29. Pack

TWENTY-NINE

PACK

Moonlight flooded the sky as they strode across the shifter park that evening. Four wolves—two sandy, two the colour of night—stalked into the the forest. The cool, spring air brought with it a bright pop of bluebells across the woodland brush, and Oliver inhaled the breeze as he and Matteus leapt through the forest like two young pups. The alphas kept a careful distance, scouting for threats as they wound themselves possessively across the emerging pack bond.

Oliver nudged his brothers flank. “Be careful,” he said, pressing himself against Matteus’ side.

“I know,” Matteus huffed as he led the way through the undergrowth. “Pup prefers it. Less restless.”

In response, Oliver dropped his head and dipped his muzzle under Matteus’ belly. He licked the soft, white fur behind his ribs as they walked, which must have tickled as it made his brother scamper away. Oliver padded after him, the sound of their footfall uncoiling something playful and puppy-like across the bond.

Soon they were nipping and pawing at one another all the way to the top of the bank, crashing through the tree line like a pair of frolicsome litter-mates. They broke into a sprint across the brow of the hill and Oliver felt unburdened for the first time in weeks, despite the newly emerging aches and pains across his body.

Damp undergrowth turned to wet grass under their paws, as they kicked up a spray of evening dew. They thundered towards the perimeter of the shifter park, until the alphas flew past them and came to a skidding halt at the edge of the cliff. Their breath misted the air as they peered down at the sheer drop to the town below, the network of streetlights making it look almost magical.

“Peaceful,” Oliver said, nuzzling into Lucas’ side.

The alpha huffed and licked his ears. “With you.”

Oliver could feel Matteus and Julian’s eyes on them, watching the exchange as they nestled into one another. His brother sat with his paws pressed together, eyes bright and wide in the moonlight. Oliver padded over to him, touched the underside of his muzzle to the top of his head and licked his face. Julian dropped his massive head, allowing Oliver to do the same.

Then they turned to Lucas. “Come,” Julian said across the bond, though it would have been barely a whisper to the other alpha. But Lucas heard it, and after a breath he dropped his head and padded towards them.

Oliver was the first to move, stepping forward and resting his muzzle across Lucas’ skull. He was followed by Matteus, who enthusiastically sniffed and licked all over Lucas’ face. The ministration was followed by Lucas giving him one, swift lick to the ear before Julian stepped forward.

The alphas stared at one another for a long, tense moment, Lucas’ hazel eyes into Julian’s deep umber. They kept their heads low as they circled one another, sniffing the ground where the other walked. Oliver could feel the bond growing between them, and the tentative first awakening of trust.

“Mate…mine…yours…trust,” Oliver whispered across the bond, pouring all his love and affection into the two alphas. Matteus did the same, until they finally stopped circling.

Julian lurched forward, Lucas mirroring his movements as they surged together and bit down on one another’s scruffs. There was a moment of tension, and the two seemed to wrestle for dominance. But the latent alpha pride quickly faded, giving way to something new.

Julian huffed as he released his scruff, Lucas doing the same. As they stared at one another once again, Julian finally said, “Brother… Pack.”

The bond crackled to life as they howled at the moon, and where once they were separate, now all four were united by the two sandy wolves.

“Tell them,” Lucas said, nudging Oliver’s flank.

His words, combined with Oliver’s sudden tremor of nervous energy had his pack-mates closing around him in an instant.

“Tell us what?” Matteus said, nipping Oliver’s ear. Julian only sniffed his chest and stayed quiet.

Oliver padded from paw to paw, dropping to his belly and covering his face with his front leg. Lucas lay down next to him, licking his ears and muzzle.

Eventually, Oliver looked up at his brother. “Pups. Yours… And mine.”

Matteus remained quiet and unmoving, not quite grasping the meaning behind his words. Lucas pressed his nose into Oliver’s belly, licking away the dew that dampened his fur. Then, a bolt of joy cracked across the bond as Matteus leapt into the air and landed on Oliver’s back. He nipped and tugged at his scruff as pure happiness lanced though Oliver’s body and lit up all the dark places within him.

“Brother… Mine… Brother… Pups!” Matteus said, his excitement making the words come out in a garble. Julian sprang forward, and soon all four of them were yapping, and pawing with reckless abandon.