The Brotherhood

20

There was a pounding in Finley's head that could only be explained by the five ales that her brothers had made her drink the night before in the village. Her pack had been on patrol for the past five nights. Finley was ready for this monster to be found and killed. If she had to spend another sleepless night in the village she was going to murder someone. 

Xander elbowed her viciously in her side. Finley jolted upright, trying not to look as exhausted as she felt. It did nothing to stop her yawn. Xander elbowed her again. Finley scowled up at him before righting herself in their lines. 

The Supreme was up on the stage, droning on and on about protocol on the patrols. Finley didn't listen to most of what he was saying. She was distracted thinking about the fact that she'd seen Kane sneaking off with Natalie the night before. He'd left the pack with some of the townspeople and wandered off. Likely to make himself comfortable in Natalie's warm embrace.

Finley tried not to think about it as she stared at the morning light glinting in Kane's dark hair. She really needed to wake the fuck up. Instead, she just continued to drift off where she was standing. Xander's elbow found her side again. This time, she didn't glare at him. 

"I want to make it abundantly clear to everyone that absolutely no one is allowed to kill the monster," The Supreme announced on the stage, "If you find the monster you are allowed to engage with it. Just do not kill the monster. We still need to understand its motivations with the village. I urge you not to kill the creature." 

Someone from the crowd shouted, "But that monster killed one of our own!" 

Finley watched as Abel's face twitched on the stage. He cleared his throat before continuing speaking. However, he'd already lost the crowd. The brothers were angry, that much was clear. Finley resisted the urge to laugh maniacally. She was almost certain that the order had come from the Mother. 

"I know that you all feel strongly that this creature deserves to die, however at this time I am ordering you to stand down. If anyone kills the monster they will have to face consequences from the Mother," Abel informed them all. Complete and utter silence fell over the courtyard. Abel didn't wait for more people to start shouting out. He turned and left the platform. Kane glared out at the crowd before turning to follow after him. 

Sloan turned toward the rest of the pack as everyone started to make their way to the dining hall. His eyes darted back and forth as he asked, "Do you think this is why we've been on patrol the last five nights? Because the Supreme knew we wouldn't kill the damn thing?" 

"I don't see why that would matter," Xander said matter-of-factly, "I mean, it's not like we knew not to kill it." 

"Yeah, but Kane probably knew that and Kane wouldn't let us do something without his say so," Sloan argued, gesticulating with his hands. 

"Well with Fin here in our pack I'm not quite sure that's a safe bet to make," Raynar said, coming up behind them. 

"Hey!" Finley objected. "I haven't done anything in like forever!" 

Raynar raised an eyebrow at her, "I feel like that proves my point." 

Finley stuck her tongue out at him. "If there's anyone to watch, it's obviously Sloan. He's been out for this monster's blood since we were first placed on patrol." 

Sloan's face turned white and he shook his head slowly, "That was before I found out that killing the thing would get in me in trouble with the Mother. I don't mess with the Mother. Only idiots mess with the Mother." 

"Hm," Xander hummed, "seems like you would be the perfect person to do that then." 

Xander and Sloan continued bickering back and forth. Finley marched ahead. She wanted food and she wasn't willing to wait around for the two of them to stop being stupid. Raynar came up to her side. Finley barely noticed him until he grabbed her by her elbow, forcing her to stop. 

Finley whirled around to face him, looking pointedly down at his hand on her arm. "Hello? Grab women much?" 

Raynar glared at her, "This is serious, Fin. Don't go messing around when we're on patrol. This order came from the Mother. I don't need to remind you that she doesn't need reasons to go after us."

"I'm well aware of that fact," Finley ground out, "I'm not going to do anything stupid." 

Ray gave a disbelieving look. "You say that now, but I bet you as soon as we get out to the village, you're going to make a stupid mistake because you weren't thinking. We can't risk that. If one of us slips up, it's Kane that'll pay the price." 

"Why aren't you giving this little speech to everyone then?" Finley demanded. 

"Because you're the only one who saw the cost," Ray said, his eyes growing dark with fury. 

Finley felt herself stiffen with the same unbridled rage. The Mother had already taken something from Kane, he didn't deserve any more punishment. 

Finley growled at Ray, "I'm well aware of the cost. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go eat breakfast because I'm tired and hungry." 

Finley didn't say another word to Ray before turning on her heel and marching toward the dining hall. She could feel Ray gaping at her as she walked on. She didn't care, she just kept walking. Let Ray gape at her if he wanted to. She had nothing to say to him. 

She went into the dining hall to find her pack all already seated around their typical table. Finley threw herself onto the bench seat next to Xander. He looked up at her, saw the expression on her face, and immediately shut his mouth. Xander knew better than to speak with her while she's in this kind of mood. She loved him for it. Sloan on the other hand, she hated because he refused to shut up. 

"Aw, did you have a lover's quarrel with Raynar?" Sloan teased her. 

"Shut up Sloan," Finley snapped back. 

Sloan smirked at her. Finley knew that he was about to give her hell. Then, surprisingly, the smirk faded from his face. Finley turned around to find Kane standing behind her. She hated herself for shrinking away from his hulking form. 

Kane didn't need to clear his throat to draw their attention toward him. His domineering presence was enough. He looked each of them in the eye, except for Finley. Then he said, "We're on patrol tonight. Everyone rest up while you can. It's going to be a late night." 

That was all he said before he turned and walked away. Finley watched as the entire pack deflated. Six nights straight of being on patrols was slowly sucking the life out of them. She wasn't sure how much longer they would last. From the looks of it, her pack wasn't quite sure about it either. 

The day faded out slowly, every second of it passing like pulling teeth. Finley only wanted to fall into her bed and sleep for the rest of the day. Sadly, that wasn't going to happen. Instead, she had to spend the rest of her night staring out at the dark woods waiting for a monster she couldn't kill to show up. She'd drawn the short straw, meaning that she was patrolling the woods tonight while her brothers would be getting drunk and feeling up the girls from the village. Finley loathed each and every one of them for it. 

Titan bumped into her side lovingly, knowing that she needed extra reassurance. She reached down and stroked her hands over his thick hide. She wished with all her heart that she didn't have to go on patrol tonight. Finley had heard what happened to Daniel's bonded. She didn't want that to happen to Titan too. She would die inside if something happened to him. 

Titan bumped her leg again. She looked down to see him looking up at her with wide yellow eyes. She could read the words in his eyes. He was telling her that he could do this, that she shouldn't worry about him. Finley decided that maybe he was right. Maybe they could both walk out of this unscathed. Or maybe she was kidding herself.