Sure, Let’s Talk
Anger had been his anchor for so long that the lines between controlling it and it controlling him had long been blurred. Seething, he watched as his uncle twisted around and smirked up at him from the floor.
“You don’t think I actually want to be the alpha again, do you?”
Peter’s voice slid over him like rain during a thunderstorm. The thunder of his rage, drowned out the rest of what the man said. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered. He wasn’t sure if he cared anymore even if his uncle did want to be an alpha. Would his death be so bad? It was only that he had no desire to let the man who had killed Laura, his sister, win with his death, that pushed him to continue to pound into the man before him.
His fists were bloody and broken when he pulled back, body shaking. Peter was still talking. Did the man ever shut up? No, no, he didn’t. Memories of long nights and stories in the den, filled with his uncle’s soothing voice. Shaking, his head, he felt the whine build up as he stumbled backwards into the wall.
“Stop. Stop talking.” Something in his scent must have changed because Peter obeyed the command. Closing his eyes, he covered his face with his hands. When did this all go so wrong? Oh yes, the moment he had let a hunter into their den and secrets.
“Derek…” Peter’s voice had changed, more tentative now, steps more cautious as they approached.
“Why? Why did you--Laura…?”
“Oh pup...I didn’t lie. I wasn’t lying.”
“That’s your mother talking.” The words had a bite again, hurt lacing into the defensive sarcasm. It made him look at the man in front of him, really look. Nostrils flaring, he took in the scent, posture and signals coming off the wolf he’d considered closer than anyone at one time in his life. There were so many things that he wanted to say.
“I didn’t want to leave you.”
The face twisted, softened, became something broken. The steps stopped, a hand reached out to settle on his cheek. The whine escaped his throat. A silent click and a bond flared, bright and whole between them. Gasping, he fell forward into his uncle’s waiting arms.
“Oh pup, I know, I have you. I didn’t mean to leave you either. Derek...I’m here now, and I’ll never leave again.”