Kyo placed the last of the dishes on the rack to dry before grabbing the full garbage bag. He tied it off and pulled it out of the can, then grabbed the second bag by the door and went outside. He quickly threw the trash out then walked back inside to gather his things, lock up, and head out. He walked into the break room to grab his jacket and keys, then into the bathroom to wash his hands. Kyo stared at his reflection and ran his fingers through his short blonde hair all while tonguing his lip ring.
He straightened out the black overalls he was wearing before pulling on his black jacket. He grabbed his keys from off the sink and headed out to the dark restaurant where he exited the establishment and locked up the front door. Kyo caught a whiff of cherry blossoms and turned to see a thin man with short light brown hair standing behind him. Kyo let out a low growl and the man flinched taking a step back.
"You're trespassing." Kyo growled.
The man whimpered and looked down, but three bigger men appeared surrounding Kyo. The oldest one smirked. "Shinya, stay out of our way like a good little puppy."
Shinya stepped back with his head down. Kyo let out a low growl as the three changed into large light brown wolves. Kyo quickly changed into his black furred form stepping back until his hind leg hit the wall of the building. Shinya whimpered as Kyo glared right at him.
Kaoru wagged his grey and white tail as he waited patiently. His ear twitched at the sound of the light growling behind him. A small puppy ran out from behind a tree and jumped on his back. He let out a fake whimper when she bit his back. He fell down and rolled on his back as the puppy jumped off then back on his chest. He changed into his human form and hugged the pup as she changed back into her nine year old human self. They both laughed as Kaoru started tickling her.
"Dad! Stop it!" She laughed. Kaoru started laughing with her, but the faint scent of blood caught his attention. He hummed and stopped tickling his daughter. "Dad?"
"Get inside, Ryoko." Kaoru ordered and stood up, helping his daughter to her feet. Members of his pack, who had been lounging around in their wolf forms, perked up at the smell as well and some stood up to investigate. Ryoko let out a small whimper as she started towards the house when they heard a grunt. They all looked towards the bushes as Kyo stumbled through. His jacket was gone, his overalls were ripped up to where they were barely covering his body. His head, arms, right side and legs were bleeding from scratches and bites marks. He grunted falling forward.
"Kyo!" Kaoru shouted as his friend hit the ground. He and others of his pack ran forward to help the blonde.
Kyo groaned as he slowly woke up in his bed. He sat up and rubbed his head finding bandages wrapped around it. He took a quick look at himself to find himself covered in the white dressings. He struggled to his feet and stumbled out to the hallway.
"Uncle Kyo." A young boy from the end of the hallway called. He ran up to the alpha and hugged his leg.
"Hey, Yuichi. Where's your dad?" Kyo asked, patting the boy's black hair.
"He's in the living room with everyone. They're talking about the bad guys who hurt you." Yuichi looked up at him with watery eyes. "Daddy's going to make them pay for hurting you."
Kyo smirked. "Yeah, we're going to get them back for this. Don't worry."
Kyo made his way into the living room where Subaru quickly stood from his spot on the couch. Kyo nodded in thanks as he sat down on the soft cushion. Kaoru was sitting in the lazy boy across the couch as the alphas were sitting and standing around the room. Misaki; who's Kaoru's mate and one of only three omegas, was standing by Kaoru's side.
"Glad to see you're moving around." Kaoru said.
"Do you need anything?" Misaki asked. "Water, food?"
"No, I'm alright for now."
"Kyo," Kaoru caught his attention once more. "Tell us what happened."
The alpha nodded. "They got me leaving the restaurant. I was ganged up on by four of Gin's wolves, well more like three of them. I managed to give them some serious wounds, but I could only do so much. I ended up making a run for it."
"That must taste like vinegar to admit." Hizumi smirked, but earned a glare from the other alpha.
"I'd like to see you take on three alpha wolves all by yourself."
"Yeah? Probably do a better job than you. I would have at least killed one."
"You'd get yourself killed first." Kyo snapped.
"As if I'd died before beating the shit out of you, shorty!" Hizumi growled back.
"Oh, you're going to pay for that one."
"Enough you two." Kaoru snapped. "You can settle you rivalry later. Gin will not get away with invading my territory and attacking my pack."
"Are we going to attack him?" Mao asked.
"We'll start a war if we do." Misaki said. "I hope you realize that."
"I do." Kaoru said. "Tatsurou, Asagi, and Tsukasa will start scouting the city. I want to know where they're located. Everyone else is to travel in groups for now. If you're attacked, kill them, but don't give your life in doing so. Sometimes it's better to run and regroup. You're dismissed."
"Kaoru," Misaki said as the pack started to disperse. "I have something important to tell you."
"What is it?" Kaoru asked pulling his mate onto his lap.
She smiled bringing his hand to her stomach. "You have another child on the way."
