Parker

I've come to the decision that the pack lands are huge.

I'm surprised to find that life in the pack is like any other town. There are children running about everywhere and the parents don't seem to chastise them too much. I've seen quite a few wolf puppies running about and I'm sure that there are no pets here. They seem at home and there doesn't seem to be much fear of anything.

I realize that seeing how free the pack is here is refreshing.

After showing me around and giving me the rundown, Kohl seems distracted. I take time to enjoy the silence. I can't deny that I wish he'd speak. I haven't been as gracious as I should be but he makes it incredibly hard to be anything but sarcastic to him, much like his little outburst in front of his Father.

I can't be certain but he seems intense. I can understand his fight for dominance. He wants to be the next Alpha. I'm not well-versed in werewolf politics or lore but I am sure that he should be the Alpha by now. I can see the frustration in him.

I feel bad for him.

As we walk down the main street of the pack lands with Kohl, I decide I can't take the silence anymore. I decide that I need to speak with him and get to know him. I ask myself why I should care. I promised Jasar. I honestly can't understand my need to understand him but I do have this need to understand him.

It seems I have a general lack of understanding about actually understanding.

And now my head hurts.

"So, when does one become an Alpha...or how?" I ask, "Is there a fight to the death?"

Kohl smiles, "Like an old western? Not quite." He laughs.

"I mean, you're my age. You seem ready."

"How would you know?" Kohl asks causing me to look forward. I don't want to pry. He clears his throat before speaking again, "I didn't mean it like that. It's just that we don't know anything about each other."

"Hence the questions."

"A werewolf either has to step down, be challenged or die to relinquish his title." Kohl explains, "In most werewolf societies, the Alpha is challenged to a death match."

"And no one has?"

"Eight since I've been able to remember." Kohl says with a nod, "He's beat every single one of them."

"So, if you want to be the Alpha..."

"He can relinquish it to me or I can take it." Kohl explains. He sighs, "People love my Father. He's a great Alpha and it's a lot to live up to."

"So, you're a scaredy wolf?" I ask with a smirk.

Kohl stops walking and I turn to him. He's glaring at me now. I can tell I've overstepped but I feel like anger motivates him. Why I want to push him towards being an Alpha is beyond me. Kohl is a mystery to me and he creates more questions than answers.

"You have no clue what you're talking about."

"No?" I ask, "What I got from that is that you are afraid that you can't move out of his shadow. Well, suck it up. You can't move out of his shadows when you're actually still standing in them."

"You're way off base and out of line." He says as his voice dives in octaves.

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm hitting the nail on the head and you can't take it. Maybe you're right. Maybe you'll always be in his shadow."

"Do you always have to try and push my buttons?"

"Are you going to command me to stop?"

"If I thought it would work!" He yells.

The two of us stare at each other. It's an eternity under his gaze. I almost forget we're in the middle of Main Street. I look around to see that people are staring at us. Kohl notices as well and orders the citizens to continue what they're doing. They don't hesitate to continue their day.

"I'm kind of sorry."

"We should finish." He nods as he moves ahead of me.

"Kohl," I say as I grab his hand. A shock causes me to jump and recoil my hand. I stare at him, trying to understand what exactly is going on. I can feel something from him through touch. I shake my head at him, "I'm sorry. This is all...a lot. Yesterday, werewolves didn't exist and I was working at a normal job. Not being attacked and ordered around by werewolves."

"It's hard for you. I can't imagine but I didn't bring you here to order you around. I want to protect you."

"First rule about me is that I don't need protection."

"You don't know you do."

"That! Stop doing that." I argue, "I'm trying to be—I'm trying to be a nice person."

"Whether you need it or not, I'm here to protect you."

"Thanks."

We are, again, staring at each other. For some reason, we both smile at each other. It feels right to be in this situation. It's irrational to feel any sort of joy looking at him but I do. We don't get along and we barely know each other. We should be less inclined to smile at each other. I notice his face darken as his nostrils flair. It's honestly terrifying.

I watch as a tanned-skin woman saunters over in the thinnest pair of red heels. The woman has long, straight strawberry blonde hair and emerald eyes. The woman is wearing a red tank top and dark jeans with a matching jacket. The woman has this primal sense about her.

