The Pack

Disclaimer: Not me… except for the plot!

So far there's really been no confusion, but I want to put this in. Here's a general description of a werewolf in the story: The Loup Garou are in various small packs around the world. They dwell in both city and rural areas. All Loup Garou have wolf ears that do not disappear even in human form. The Alphas and their mates of the pack also have a tail that doesn't disappear in their human form. Loup Garou hide their ears (and sometimes tails) with hats and long coats. But those that live in secluded areas don't hide them at all. Loup Garou can run extremely fast for long periods of time. They can also jump very far and high. Loup Garou can read the minds of other members of the pack or those they share connections with. They are very intuitive beings and can sense changes in emotion, weather changes, danger, and other things. Another ability that Loup Garou have in this story is that they can heal wounds quickly by licking them. Loup Garou also share deep connections with their mates but that will come later.

Chapter 4

I got to the bakery later than usual. It wasn't my job to open the shop on Sundays, but I usually make it a point to get there a little early in case I need to help out.

But not today.

When I entered the shop Tidus smiled. "Good morning, you're a little late today. Nami's already started on the bread muffins. She told me she wanted you to make something sweet, like dessert." Tidus said.

I nodded. I always liked making the sweet stuff because there was always a cheerful reaction to the taste.

"What kind of dessert did she want?" I asked.

"I don't know, but make something with phyllo dough. We have a lot of it." Tidus said.

"Hmmmm…" I hummed. "I can make tarts?" I said.

"No… I don't think Nami wants something like that."

"Ah!" it hit me. "I can make baklava! I love that stuff!" I said with a smile.

"Yeah, I think the customers would like that." Tidus said and shooed me off to the kitchen.

"Tidus, can I ask you something?" I started.

"Shoot."

"Do you think I'm girly?" I asked.

"What's this about?" he asked.

"Well, someone told me I wasn't manly and I wanted a second opinion." I said.

"Well, I think that the guys that doubt their own manliness are the ones that aren't very manly." Tidus said.

"I'm not doubting my manliness. I think I'm a typical warm-blooded male. But that doesn't really matter if everyone else thinks I'm girly." I said.

"Look man, I don't think you're girly. But there are some times were you can be a little sensitive. And it doesn't help that you're every gay man's fantasy. Don't even try to deny that, last week you had like seven men hit on you, and that's not including Reno." Tidus said.

"Thanks. I knew I wasn't girly. But I can't believe that guy would say that I act more like a mother than I do a father around kids." I grumbled.

"Wait… I thought this was a question of manliness. Cloud, if this is about whether or not you're a mom in a boy's body, than that guy is totally right." Tidus said.

"WHAT?" I yelled.

"Dude, you have maternal instincts. There's no doubt about it. There's nothing wrong with that though, it's like part of you're loving nature. And plus you're a catcher." Tidus said.

"What?" I asked.

"You're a catcher? You've never heard that before?" Tidus asked.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" I asked.

"Maybe?" Tidus said.

"I may be gay but I am not the bottom half! I can't believe you just said that to me! I am not going to let someone stick it up my ass! No way! When I finally find the right person, I'm gonna wear the pants!" I yelled and stomped off into the kitchen.

I moved to the fridge and pulled out the ingredients for the baklava. I was so mad! Telling me I was the submissive one in a gay relationship is exactly like telling me I'm a girl! I'll show you and Squall! I'm a man!

"Cloud? Are you okay?" Naminé asked tentatively.

"I'm fine." I said and began my cooking.

"I wonder if that hat guy will come today. What's his name, Cloud?" she asked.

"Asshole! That's his name. I hate that guy." I said and pounded on the pecans and walnuts to crush them.

"He's not you're friend?" she asked.

"No! He's mean and says I'm girly. I'll show him!" I yelled and violently punched at the nuts.

"You're gonna hurt yourself. You should just cut them." Nami said as I took another swing at them.

"Nope, I'm going to use my own strength to break up these nuts." I said firmly and continued.

When the baklava was finally finished, my knuckles were all banged up.

"That smells so good!" Tidus said as I took it to the window.

"It better, I put my fist in it." I said.

"Isn't the expression-"

"No… I changed it. I didn't put my foot in it. I put my fist in it!" I snapped.

"Okay then…" Tidus said and smiled at our first customer.

"Welcome to The Bakery. What can I get for you?" He asked.

"Just a coffee… actually can I get a piece of whatever that is?" she said pointing to the baklava.

"Sure. It's called baklava, Cloud just finished making it so it should be nice and warm." Tidus said, eyeing the treat like a hungry animal.

"That's for the customers Tidus. If you really want a piece, you should pay for one." I said about to make my way to the back.

