Sonia didn’t know how she got to the pack, and that worried her. But not as much as the look on her father’s face, as he stared at her without saying anything.

The other sons went silent when they felt the presence of their father. The air in the room grew thick, the kind of silence that pressed down on your chest and made it hard to draw a full breath. Footsteps that had been shuffling moments ago stilled completely. Chairs creaked as bodies shifted, but no one dared speak first.

Everyone of them waited to see his next move.

Ferins didn’t budge. He just stared at Sonia, until she felt like she was going to sizzle away under his gaze. His eyes were hard, unblinking, the kind of stare that pinned you in place and made your skin prickle with the weight of unspoken judgment. The lines on his face seemed deeper in the dim light of the room, his jaw set like stone.

"Leave us alone," he finally said, his voice low and commanding, cutting through the heavy silence like a blade.

Within the next few seconds, the room cleared out. Chairs scraped against the floor as the brothers rose, their movements quick but controlled. Doors clicked shut one by one, the sound echoing down the hall as they filed out, leaving only the faint scent of their presence lingering in the air.

The seven sons gathered in one of the lounge rooms, as they waited for their father to be done, so they could return to their sister. The space was dimly lit, heavy wooden furniture casting long shadows across the rugs. Tension hung thick in the room, the kind that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Everyone sat, except for Wolf. He paced back and forth, his steps rocking the floor, each heavy thud vibrating through the boards and rattling the glasses on the side table. His massive frame seemed to fill the room, muscles coiled tight under his skin, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.

"Would you take a seat?" Cade, who was trying to think but was constantly interrupted by the noise from Wolf’s movement, asked, his voice steady but edged with irritation.

"Not until you tell me how the hell you were able to get Sonia out of bloodmoon, and why I wasn’t informed about it before it happened," he replied immediately, as if he had been waiting for someone to so much as breathe wrongly in his direction. His voice rumbled like distant thunder, the words coming out sharp and clipped.

The rest of the boys took a comfortable position in preparation for what was no doubt going to be a squabble. Shoulders squared, eyes flicking between the two eldest, bodies tensing in anticipation.

"Because I don’t owe you an explanation? Besides, I had no idea we were going to get Sonia out either, until the opportunity presented itself."

"How arrogant!" Wolf growled, causing the room to quake a little. The glasses on the table rattled, and a few drops of whiskey spilled over the rims.

"And I would have you know for all your size, I’m still your elder, and you’ll respect me!" Cade jumped to his feet, and growled back in response, his own voice rising to match, chest puffing out as he faced his brother head-on.

Jed clung on to Seth, as his stomach flipped with every growl. His fingers dug into Seth’s arm, knuckles white, eyes wide as he watched the standoff unfold.

They were probably the two most powerful in the family, and everyone always stood in awe whenever they clashed. The air crackled with raw energy, the kind that made the walls feel like they might crack under the pressure.

It didn’t happen often, because Cade never fought fire with fire.

However, it looked like there was going to be an exception.

"I haven’t disrespected you, Cade. I asked for one thing. For just one thing. To go to bloodmoon myself, and fetch Sonia. Why couldn’t I be given that opportunity?!" Wolf’s voice boomed, his fists clenched so tight the veins stood out on his forearms.

"Why? To feed your ego? Take it up to father, and not me," he replied, his tone cold and unyielding.

"You’re upsetting me, Cade!" He took a warning step forward, his entire body trembling with annoyance. The floorboards groaned under his weight, the sound echoing like a warning.

A lesser wolf would have disappeared into oblivion already. Even his other brothers, as powerful as they were, had to band together in fear, their bodies tensing, eyes darting between the two.

But not Cade. He has carried Wolf as a child, despite already being so large it scared everyone around. He wasn’t going to cower to him just because of his body size.

"I don’t care about your feelings, Wolf. This isn’t about you, or me, or any of us. It’s about Sonia. Now if you sit down, I could explain what happened. But if you don’t then we can take this outside, and you show me what you actually want to get off your chest," he said in a challenging voice, his eyes locked on Wolf’s without flinching.

"I don’t think things need to get that far," Seth, who had sensed it was going to get to this stage, intervened, his voice calm but firm as he stepped between them, hands raised slightly.

Wolf, breathing hard and fast, tried to calm himself. His chest rose and fell like a bellows, fists still clenched at his sides.

He didn’t like to get riled. At least not against Cade.

Whatever he was, Cade set that path. He just hated to be sidelined.

"Tell that to your brother," Cade replied, and returned to his seat, his movements deliberate as he lowered himself back down.

"Wolf?" Seth called, his tone gentle but insistent.

"I want an explanation," he replied, before returning to his own seat, the chair creaking loudly under his weight.

"Whew, that was intense!" Jed said, letting out a long breath as he slumped back, fanning himself dramatically.

"Shut it Jed," Castiel who barely talked said, his voice low but sharp.

Jed rolled his eyes, but shut his mouth. Tensions were already high as it was. He didn’t want to be the center of attention, Incase things went south again.

"Do you want to tell us what happened now?" Craig asked, leaning forward slightly, his elbows on his knees.

"Jack came to father," Cade said, clearing his throat.

"Jack? Isn’t he that alpha prick?" Jed asked.

He had planned to stay silent, but his mouth always ran ahead of his brain. In other words, he couldn’t shut up to save his life.

"Yep. He came to dad because he had messed up, and needed back up from bloodmoon."

"And father agreed to help him just like that? I mean I know he hates Ramon, but he’s not that generous," Caleb chipped in, his brow furrowed.

Seth, who had left the room, returned with a bottle of whiskey, and some glasses in a tray.

"Have I told you how thoughtful you are?" Jed asked, sitting up on spotting the drink, his eyes lighting up.

Seth shook his head, as he passed the glasses round.

They all grabbed one, and waited for Cade to pour himself a glass, before the liquor was passed round too.

When they had quenched their fire with the hot liquid, Cade cleared his throat, and continued.

"Father was never going to do it for free of course. When Jack told him he had a spy in bloodmoon, he was ecstatic about it. That was the repayment he needed. I only found out about this a few days ago."

"The day we helped Ramon fight Jack’s wolves?" Jed said, sitting up straighter.

"You did what?" The triplet asked at the same time.

"That’s so creepy." Jed shuddered mockingly.

"You two fought for Ramon?" Wolf asked in absolute disbelief, his voice low and dangerous.

"Well he pretty much came to confirm to us Sonia was still alive after the rumor went round that she had died. I didn’t know about the agreement between father, and Jack," Cade defended their actions, his tone steady.

"Still, you can’t fight alongside the enemy, Cade," Caleb said, his voice tight.

"Why can’t he?" Seth, who had been quietly observing all along, asked, his fingers tapping lightly on his glass.

"Well because they’re the enemy for a reason?" Wolf replied, his jaw clenched.

"Not a good explanation. If the case was reversed, Ramon would have fought for them too. The alpha of blood moon might have a vendetta against father, but hey not heartless," he said, and took a sip from his drink.

"It would seem like you have a soft spot for him, Seth. Do you care to explain it?" Wolf leaned out of his chair, and asked in a dangerous tone, his eyes narrowing.

They all sighed, because it was about to be another battle of wills.