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19

"Wait?" Kyle asked rubbing his forehead as he shifted back to his human form, "Did you just say she's your sister?" as he pointed down to Bernie.

Aedan took a deep breath. About three quarters of that was due to dealing with Kyle's alpha power and the rest was his displeasure at his sister. His face wore a strong frown as he looked down at her, "Bernie get up," he said gruffly.

He looked back up towards Kyle again as his sister got to her feet, "I am truly sorry First Alpha," saying it again for the second time. "I was coming outside to get you and your mate when I saw the altercation begin. Bernie has always been a bit of a hothead."

Gordon leaned over, "You think your man needs some clothing?" I was so engrossed in the conversation between Kyle and Aedan that I had forgotten to put some clothing on Kyle. Blake leaned down and whispered in my ear, "I'm just betting you'd like to keep him that way 24/7." I looked over at Kyle and then up to Blake with a nod and a leer.

"Perv!" he said with a chuckle.

"You're just as bad," I retorted, then looked over to Gordon almost drooling over Kyle. I elbowed him, "Both of you." Gordon drew back, smiling sheepishly.

"I promise," I murmured, "We'll get some time for all three of us after Kyle and I have some private time." They nodded and slipped their arms over my shoulders. I snapped my fingers and Kyle's clothing reappeared. He noticed the magic take hold and fly from me before the clothing appeared as he turned his head to wink at me.

He turned his attention back to Aedan, "What did you need to speak to me about?"

Aedan was dusting off his sister, but turned to give deference to his status with a small bow. I could see Kyle cringe over it, but he didn't say anything. "We have company, First..." Kyle raised an eyebrow and Aedan changed his words, "Kyle. Someone of great importance to this investigation has arrived compliments of your mate's Grandmother."

That caught my attention. "Who?" I asked.

"We should wait until we are inside Alpha Mate," he said.

"What?" I spat out hearing the term.

"Get used to it bud," Blake said, "It's what you are in the lycan world. Technically your title would be 'First Alpha Mate', but someone isn't too big on titles," smirking over to Kyle. That got him a middle finger in response.

"Yes, well," Aedan broke in, "That may well be Kyle, but you will have to get used to being addressed by your title. You at that point can make the determination to whom you wish to give the privilege of addressing you by your given name. In time, you will sit and rule over all lycans. The Council will be an advisory board to you."

"Aedan," Kyle growled but the man held firm.

"I foresee great things from you Kyle. It is something that I do not like to talk about, but my family have always been seers for our kind. The way will not be without problems, but I have seen that you will lead our kind. What is not determined is your long term attributes," as he took a deep breath.

The five of us understood what Aedan meant. There had been three First Alphas before that had ruled with fear and worse. It was why we were here. We were Kyle's protectors just as much as he was ours.

I could sense Kyle's anxiety over it all and moved to take his hand. He looked down at me and smiled, squeezing my hand with his own.

"Come," Aedan said, "Let's not keep our guest waiting." He turned to his sister who finally seemed to be getting her bearings. "Bernie, you need to go get dressed and come back when you are properly attired."

She waived her hand at her brother. She hadn't taken her eyes off Kyle during this whole time and now was studying him hard. She leaned in and took a deep sniff. Her eyes drew up in surprise.

Aedan touched his sister's arm grabbing her attention back to him, "Yes Bernie," giving her a reassuring smile, "He is..." He let his words hang in the air as she turned back to Kyle and gave a rather clumsy curtsey. Kyle reached out with his hand.

She looked up and bared her throat, "I apologize," she spoke softly. Kyle chuckled, "No harm done Bernie. You're a strong woman and I like that you speak your mind. I look forward to getting to know you."

The woman's face flushed at relief, the compliment and the use of the pet name that Aedan called her. "Thank you First Alpha," she said meekly as she took Kyle's hand. "You can call me Kyle," he said holding her eyes, "I think anyone with balls that you have deserves that right." She blushed again before taking in her brother's smile. "I'll go get changed," she said quickly and bounded over the fence in one standing jump.

"Jesus!" Blake marveled.

Aedan laughed, "She was always the athletic one."

"That's putting it mildly," Gordon coughed into his hand.

