of the corner of Yami's eyes she could see that it appeared that the sun was now beginning to set and there was still no news on Mokuba's condition. Was this a case of no news is good news? Or had Atem just forgotten to have her informed about what was going on? She really hoped it was one of those options and not that they were not having any success with saving Mokuba.

"You haven't eaten? Damn it Yami, you need to eat."

Yami jumped at Atem's unexpected voice. He had apparently slipped into the den when she hadn't been paying attention. "Hows Mokuba?" Yami asked, ignoring what Atem had just said. There were far more important things going on than her missing a meal.

"We have done everything that we can for Mokuba. The rest is up to him." Atem said, his tone grave.

Yami really did not like the way that sounded. She prayed that Mokuba would be strong enough to pull through.

"Now, eat! And once you have finished eating I want you to shift and you will be accompanying myself and the rest of the pack. We'll be leaving shortly, so eat." Atem ordered as he laid down just inside the entrance to the den.

Yami set Atem's pants aside her eyes flicking over to Atem before she glanced back over to the deer carcass. She could eat the deer meat uncooked but it didn't taste nearly as good in her true form than it did in her wolf form. And, well since she needed to shift back anyway she might as well just get it over with.

Yami shifted and this time it wasn't as painful as she was expecting it to be. Don't get her wrong it still hurt but it was starting to hurt less the more she did it, something Yami considered to be progress. Although, she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not that she was getting somewhat better at shifting.

Yami padded over to the carcass and began to eat. Atem did not join her and instead just continued to watch at Yami ate her meal. Once Yami had eaten her fill she stepped away from the carcass. "Alright, I'm done." Yami said.

Atem nodded before he rose to his feet and turned to head back out of the den. "Follow me and do try to stay close." Atem ordered.

Yami said nothing and just padded out of the den right behind Atem. Yami couldn't help but notice that the entire energy of the pack seemed to have changed.

"Let's go." Atem said before he turned and headed out of the clearing making his way north. Yami followed him and by glancing over her shoulder she was able to see that the remainder of the pack was also following as well.

As one the pack made a slow trek up to the peak of the north mountain. Once Atem had reached the top of the peak he padded over and took a seat, nodding with his head for Yami to take a seat beside him. Next came Seto and Kisara, with Seto taking his place on Atem's other side. Slowly one by one all the Weres from the clearing came and took their spot in the circle.

Once all the Weres had arrived Atem began to speak. Unlike every other time Yami had seen Atem address this pack, this time he was not in the center of the circle. This time his tone wasn't radiating dominance and power. Comparatively the tone was soft and he made his address from his place seated beside Yami.

"It is with a heavy heart the we have gathered here upon this peak. The cruel mistress that is mother nature took from us today two of our most precious. Young Julian was a sweet pup, as sweet as you could ever know. He loved chasing his litter mate Sophie through the meadow, rolling about in the flowers. His favorite prey was butterflies which he would chase for hours on end and still never manage to capture the illusive prey. How many of us had a quiet chuckle at the pup when he finally stopped only for the butterfly to land on the tip of his nose? He also loved tailing after his father, Raphael when he ventured out. Some called the sweet Julian Raphael's tail because of how closely he would follow his father. Julian was only 6 years old." Atem said.

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Young Noa was an ambitious pup. The whole pack got quite the laugh when only a few moons ago young Noa approached me and informed me that he would be the next pack Alpha. And that I had better begin preparing myself now for when he's old enough to challenge me. 'I told him to come and see me when he was thirteen and I would be happy to face him'. Noa was a smart pup with a thirst for learning everything that he could about the world around us. He also had quite the adventurous streak which often led both himself and his litter mate, Mokuba, into trouble. Noa loved hunting squirrels and rabbits and would almost daily ask his father, Seto, if he was a good enough hunter yet to join the hunting party. To which Seto would always reply, 'ask me again in a few moons.' Noa was 9 years old." Atem said before pausing once more.

