Among The Wolves

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(Day of Kidnapping)

Ty'Bin laid in his bed, unable to sleep. Vae'Lee's words to him yesterday were set on replay. “Yes, knowing this has only made my burden heavier… I must go… I must go…”

Not only did Ty'Bin know that he worsened her stress but she had a disdain for him that seemed to grow the more he attempted to build a friendship. Thinking about it caused his breaths to come in short. He turned to the side, restless. The hollow thumping in his chest seemed to eat the natural melatonin and leave him with wide eyes at one, two, and  four in the morning. He felt that this separation from Vae'Lee was acting as a tomato hornworm, devouring and destroying more and more, the longer it progressed.

With a pained sigh he sat up, he listened closely and could hear Duo’Lae breathing calmly in her room. A glance at the clock indicated it was near five. No point in trying a useless cause. After getting dressed he walked from the central packhouse to the main one. He was on his way to his office but did not look forward to the solitude he was about to have. His heart hurt more than it ever did before.

A certain scent wafted to his area and he was forced to slow his stride. Then seeing Alpha M’est’r standing alone in front of the mimosa tree, he stopped altogether. As much as was possible, his heart hurt more.

Changing his direction he moved to accompany his sworn brother. Standing aside him he kept quiet and watched the itty leaves wave in sync with the morning air.

The sweet aroma of the bright pink flowers consumed the breeze. Ty'Bin closed his eyes and the fateful day was pushed to the forefront of his mind. Screaming filled ears, the feeling of helplessness haunted him like a preying lion, the enemy cackling like fire and death swooping in as a cold winter wind. The visions in his mind's eye cause his throat to swell up.

The rustling betrayed another person's whereabouts. Zeta Ado'Ron stepped next to Ty'Bin. The three stood there just looking at the tree. The shortness of breath returned and Ty'Bin fought to stand.

“What kind of perverted injustice is this?” He rasped.

“Ty'Bin.” Alpha M’est’r turned to him. His dark eyes went over him as he gripped his arm.

“You're unwell.” Zeta Ado'Ron commented.

“Of course, I'm unwell. No denying it. Your mate is killed under my watch and yet somehow I…” Ty'Bin closed his mouth. He did not need to bring this up. The greater injustice was done to Rim'Est. He had no petition for self-pity.

“We've had this discussion before. Her death was not your doing. No one blames you.”

“It's not that.” Ty'Bin bit out the words.

“Tell us what’s going on.” Ado'Ron put a hand on Ty'Bin's back.

Ty'Bin gave no indication that he would respond.

Alpha M’est’r stepped forward. “Ty'Bin, I have respected your privacy because you have done well to keep it from affecting the pack but at this point your health is diminishing. I can't lose you so as your Alpha, I command that you tell me what is going on.”

Ty'Bin nodded but still words failed him. He looked over to the Au Courant packhouse. While the minute hug was not enough to solidify many aspects of the matebond it was enough to ingrain in him the ability of sensing her nearness or her going away. While many considered it a blessed part of a union Ty'Bin thought of it as a curse. It was better when she was in Vakusi, she was too far for the bond to torment him as it did in the present. Always, he felt her nearness and yet could do nothing about it. Tried, he did,  to build rapport with her but each time she would shut it down. The sense of disgust was obvious from her.