"Come," Aedan said putting his hand out towards the door, "Our guest awaits inside and I believe you will find him and his information very interesting."

We walked inside and towards Aedan's study. I got a faint odor of something familiar. It was similar to Kyle's, but it seemed farther away in the study. Kyle's caught the scent as well. His face drew up in utter surprise as he raced the rest of the way to the study door and threw it open. We ran after him as met up at the door as it hit the inside wall.

There was a man facing the fireplace warming his hands with his back to us. He turned at the noise and gave us a smile. I gasped as Kyle whispered, "Kevin..."

Kyle made two quick sprints before Kevin was in his arms and holding him tight, swinging him around. I could see tears in Kyle's eyes.

"Who's that?" Blake asked, "He looks familiar."

"His brother," Gordon said softly taking in the visage of the man that he and I had not seen in a long while.

"Well," Blake said softly, "I can see why you dated him."

"Is someone jealous?" Gordon chuckled.

"No!" Blake huffed, but backtracked, "Ok, a little. I never met him and seeing how much he looked like Kyle before his change is a bit disconcerting. I guess since you ended up with me."

Gordon pulled Blake closer, "You surprise me all the time." He ran his fingers through Blake's hair, "Remember, you had the mating instinct with me and now we have two other 'mates' as well. I love Kevin, but as family. You, Kyle and Jesse are different."

I could hear Blake rumble in his chest. A low contented sound of loving protection.

We turned at laughter from beside the fireplace. "Put me down, you ass!" Kevin laughed as Kyle had now taken to holding him under his arms above his head smiling at his older brother.

He slowly lowered Kevin to the floor to where the man's feet got a good footing.

"HOLY FUCK!" Kevin gasped looking up to his younger brother, "Althea wasn't exaggerating when she said you'd changed."

He leaned in and sniffed his younger brother, made a small growl making Kyle's eyes flash and a wave of First Alpha power flow out of him. It was an uncontrollable reaction to a challenge. Kevin immediately bared his neck to his brother.

"Don't do that!" Kyle groused grabbing his brother again and crying.

"Hey, hey..." Kevin said patting him on the back before pulling him over to the leather couch. "Aedan told me what had happened."

"Everything?" Kyle asked.

"Well," Kevin paused sitting back, "Not everything, but the fact that some sort of mix of lycan in you, witchcraft and Druid magic had triggered a latent gene turning you into the first "First Alpha," as he made quotation marks with his fingers, "in over two hundred years."

Kyle dropped his head, "Yeah, I'm sorry."

Kevin looked surprise and grabbed his chin, "Why are you sorry little brother? It isn't anything to be sorry about. I'm proud of you. I'm proud to call you my brother and my leader."

"I'm just not sure I can be a good leader," Kyle said softly.

"On that I would disagree," Blake spoke up as he sat on the couch and pulled Kyle back to him before kissing his ear.

Kevin looked at Blake in confusion, "Um, I'm getting some weird vibes and smells." He turned his head to see Gordon and me standing there.

"Gord," he breathed before jumping up and hugging him tight. He kissed Gord on the cheek.

Part of me wondered if Blake would get jealous or growl. He did neither. He only smiled. I could sense Gordon's emotions, body temp and such. There was only love for a good friend and Blake could see that as well.

"Hello Kev," he hugged Kyle's brother back, "It's so good to see you again even under such circumstances."

Kev turned to me, "JESSE!" he screamed, "Jesus tap dancin' Christ!" as he grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me to him before twirling me around and smiling up at me, "Look at you! You've grown."

"That's not all that's happened," Kyle laughed. "Shift baby," he said softly.

"Baby?" Kev asked, then looked at me. I felt my body tingle before Kevin and looked down to smile at him showing my little wolf fangs. Kevin's eyes grew wide and leaned into me to sniff, unfortunately it was at crotch level and I got a little turned on.

Kyle sat back laughing with Blake. "Shut up!" I groused.

"What the fuck?" Kevin asked putting me down, "How the hell is this possible without a full shift?"

"There's a lot to tell you," I said, taking a seat in Kyle's lap while Gordon moved to sit beside Blake.

Kevin's eyes grew wide then leaned in to sniff us.

