Wolfpack

The Beast

Warning: This chapter contains mature content.

The life in Noah's eyes was dimmed, as if he had been drained of his very soul. A shadow lurked behind his gaze that roamed to and fro, like a predator stalking prey.

Whenever Emme drew near, he whispered away, like water passing through her fingers. Her concern for him grew daily, but he was never around long enough for her to reach out to him, to heal him. He lingered in the home just long enough that she wouldn't experience the effects of the moon's curse, but not long enough to be really present. Emme was lonely.

On the  night of the largest moon, her brother called, marking seven months since she had left her pack to join Noah.

"How are you, Em?" he asked easily. His voice brought back memories of home, memories of feeling like she belonged.

"I'm good," she lied. "Except for the cold. It's really cold up here."

Cole's laugh washed over her. He sounded content.

"You sound like you've been doing great," Emme commented. "Could it be you've found your moonmate?" She squealed like a teenager, excited at the prospect that her brother's happiness would be complete.

"No, nothing like that," Cole laughed. She could almost see him shaking his head. "Mom misses you like crazy. She keeps wondering when you'll visit. I told her your luna hasn't gone into heat, so she makes offerings to the moon every night."

"Sounds like something she'd do," Emme snorted.

"Yeah. At least it gives her something to do. How's Noah?"

At this, Emme hesitated. Only a fraction of a second - but Cole noticed.

"Don't even think about lying to me," he warned.

"He's..." Emme faltered. "He's adjusting," she offered, hoping in vain that Cole wouldn't push the subject.

"Adjusting to what?" Cole scoffed, unsympathetic. "You're the one who had to change your whole life. He's not doing the whole, 'you're mine, you belong to me' caveman thing is he?"

At this, Emme had to laugh. In some of his ways, Noah was as ancient as the cavemen.

"You're stupid," she chided. "He's just adjusting. The pack's expecting some sort of epic winter, so they've got a lot to worry about."

"Ems," Cole said in a warning voice, sounding very much like their father. "Something's bothering you. You'd better tell me what, otherwise I'm coming up there with Joey and we're going to bring you home kicking and screaming."

Emme scowled. That sort of thing wasn't above her brother. She could see him in her mind's eye, marching up to her door and directing Joey to throw her over his shoulder and bring her home. Joey wouldn't protest either, the brute.

"It's nothing," she insisted. "It's just that Cryo has him doing some super secret thing at night and it's taking its toll on him, that's all."

"Cryo?" Cole asked. She could hear him shuffling papers on his end. "Woah, wait, Cryo is your pack alpha?"

"Yeah," Emme nodded. Cole was silent for a moment.

"Any idea what this super secret thing is?" he asked in a quiet voice.

Emme hesitated for a long time. She had seen Noah's actions when she had melded with his mind, but she didn't want to betray her mate. She didn't want Cole to get the wrong idea. Noah wasn't a cruel man. He was a man who fulfilled his duty to his pack. That meant obeying Cryo.