Bonded

Chapter 4: Kin

Having a separate kin was dangerous. Why? Because the bond between packs was weakened when there was a Kinship connection. The leaders of the packs usually questioned their members before adding them to the pack to insure the link between them and the pack would be strong. However, because I had my own kinship they were more important than the pack.

Looking over at Wren and Icarus I'd sent them a blank look. Confusion flashed over their faces before realization set in. They knew the dangers as well; and when one part of the kin dies the others feel their pain tenfold. Both of them took on blank looks to insure that we gave nothing away about our kinship connection.

'Lie about our connection.' Icarus's voice rang into our minds.

'But what if they question our marks?' Wren had asked wearily.

Answering immediately I said 'If they question our marks, eyes, or anything else tell them that the marks are because we are best friends who share pleasant and bad memories. Our eyes are from the awakening when our animals changed some features about us to match them. And for anything else make something up that doesn't mention our kinship.'

All the students were in a line now. The ceremony was taking place in the outdoor football stadium behind the school. The five pack leaders were standing in order of pack name. The Alphas, Lunas, Betas, and Thirds were all there while the Betas and Thirds mates were back at the pack house leading the pack. Mates had the same scent, that is how they find each other, once the pair completes the mate bond the scent gets stronger. The Alphas and Luna's that were paired smelled strongly of their pairs scent.

However, with kinship connections, the members do find their mates but the scents of the members always linger on the others. The reason this happens is to establish dominance within the connection. The process is much like one in the pack systems. The scents of the other members drive the mates insane before the pair can complete the bond; this normally results in jealous mates and loneliness from being separated or apart from the kin for to long.

'What if we are in different packs?' Icarus said within the link.

Hurt stabbed at my heart at the thought of not being in the same pack. If we weren't in the same pack then I don't know what would happen. I've never heard much about kinship connections only that they are forbidden.

'We will be in the same pack.' I said with determination 'We are kin. Which means that all of us will be in the same pack to prevent harm onto the connection.'

Wren nodded ahead signaling that the line had gotten significantly shorter. The leaders were going through the members faster than I'd expected, although thinking about it now it makes sense since they have performed multiple awakening ceremonies.

All the leaders looked intrigued by this years pack members selection. From what I could tell most of this years teens were going to the Strong Bears pack. While the Fierce Wolves had the least. So far males made up the majority of the new pack members.

Wren noticed were I was staring at and mind linked 'What are they sexist? If they are then Fuck that.'

I quirked up slightly and amusingly said 'Nice vocabulary.'

The end of the line was coming up fast. First up was Icarus, he took off his shirt and pants (thankfully we could leave our underwear/undergarments on). He turned slowly to let the pack leaders assess his markings; his composer was very good compared to what I would have done years ago.

The warrior pack leader (Fierce wolves) claimed him. The leader seemed interested in his markings but asked him nothing about them and allowed him to step beside the rest of the fellow newbies.

Second up was Wren. Wren was a shy, sweet, underspoken girl however when she stepped up to present her marks a cold glint was met in her eyes. She took of her dress and turned in a similar fashion to Icarus's. Once she'd stopped turning the pack leaders stared at her, some in wonder while others in pure fright. Whatever her face looked like they were terrified of her, except the Warriors leader.

He spoke up once more in a gruff voice "She's with me."

Slowly he dragged his eyes up and down her figure, the action one of a father's doing. Once he had gotten a good reading on her markings his head tilted slightly. "Why do you and the boy share similar markings?" The leader had questioned.

Icarus's face remained blank. Wren's still held the same fierceness as she gazed fleetingly at the leader. "Because we are best friends, meaning that we share some of the same memories and experiences." Wren said with her voice having an edge to it.

The leader seemed impressed with Wren's ability to not break under his power. So he nodded his head and allowed her to stand alongside the newbies. Having girls within the warriors pack wasn't unheard of but I was a rare occurrence. What would they think about two girls being in the warriors pack in the same year? The leaders might have a heart attack (In my opinion they didn't like change, even though they looked young the five leaders were a bunch of old farts).

Taking a deep breath I stepped into the middle. Last like always, well except for the night of the awakening. Now it's my turn.

Nothing good would come from this, I thought bitterly. My gut dropped.

'Here goes nothing.'