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Mai Kazuki never believed in supernatural abnormalities as a child, but she often wished they existed. Despite that, it didn't stop her from enjoying all things supernatural and "make-believe". So, when she learned the true form of her baby brother was that of a werewolf, they both found it incredibly surprising that she was okay with it. Although she initially freaked out, it didn't change anything between them.

That proud, beautiful creature her brother became was as wild and free as she's always dreamed of being, yet he was still the same feisty, spirited and fun-loving boy she knew and loved. Those traits shined even in his wolf form and she fought tooth and nail to make sure she was the only one—aside from the pack – who knew that secret.

It had been a challenge convincing the judge to grant her sole custody of Yugi; she herself being only 24 and fresh out of college, while Yugi was still a teenager. Even after she'd lost the first time, she and Yugi had worked together to expose the foster parent for who she really was. They used video wires, tape recorders, everything and anything to prove that insanely religious, overly strict, old bat who pretended to be a "good" mother by locking the fridge, not letting the kids go out, and making them smile whenever social services stopped by, was nothing but a fraud trying to look good for the media and hoping to mooch off the success of her foster kids. Mai finally got the court order she needed when the old bat tried to lock Yugi in the basement for being a "dirty, bloated slut" when she caught Yami walking Yugi home.

Yami's testimony, the claw-shaped bruises on Yugi's arms when she grabbed him, and the recordings on the tapes were all the evidence the judge needed to grant Mai's claim and remove their foster siblings from the bat's care. Like any sibling, Mai hadn't been too thrilled when Yugi started dating, especially since Yami was a werewolf. She was even less happy when he started sleeping away from home more often as he and Yami got closer. She didn't pretend not to know why, but despite herself, she respected Yugi's freedom and independence, not only as a werewolf who was part of a pack, but as a young man who'd found his soul-mate. After all, having a steady boyfriend didn't affect the time Yugi and Mai spent together and it was much better than having her little brother sit around at home all day while she was away working on her next movie.

Mai wasn't the first human to learn about the existence of werewolves, but she was the first to be left alive. When she'd learned Yugi and Yami's secret, Atem felt she showed great loyalty by not turning them in to the cops or scientists. Wolves always valued the importance of loyalty and family and, having accepted Yugi into the pack, she was technically family. In exchange for her life, he gave her and ultimatum: if she so much as breathed a word of the pack's secret or its location, they would leave and, no matter how hard she looked, she would never see Yugi again.

She didn't need to be told twice. But it still didn't stop her from telling Yami she'd fill his blood with enough silver to make him explode if he even thought about hurting her baby brother. Yugi's safety and happiness was far more important to her than her own self preservation.

So when she had come home that night and found her unconscious little brother in the arms of a tall purple-haired man it had taken all her will power not to scream.

Mahado had tucked Yugi carefully into bed, frowning before turning to his little friend's pack-sister. "I apologize for this ordeal, Miss Kazuki." He half-bowed respectfully, the frown on his face making her heart sink. "But rest assured madam, your brother is fine. He is simply exhausted from the night's events. However…" HHe paused and turned to the circle of wolves who were all casting worried glances at their slumbering pack member. A nod from his head told them to leave. The small pack did so but not without reluctance. "I'm afraid I must speak to you about something very disturbing."

Unsure what else to do, Mai listened to how, in the span of a few hours, Yugi's entire world had come crashing down.

********

Atem didn't know what was worse: his headache or the incompetence of the less intelligent members of his pack. Apparently, they had decided to ignore his order to leave the newly coroneted Beta alone, but instead of punishing them, he felt having them slashed, bitten and thrown across the room.

He launched himself from his seat and stormed down the hallway. He leaned to the side as a wolf was thrown his way, the poor creature whining like a wounded puppy when its head hit the wall. "Get up, you mongrels!" Atem snapped, causing everyone in the hall to jump to their feet. "You're acting like a litter of pups. Now get the hell out of here and Lord help any of you who try to coax my brother without my permission after this!" The snarl in his voice was worse than any bite, but his growing canines were not too friendly either.

