Forbidden

|7|

Mason

I stood on all fours, in a crouching aggressive stance, against my own brother. Marx's silver gleamed eyes were so full of betrayal and hurt that it almost broke my resolve. Yet I shook the guilt from my mind, couldn't back out now. Eden's surprised and fearful tone of question reached down into the very core of my soul. What did the little fool mean what was I doing? Did she honestly think I would let her become a mindless, broken robot that only followed Marx's orders?

"I'm protecting you Eden, as I always done. Don't look so scared, it's okay E." I forced reassurance and calm that I didn't feel into my voice trying to ease the stress so evident in her mocha irises. She walked a little closer to me and my eyes narrowed as I noticed the slight limp in her gait. A low endearing whine rumbled through her and she rubbed her face in my fur, a sort of petting of comfort.

Then she turned to Marx and laid down on all fours, tucking her tail away, in a submissive form.

"I apologize for him Marx, he isn't thinking this through. I am the only traitor, don't let Mason's clouded judgement impair your view of him." Had she lost HER damn mind?! I nudged her with the front of my muzzle, signaling for her to get the hell up. Marx's head cocked to the side in a perplexing manner and he began to advance on us, until I snapped.

"No! E, you have no idea what he plans to do with you! What the Elders might allow, what your father might allow!" Desperation seeped into my tone unknowingly and Eden looked up at me, confusion buried deep on her.

"What do you mean Mason? What's going on?" Just as I was about to speak, multiple snarls to the side of us put a dread in my heart as I turned my head to see a good two dozen wolves now staring me and Eden down, rage and promised aggression pouring from each pair of glowing eyes as they were prepared to fight for their Alpha.

"Ah hell." I muttered and the sound of phasing cast my eyes behind me and I saw a wolf as dark as a summers midnight, now ambling towards Edens side. I felt my big brother protective side appear despite the numerous muzzles now pulled back as saliva slid from their canines and growled.

"Who the hell are you?" I questioned the dark wolf and he barely spared me a glance. Instead Eden spoke.

"This is Laurent, he's um, well he's-"

"Her mate." The dark one prattled, his eyesight still focused on the small colony of wolves. Understanding dawned on me as I understood why Eden attacked Marx.

"Well Laurent, I'm Edens brother. What are your intentions with my E?" I inquired and heard Edens sigh through the telepathy. She gazed at me with exasperation, her eyes shifting back and forth.

"Mason, do you really think now is the time to be worrying about his intentions? There's a pack of wolves who look like they are two seconds away from ripping us to shreds." Conceding to Edens point, I gave her a, this is not over, look and turned my attention back to my brother, ignoring the deep laugh coming from Laurent.

"Y'all done? I'm not really inclined to continue to listen to the drivel of a duo of renegades." Marx spoke in a reproachful manner, now in a stooped position, ambling forward as the pack spread out to surround us. If I could smack my teeth in this form, I would. Laurent nuzzled up against Eden, comforting her as he seemed to sense the growing anxiety from her.

"Eden, do you not remember my order? I told you, you were banned from seeing him!" Marx screeched and I watched as Eden muzzle twisted oddly and she dropped all the way down on her underbelly, her body forming up in a painful arch and a shattering howl tore through the telepathic mind links. I let a sad wail loose, laying down on my underbelly and brushing my head against Eden.

Laurent rushed forward, his front and hind legs pushing off in a hostile sprint, right for Marx. When Laurent's huge form collided with that of the slightly smaller form of Marx, the sound was thunderous. I gawked at the two figures rolling around, canines biting and snapping at each other's throats with reckless abandon. The pack gave them space as the two Alphas fought, Laurent obviously gaining the upper hand. I saw to Edens needs, her eyes were glossed over, the pupils slightly dilated.

"It's alright E, everything's gonna be fine. Just breathe." I tenderly said and she relaxed a bit. Laurent now had Marxs throat enclosed in his jaws and I almost felt this need to go help Marx but decided to ignore it. When a wanting to prove himself pup jumped on Laurent's back, biting down on his spine, I charged over knowing that it would be just the thing to get the other wolves involved. Sure enough, as soon as I rushed right into the pup, the rest of the pack pounced, claws and teeth attacking from all directions. Laurent and I fought as hard as we could but were soon overpowered.

Suddenly, two wolves were pulled off me while another three flew from Laurent's body. One by one, wolves were being tossed and I could see them fighting another pack.

"Brother?!" A French tone ripped through the telepathy connect and Laurent got up, his eyes searching.

"I'm here mon frere." Laurent responded to the desperate cry and soon a wild the color of the moon appeared, knocking Laurent on his back.

"You stupid fool! Why'd you run off on your own!" The moon wolf growled and Laurent's ears flattened against his skull.

"Sorry Larry, I couldn't stay away from her." A exasperated sigh and a annoyed glance were thrown at Laurent by the one called Larry and I laughed, they reminded me of Marx and I younger days. Larry swirled to face me, his muzzle pulled back and his canines gleaming.

"Who the hell are you?!" He advanced and Laurent got up, blocking his way.
"Non Larry, Mason here helped me. No harm will come to him damnit!" A dominant tone embedded in Laurent's voice and Larry growled, utterly pissed off.

"Don't get all Alpha with me Laurent! Remember that I am Alpha too! You cannot boss me around!" The childish lilt to his voice and the fact that he backed down anyways told me otherwise though. Scanning the area, I saw each wolf staring down the eyes of another and realized that there were two packs, Laurents and Larrys overshadowing that of Marxs.

When Marx came to the same realization, he stared me and Laurent down.

"I see how it is brother. As of today, you and Eden are no longer welcome here. I hereby dub you deflectors, now get out.

"The Alphas bond released from me and judging from the fact that Eden no longer squirmed in pain on the floor, I guessed it released from her as well. Rising up on all fours, albeit wobbly, Eden made her way over to me, concern in her eyes.

"I'm aight E, check on your um, mate I suppose." A sarcastic cock of her head indicated she would deal with me later, so she went on her way, checking on Laurent's injuries. Tending to his wounds like a worried mother, Laurent purred like a petted kitten.

"Shall we get going then?" Larry asked, he was on edge and his voice was strained with anger. What was his problem?

"Let's go." Laurent spoke this time and I felt myself compelled to follow. And so his pack headed out of the Raiven village, with me and Eden in tow. I glanced back to see Erick watching us with a determined and peculiar look.