"Both young pups are a heavy loss to this pack. A loss that we all feel most deeply. They were killed by the invading pack of wolves who have been venturing deeper and deeper into our territory. According to young Mokuba they had only gone a couple hundred yards east before they had encountered the invading wolves. The pups didn't even know the wolves were there before Julian had been attacked. His attacker went right for the throat. It is of little comfort but Julian did die quickly. Noa and Mokuba both were attacked. Noa did show great courage and strength that no doubt would have been worthy of an Alpha as he valiantly fought back in order to give his own litter mate an opportunity to escape. Noa's last words, were telling his brother to run and that he would do his best to hold them off. I hope that Noa finds comfort that his actions were able to allow his brother to return to the clearing with his life. Our hearts are with Raphael and Chris. With Sophie. And with Seto and Kisara. And our prayers are with Mokuba that he finds the strength to win his fight to survive." Atem said and Yami could hear the slightest of cracks in Atem's voice before he finally fell silent.

For a moment all was silent in the circle of wolves after Atem had finished speaking. The silence did not last for long because after Atem seemed to gather himself he howled. He didn't really say anything with his howl. It was more a mournful sound. One of pain. One of loss.

One by one the other wolves took their turn to echo Atem's mournful cry to the moon as the pack mourned the loss of two pups who had been taken from their pack far far too young.

Once Atem had stopped howling he slowly rose to his feet. Taking the time to bump his head against Seto and Kisara each before seeking out who Yami guessed were Raphael and Chris. He also bumped his head against the young Sophie. Yami was at a loss for what to do but she did her best to mimic Atem by bumping her own head against Seto and Kisara whispering, "I'm sorry for your loss." as she did so before repeating the process with Raphael and Chris and Sophie before she followed Atem back down from the mountain top and heading back to the clearing.

Atem and Yami silently made their way back to their den and Yami was genuinely shocked to see that Atem shifted back into his human form. Yami for a moment just stood there starring at him before Atem turned and wrapped his arms around her and without her even really noticing was having her shift back. The process was utterly painless and quick leaving Yami standing with Atem's arms wrapped tightly around her.

"Atem?" Yami asked softly.

"Hmmm?" Atem replied, his face buried in the crook of Yami's neck.

Yami awkwardly cleared her throat. What was she even supposed to say to him? They had had a massive fight this morning, one of the worst ones they had actually ever had which was culminated by Atem literally forcing her through a excruciating transformation only to return to the clearing and be faced with the deaths of two young innocent pups and a mourning pack.

Did Yami bring up the fight that they had had? Did they finish the fight? Did they talk about it? Or given what had happened did they just ignore it had even happened and just do their best to move on? Yami honestly didn't know.

Putting off a fight or pretending one didn't happen resolves nothing and just allows the bitterness to fester. Yami mentally heard her grandfather's voice say. It was something that he had said often when Yami had had an argument with her friend and had walked away without settling things. She'd like to think that his advice was part of the reason she and Mai had been friends for as long as they had. "Do you think we should talk?" Yami asked.

Atem sighed as he tugged Yami over to the pile of pelts, his arms still securely wrapped around Yami. "Talk about what?" Atem asked and Yami thought he sounded absolutely exhausted.

"About the fight from earlier? We had a pretty nasty one. And in the thick of things you were downright cruel." Yami said, doing everything in her power to keep her voice casual and conversational and not remotely confrontational.

Atem was quiet. Yami frowned, "Did you hear me Atem?" Yami asked after Atem had still failed to even respond.

"Yes I heard you Yami. I was just trying to find the words that I needed to say." Atem said.

"I'm listening. And I'm sorry, I understand that you are mourning. I'm upset about the pups and I didn't even know Julian or Noa whereas you've known them their entire lives. But, that being said I'm not going to just lay hear and basically bow to whatever you have to say. I am not going to roll over." Yami growled, "So, you might want to keep that in mind while you are choosing your words."

Atem snorted, "As you say. Now, I will not apologize for dragging you away from your human friend. Nor will I apologize for forcing you to transform. I want to make that perfectly clear." Atem said.

Yami snorted, "Of course because if you had apologized that would have required you to admit that you were in the wrong. Something we all know Atem the great and powerful Alpha doesn't know how to do." Yami muttered.

"When I make a mistake I will admit it and I will apologize for it. And I have. However, my mistake was not with you. My mistake was in leaving the clearing to spend so much time in Domino. Perhaps had I still been here the pups would not have chosen to venture out alone." Atem said.

