Rejection

Chapter 9 - The strongest wolf

---Kyle's POV---

Blocking out the multiple voices around me, I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms, glaring at the forest ahead. The pack was mulling around, people leaving for their job or just coming back while my fate was being decided just behind me.

Tristan and Drake were having a fierce argument, their barked words interwoven with snarls and snaps while Tristan's Betas seemed to creep towards the edges of the room. Sparing the two alphas a fleeting glance, I huffed and looked back outside.

Their argument was pointless anyway. Both had agreed that I needed time to heal and that I apparently needed a pack to do so, but now they were butting heads as to which pack I should stay at.

Whoever spoke of staying in a pack? As soon as I was healed enough, I'd set out again. My past has proven to me that I wasn't fit for pack life. I wouldn't be a mindless mutt that would jump at the slightest bark of my Alpha.

I would make my own rules, follow my own needs and fuck everyone else who thought they were better than me. It was always easier to judge and mock something you haven't lived through.

My wrist ached with both real and phantom pains, the disfiguration mild yet clear for the eye to spot. It was clear from the bulging skin where the wrist should've been attached but I had managed through the years. After all, pain and discomfort were daily routine by now.

Reaching up, I pulled at the shirt collar once more. After spending so much time in wolf form where clothes were absurd, the sensation of the collar was giving me a choked feeling that I couldn't quite shake. Hell, even the pants were annoying around my hips, but the doctor had ordered that I stayed human for a few hours to give my wolf some rest.

A scoff escaped me before I could stop it, drawing some attention to myself before Drake and Tristan continued their argument. I grumbled and shifted my weight, wanting to shift back instantly. My movement caught Drake's attention, who shot me an understanding look while Tristan sighed deeply.

"Please Kyle, you need to stay human for more than just ten minutes." He sighed when I was already busy unbuttoning my pants and removing my shirt. I just growled in frustration before tearing the shirt off and ripping the pants down my legs.

"Don't bother arguing Tristan." Drake murmured before motioning to my wolf as I shifted and stretched. Stretching always bothered me, as old fractures protested in their unnatural position but I've grown used to it.

Kind of sad really... Being in so much pain all the time that eventually you just...accept it. I shook my head and padded past the Alpha pair, not even giving them a sideways glance. I wasn't part of their pack, hence I didn't need their permission to roam around.

Several pack wolves were roaming around as well, either coming back from border patrol or going out on a hunt. The snow creaked with each step I took on it and I stilled, cocking my head to observe the few pups playing in the snow.

One of the babysitters remained in human form, walking around and kicking up snow as she went. The pups eagerly chased after the clumps of snow that flew up, biting them in half before looking around for them on the floor with confused curiosity.

A sharp yip rang out when one of the pups tackled the other, flailing around in the snow with growls and barks that were anything but ferocious. Some were skirting around the nanny's legs, ears pricked forwards as the bolder pups ran around chasing one another, exploring before running back to the safety of the nannies whenever they were spooked.

Lost in thought, I didn't notice one of the pups creeping up to me before it bumped into my leg. I paused, looking down as the little grey pup sniffed at my fur before nudging my paw. A soft grumble slid past my teeth, warning the pup not to press too harshly against the twisted joint.