Prompt VII: Broken

To say Atem seemed stunned was an understatement. Yugi knew that even from where he kept Yami in place those few feet away from him. His eyes were narrowed slightly, peering at his brother as if he didn't recognize him for a long time. Then he wrinkled his nose and tilted his head. Yugi could see him scenting the air subtly, drawing in a large breath and holding it.

"You're the alpha's son," he said, and his eyes were sharp as they focused on Yugi. He had that same unblinking expression Yami used when he focused intently on something. But whereas Yami looked innocent and merely wanted to absorb everything, there was something hard and brewing in Atem's expression. "You smell of Sugoroku. The rest of the pack is here, too, huh? I can hear them moving around. There's what…almost thirty of them?"

Yugi flattened his ears against his head, growling, That's right. You hurt me or Yami and they'll kill you.

Yami looked over his shoulder at him in mild bewilderment. Atem wouldn't hurt anyone unless they hurt me, he huffed. Yugi glanced at him, but turned immediately away again, bristling fiercely at the stare he was given in turn.

Atem was quiet for a moment. He sighed and rolled his eyes and Yugi would have almost thought he was a normal teenager had it not been for his stance. He looked wired and wary, as if the world were pressing on him and it was a matter of time before he lashed out against it. "You do realize I don't understand a word of what you're saying, right? Either someone needs to change back or you can initiate a connection with me. But I'm not sure what you're telling me right now."

"He said, if you hurt him or Yami, the pack is going to kill you."

Atem didn't look phased when he turned his head toward Yugi's grandfather. But Yugi was surprised his grandpa hadn't changed to follow them. It would have been faster. "I didn't notice you were there, Sugoroku. You have my apologies for not addressing you first."

"Yugi is future alpha. You did right in speaking to him first."

The other boy turned his head, then stared at Yugi as if he might make his flesh peel from his bones. "Did you honestly just imply I'd hurt Yami?" he growled, a furious rumble in his tone that made Yugi almost flinch. "You have no idea what I had to do to make sure he survived."

"Had a fighting chance" was what he seemed to mean, however. No doubt he was more in shock his brother had survived because of his inability to hunt on his own. Yami didn't seem to have a vicious bone in his body, either, which would have meant any other predators probably would have picked him to pieces. Yugi had never truly considered just how much of a miracle it was Yami had survived before that moment.

Yami squirmed and tugged until Yugi was left with a huge clump of fur in his mouth. He darted immediately over to his brother, jumping up to lick his face and wagging his tail so hard his entire body vibrated. Atem never took his eyes off Yugi until, finally, dejected, Yami whined and prodded at his jaw with his nose. Then Atem stroked at his scruff and looked at him.

Yami! Yugi growled, flattening his ears as he watched him. The black wolf turned his head and peered back, confused and startled. Please come back over here.

But

"Yes, why don't you come back over here, Yami?" Sugoroku growled, voice low and guttural. Yami blinked wide eyes, shocked by the tone, and dropped from where he'd been reveling in his brother's presence. Even Yugi stiffened at the tone. "I remember very specifically that we made you pledge to stay with him if you were to remain with us."

Yugi bristled uneasily. Grandpa…

Atem spun on Yami, voice slightly sharp. "You did what?"

Yami huffed. I can't help it! I like him. He's cute!

Yugi felt the smallest hint of warmth crash through him. He crept forward a step, hoping against everything that Yami might listen when he tried again. Yami, come on. Please come over here.

Yami's ears flicked and he cast him an uncertain look. Yugi could see the obvious division in his loyalties, how torn apart he was by the idea of joining him or staying with his brother. He couldn't blame him. Yami had been waiting two months for his brother to return to him. And now he was being told to get away from him and join them again. He would have been just as torn.

Atem crouched down in front of Yami who spun around and wagged his tail so hard his body quivered. He reached out, rubbing him behind the ears as Yami licked his face and wagged his tail harder. Atem was studying him for a few minutes, silent and curious, and then finally straightened with a vague gesture in Yugi's direction.

"Go sit with your friend for a minute." His attention returned instantly to Sugoroku and Yugi's heart felt set to burst when Yami turned and hurried back over to him. He took a seat in front of him and wagged his tail, leaning forward to lick his cheek. "What kind of pack do you run that a yearling is treated so suspiciously?"

"He kept going to the edge of the territory to find you. He was under the impression if he stayed in a certain area you would come and find him."

Atem blinked, face turning pale enough to match the white of his teeth. He opened and closed his mouth, then reached up and covered his face with a heavy exhale. "Fuck," he spat. Yami immediately turned around at the distressed tone. Yugi bristled uneasily. "I came back for him when I managed to get rid of one of the hunters but the second one came out of nowhere. I didn't even get within a mile of the badger set before he managed to catch me."

"How are you still alive then, if you were caught?"

Atem spread his fingers, looking through them to Yami and then Yugi and away again. "I won't discuss this with them here. If they go back, we can talk. But I'm not speaking of this in front of Yami, or…"

"Yugi."

Yugi knew exactly what that tone meant. He nodded and licked Yami's nose. Come on, Yami! They want to talk about…adult things.

Yami spun around with wide eyes, blinking. You mean, like sex?!

Yugi burst out laughing and led him along with his tail wagging. I don't think so, but maybe.

Ew.

So, Atem's story is going to be revealed later. It won't be graphic, but it'll definitely have implied violence and shady morals. In other words, survival instincts kicked in and he was willing to do just about anything to ensure he made it out alive at the end of it.

The story is also going to jump forward two years. I'd been planning for one year each week but apparently it's going to be two when chapter eight starts.

Sorry!