"King!" An army of worried expressions barreled towards King. The boy squeaked when Stan tackled him into a hug that seemed like he was being choked to death more than an action of endearment.
"Dude! I thought you were d—" Stan paused mid-sentence when he saw the three men behind his friend.
"Hi there," Yusef greeted, smiling at him. Although, Stan felt a vague leak of animosity from that smile. Did he imagine it?
"... It's them," Stan whispered instead in King's ear, ignoring what he had imagined, eyes wide open and still latching onto the other like an octopus. He couldn't believe it was really the Lykaios triplets he was seeing. Yes, he'd seen them from afar on the ascension night, but seeing them up close made breathing turn into tiny jumbled puzzle pieces for Stan to solve.
"Yes," King grunted, trying to get the extra weight off of him.
"It's really them," Stan repeated.
"Yes," King retorted, barely rolling his eyes. "You can get off of me now." He pinched the other boy, and the latter whined.
"What's the catch?" Bryce huffed.
Kain cocked a brow at him.
"What do you mean?" Yusef inquired.
"You tried to mess with us once. I'm sure you have something up in your sleeves. Why are you doing this?"
King tightened his lips. His heart felt like running out of his chest. His brain was loading bullshit for excuses, and when he couldn't come up with one fast, his gaze unconsciously darted at the werewolves, eyes begging for help. Although it jumped out the window, since the three had their attention away from him.
"You could say that to my face when you're the one who saved your companion, kid," Kain retorted.
King swallowed. There was that spark in the background again.
Yusef pushed a hand on his brother's chest, which vibrated ever so slightly, and swallowed.
"Look, we're not scheming something," Yusef said, gesturing with open hands. "And King, well... he had been unconscious for about a day and a half. And from the number of prides and the following uproar that happened after that night, we had a hard time distinguishing which one he belonged to until he woke up."
Pandora found holes through his wall, even if she didn't know the actual reason as to why they did that, especially for three werewolves, nevermind being famous and alphas, to handle a single injured werecat like him was a special case. Bullshit, was what King would have said to that, but she went along. If King didn't talk, then she wouldn't.
Hugh went out to the cracked front porch after he heard the commotion, still handsome as ever, despite the silver and the gold mixing in his hair. Although, the sunken eyes were a new edition. King frowned, thinking about the sleepless nights that probably haunted his uncle these past few days.
"King," Hugh's tone sounded as if a rock was lifted upon a hundred of layers of rocks. His eyes darted at the three werewolves, pursing his lips as to not run his mouth. Although he was indebted that they had saved his godchild from danger, he wasn't particularly happy that they had kept King without immediate notice just because they were his "mate". The panic they had when they couldn't find him altogether with the other relating matters was immense. But he decided it was better to be silent for now. Not here.
He sighed. "Welcome to Tierra Madre, alphas."
"We're honored to be here," Zachary replied, and Yusef nodded. Kain was silent.
"Likewise, for having you here."
Yusef looked around, letting his smile fall. "What happened here?" he asked.
"It was the guys from Seriddia. Our ally," Hugh spat, contempt building in his eyes. "Damn bastards ambushed us yesterday. Thankfully, no one was gravely injured."
"It's a turf war," Pandora informed. "They know we're vulnerable now because of what happened, so they're using this as a chance."
Zachary's eyes seemed clouded, distant. It went on for a few moments before his gaze moved back to Hugh.
"King Hugh, I would like to have a word with you," Zachary said.
Most of the people present gawked at him, curiosity evidently building with their wide eyes and brows that had raised to their hairline.
Hugh paused for a moment, while he and Zachary exchanged looks. Then he sighed through his nose.
"Very well. Come this way," Hugh said, gesturing at them.
The three alphas passed through the crowd that parted to let them through. Yusef brushed gently against King, who flinched, and winked at him.
"What's with them?" Stan whispered, well he tried to. "How d'you get scooped up by the three alphas? That's mad. Like, damn."
King didn't reply. Stan blinked as he saw the troubled look on his face and his eyes followed the men, who sauntered into the Pride House.
"King?" Stan poked him.
"What?" King mumbled. Stan and Bryce frowned at him.
"What's with you?" Stan asked.
"They did something, didn't they?!" Bryce accused.
King's eyes widened, and he shook his head swiftly in response. "N-no! They didn't!" His eyes darted back at the front door. "... I just have a bad feeling."
━
The four men sat around the long and thick burl of a table. Kain crossed his leg, leaning back on the chair.
"We're two sides of a coin, King Hugh. You need us, we need you," Zachary implied. "The attack you got yesterday is probably the first wave in the game. You are one of the most outstanding prides in this area, after all. Surely, a crack on the glass will get the water inside to leak through. And the Du Marais..." Zach trailed off, memories unintendedly playing in the back of his mind. "They're somewhere out there, waiting for a chance to strike. If they ever do get through us... I'm afraid of the consequences that'll happen. We need help to stop them."
"Just what are trying to imply, Alpha Zachary?"
"... Merge with us."
Kain's eyes widened, and his head snapped at his brother. "Wait, what?"
Yusef raised his eyebrows slightly; his brother's proposition amused him. And he liked the idea. This will get interesting, is what he thought.
Hugh scowled. "Merge with y-"
"Do you know what you're talking about?" Kain asked the question that Hugh wanted to throw.
"I do." Zachary said.
"Are you doing this for King?" Hugh asked.
"Taking King's safety aside, I still won't change what I said."
Hugh had doubts. "Then why would you choose us? Surely, the great pack from the south has more allies and packs to pick through rather than us."
Zachary huffed a mocking laugh and smiled. "Just like you, we have enemies 'guising themselves as allies. Greed is a very dangerous thing, King Hugh, especially for those who're very much dominant."
Hugh's eyes darted at the wooden surface of the long table. His mind was a wreck, tired, and swaying away from the reality's trail. His son was out, dealing with related concerns as he was, sporting the same sleep-deprived eyes as his father did, and experiencing his first trial as the new lead.
"So, how about it King Hugh?" Zachary's voice snapped him back to the situation at hand. "Do you accept our proposition?"
Hugh examined the man that bore a neutral expression, trying to find even a hint of deception or hypocrisy. But nothing; Zachary was as serious as he looked, and Hugh knew it. He sighed and smiled at them.
This was going to be hectic.