The hallway cleared itself in a matter of seconds.

Atem heard a snort and growled, determined to rip to shreds whoever dared to disrespect him. Bakura leaned against the wall of Yami's room, his arms casually folded across his chest with a smirk that rivaled his own.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He warned the Alpha. "Brother/Beta or not, you set one foot in that room and Yami will rip your throat out." It sounded like a joke, but the hardness in Bakura's russet eyes meant he was serious. Whether he was concerned for his leader or actually wanted to see his throat torn, Atem couldn't tell.

"Not that I blame him." Marik growled under his breath. The tawny wolf sat cross-legged opposite Bakura, picking his black claws.

Atem's eyes narrowed.

Marik growled. "Don't give me that look! You know full well you deserve everything Yami said last night and more! To be honest, I was gonna do the same thing but he beat me to it." The blond roared gesturing to the tear on Atem's coat caused five claw-marks, rims crusted with dried blood. It was only a second, Bakura and Marik's grip on Yami faltered but that was all he needed. The result: Yami was on house arrest, both as a punishment and to keep the laws of the Pledge in check, the pack was in chaos regarding the sudden outburst between Beta and Alpha, and Atem was furious that his favorite coat was ruined.

Atem ignored their "concern" and undid the lock on Yami's room, ordering them both to stay outside. The second the door opened, he ducked as a vase was thrown at his head, and kicked the bits of glass out of the way. He closed the door behind him and tried to make his way to the wreckage surrounding him. Furniture was over-turned and most of the more expensive objects lay in pieces of broken glass on the floor. The game station, lucky to be in the corner, was the only thing that survived the wreck. He found Yami on the bed, still in his clothes from last night with the exception of his coat. Pillows and blankets scattered the floor and a storm of feathers and cotton floated in the air when there were kicked up. Even the curtains had been ripped off and torn to pieces.

By the looks of it, Yami had passed out from anger sometime in the later hours of the night and had woken up only to extract vengeance on whoever or whatever disturbed him.

"Yami." The wolf shot up when his name was called. His teeth and claws were barred and eyes were red with pure rage. Temporarily blinded, Yami lunged at Atem, but the elder expected the assault and stepped aside, grabbing Yami's arm and pinning it behind his back.

Yami exploded and spun around to punch him, but Atem grabbed Yami's free hand and slammed the thrashing werewolf to the wall. He remained immobile until Yami kicked Atem's shin. Overcome by shock more than anything else, Atem released him. Yami took the opportunity to pounce on him, throwing him so hard against the floor that the tile cracked.

Atem hissed, feeling Yami's claws sink into his arms. Growling like an angry hound, he extended his fangs and rolled them over. Again, the two lunged at the other, evenly matched: Atem was stronger and more focused, but Yami's rage made him faster and more lethal.

Furniture crashed around them. The wall groaned every time one of them was thrown against it. The glass cracked and screeched when they attacked each other with their fists and claws.

Finally, Atem pounced again and this time, he pinned Yami beneath him with his hands locked at his sides. The younger wolf howled and thrashed but it did little good and he finally collapsed from exhaustion. Both wolves panted and growled at the other, the anger and hatred in Yami's eyes refusing to falter until he finally passed out again.

Atem won, but his victory felt as hollow as a blown egg. He punched the floor by Yami's head, not even caring that his black and purple knuckles oozed blood once he retracted his hand. Sighing from anger and frustration, he hopped off Yami and carefully picked him up, gently lying him down on the bed. Knowing Yami would be much calmer once he awoke, Atem patiently took a seat on the opposite corner. He ran a hand through his lightning-shaped bangs in an effort to calm himself down but it didn't work.

