Eclipsed Instincts

The afternoon progressed like any other afternoon where I wasn't going to be flying halfway around the world the next day to rescue my dad or die trying. I'd spent a lot of time trying not to die over the past year, but in all those instances, we were defending what was ours, and I'd had the support of my pack, a very literal angelic warrior, and a dozen vampires from the most powerful coterie in southern Europe. This time, I was venturing into enemy territory based on intel provided by someone I barely knew who would be my only support, aside from whatever 'team' he'd put together. After the lunch rush, I wanted to keep things as normal as possible, so I told Claire I was going to take care of some month-end paperwork, and I locked myself in the office. I wanted to plow through as much administrative nonsense as possible to save Claire the headache when I was gone. When I finally finished and checked the time, it was almost time to open for happy hour. Shutting down the computer and filing all the papers away, I walked out of the office, hearing nothing but very familiar heartbeats and scenting familiar scents. Rounding the corner from the hall into the common room, I found my entire pack assembled, including Dara and baby Angelo. There was a strange comfort in seeing how they had gathered to greet me. Patrick and Claire stood side-by-side and hand-in-hand at the front of the group, where the alpha would normally stand. James had taken up his usual spot at my brother's right, as any alpha's second should. Interestingly, Jennifer had taken up a similar position at Claire's left flank. Those of the pack who had been sitting when I walked in stood up simultaneously with the eerie synchronicity that pack bond imparted. My brother looked at me. "Alpha," he addressed me, which was something he'd never done. I recalled James saying that Patrick was the only wolf who followed me out of love, not because I was really his alpha. “We cannot go to war with you, but we are here for you and with you. Our strength is your strength, our fury, yours. We cannot go to war with you, but need be, we will go to war for you, and our enemies will know blood and pain and fangs before the end,” my brother promised. My wolves howled their agreement and assent. The severity of Patrick's oath convinced me that if I died, my brother would lead our pack into battle, and they would carve a bloody path through Siberia to avenge me. “Your pack will be well cared for in your absence, Alpha,” Jennifer said. "Your place here is with us, and you will always have your place here," Claire assured. Bobby Valenteen made the mistake of walking in at that moment, and forty-seven sets of eyes focused on him. It was the first time I'd seen the man visibly shaken. The low growl coming from behind him forced him into the Hound as if he’d been physically pushed, and Creel’s wolf stalked in behind him. “Holy shit,” Bobby swore. I saw my brother's eyes narrow dangerously. If Patrick were going in my place, I'm certain I'd have looked at Bobby that way, too. "Look at me, Valenteen," my brother growled, sinking so much authority into his voice that Bobby almost got whiplash, turning his head towards my brother. The attention of every other wolf in the room focused on my brother, and notwithstanding my own strength of Will, my wolf and I had trouble not giving in to the compulsion. "If my sister does not survive your expedition, pray that you die alongside her because I will hunt you down and rend the flesh from your bones. I have your scent, and there is no place outside of Hell that I wouldn't find you," my brother said lowly. A perceptible shiver coursed through Bobby Valenteen. Bobby squeezed his eyes shut, shook his head, took a deep breath, and looked back at Patrick. “Understood,” he affirmed. Looking from Patrick to me and back to Patrick, the idiot smirked and said, “Maybe I’m bringing the wrong sibling.” My wolf and I growled, not because he was insulting our strength, since I was coming to realize that, in many ways, my brother was a stronger wolf, but because Bobby would joke about jeopardizing Patrick's life. Everyone heard my growl, and Bobby raised his hands in defeat. “I just came by to let you know we’re good to go. I have two tickets booked on a direct flight out of Seattle tomorrow evening,” he said, looking past my brother to me. “If you’d like, I’ll pick you up a bit before noon.” I nodded, and Bobby touched the brim of his baseball cap in my direction. Bobby backed slowly toward the door and then left. There was silence for a bit longer than most mundane people would be comfortable with until I broke it. “Idiot,” I said, shaking my head. And then my brother wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tight, while the rest of the pack laughed at my invective. The remainder of the night was less like the funeral procession I'd initially taken it to be and more like a graduation party. The pack dynamic had changed in a way I hadn't realized. We'd finally come together.