"Wait, you two," he said pointing to me and Kyle, "and you two," pointing to Blake and Gordon, "but there is something more," puzzling over a moment. "HOLY SHIT! The four of you?"

Kyle nodded over my shoulder, "Yeah, they're my pack and 'mates'. Jesse is first and foremost my love and mate, but Blake and Gordon are part of that at second level. I feel a certain pull to them but not like what is with Jesse. It's really hard to explain."

"I'll bet," Kevin said pulling over a chair to sit down.

"Tell me what happened," Kevin said leaning back to listen.

Forty minutes later we had caught him up to date with regards to what had occurred with me, Kyle along with Blake and Gordon's role in our relationship and pack.

"So when you used the spell it got fucked with because of Kye's backwash?" Kevin asked. I nodded. "Damn," he mused sitting back, "and then with Niall's passing...." He stopped a moment and pondered it all, "This is some tricky shit."

He turned to Blake, "You took a lower role as Beta?" Kevin asked. Since he was an Alpha as well, it was something he was curious about.

"It's not a full Beta role," Kyle broke in, "He still maintains his Alpha status."

Blake chuckled, "He is very adamant about reminding everyone."

"It's important," Kyle stated.

Blake nodded, "I know Kyle."

"When did you two meet?" he asked Gordon.

His Ex smiled at him before reaching over and grabbing Blake's arm. "Oh, about six months after I got back to the states. I was in a bar with a vamp friend and his lycan partner. Blake walked in and I swear he made a bee-line for our table."

Blake blushed. "I don't know what happened. I was just walking back to the hotel that I was staying at when I caught this scent. It overwhelmed me and I couldn't stop myself from following it. I walked up to this non-descript door and saw that it was one of the supernatural bars that all of our kind frequent. The smell was stronger and I had to find out where it was coming from. Two steps in the door and 'BAM" as Blake slapped his hands together, "I was going out of my mind with the need to take this guy even if he was a human."

"Speaking of?" Kevin asked.

Gordon waived him off, "We've been making it work quite well thank you very much! However, we just had the conversation earlier today where I've told him that I'm ready to be changed."

Kevin frowned along with Blake.

"Stop it! Both of you!" staring down both of them, "I have made up my mind. I want to be around to be with him."

"It's just," Kevin spoke softly, "it can be difficult to change the first time. I know from first-hand experience," then looking at Kyle, "and Kyle knows what I'm talking about."

We all sat in silence knowing what he meant. Both Kyle and Kevin had been bitten by the feral, but somehow had survived long enough to make it to find an Alpha to assist them. It was pretty amazing because all other ferals we had run into seemed to have lost their humanity rather quickly.

"I know and I understand," Gordon said taking both Kevin's and Blake's hands, "but I am a little luckier than most because I have two Alphas and three other mates that will be there for me during the change."

Kevin nodded and released Gordon's hand.

"Speaking of changes," Blake spoke up, "I think we really need to know how you two made it," looking at both Kevin and Kyle, "without an Alpha close enough to keep you from going feral," before leaning back into the couch, "and what it is that's so important that you've found out."

Kevin sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers, "That's why I'm here. Or rather," taking our eyes in his, "Rather why I contacted Althea and she brought me back from my research in Germany."

"Ok bro," Kyle said, "We're listening."

Kevin nodded, "Let's start with Kyle and me. It seems the best."

He looked over to the mantle for what I assumed was his glass, I noticed and waved my right hand sending it towards him.

"Hmmm," he smirked before taking a drink, "Lycan and witchcraft together. I'm betting it's pretty potent if tested."

I shrugged, "Anyone else thirsty?"

There was agreement. Moments later a bottle of scotch and four other glasses appeared on the table in front of us, "Go ahead," I said, "I'll pour, but I'm listening."

"It's a long story for both of us," he paused, "It happened about six to eight months after Mom and Dad's deaths. I was out walking around the woods one night when I got the feeling that I was being followed. Whoever was doing it was pretty clever. At first I thought it was Kyle playing games, but soon realized that it wasn't. The woods were too damn quite."

Kevin looked uncomfortable. Although I had only been partially privileged from what Kyle had confided with us, I was still curious about how it had happened. Kyle looked equally disturbed about bring up the past.