Just as he predicted, he didn't have long to wait. Twenty minutes later, Yami rolled over and slowly began to stir. Atem flinched when he heard Yami hiss as he tried to balance himself on one arm then collapsed back to the bed.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He warned, concerned. Yami whirled around and snarled at him. Thankfully, his eyes were much tamer than they were before, but not wanting to repeat what had happened, Atem beat him to the punch. "I didn't come here to fight you." He threw his hands up in surrender. "I just want to talk."

Yami's fangs and claws retracted but his eyes and face remained hard and untrusting. "I have nothing to say to you." He said in a deliberately harsh tone, bitter with betrayal.

Atem's hand clenched the comforter. "Then just listen." He said in a softly.

A growl was Atem's only warning before Yami jumped to his feet and punched him across the jaw. "There is nothing you can say! And whatever it is, I don't want to hear it! You said everything you needed to last night!"

Atem barked furiously, nursing his wound with his palm. "Last night, I did what I was supposed to! Your brat Pledged, I gave him a challenge, that's that! Don't get pissed at me because your boy toy acted without thinking!"

"That's not what I'm talking about and you know it!" Yami thundered. "You know the why Yugi Pledged to me! He loves me, he wanted to be my mate and, in his mind, that was the only choice because you wouldn't let me be his mate any other way! Had I asked him to Bond with me already, this mess would never have happened! But no—" Yami let all his anger and sarcasm bleed into his voice, each bitter word like a whiplash to Atem's side. "You just couldn't let me have a mate! You just couldn't let me be with someone I love, someone who actually gives a damn about me and not this damn Beta role or this fucking pack status. But no, you just couldn't let me have that one thing because you can't stand to see anyone else happy!"

"That's not true and you know it!" Atem lost control and exploded. He was face to face with Yami in a second, furious blood-red eyes glaring into angered crimson, conveying more emotions than Yami thought Atem was capable of. "Imbed this in your skull." The harshness of each word, pinned Yami in place like railroad spikes. "Everything and every decision I make, I make for you and the benefit of this pack. If I decide something, that is my only intention in mind, nothing else. I promised father I would protect you and this pack, and I will!"

"Even if I don't need your protection?" Yami countered, his eyes hard and meeting his brother blow for blow. In the past, he may have let Atem intimidate him purely out of respect for his Alpha, but not this time, not when the issue concerned someone he cared for becoming a scapegoat.

Atem blinked. "What—"

"I'm not the same scared teenager I was when father died. And you're not the same person I looked up to and adored when we were younger. What happened to that strong-willed and compassionate man who said he would be the best leader this clan ever saw? What happened to him? And don't you dare tell me he grew up because we both know that's bullshit!"

"What the hell does that have to do with—" Atem began, but Yami cut him off.

"Everything!" Yami exploded. "Ever since father died and you took over this pack, you became bitter and cold, especially when it comes to every decision I make! When I agree with you, I'm your beloved brother but the second I do anything independent, you're against it! That's the only reason you hate Yugi, isn't it?"

"He's a rogue! You heard him Pledge! He's just like everyone else who wants to raise their status by mating the higher ups! Just like every other whore in that room! He's not in the same league as you. You're better than him." Atem braced himself for a fight, expecting Yami to lunge at him or curse at him for insulting his lover. Instead, shock froze him in place when Yami just stood there, bangs shadowing his eyes. He looked like a hidden tiger waiting to pounce.

Atem froze when he heard a snicker, then a chuckle, then he almost fainted when he heard Yami exploded in laugher like a mad man. Forcing his authority back into control, Atem growled harshly "What. Is so. Funny?"

Yami lifted his face to face him, the look in his eyes sending a shiver through Atem's entire being.

"The true you would never let something as stupid as "league" bar two people who love each other." The darkness in Yami's smirk made Atem flinch.

Yami expected him to slap him, or punch him—hell, he would've—anything but what Atem actually did.

Atem hugged him.