Yami rolled her eyes, "No. You don't get to play that game. Noa and Julian are dead. I get it, believe me, I get it. But you don't get to just lay here and try and blame yourself for what happened to them. It isn't your fault. You being here wouldn't have made any difference. So, drop the pity party and lets deal with our fight so we can go to sleep." Yami snapped.

Atem sighed, "And what about your own actions that spurred the fight?" Atem asked.

Yami frowned, "What about them? What precisely did I say or do that was so terrible?" Yami asked.

"You mean other than taking off alone?" Atem asked.

Yami rolled her eyes, "And just as you will not apologize for dragging me away from my friends home with your hand grabbing my arm so tightly you left bruises or for forcing me through a painful transformation I will not apologize for going to talk to my friend. I needed someone who would be able to hear me out and understand my side and since I can't get that here and my grandfather isn't in the country that left my best friend. So no, I will NOT apologize for that." Yami growled.

"Do you not realize how dangerous that was? Not to mention you know that was in direct violation of pack laws. Our laws are not here for you to flout whenever it strikes your fancy and I have been far to lenient with you as it was. What if you and your friend had gotten into another argument and you ended up attacking her like you almost had that night in your room? Do you honestly think I want to be putting you to death because you bit someone because you couldn't control your emotions and lashed out? Do you?" Atem growled.

"The fact remains that I did not lash out at Mai. I was in full control of myself." Yami pointed out.

Atem rolled his eyes, "You got lucky. That isn't a basis for saying you can do what you want. Until you fully come to accept your new reality you WILL NOT be unescorted in the human world. Do you understand that Yami? Because I will NOT tell you again?" Atem said.

Yami snorted, "Fine. I understand what your saying. I won't say that I agree with you because I don't. I think you're being ridiculous but I do understand the words you are saying." Yami replied before saying, "Lets move on. There was more to our fight earlier than me taking off to see Mai. That happened at the end. Why did you change your mind about going to Six Flaggs after we'd made the decision?"

Atem snorted, "I changed my mind when you told me how far away from my pack I would be. I did not feel comfortable being so far away. And it would seem that my instinct to remain close by was more than warranted. My pack needed me." Atem said.

"Yes, I understand that they needed you. But you could have just said that instead of being all confrontational." Yami said.

Atem snorted, "I did state that. I stated that I wanted you to choose an activity that would not take us as far away from your grandfather's home. A statement that you unreasonably took offense to." Atem said.

"Because I don't like that you keep calling it my grandfather's home. Its MY home that I live in with my grandfather." Yami said.

Atem rolled his eyes, "No, your home is the den we are currently lying in. Your grandfather's home may have been your home at one point but it is no longer your home." Atem said.

Yami snorted, "You just don't like the fact that once I get a handle on being a wolf I will be returning to live with my grandfather." Yami said.

Atem sighed, "You will not." Atem said.

Yami quirked a brow, "I beg your pardon? Last I check you fucking me didn't change the fact that once I get a handle on the wolf you don't have the right to dictate where I go. Hell, just yesterday you promised me that once I had gotten full control you would let me travel to Domino as much as I wanted." Yami said.

"And things have changed a great deal since yesterday. As things often do from one day to the next." Atem said.

Yami snorted, "And what the hell kind of garbage is that Atem?" Yami snapped.

"It is a statement of fact. Circumstances often change and circumstances being what they are now means that you will never be moving back in with your grandfather. By all means once you have control you will of course be permitted to visit but you will always reside with me here in the woods. This is now where you truly belong." Atem said.

"In YOUR opinion this is where I belong. I however have a very different opinion on the matter than you. My place is with my family and that is exactly where I intend to be." Yami growled.

"Exactly. As I said you will be staying here with me." Atem stated.

"You fucking me doesn't make us family Atem." Yami snapped.

"You being my mate DOES in fact make you and I family Yami. And what of our pups? Do you not consider them to be your family?" Atem asked.

Yami frowned, "What the hell are you even talking about?" Yami asked. Pups? Where the hell did pups come from? Yami wondered.

