Part 19
Cody couldn't stop shaking as he watched Evan vanish up the stairs. With his wolf howling in pain and distress he glanced up and whimpered, "Teddy?"
Ted didn't answer. His mate was staring at the Alpha pair, the bright blue eyes watching for any sign of what the two powerful wolves would do next.
He didn't have to wait long.
Stepping closer to his mate, Shawn leant against Hunter, letting their wolves connect for just a moment. He could feel Hunter's wolf snarling and snapping in anger and he knew instinctively his mate needed his touch. Running a hand down Hunter's arm he offered him a sad smile, sighing slightly at the pain and anger he could see in Hunter's eyes. For a moment Hunter held his gaze, the honey brown eyes searching Shawn's face. Leaning up Shawn brushed a kiss over Hunter's cheek before nodding at the unspoken agreement that flashed between the two of them. Wearing a warm grin he turned and slapped his thigh as if calling a dog to heal and, chuckling at his own joke, he called, "John! Justin! Come on boys. Come and help me get dinner ready. Lex? Chris? You wanna come and keep us company while we wreck the kitchen?"
It was crystal clear the call wasn't the relaxed enquiry he made it appeared. It was an order - and an order that they all scrambled to obey. Although Justin did have to tug on John's arm several times before the lead gamma tore his eyes away from Cody and reluctantly followed him through into the kitchen. It took Lex a little longer to get Chris up off the couch. But once he'd handed his partner his elbow crutch and had slid his arm around Chris's waist – an unneeded but more than welcome gesture – they too vanished into the kitchen leaving Hunter to deal with the prodigal returns.
Waiting until the others had disappeared Hunter finally took a deep breath. Trying to ignore the angry snarls and demands coming from his wolf, he paused to look properly at the two young wolves still cowering in the doorway. Shaking his head sadly he headed towards them, frowning when he saw Cody shy away from him, the younger man trying to disappear into his mate's encompassing embrace.
"Damn it, Cody," growled Hunter, his wolf huffing at the fact a pack member was scared of him "Stop shaking."
That got a little reaction from the shocked wolf. Cody's face hardened for a moment and a semi pout formed on his lips but then his obvious concern and worry about the consequences of his actions overtook his normal cocky attitude and suddenly he looked very young and very frightened. As he lowered his eyes - unable to hold Hunter's gaze any longer - he sniffed loudly and bit his lower lip, obviously trying to stop himself from crying. He winced slightly as Ted shifted his hold, his mate's embrace touching his injured arm. Suddenly as if his body has only just realised he was actually injured his arm started to hurt like hell. The bite was throbbing painfully where Evan had bitten a chunk out of the muscle.
As if sensing his sudden pain, Hunter ordered gruffly, "Shift form, Cody – it will help the healing process."
Cody hesitated then when Hunter levelled an impatient and deadly stare at him, he pulled away from the comfort of Ted's hug and with a little petulant sniff he shifted. Shaking off his clothes the wolf stepped forward, giving a nervous little yap – a submissive, pleading little yap that called to both Ted and Hunter's more dominant wolves but one that for once when unanswered.
Still looking like thunder, Hunter crouched down and held out a hand toward the uncertain wolf huffing angrily, "It's okay, no one is going to hurt you right now."
Both Ted and Cody caught the "right now" and after giving Ted a scared nervous look, Cody crept forward. His nose was twitching as he drank in all the familiar smells of the pack house; smells that he had missed during his long months of self imposed exile. As he drew close enough he glanced up at Hunter then very tentatively reached his head forward butting Hunter's hand.
Hunter didn't response at once, he simply let skittish wolf come to him. Letting just a little of his power roll of him he watched impassively as Cody gave a low whining yap, the young wolf reacting to the power flare. With his ears flat to his head and his tail curled all the way under, Cody's wolf sank to ground, edging forward until he was lying flat on the floor just in front of Hunter, the large blue eyes staring up at him, silently entreating his Alpha to make everything better.
Hunter simply stared down at him, the alpha's anger and annoyance at what had just transpired rolling off him waves. The power flared over Cody's fur, making the young wolf mew like a pup as his naturally submissive wolf reacted to the sheer strength of Hunter's anger.
"Hunter, stop!" breathed Ted from the doorway, "Please, he didn't mean to hurt her. He'd never hurt her, you know that."
Without taking his eyes off the wolf in front of him, Hunter growled, "He kicked a pup, Ted. He kicked Randy's daughter and sent her flying. He could have seriously injured her. He could…."
"He didn't know it was her!" protested Ted with a growl, respect for his alpha warring with his need to protect his cowering mate. The low whimpers escaping Cody's muzzle were like claws ripping at Ted's heart and it was all he could do to stop himself lunging forward and dragging his mate away from their alpha.