Kaoru smiled brightly. "Well there's some good news today after all."
The pack traveled in groups the next week to avoid further conflict which seemed to be working for now. Most of the pack was at the restaurant working while the others were back home guarding the children and Misaki. Kyo was helping around the kitchen when the trash needed to be taken out again. Subaru and Tomoya were busy helping on the floor with cleaning up tables so Kyo volunteered to take it out.
He slipped out with the bags and tossed them, but when he was walking back in he caught the familiar smell of cherry blossoms. He let out a low growl as he turned to face the thin man in the alley.
"You." Kyo growled. Before Shinya could react, Kyo had him by the throat and was slamming him into the wall. "I'm going to crush your neck."
"W-ait" Shinya choked. He pulled a small bottle from his pants pocket.
"What is that?" Kyo asked loosening his grip enough for the wolf to speak
"Just some medicine. I-I'm a doctor, or well training as one. I wanted to give it to you sooner, but you were always with someone."
"Why are you giving it to me in the first place?"
"I'm sorry." Shinya whimpered. "I didn't mean for my brothers to attack you. I just…I wanted to meet you, but they followed me and…well you know the rest. If you rub this on your wounds, it'll help prevent infection."
Kyo pulled his hand away and Shinya was able to breathe properly. He leaned heavily on the wall as Kyo took the bottle and slipped it into his own pocket. He turned to head back inside but the wolf spoke up.
"I-I'm Shinya. Your name … is Kyo right? I heard your pack calling you that."
Kyo stopped. "Yeah. You should leave before they smell you and hunt you down."
"Um…can we meet up, for real? I want to talk to you."
"No." Kyo growled. "You're lucky I don't rip your throat out right now. Get out of my sight."
Shinya whimpered, but nodded and ran off.
Shinya sauntered into the old abandoned building where his pack currently lived. As he walked in, a hand grabbed the back of his neck and squeezed it. Shinya whimpered as he was forced forward deeper into the building.
"B-brother." Shinya gasped as the alpha dragged him in.
"Hmph. Dad's not happy with. In fact none of us are." The older man said pushing Shinya forward where he fell onto his knees. He looked up to see glaring eyes all around him. His father, the pack leader, stepped forward growling.
"What do you think you were doing? Following that wolf, giving him our medicine." Gin growled. Shinya gasped as his eyes widen. "What, did you really think I'd let you go out on your own without someone following you? You're a disgrace. If I see you around that pack and you're not fighting them, I will end you myself."
Shinya dropped his head. "Yes, father."
Kyo was laying on his bed looking at the bottle in his hand now only half filled with a white lotion substance. He used some of it already and it made some of the pain go away as well. He brought the medicine to his nose and was able faintly smell cherry blossoms. His heart pounded for a second and warmth filled his chest. He placed his hand over his heart surprised at the feeling.
"Shinya, huh? Interesting." He hummed
A knock on his door caught his attention and he sat up as Kaoru walked in. Kyo was quick to hide the medicine under his blanket before the pack leader noticed.
"Hey, is everything okay? You've been acting weird since you've been home." Kaoru said.
Kyo dropped back onto his bed. "Everything is fine. Stop being such a worry wart."
"Right." Kaoru hummed and started walking away. "By the way, I'm surprised you didn't kill that wolf. Him being one of the ones who attacked you."
"As if that wimp would have been able to hurt— wait…how did you know?"
Kaoru smiled tapping his nose. "You're not the only one with a good nose around here. I don't think I've ever seen anyone actually get you… absentminded."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Kyo mumbled rolling on his side.
"Sure you don't." Kaoru said with a smile, but it dropped into a frown. "Kyo, he's our enemy and one of the guys who attacked you. Whether or not he actually fought you, he was there and he didn't stop it. The next time you meet, I expect you to kill him."
"I wouldn't worry about a weakling like him." Kyo said and Kaoru let out a growl baring his fangs.
"You will kill any wolf from that pack! Is that understood?"
Kyo slowly sat up, growling low in his chest. "Since when are you scared of a beta?
"Since when do you defy my orders?" They two sat glaring at one another until Kaoru sighed. "Do what you're told."
With that Kaoru left the room and Kyo kissed his teeth, falling back onto his bed. "I'll do whatever the hell I want."
Misaki was watching as Tsuguri and Mao rolled around fighting each other in front of the house. Ryoko and Yuichi were mimicking the two alphas as they practiced fighting each other. The two alphas occasionally stopped to watch or show the pups something new. Misaki sighed rubbing her stomach. As soon as she said she was pregnant, Kaoru ordered the two alphas to be around her and her children at all times. This also restricted what she was able to do and she was not happy about this, but it was what her mate had ordered and what she must obey. Even if the whole pack was home, Mao and Tsuguri were to stay by her side at all times.