Overcome by shock more than anything else, Yami just stayed there, limp in Atem's strong embrace until his brother let go. Atem walked by him without another word and Yami was paralyzed, unable to speak until thoughts of Yugi entered his mind.

"Why?" Yami asked and Atem froze in his tracks. Neither were facing each other

"Why what?" The elder asked lowly.

"Why banish him?" Yami growled, fisting his hands. "Even if you won't allow him to be my mate, he has friends here and a home. Why take that all away from him because you can't stand seeing us happy together."

"That's a lie and you know it." Atem said neutrally. "You're my brother, Yami, and even though I don't always show it, I love you. All I want is for you to be happy. And if you must know, I'll tell you. If I defeat Yugi tomorrow and he is unable to be your mate, seeing him constantly, but never able to be with him would hurt you both more than never seeing him again. That's why."

Atem left without another word.

*******

Mai was so deep in thought over Mahado's words that she barely noticed when morning came. She'd stirred her coffee so much, it had turned ice-cold and yet she couldn't bring herself to move from her spot. Instead, she grabbed the folded chair from Yugi's desk and sat at his bedside. Her legs itched where the plastic had ripped but she ignored it. Her nails chipped the plastic where they sank into the sides as she leaned forward, eyes glued on the lump curled up under the thick comforter.

Finally, movement came from beneath it. Yugi squirmed around a bit before slowly pushing himself to his knees and poking his head out of the mass. Light poured through the window, making him whine. He sat back on his knees, the comforter pooling around his sides and the pillow landing in his lap. His crown of spikes fell to a mop atop his head even as he shook it and his eyes dropped as he tried to rub the sleep from them.

"Welcome back to the world of the living." Mai smiled, rearranging himself in her seat. Yugi's head shot up at her voice. Confused as to where he was, his head darted frantically from one side of the room to the other.

If the pale red walls and the tacky furniture were any indication, he was back in his room, asleep on his double bed and wrapped in his ocher comforter. An over-sized, deep purple shirt and black boxers he usually slept in when at home replaced his green frock from last night. He didn't remember the last time he slept at home. When Mai worked late—which was often—he usually spent the night at Yami's and he and Mai would hang out during the day.

"Mai…" he asked, his throat parched, "What the hell happened last night?"

"I was hoping you could tell me." Mai said, curling a lock of wavy blond hair behind her ear. "I assumed you had a hell of a party last night but when half your pack brings you here minus your boyfriend, I figured something a lot more went down." She switched positions so she was sitting on the edge of the bed.

Yugi let out a dark chuckle. "Yeah, imagine that, huh? The Pack's Herald tucking me into bed." His hands covered his face as he slid back into the bed, the weight of last night crashing down on him like the after affects of a massive hangover. He felt Mai's fingers gently running through his hair as if to calm him down, but it didn't work. Tears pricked his eyes as last night repeated itself in his mind.

Atem's cold, domineering voice echoed in his mind like a vengeful ghost, his ruby eyes piercing his soul…Fail and you are banished from the pack. Banished…banished…banished. The word echoed more dreadful then a scream as he clasped his pillow and hands over his ears and screamed into the mattress.

When he finally resurfaced, Mai pulled her hands away, concern and fear written all over her lovely face. He wiped his face clean on his arm and looked at the floor. "Mai…" He blurted out a broken stutter. "I…I think I screwed up. No, strike that, I majorly screwed up!"

"That's an understatement alright." Mai and Yugi both jumped. Yugi was on his feet in an instant, flexing his teeth and claws before turning towards the source of the sound.

"Wow!" Malik threw his hands up in surrender, knocking Joey into Ryou, and Ryou almost off the second floor.

"Watch it, you daft fools!" Ryou howled. He sunk his claws into the windowsill and did a summersault, landing from Yugi's window onto his floor.

"You wolves do not know what a front door is, do you?" Mai snapped, rhetorically, annoyance apparent in her voice

"Sorry, Mai." Joey apologized. "We had to sneak out to come here so we're trying to keep a low profile."