"Please!" he pleaded, wincing as he felt the power rolling off the angered Alpha. He bit his lip in concern. If his wolf was whimpering and cowering in response to the power, he could only imagine what it was doing to Cody's more submissive lupine.
But after a few seconds he felt the power change. It no longer felt hard and scary, it was suddenly soothing and as Hunter's face softened so too did the nature of the power flare. It went from holding Cody's wolf frozen in fear to soothing him, causing him to edge closer until his muzzle touched Hunter's ankle. He gave a low desperate yap practically begging for a hint of kindness from his Alpha.
Hunter closed his eyes and sighed sadly, "Damn it, Cody. I'd hoped this full pack run would bring you and Randy back together but now...after this..." he reached down and gently scratched the smaller wolf behind the year, earning a happy yip from Cody, "You make things very difficult, you know that?"
Cody's wolf gave a nod then slowly getting up he sat on his haunches staring miserably at Hunter, willing his Alpha to make everything better.
Getting back to his feet, Hunter ruffled the dark fur before looking over at Ted and ordering firmly, "Take your bags up to your room then get back down for dinner. Just try and stay out of Randy's way until I've had a chance to talk to him. And Evan's," he added as an afterthought when he noticed how badly Cody's wolf was limping, his right front leg obviously still feeling the effects of Evan's anger.
Ted nodded knowing Hunter was right. He waited for Cody's wolf to fall into place beside him before grabbing their bags and heading up the stairs towards their room. He was a few steps up when Hunter called, "By the way - Ted," the Alpha waited for Ted to turn and look at him before finishing, "Welcome home."
Ted blinked at him then offered him a sad smile in reply; both of them knowing the homecoming hadn't gone as either of them had planned.
"Well that was interesting. What the hell did we miss?" called a sarcastic voice from the open doorway.
Hunter closed his eyes and groaned. Shaking his head he chuckled and looked up to see Punk leaning against the door frame, watching everything with his all-seeing eyes. Unable to stop the smile curling his lips, Hunter huffed good humouredly, "Oh great, just what I need. Trouble's back."
"Nice to see you too," teased Punk sauntering into the pack house. Offering a mocking smile he asked quickly, "But seriously, what did we miss? We've been gone three weeks and come back to finding a limping Cody, Teddy looking like some stole his candy and you being the big growly scary alpha."
"Don't start," growled Hunter in warning even thought his wolf was chuffing with wolfish laughter at the sarcastic wolf in front of him.
"Me start something?" asked Punk playfully horrified, his hand coming to rest dramatically on his chest, as he added teasingly, "I'm insulted that you would think me capable of starting anything. I mean I..."
"Shawn's in the kitchen, so are the Guns," interrupted Hunter fondly, "You want the gossip - go talk to them. You too, Daniel, I know they've missed you."
The two late arrivals grinned at the mention of their fellow trouble makers. They shared a knowing look as they wandered past Hunter, heading towards the aforementioned kitchen. Despite his words Punk still paused just long enough to offer a slight head bow to Hunter. He was never one for a big show of pack loyalty but even so, after being away from the pack for so long, just the feeling of being back was enough to make him comfortable enough to offer that little show.
Daniel thought had no such qualms about showing pack loyalty. If anything he saw it as a matter of pride to show the full respect due to his Alpha. He wandered up to Hunter and bowed his head, exposing his neck without hesitation. Hunter let his wolf reach out to them both, all three sharing moment's connection before Punk broke away and strode into the kitchen.
As he kicked the door open, he called loudly, "Hey Lex, guess what - major pipe bomb for you. Dan's got the host for Roddy and he tried to make a move on him last..."
"Punk you..." yelled Daniel glaring at the swinging door. "I'll kill him!" he hissed looking to his alpha for help but Hunter just chuckled and patted the smaller man on the arm, suggesting, "I'd get in there if I were you before he destroys your reputation completely."
Daniel nodded and set off at a trot, calling all sorts of threats out as he entered the kitchen and disappeared from view.
Shaking his head Hunter hesitated a moment. As much as he wanted to go and check on Alanna he really wasn't sure about what to do and say to Randy at that moment in time. He knew if their roles had been reversed and that had been his daughter Cody had kicked he would have been baying for blood. And he knew too Randy's wolf was not one to take an insult or slight without reacting. He just had no idea what that reaction would be. Plus after everything that had happened between the two men in the past, Hunter had no idea how he could stop Randy from killing Cody – after all it Cody had caused the Sam's death, thereby robbing Alanna of the chance of ever really knowing her mother.
With a heavy heart Hunter turned and started up the stairs knowing that sometimes being alpha of such a powerful pack was a hard heavy burden to carry. But if there was one thing he knew it was the fact that he would do everything he could to protect them – all of them, even them ones who drove him insane - no matter what it cost him personally.
TBC