Kevin looked to fortify himself with another sip of his drink, but it was almost gone. "What are you drinking?" I asked while handing Kyle his glass. Kevin looked up at me and then the bottle, "Same as you're pouring. Half of that though. I think that'll be enough without some food in me."

I nodded and refilled his glass.

"Like I said," he continued, "I had been out in the woods. I couldn't sleep. I was thinking about Mom and Dad, their deaths, and Kyle's life without them. Hell," he took a breath, "my life without them. I keep feeling like someone was following me."

"Next thing I know I hear this voice. It was weird you know," looking up at all four of us, "It was human but with something more."

"What was said?" Blake asked.

Kevin looked at Blake, "It was gravelly and said something to the fact that dinner had arrived."

"DINNER?" Blake spat out incredulously. "Did it really say 'Dinner'?"

Kevin nodded, "It did," giving a look to Blake that sent chills down my spine.

Blake gasped. Kyle spoke up, "Why? What does that have to do...?"

"Give me a minute little bro," Kevin said, "I'll get to that. Just let me finish up the rest."

"Anyway," looking back at all of us again, "I saw what looked like a man with glowing eyes leap towards me and change in mid-air. He just fucking changed into this wolf like thing, knocking me to the ground with spittle flying all over my face. I tried to shove him off of me, all the while I was reaching around for anything to beat it off. I finally got ahold of this large stick and smacked the fuck out of it."

"The thing yelped and pulled back. I scrambled to my feet and started to run. This thing started after me and was closing fast. It caught up, grabbed my right ankle by its' teeth and bit down making me fall. The pain ripped through me as blood and this things saliva went all over the place."

"I thought I was a goner, then the next thing I know, I hear the thing snarl and howl as it was yanked away from my ankle. I twisted my body around to see this creature staring down this old guy. He had a wooden staff in his hand, like some wizard thing but was dressed in hunter's clothing," Kevin continued as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"This lycan," looking up to us, "no sense in calling it creature since we all know what it was," as we nodded in agreement, "fixed its' face on the guy. I thought the thing was going to go into a meltdown. Seriously," as Kevin took a breath, "It looked like it was going to explode. It yelled at the man and snarled."

"The lycan shifted into a more human form and screamed the word "Druid" before the man held his staff towards a bunch of bushes and they became to grow. Tendrils burst from the ground and grabbed at the lycan, a couple catching his left arm but it sliced through them with his claws."

"It snarled and howled at the man before taking off in the other direction in a hurry." Taking another sip of his scotch, he looked up at me, "The guy said his name was Niall and that we needed to get out of there unless the thing came back," making me gasp and Kyle hold me tighter. "He helped me to my feet and next thing I know I'm starting to faint."

"I woke up in this cottage. This guy has bandaged up my leg and is sitting at a small table sipping a glass of whiskey. He looked up as I was coming around and moved to help me sit up."

**** Kevin's Memory ****

"Here," the old guy said handing me a glass of whiskey, "I think you're going to need this."

I took it from him and downed half of the searing liquid.

"Ugh," gasping from the burn, "Thanks," tipping the glass towards him.

"You remember my name?" he asked.

"Ne-something," as I took another sip of the whiskey.

"Niall," he said while pulling his chair over to sit in front of me, "Do you remember what happened?"

"Some fucking dog," thinking back and realizing that it really wasn't a dog, "Well, at least it looked like a dog."

"Mongrel? Yes," Niall said, "Dog? No, better to not put a loyal animal in the same category as that beast."

"What was it then?" as I sat back against the wall and propped up my ankle.

"Lycan" Niall said, "Not just any lycan either. It's something akin to a feral but different."

"Lycan?"

"In layman's terms Kevin," taking my surprised eyes in his that he knew my name, "the term werewolf would be used. This, however, is no ordinary werewolf."

"What the fuck do you mean a werewolf?" I asked incredulously.

The old man gave a grim smile, "You saw it for yourself. What do you think it was?"

I looked down at my leg, "It just had to be a rabid dog."

"Listen," I said, "halfway standing up and leaning against the wall, "I appreciate the assistance but this is just... well, like I said, thanks for the help. I need to get home to my little brother."

The old man watched me for a moment and then got up, "Come on, I'll drive you home."