"Sneak out?" Yugi relaxed. "Why, what happened? What's going on with the pack?"

"World War Three, that's what's bloody going on!" Ryou snarled, reverting back to his human form and dusting the wood off his clothes.

"Again, that's an understatement." Joey sighed, tossing himself through Yugi's window and landing sideways on his feet. "Yam's under lockdown, which, alone, is enough to make da apocalypse look good. You know da rule about not bein able to see or talk to him? Its cuz Atem's afraid he'll try and help you win da hunt. Bakura's stuck there too. Mostly to calm Yami down, though." Joey shook his head and shuddered "Not workin."

"I'll say!" Malik added, joining his comrades and sitting on the desk, bracing himself on the windowsill, "Yam's freakin pissed! Not that I blame him. Atem crossed a line. I swear I would be this close to slapping Ishizu if she gave anyone that know-it-all 'I-saw-that-coming' smirk of hers again!" Malik snarled sinking his claws into the window sill and scattering splinters.

"So then why are you guys are allowed here?" Mai asked, since Yugi was still digesting what he'd just been told

"Because we're 'harmless'." Ryou replied through clenched teeth, using air quotes to emphasize his point. "No one thinks the three of us talking to you is any threat to the rules of the Hunt."

Mai shook her head and got to her feet. "Alright, what the hell is going on? What Hunt and, Yugi, does this have something to do with what happened last night?"

Yugi looked away, half-blushing and bit his lip. "Sort of." He squeaked. "You see, last night after we got to the party, Yami told me to stay clear of the court until after the ceremony, so I did. And while I was watching a bunch of a girls, or she-wolves, or whatever, throwing themselves at Atem's feet, these two rouges came up to me and told me it was called a Pledge." He lowered his head in a failed attempt to hide his embarrassment. "Looking back, they bragged about it, and I didn't believe them, honestly I didn't." Yugi protested. "I trust Yami more than them, but they kept going on and on about how we didn't really belong to each other unless I made a Pledge, that, unless I Pledged myself to him, I was just a toy or some shit. I didn't believe them until…" He paused and clenched the comforter so tight it began to rip beneath the force of his claws. "Atem got really pissed about Yami flaunting over me, and when Yami called me his mate, Atem just… he smirked and said I wasn't because I hadn't done something. And what those girls said kept repeating in my head over and over and all I could think was I wanted to be Yami's mate more than anything, so I Pledged. Yami freaked out and Atem didn't believe me but I…I persisted and after it was all over, he…said I had to defeat him in the Wild Hunt. If I win, I get to be Yami's mate. And if I don't, I'm…" Banished, he tried to say but the words died on his tongue.

"What, Yugi?" Mai asked, placing her hands on his shoulders and kneeling down to meet his eyes. "What did he say?"

"HE SAID I'M BANISHED FROM THE PACK!" Yugi finally exploded in a fit of emotions, shocking everyone in the room before collapsing on his bed. "Oh god! What am I gonna do! What am I gonna do!" He grabbed his hair and shook his head ferociously. "If this was a race, I could win easily, but Atem, he's the fucking Alpha! How the hell am I supposed to beat him in a hunt?" Yugi collapsed again, refusing to shed any more tears. He fell back against the bed and smothered his screams with his pillow. "God, I'm so stupid!"

"Yugi, calm down!" Mai half yelled, half comforted in a desperate attempt to quiet him.

"How can I calm down?" He snapped, more harshly then he intended "I'm not even allowed to see or speak to Yami until the Hunt, and that's only if I win. And if I lose, not only do I lose him, I lose everyone!" He screamed, then collapsed back onto his pillow, laughing bitterly. "Atem's hated me and Yami being together since day one, he's been looking for an excuse to get rid of me and I practically threw one in his lap!"