Sayuri, her youngest, let out a loud yawn. The one year old had been playing with her toys beside Misaki on the porch, and it seemed like she had gone and tired herself out. Misaki smiled as she picked the toddler up and stood up. Misaki and Tsuguri were at each other again as Yuichi chased Ryoko around.
"I'll be right back. I'm putting Sayuri down to sleep." She announced walking inside.
Misaki started humming to Sayuri as she walked up the stairs inside the house where she met her mate walking down. Kaoru smiled as he placed a kiss on her head.
"Is it her bedtime already?" Kaoru asked and Misaki nodded. The alpha walked with his mate to their bedroom. Sayuri still slept in the same room as them mainly because there wasn't an available room for her to be in. Some of the pack had to share rooms and even then four of the alphas had to sleep outside or in the living room because there wasn't enough space. Kaoru had been thinking for a while to move to some place bigger, but he hadn't found anything in or around the city.
Kaoru watched as Misaki sat their sleeping daughter in her basinet and the two quietly left the room, closing the door behind them. Kaoru took his mate's hand and they walked back down the stairs. When they made it to the living room, Kaoru stopped and pulled Misaki into a hug before gently kissing her lips. She smiled into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. They had enjoy these short moments while they could because they didn't last long.
Misaki pulled away with a smile and walked back outside with Kaoru following close behind. Misaki's smile dropped though when she didn't see her children playing anymore. In fact she didn't see them at all, only the two alphas still snapping at each other. She glanced around to be sure she didn't miss them, but they weren't there. She let out a growl and stormed up to the two alphas.
"Mao, Tsuguri!" She snapped catching the two alpha's attention. "Where. Are. My. Children?"
The two wolves looked around and Mao spoke. "They were just here."
"You lost them!" Misaki growled and grabbed the scruff of Mao's neck. "You couldn't watch them for the two minutes that I was gone?"
A low growl caught all their attention. They looked back at Kaoru, who was glaring, his teeth sharpened and his hair was standing. "Find. Them. Now!"
The two alphas whimpered and took off to hunt the two children down. Misaki started sniff the air and running behind them, but Kaoru grabbed her arm to stop her.
"What are you doing?" She snapped.
"Stay here. We'll find them."
"Kaoru, let go of my arm now." She growled. "I'm looking for my pups and you are not going to stop me. You put those idiots in charge of us and they managed to lose sight of our children the second I left. I am not going to put them in charge of finding them as well. You are supposed to be looking after them anyways not two idiots, you. You're going out to look and I'm going to look, too! Is that clear?"
Kaoru swallowed hard, his anger replaced with a slight fear of his mate. "Y-yes dear."
"Good." She snapped before marching off into the woods with him in tow. "You of all people should know better than to get in the middle of a mother her pups."
"Yes dear." Kaoru said once more.
"I want Kyo looking after them from now on."
"Kyo?" Kaoru asked, but before either could say anymore they heard Ryoko scream.
The two started running through the trees, picking up their children's scent. Fear filled both of their bodies as they ran as fast as possible until they spotted Ryoko running towards them in her wolf form.
"Ryoko!" Misaki shouted.
"Mommy!" Ryoko cried changing into her human form and she ran straight for her mother. "Mommy, Yuichi's stuck! I couldn't get him out!"
"Where is he?" Kaoru asked.
"That way." Ryoko pointed from where she came from. "We fell down a hill and Yuichi fell into log and his leg got caught underneath it. I couldn't get him out."
"It's okay, I'll get him out." Kaoru said. "Misaki, take her back."
"But—"
"I'll get our son." Kaoru said. "Get her home to the pack. Now."
Misaki gave in picking her daughter up and she started back towards the house.
Kaoru changed and took off into the woods sniffing for his son. It wasn't too long before he could hear the young boy crying. He followed the sound Yuichi's cries until he reached the steep hill Ryoko was talking about and he spotted Yuchi at the bottom, in his small wolf form pinned under a fallen tree. He was whimpering out as he struggled to get free from it. Kaoru let out a bark to catch Yuichi's attention before he started down the hill. To him, the hill was nothing, but for his small pups it was a different story. Kaoru made it to the bottom with easy before he changed forms. He patted Yuichi's head.
"I'm going to lift this and I want you pull yourself out okay?"
The pup nodded and Kaoru smiled. He gripped the bottom of the tree and bent his knees down. He counted down before he lifted, but the tree barely moved. Yuichi struggled some more and it was enough to get his leg free. When Yuichi slipped out, Kaoru let go and took a deep breath.
Kaoru had carried Yuichi up the hill and was now walking towards the house. He was halfway there when Kyo came running through some trees in his wolf form. Both Kaoru and Kyo were startled and Kyo slipped as he tried to stop and Kaoru jumped back. Kyo jumped to his feet and shook his body before changing.
