Silver and Cold |h.s.|

21. Aftermath

It would be important to note that the summer and winter packs have not always gotten along.

You see, there is an inherent bit of jealousy from one to the other.

For the summer pack, they feel they are cursed, human slaves to the cycles of the moon and once a month they are turned into beasts.

For the winter pack, they are the guardians of Mother Earth. Revered and honored, their human forms foreign and often feeling unwelcome amongst modern society.

The summer packs have long since hated the packs of winter because they are cherished amongst the gods while the summer packs are bound to a life of fear and uncertainty.

The winter packs always tried to bring balance and order amongst the two packs, to guide those of summer and shepherd them....they, however, found that to be condescending...

Thus, the two packs have never gotten along. Hated and loathed for all of eternity. Enemies even though they share the same common ancestors.

You were aware of these sentiments.
Knew them as well as the stars in the sky and the trees in the woods.
You knew and that was why your heart was beating out of your chest as Niall's icy blue eyes stared into your golden ones with pure loathing mixed with utter horror.

Harry shut the door with a soft click before turning and clapping Niall on the back, Niall's shoulder rolling forward from the impact. It seemed to bring him out of his stupor and that grin of his screwed up onto his face while his eyes still scanned you over, assessing.

"I hope the drive wasn't bad! I heard there was a fog coming off of the mountain, I was worried about you." Harry placed his hands on his hips, his eyebrows drawing together in concern for his friend and then they shifted over to you before gliding back over to the man who was looking uncomfortable and downright furious. Harry seemed to finally pick up on the tension that was cutting through you and Niall.

"Everything alright?" He asked confusedly, those green eyes scanning and questioning before you decided to take control of the situation.

"Just perfect babe! Maybe go grab our coats so we can get going?" Your voice was far too chipper and you watched Harry's eyebrow lift ever so slightly as he mouthed "babe?" before nodding unsurely and heading towards his bedroom.

The air shifted once again and your senses went into hyperdrive as Niall stepped into your space once again.

"What the actual fuck." He muttered, his voice dropping low and dripping with disdain. You leaned away from him, placing your feet slightly wider than your hips in a defensive stance....just in case things turned ugly.

Because....things would indeed turn ugly.

Niall was absolutely fuming. You could scent the fury pouring off of him in waves. There was also fear there and you knew it couldn't be fear of you....it had to be something else. You stared up into the churning blues of his eyes and did your best to appear friendly.

"Niall, I didn't know-"

"You didn't know what, exactly? That I was a wolf? I thought all you filthy mongrels could sniff us out a mile away. That is how my kind are found and then dealt with after-all...isn't it?" Niall's breaths were ragged and edged with unabashed anger. You needed to settle him down, calm him before he did something he regretted. You glanced over his shoulder in the direction your human walked off to and then directed your attention back to the man before you.

"Niall....I don't mean you harm," a scoff and a roll of his eyes, "Harry rescued me from the pound...and then I saved him...it's a long story but I mean neither you nor him harm."Niall took a step back, sniffing the air and a redness flushed your cheeks as you realized what he was doing.