She also reminds me of the devil.

She walks over and puts her hand behind Kohl's head, pulling him into a kiss. A specific part of me shrinks and I feel a very dark feeling in the pit of my stomach. He seems shocked. His eyes find mine and I look away. I look up when I hear a resounding pop. Kohl has a certain amount of embarrassment on his face. The woman smirks at me and I can confirm she's the devil.

"You must be the human. Just what I expected."

"Leah." Kohl warns.

"My name is Parker."

"Oh." Leah says casually. Her attention turns back to Kohl, "I was so worried when I heard you were gone."

"Why?" Kohl asks.

I chuckle at the question. Leah scowls at me and I feel sure that I'm not hiding my amusement well at all.

"I'm busy, Leah." Kohl says calmly, "Maybe we can meet later."

"Maybe?" Leah asks.

"You know what, I'm going to explore. You two carry on." I say as I back away slowly. Kohl shouts my name and I smile at him, "It's cool! I'll catch up with you later. Maybe."

The smile on Kohl's face is immediate as I turn and walk away from them. I walk down the streets alone. I'm not so absorbed with myself that I can ignore people staring at me. I feel like I'm in a fishbowl. After thirty minutes of walking, I decide that I should head back. I think about what it means.

I would go back and deal with all the crazy the world has become. It becomes apparent to me that I'll have to do something I would never do ordinarily. I am going to do something that any other African American in the world would question me for.

I turn away from the pack house and head into the forest.

Kohl

The kiss felt wrong.

First and foremost, Leah kissing me made me physically sick. I'm not entirely sure why. Leah is one of the most beautiful people in this entire pack. I've had the longest 'relationship' with her. I've had a few relationships in my time, not all women, but she's the one who kept coming back. It's not a secret.

I felt Leah's kiss flow through my body like poison. It felt a little bit how I expect death would feel. When I looked at him, it was all but certain that he felt it, too. He just tried to ignore it. He doesn't understand what it is.

I hardly understand what it is.

But Leah's interference isn't random nor is it just a coincidence. I'm sure the whole pack can feel him. He's my mate but he's also something more. I'm not sure if it's alright with me. Or him.

After I slip away from Leah, I head back to the Pack House. I enter the Pack house with the sudden realization that Parker's scent hasn't changed since this morning. He hasn't been here since then. The more I begin thinking about it, the more I realize his scent wasn't outside either.

I know something isn't right.

I stride into the common room to see Cassandra, Akari, Jasar and Eliza lounging on the couch. The four of them look up at me with concern. I'm uncomfortable now. I understand how uncomfortable I've been since I stepped into the house.

"What's going on?" Akari asks.

Akari is another Beta wolf who joined our Pack a couple of years ago. He found our pack two years ago after being a rogue his entire life. He was abandoned as a cub and survived mostly on his own until he met a Rogue named Viceres.

Akari is a pale, thin man with turquois eyes. His jovial nature is highlighted by his very unkempt haircut and goofy smile. He seems to constantly have a five o'clock shadow.

"Has anyone seen Parker?" I try to keep my voice calm to not alarm them or myself.

"No, not since you left this morning." Jasar says with a puzzled expression.

"Weren't you with him in town?" Eliza asks as she stands at attention, "How could you not know where he is?"

Pragmatic as ever.

Eliza is one of our best fighters. She has trained for years to become a great fighter after a tragic raid took her Mother. Her Father saw fit to train his Daughter to be fierce. Her dark eyes say as much. She once referred to herself as a warrior and she proved herself right.

"Did he...or did he not come back?!" I snarl.

"No." Cassandra blurts, "He's missing?"

"No. He was supposed to be back here." I snap. I groan to myself, "Of course he's not here! He's the most frustrating human I've ever met!"

"Hmmm, sounds familiar." Cassandra laughs.

I stare at her. I open my mouth to reply when I hear a ringing in my ears. My heartbeat intensifies and all my senses become clearer. I can hear him clearly. He's panicking. He's afraid. In seconds, I turn and transform into Grey. He's as frantic as I am as we lope out of the Pack House.