"Did you make this?" the woman asked.

"Yeah… I hope you enjoy it." I said with a smile.

"Thank you, I will. It looks amazing. You must be quite the catch, a guy that can cook does not stay single for long periods of time." She said.

"Thank you very much miss…"

"Tifa… Tifa Lockhart." She smiled.

"It's a pleasure to meet you miss Tifa Lockhart. My name is Cloud Strife. Please enjoy the baklava and I hope to see you here again soon." I said.

"I certainly will, thanks again." She said before leaving.

"And you said that I had charm." Tidus said.

"Well, if that didn't prove my manliness than I don't know what can." I said.

"Whatever dude… Even if you weren't manly, there are still hundreds of people out there that want to fuck you." Tidus said.

"SHUT UP!" I yelled and walked back into the kitchen.

When my shift was over at four, I helped Nami close up the shop. When that was done, I made my way down the street towards the park.

I wonder if someone is waiting for me…I can't really find where they hang out without a guide.

I was about halfway there when a voice caught my attention.

"Stop! Leave me alone!"

I turned to look for where the voice was sounding. The alley was my best bet.

I moved quietly towards the alley, in an attempt to be discreet.

"I don't have any money so leave me alone!" the voice yelled.

"Keep it down! We don't need any money. We just think you're a little too cute to be on the streets. We'll take good care of you." Another voice said.

"H-hey! Stop! Get off of me!"

Slap! "Shut up!"

I took a peek into the alley and saw two men trying to hurt a kid. I took a deep breath and quietly walked into the alley, taking hold of a metal bar that had been thrown away.

With a big swing I knocked out the first guy. The second guy turned around and pulled out a knife.

"You're disgusting for praying on little boys." I spat.

"You're kind of little yourself, we should play around sometime." The guy smirked.

I looked at the boy in the corner. I cocked my head a little to tell him to escape. He gave me a grateful look before running away.

"C-come back here!" The guy yelled and that's when I successfully swung at his head and knocked him out.

I looked at the men on the ground. I didn't hit them too hard, they would most likely regain consciousness in an hour or two. I put the bar down and turned to move out of the alley.

Only to be faced with four burly men. "Did you do this to our friends?" the biggest one asked.

I quickly grabbed the bar again and took a step back. "They were attacking a little boy! You can't expect me to just let them rape a child!" I yelled.

"You expect me to believe that? Where's the boy?" the man asked, advancing.

Shit.

"I knew he was lying! We should teach him a little lesson!" Another guy yelled.

They were closing in… I moved as far away from them as I could.

Unfortunately, in an alley, that's not very far.

Shit, I was going to die. And this was the worst possible way to go. I'm so fucked! They were probably going to rape me first, then kill me, then rape my dead corpse!

I lifted the bar. If I was gonna go down, I was going down with a fight!

The first guy lunged.

I screamed and moved to swing the bar at his head when a dark blur fell from the sky, successfully taking out the guy.

The dark blur disappeared and came back down onto the next man. This blur was picking these guys off one by one. I crouched in the corner, holding the bar tightly.

What the fuck was it!

The last man screamed and I opened my eyes to see a large midnight blue wolf standing over the man with a vicious snarl on his face.

I closed my eyes again when I heard the ripping of flesh.

I sat, trembling in the corner of the alley. Did that really just happen?

I watched as the wolf moved towards me, blood dripping from its jaws. I opened my mouth to scream.

Cloud. A voice sounded in my head. I jumped.

I looked into the dog's shining blue eyes.

"Squ-Squall?" I squeaked.

I'll meet you in the forest. I nodded and watched as the wolf jumped up and onto the roof of the building.

I slowly got to my feet, looking away from the bloody massacre as I walked from the alleyway.

I moved quickly down the street. My knees wobbly from the previous events. He really just killed all of those men… without a second thought.

I mean he was saving me but… I don't want others, even thugs, to die on my account.

When I made it to the forest, I ran inside. I didn't really know where I was going but I wanted to get as far in as I could.

When I was sure no one could see me, I let it out.

"Sh-shit! Fuck!" I cussed before covering my face and letting a couple of tears fall. "Fuck!" I cussed again before my knees buckled and I fell to the ground, body still trembling.

The sound of ripping flesh rang in my head. I let out a small wail.

When I heard the sound of my cry, I wiped violently at my eyes. I needed to stop this. I needed to get a hold of myself. I took two deep breaths and stood.

I cried out and jumped away when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I turned to see Squall, hat and all, looking at me. "Follow." He said.

I trailed behind him, trying to quell my racing heartbeat. After about a half an hour, we were at the clearing again.

