Being a wolf meant a great many things to both members of the pack and the world at large. Most humans, and other various creatures on the magical side of things, viewed wolves as something more akin to an animal. Saw their need to follow instinct and tradition as something lesser. Most of those same people could not pick a wolf out of a lineup. At least, unless they were an Alpha. Vilkas had been born an Alpha and there was not a single person who could mistake him for anything else.
Part of it was the telltale ears, pointed at the ends like some faerie tale creature. That was the mark of a wolf born to be an Alpha. Even with them hidden away, it practically dripped off of him. Wolves felt an instinctive need to follow his orders, were almost under his control if they were a part of his pack. Humans, through some dormant part of their brain, felt it as well. Men looked to him in fear and jealousy without understanding it, women practically drooled over him. Neither really mattered to him. It was never intentional, making them hover and wait for him to speak, simply having such an impossible presence. Only the pack drew the full weight of his attention.
And tonight was an important night for the pack. Kasia was turning eighteen, making the full leap into wolf. A new pack member was always a cause for celebration, but this was his little sister. He had been there for her scraped knees and after she split her knuckles knocking out a human girl who called her a mutt. He knew she could be a little bit of a cry baby on occasion, but she had not balked at the tattoo, even if she wanted company. Even if she had asked both himself and Farkas to attend, knowing they would be either way. So, the pair of them waited outside the tattoo shop, pretending that they couldn't hear the women giggling about them, scent the filthy thoughts in their minds.
Well, Vilkas was blatantly ignoring them. Farkas gave them the occasional smile when their eyes met. It was as much as the wolf gave to most anyone. Oh, he had been with plenty of women. Women who saw the sweet Beta that he presented and were lured in. Most never called back. The ones who did, who liked what they found, crawled after him until he made it clear it had been a game. He had met Vilkas when they were kids, barely past their first week of school when the connection locked in. Vilkas was the Alpha and Farkas was his Beta, his second in command, his destined brother. The rest of the pack filled in as it would, but the two of them were meant to meet. At least, that was the wolf opinion.
It had been a simple three years, the hierarchy of power secondary to two boys who had a best friend for life. Until Kasia had been born. There had been no automatic click, no destined claiming. Just a knowledge that she would be in their pack too, that they would always be together. So, Kasia had grown up with two big brothers. Vilkas, always in charge and watching over them, Farkas smoothing things over when things got too heated. Right up until Vilkas, then Farkas, turned eighteen. After the Alpha had finished his first shift, wolves started to appear all over their lives. Wolves that were just born... normal. They needed a pack, and eventually, they found the two of them. Things had gotten complicated, people had come or gone. Vilkas went straight out into the work force, been scouted to manage projects for companies. He became part book keeper and part police force, with people buckling to his natural authority. Farkas had gone to school, studied business because his Alpha had already been dragged in. Now, they worked as contractors, showed up to fix things when rich people fucked up. It was a fun day job.
Both of them went stiff for just a moment when the scent hit them. Kasia was walking across the street and they were both thinking the same thing. Finally. She would be a wolf, a part of the pack. So, Vilkas threw his arms around her and spun her in little circle. When she squealed, he let her go, matching the smile she and Farkas wore. Iris had been in the pack for a few years now. Too late to do their tattoos, but long enough to do the rest of the pack, including her own.
Vilkas had gotten his directly on the column of his throat, just under the jaw. When he had picked it, he knew what they would all be. That they were all pack. So, he had chosen the symbol well. Three trees under a crescent moon. Now, it sat on the side of Farkas' neck and before the night was over it would he on Kasia's. The story complete. Granted, they had both gone with dark black ink, clear and visible, a sign of status for them. When she gripped him even harder, Vilkas smirked.
"Baby, if you grip my hand any harder, I might lose it."
Kasia's sense of fashion was usually something they could both tolerate. She showed skin, but Vilkas was not that kind of Alpha, or that kind of brother. And Farkas, was oblivious. At least, that was what Kasia thought. Both felt the breath catch in their throats. Watched that thin fabric slide of her shoulders. Even while Kasia settled into her chair, Iris was smirking. Oh, they all knew she had a thing for Farkas. They also all knew that Farkas had been going insane for the last year waiting for today. That Vilkas had been doing his best to keep Kasia from loosing heart and giving up. So, when that needle touched skin, Vilkas kept her hand, stroked his thumb over it. Farkas moved behind her, stroking her hair to hide the blatant hunger on his face. He had heard that noise well.
"Doesn't seem like you hate it. Can't say I blame you. Today is a big day."
Farkas ran a hand down her hair, stroking the braid. He leaned in close to her ear, and purred with a tone that had never come from his mouth before, not around Kasia. It was dark and full of everything he had held back.
"Welcome to the pack, pup. I've been waiting a long time. Stay still..."
And with that, Farkas stroked his fingers along the side of her neck, letting Iris work on the other side. Gentle affection. Everything that had been held back, kept inside because Vilkas had threatened to skin him if he touched his sister before she was one of them, ready to be with them. So, her brother smiled, sweetness so uncommon in the Alpha's expression.
"Absolutely... welcome to my pack, baby wolf."
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