Atem sighed, "I guess there is no simple way to say this." Atem said.

"No simple way to say WHAT Atem?" Yami asked. Her mind refused to accept the possibility that deep down she knew what Atem was trying to tell her.

Atem sighed once more before he slowly released his grip from around Yami, allowing him to sit up and look her square in the eye. "This morning when I woke up in bed with you I noticed that there had been a slight change in your scent. Normally you smell like freshwater and lavender but this morning I was picking up another scent. It was subtle but definitely new. I think, the more that I smell it, that its cornflower." Atem said.

"And? Whats the big deal about you picking out another flower that I apparently smell like? Perhaps its been there all along and you just haven't noticed it." Yami said.

Atem snorted, "Trust me if the scent had been there before today I most certainly would have noticed it. The scent is new. And the reason that your scent has changed is because you are carrying my pups. I did tell you when we were up on the mountain the morning after the full moon that if you were carrying my pups I would be able to smell it on you in a few days. Now I can." Atem said flatly.

For a moment Yami was silent as her mind raced. She was pregnant. PREGNANT at sixteen fucking years old she was apparently pregnant. Oh why why why do these things keep happening to her? Why can't her life ever just be simple for once? First she gets attacked by a werewolf while taking out the fucking trash and then she had to move into the fucking woods. And then on the night of the full moon she ended up mated to Atem. And now to top off everything else that has been just fucking wonderful Atem is now telling her that she's pregnant.

"Are you sure?" Yami asked. A part of her was truly hoping that Atem would tell her that he was joking but the more she thought about how he'd been acting lately she wasn't so sure. There was this morning where he insisted on joining her in the shower yet made no effort to try anything. His insistence that she eat despite everything else he was dealing with with Mokuba and the pack he still made a point to have a meal brought to her.

"I am positive. There is no doubt that you are carrying my pups." Atem said.

"Is that why you had initially changed your mind and decided to extend our stay in Domino for another day?" Yami asked.

Atem nodded, "I had thought that it would have been for the best for me to explain this development to you where you were most comfortable and as much as it pains me to admit you are much more comfortable in the human world than in our own. Something I still hope will change over time." Atem said.

"And how long are werewolves even pregnant for?" Yami asked. She honestly didn't know.

"Weres carry for 120 days which means in a little less than four months you will be birthing our first litter." Atem said.

Yami swallowed thickly. That was hardly any time at all! If Atem was to be believed that would mean that by the beginning of October she would be having puppies.

"And how many...pups...are there in a litter?" Yami asked slowly. She did her best to ignore Atem's statement that this would be her FIRST litter, not at all subtly implying that she would be having more than one. Given as often as they had had sex she couldn't really argue against the possibility no matter how much she might have wanted to.

"On average between 2 and 4 pups but litters as large as 6 or more are possible." Atem said.

Yami swallowed thickly, "So, at the very least I'm having...twins." Yami said slowly her hand coming to rest lightly on her still flat stomach. How long would it be before she started to show? Would she show at all? Was birth difficult for Weres? Was she going to have to do this on her own or would Atem allow her to see a doctor?

Atem shrugged, "I guess you could say that, yes." Atem said.

Yami took another deep breath, her hand still resting on her stomach. She was drawn from her racing thoughts by Atem's own hand coming to rest on top of hers. "I for one could not be happier that we are having pups Yami. And I promise I will do everything in my power to keep you and our children safe." Atem whispered.

And despite her racing mind Yami could not help the small smile that crept up on her face in response to Atem's declaration. Atem could be a downright ass at times but one thing that Yami could not contest was that he was more than capable of protecting his family.

"I know you will." Yami whispered.

Atem nodded once more before he removed his hand from atop Yami's and once more slipped his arms around Yami's body, turning her so that her back was pressed against Atem's chest. His hands once more finding her stomach where he rested his palm. "Enough of this heavy talk for tonight my beloved mate. We will finish discussing the matter tomorrow once you have had the chance to digest the information and think of your questions." Atem whispered.

Yami sighed, "Fine." She replied as she allowed her body to begin to relax against Atem's in the pile of pelts.

Atem did have a point, a lot had happened today and perhaps finishing their conversation would be best left for morning.