It was total silence in his truck the entire time until we pulled up to my place.

He stopped me before he got out, "Kevin," taking a breath, "You've been bitten. Anyone who has been attacked and survives a lycan attack or just being bitten will turn. The virus is already entering your blood stream. You're going to turn in the next full moon."

"What?" I almost yelled out but held my voice lower to know wake up Kyle, "What the fuck are you talking about old man?"

He sighed, "This will happen whether you believe me or not. I need to find an Alpha in the area to keep you from turning into a feral wolf."

"Alpha?" I spat, "Huh?"

"I'll contact you within the next couple of weeks. We at least have that amount of time to find someone to help you get through your first shift and retain your humanity," as he looked away for a moment, "Althea must know of someone."

"Listen," as I got out of his truck, "I've got to go. Thanks for the help and the ride."

He rolled down the window. "Kevin," he spoke up loudly, "You need to be careful. I'm going to try and track this thing down."

I waved at the man and went inside, "Crazy old coot."

*******

I stared at Kevin while Kyle held me tight, "Uncle Niall helped you." My feelings for my Great Uncle welled to the surface. Kyle sensed it and kissed the side of my head. "Gran had to know he was around," I said softly.

Kevin nodded, "I found out later she was aware. They have been working on the problem for a while."

"So," Blake asked with some impatience, "what happened?"

"I didn't see Niall again, well physically at least," Kevin said.

"Physically?" Gordon asked

"Yeah, I'll get to that in a minute and explain. Anyway, two weeks later arrived and I hadn't seen or heard anything from the guy and pretty much put it out of my mind. However the day before the full moon I got really antsy. I had trouble keeping my mind on things and got really grumpy," turning to face Kyle, "I got in a couple heavy arguments with Kyle."

Kyle nodded at his brother's assessment, "I couldn't figure out why and it bothered the fuck out of me."

"As the time of the full moon came nearer, I couldn't stay focus and started having weird dreams. I would wake up and want to get away to the woods," Kevin continued while sitting back in his chair.

"That evening, I knew something was seriously wrong. I wanted a lot of meat. I kept devouring a lot of protein. I swear I thought that I was going to nuts from not getting enough. I told Kyle around 945 that I was going for a walk. Kyle had school the next morning, so he only nodded while playing his video game. I knew that he was still pissed with me from our argument earlier," Kevin sighed.

"I started to head out to the woods. I needed to clear my mind when the moon broke on the horizon. The pain, fuck... that first shift was so god-damn painful," shaking his head.

"Will it be that painful for me," Gordon asked.

"No," Blake spoke, "well, there will be pain but not at the level that Kevin experienced because you will have an Alpha with you."

Kyle cleared his throat. "Check that," Blake chuckled, "two Alphas with you."

Kevin shook his head, "I wish I could have had that during my first shift."

"Speaking," Blake said.

"Impatient?" Kevin laughed.

"That's his middle name," Gordon chimed in while poking Blake in the ribs.

"Well, as the moon came up, I felt my body get hot. The world sort of twisted inside out and I dropped to the ground as the shift came over me. My ears popped as they changed and moved up my head. I watched the nails on my hand grow into points and felt my face change. Finally that began to change to paw pads as I changed to a full wolf," Kevin sat his glass on the table and then leaned forward.

"About an hour of running around the woods I started to calm down and get my mind back. I could feel the wolf there but at the same time, I felt my own mind melding with it. We were becoming one with each other. I caught the scent of a deer. The wolf sensed the animal was hurt and pushed me to track it down. I dispatched the wounded doe and began to feast upon the meat. Once I was sated, I relaxed and tried to think about myself. I kept thinking that I needed to be human. I needed to be there for Kyle. Eventually, I began to change, but it was different. I began to stretch and move upright. I could feel my legs adjust as I took on a bi-pedal form," pausing to take a breath.

"I was near a shallow brook when I caught a glimpse of myself in the moon reflected water. The sight made me gasp and take in my anthro form. It was pretty shocking, but I was able to understand my body. I coughed out a cussing sound understanding myself but it was sort of growly. Anyway, as I stared at the water I thought about being human and watched as I slowly shifted fully back to my human form."