I yelped when a HUGE white wolf, suddenly took out Squall. I watched with fear as Squall transformed in mid air after being thrown by the huge wolf.

They fought for ten minutes, Squall being the loser.

I hid myself behind a tree, I was very tempted to just run back to the house. It wasn't fun being at the house, but I was terrified.

I didn't realize tears were falling down my face until I heard the soft patter of the drops on the dry leaves.

Cloud. I apologize for scaring you. Squall needed to be punished for taking the lives of the humans. Killing humans is strictly prohibited in my pack. Please come out from behind the tree.

I wiped my eyes (it didn't help any) and moved from my hiding place.

Squall was literally dragging himself towards a boulder. I made my way towards him and move to help.

He almost bit my arm off. DON'T TOUCH ME! His screaming voice sounded in my head as his vicious growls rang on the outside.

I decided I would just leave him alone. For good. He was mean and terrifying anyway.

"Kitty!" I heard Zack yell and I turned to see him stop suddenly and frown. "Kitten, what's wrong."

Shit I was crying again.

"Nothing, nothing." I said and wiped my eyes.

Zack's frown got deeper. "You smell like blood. What happened?" his voice was suddenly very serious.

"Th-this little boy was being h-harassed and s-so I took out the guys that were hurting him… I didn't realize they had friends. They were probably g-g-gonna kill me. That's when Squall saved me. B-but he k-killed all of them… I don't even know the guys and I mean they were gonna kill me! But they didn't deserve to die… and that's not r-really why I'm upset… I just… it w-was scary! I was terrified. The sound of their screams and the blood and flesh…" You don't realize how traumatizing something is until you experience it in real life.

"Awe, Kitty. I know that must have been terrible. But Squall was only trying to protect you…" Zack said and he and I walked over to Xigbar and Riku.

"I know! That's why I don't know why I'm being a baby over this!" I yelled wiping violently at my face.

"Don't cry!" Zack yelped.

"Hey Cloud…" Xigbar spoke.

"W-what?" I asked.

"You wanna know what tear drops smell like?" he asked,

"Huh?" I asked.

"They kinda smell like rain, I know humans can smell rain. But there's a subtle difference, a difference that only stronger noses can smell. We can smell the salt in tears. Then there's also the person's skin mixed in a little too…" he explained.

"Wow Xig, you made him stop crying." Riku said with surprise.

"Yes! Way to go Xiggy! Who knew you were such a caring and sensitive person!" Zack said.

I laughed when Xigbar's fist hit the top of Zack's head for the hundredth time.

"We're glad you're okay." Riku said.

"Thanks." I said. I squeaked when I felt three tongues on my face.

"What the hell!" I yelled.

"Sorry. You're just so cute! We wanted to kiss you!" Zack said. "Too cheer you up even more of course!" he added.

I smiled. "Thank you. I think the liking thing is only okay if you're a dog." I said.

"Got it. Human licking- creepy." Zack made a mental note.

I looked to Squall. He was laying against the boulder. I watched as he slowly licked his wounds clean.

"Is it possible to sympathize with someone, and be afraid of him at the same time?"

"Certainly!" Zack yipped.

I looked to Zack. "I hadn't realized I said that aloud."

"What you're wondering is possible. I'm afraid of the butcher guy we take meat from… I mean he chases us with a cleaver! I get nightmares! But I do feel bad for taking his meat…" Zack explained.

"I think Cloud's situation is a little different Zack." Riku said.

"Where are Sora and Kairi?" I asked.

"Xemnas is teaching them how to hunt." Riku answered.

"Oh." I said.

"Cloud. You look exhausted; you can even smell how tired you are. Why don't you take a nap?" Xigbar suggested.

When he pointed it out, that's when I actually noticed how tired I was.

"Okay…" I said.

"Wait! Wait! Let's cuddle!" Zack yipped.

Xigbar stood up and took off his shirt. "Zack, you are such a little Pomeranian. Nothing but a little house dog!"

"Oh yeah? Why are you taking your shirt off then huh? You want to cuddle too!" Zack pointed.

Xigbar sputtered before they both stripped completely and turned into wolves.

"I guess I'll join this too." Riku said and moved to the bushes to change.

Thank you Riku for saving me some dignity. My face was a deep red from the naked bodies revealed to me.

When Riku was done, I found myself comfortably warm between a dark brown dog, a black dog, and a silver black tipped one.

It was so easy to fall asleep to the three heartbeats surrounding me.

A/N: CUDDLES! Just for clarification.

Xemnas- White wolf

Squall- Midnight blue wolf

Riku- Black wolf

Xigbar- Silver wolf with black tips

Zack- Dark brown wolf

Sora- Light brown wolf

Kairi- Mahogany red wolf