"Kyo, what are you doing?"
"Misaki asked me to come help you, but it looks like you got everything handled."
Kaoru nodded. "Thank you for coming. Misaki gets too worried sometimes."
"Can you blame her? She is a mother."
"I know. You're right."
The two were soon back home and Yuichi was in his mother's arms being kissed and coddled before he was able to go play with his sister again. This time with their parents watching over them. Kaoru waited until Kyo went back inside before continuing their discussion.
"Why do you want Kyo to look after them and you?"
"Because," She said simple. "I trust him. The two of you have been together since you were born, and you've always had each other's backs. When we decided to start our own pack, Kyo didn't hesitate to follow you. Plus, Yuichi really looks up to him as much as he does you."
"Kyo is irresponsible. As true as all that is, I just can't give him the responsibility of protecting my children."
"You mean you don't trust him." Misaki said.
"That's not what I said."
"But you're implying it. Why? He's your best friend."
"He doesn't know what it's like to have a family. The only reason he followed me was because our pack didn't want him. His parents abandoned him when we were kids and he was the orphan of the pack that they had to take care of. He didn't have siblings or anybody except me. He takes unneeded risks and endangers himself all the time.
"What happened at the restaurant could have been avoided. He knew that wolf had been following him for weeks. Kyo knew that if he were alone that wolf would approach him, so he decided to close the restaurant by himself. Instead, he was ganged up on and almost killed. I won't let his actions endanger my pups. Our close friendship is the only reason he's allowed to stay in this pack."
"I think you're wrong about him." Misaki said. "I think he would do great looking after Yuichi and Ryoko."
"No." Kaoru said. "I'll have Zero and Hizumi take over. That's final."
Misaki nodded, not wanting to anger her mate with an argument she wouldn't win. "Ryoko, Yuichi it's time to go in."
"Aw mom!" They whined.
"Hush now. Get inside and cleaned up." She ordered. Kaoru and Misaki watched as the two ran up the porch and inside the house. Misaki led the way in, but froze in her spot and Kaoru looked forward to see Kyo standing there, glaring at them. He pushed passed them without a word.
"Where are you going?" Kaoru asked.
Kyo glared back at him. "To go 'endanger' myself I guess."
"Shit." Kaoru muttered to himself. "Kyo—"
"Fuck off." The alpha snapped before changing into his wolf form and running to the front gate.
"I guess it's an understatement that he heard everything." Misaki said. "You should go apologize to him."
"I'll let him cool off first." Kaoru said. "If I don't we'll just end up fighting."
Kyo was walking around the city not really sure what he was going to do or go, but he did know he didn't want to at home. Kaoru seriously pissed him off. He knew he shouldn't have ease dropped, but he wanted look after the pups through the window. It wasn't his intention to listen to Kaoru and Misaki's conversation, but he did and he was hurt that his only friend didn't trust him.
'Whatever' He thought to himself. 'Nobody ever trusted me anyways. Kaoru's no different I guess.'
While he was lost in his own thoughts, he managed to walk to the restaurant probably more out of habit than actually wanting to go there. Once he realized where he was, he figured he'd sleep there that night. He walked around to the alley to go in the back when he heard rustling near the trashcan. He caught a whiff of cherry blossoms and he started to growl. The sound caught the attention of the grey wolf digging through the trash.
Kyo didn't hesitate to charge in to attack and Shinya whimpered as he dropped his ears and his tail went between his legs. As Kyo approached closer, Shinya dropped and rolled onto his back. Kyo quick jumped on top of him baring his fangs and growling. Shinya whimpered out and gave Kyo's snout a quick lick. Kyo stopped growling and slowly pulled off to change back.
"What they hell are you doing?" He snapped and Shinya changed back as well.
"I uh…I was just…"
"Why aren't you fighting back?" Kyo growled.
"I don't want to fight you." Shinya whispered.
"Yeah? Well I've been ordered to kill you next time I saw you."
"Oh." Shinya said softly.
"'Oh?' Is that all you can say? I just told you I was going to kill you."
"Yeah, but I don't believe you." Shinya said standing up. He smiled softly. "I think… you're actually really kind beneath all that anger."
Kyo grabbed Shinya by the neck and slammed into the wall, growling at him. "How is this kind?"
Shinya brought his hands up to Kyo's own, and rubbed them. "You could have killed me at any moment so far and yet I'm still able to breath under your grasp."
Kyo sighed, letting the wolf go. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted—"
"To see me?" Kyo interrupted.
"Actually, I was hungry. I've been looking for food and I ended up here." Shinya said with a smile and he grabbed Kyo's hand. "And I wanted to see you."
Kyo nodded and pulled his hand out of Shinya's grip as he turned away. "Come on, I'm hungry too. I'll cook us something."