"Wow! Let's not give up yet, buddy." Joey jumped in, landing on the bed.

"Yeah, the Hunt isn't until tonight, we got time to figure something out." Malik added.

"What I don't understand is why Yami didn't tell me about this stupid Pledge thing. I mean, didn't he want me to be his mate?" Yugi asked with moist eyes.

"Yugi, I know Yami." Mai said firmly, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Even before you two started going out, all he cared about was your happiness. If he didn't tell you about this, there had to be a good reason. I mean, think about it. You said girls were throwing themselves at his feet, what if this pledge thing was just a way to weed out all the bitches?"

"That's exactly what it is and more." Ryou suddenly spoke up. All eyes fell on him as he strolled over and sat cross-legged on the bed in front of Yugi, his usually warm eyes appearing firmer and out of place. "Yugi, What exactly do you know about Pledges?" Ryou stressed.

"I…I thought it was like letting everyone know we were together or something. You know, like me becoming his mate, for real and not just being in love and spending all our time together?" Yugi guessed, remembering the conversation he had with the rouge she-wolves.

Ryou collapsed his head in his hands. "Damn those rouge bitches. A Pledge is much more immutable than that, Yugi." The whitenette continued, "Wolves, of course mate for life, so clearly, the Beta can only ever have one mate—if ever. But there will always be someone willing to Pledge their loyalty in order to become the Beta's mate. In the case of the Alpha and Beta, mating is much more serious because of the position each one commands. A mate is either consort or regent."

Yugi blinked. "Ryou, what are you talking about?"

"There are many ways to declare or ask someone to be your mate, Yugi. But once status becomes an issue, it isn't so much how declaring a mate is done, it's who that becomes the prime concern. Since Yami's Beta, if he asked you to be his mate and you accepted solely out of love, than yes, you'd be his mate. But as far as your role in the pack goes, your position would be, at best, consort: you would have the status but no political control over the pack."

The white-haired wolf paused to take a breath, then continued, "A Pledge is the opposite. When one Pledges themselves to a potential mate, they are to share the responsibilities that come with the desired Mate's position. In this case, because you Pledged yourself to Yami, you were not only asking to be his mate, but to be his Regent and share his duties as Beta as well. That's why a Pledge needs the approval of the Alpha. Rouges, omegas and any unmated wolf will use it as a way to improve their power and status among pack life. That's also why the Alpha names the challenge. It's like a test to prove one's worth, not only to their desired mate, but to show they're capable of handling the position."

"So that's why he wants me to challenge him in the Wild Hunt. I have to prove I'm good enough to be…second Beta?" Yugi asked, eyes wide from the shock of what he just learned. How could he have been so foolish as to think something so serious could ever be handled so simply?

"Yes and no." Ryou explained. "Atem's obviously using this as an excuse to try and get rid of you, but this way, he can do that and make you look unworthy. In his mind, your Pledge is so that you can increase your control over the pack, and he can use this both to discredit you among the pack and make sure you can't abuse Yami's position." Ryou shook his head, laughing bitterly. "God, it's so easy to forget how clever he is."

"But that still doesn't make any sense, why didn't Yami tell me about the Pledge? I was so sure…I never would've even suggested it if I'd known how this all worked."

"Yug," Joey stepped in with a grave expression. "Yami's bound to the pack as Beta, even if he takes a mate, his duty has to come first, no matter what. Do you really think he'd want to chain you to the same fate? Yami would want you to have your freedom."

Yugi growled, clenching his fists so hard he ripped the comforter. "So that's it? If Atem thinks he can get rid of me that easily, he's dead wrong!" He threw the blanket off him and stormed across the room to the closet. He stripped his tee-shirt and pulled on a pair of black shorts and a black tank top.

"Hold on." Mai said, ignoring Yugi's sudden change of demeanor. "You said Atem wants to get rid of Yugi. But why? If he really does care about Yami as much as you guys let on, why would he do anything to threaten Yami's happiness?"