I know where he is.

Parker

I find myself lost in the woods.

I'm not sure how I got here but I'm standing in the middle of a forest. I'm standing in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by trees. I can feel the mist of the water against my face. I remember this place.

I know this place.

I feel at home in this clearing. I can see a small river a few yards ahead of me. I take a few steps forward but stop when I feel something crack under my foot. The tree limb must be frail.

I feel like I should know to stop but I don't. I feel an equally momentous pull towards the creek the river is feeding into. As I'm walking, I hear the crack of a twig and look down. There's no twig. I turn to see if someone is following me.

I'm surprised to see a large, naked man staring at me with curious expressions on his face. The Man is deceitfully beautiful. His body is pure muscle with very little fat. His hair is a lighter blonde color with hints of brown. His face is thin and his chin is slightly obscured by the amount of facial hair he possesses.

He exudes power.

"Lost?" He asks in a gruff manner.

I stare at him, trying to formulate a plan of escaping. I know if I have any chance of escaping him, I have to be more cunning than him. I can't outrun a werewolf in his element. I wouldn't even know where I'm going.

"No. Just taking in the scenery." I shift on my hip without taking my eyes off him, "You know. Nature. Absolutely love nature things. Like flies. Love them."

"You don't have to be afraid. Not entirely." The Man says as he takes a step towards me. I do the same backwards. He raises an eyebrow at me, "My, but you are fearful."

"Cautious. It's not often you see a totally naked man in the woods."

"Ah." He nods, "Every werewolf is naked at some time."

I clear my throat at his comment. He seems amused as a soft chuckle escapes his lips.

"Did you think I wouldn't smell them on you?" He asks.

"I didn't really expect to run into you so I don't expect much of this. "

"No, I guess you wouldn't." The Man smiles, "I am Viceres."

"Nice for you."

"And you're what they're hiding. What is it about you that is worth protecting, I wonder. His mate...but what else?"

"Mate? What's that mean? And you're not a part of their pack? Let me guess, you're an enemy." I say as I bite my lip, "Are you going to try and kill me?"

"Did you say try?" Viceres laughs, "You are fascinating."

"Thanks. Can I go now?" I ask cautiously, "I'm sure they're looking for me."

"Not just yet."

"What is it with you werewolves and this dominance thing? Asking was a formality."

"I'm not very formal." He says walking towards me. I take a step back but he doesn't stop this time, "Let me help you out."

I watch as something large and grey weaves through the trees. The grey streak bounces into the air and tackles the man to the ground. Viceres rolls into his wolf form and snarls dangerously at the Grey Wolf.

The Grey Wolf takes a stance in front of me, ears high and fangs bared. Viceres doesn't seem phased as he grins at us. I hear howls in the distance as Viceres turns and runs off into the forest. In a matter of seconds, a collection of wolves run towards us.

The Grey Wolf transforms into Kohl. I can't help but let my eyes wander his body. I know why I'm feeling so torn now. I'm attracted to Kohl. I'm confused because we haven't been cordial. I start to wonder if that's the reason I can't be cordial with him. He's not the only person who is scared.

"Are you alright?" Kohl asks. I nod to him. A deep and ferocious growl escapes his chest as his eyes glow, "Are you insane?! You came out here alone? You could have died! Viceres could have ripped you to pieces."

"But he didn't. And I didn't die."

"You are forbidden to come into the woods alone! Do you hear me?"

I stare at him.

"You are human living in a werewolf territory."

"Yeah, frail human. Got it."

"That's not what I meant." He says with annoyance, "Don't turn this around on me."

"I'm not a doll, or manly action figure, that you can put on a shelf. I get it. I'm important for some dumb reason but you can't keep me locked up at your place!"

"Would you like to test that theory?"

"That's it! I don't want to see you again. If you need anything, send Jasar. If your Father wants to see me, Jasar. I don't want to be anywhere near you!" I yell at him.

The wolves around me start growling. I feel the danger now. He looks hurt and I'm instantly sorry for going so far. I'm confused when a look of pain passes over his face. He takes a step back before completely falling backwards.

I race to him, sliding down beside him.

What in the Hell is going on?