The three wolves shifted their focus from Yugi to Mai and shook their heads. "No one knows why." Joey replied. "Ever since their dad died, he's been like ultra-protective of Yami. He doesn't like anyone getting to close to him."

Malik snorted in agreement. "I swear, the only reason he even lets us around him is because we're already mated."

"Really?" Mai raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"Come on!" Yugi ordered, snapping the wolves from their trance as he pulled on his combat boots. "You said I only got until tonight right? Then let's move."

"Whatcha gonna do Yugi?" Malik asked, as the three hopped to their feet and followed Yugi to the still open window.

"What do you think I'm gonna do?" Yugi smirked, climbing over his desk and bracing himself on the windowsill. "I'm gonna win! I told Atem I'd do anything to prove I love Yami and I meant it."

Joey's jaw hit the floor, Malik grinned until his smile slit his face and Ryou's eyes widened. "This is gonna take a lot of work, Yugi." He told him. "Even if you've got speed, Atem's much stronger. How are you going to win if you can't out best him?"

"I don't have to be stronger than Atem." Yugi corrected. "This is a hunt, Joey, not a fight. I just need to defeat him. Now let's go!" He ordered, jumping out the window and landing gracefully on his feet.

"Kid, you are nine kinds of crazy." Malik announced from the window.

"I know I am, but I need to win." Yugi said firmly, cracking his knuckles. "And I will. I'm not sure how yet, but I will if it kills me!"

"Works for me!" Joey followed Yugi.

"Yugi!" Mai shouted. He paused, turned around and looked up to meet Mai's eyes "Yeah?"

"Make sure you come back here and get some sleep, you'll need to be at your full strength for this." She smiled. Yugi met her smile and nodded; grateful he had Mai to keep his reckless bravado in check. Once the rest of the wolves followed him, he made a mad dash for the woods. He'd have to be in his wolf form to learn all the tricks needed for a hunt.

Mai watched until the four vanished from sight. Her eyes hardened as she recalled what the boys told her. Leaning against the windowsill, her eyes darted to a photograph of Yami and Yugi from last summer. The two of them had their arms wrapped around the other and flashing victory signs with the sunlight blaring behind them. That day had been one of the happiest moments of her life.

"What is your real motive, Atem?"

********

Seto took a drag at his cigar, exhaling a cloud of ashen smoke. He leaned back against Yami's door, bored. He'd hoped the buzz would clear his head, but sadly it didn't work. Then again, that's what he got for thinking Atem would have the brains to deal with this in perspective. He hadn't failed to glare at his cousin when Atem left Yami's room, not forgetting to lock the door behind him. If only to let the man know he was being unreasonable or, for lack of a better phrase, screwed up royally.

He didn't blame Atem for what happened. The Alpha was, after all, the Alpha. Laws were still laws despite the fact that many of the traditions had evolved since the olden days. They were wolves, after all. The democratic diplomats that governed the modern world simply didn't apply to the wolves. Compromise just wasn't an option sometimes. Who was to say the accused would even stay long enough for trial? Or even care? And they couldn't exactly lock them up in jail.

Wolves needed to be harsh. Leaders had to be strong, domineering, and not afraid to use force when force was required because that was what the wolves respected. Their strength and blood earned them their position and they had to fight to keep it. And if they weren't willing to put their heart and soul into what they did, then they were replaced.

But that didn't mean that Alphas were heartless. Just the opposite in fact; the sole duty of the Alpha was the protection and survival of the pack. If an Alpha turned into a power-hungry tyrant, pack could easily overthrow him and replace him. The Alpha needed an iron fist, a heart of gold, and the mind to know when to use which.

But Atem had failed this time, and Seto, especially, wanted to make sure he knew it. This time, Atem had put his own personal desire above what he knew was right, not for himself, but for Yami. He knew Atem didn't think so and that was the problem. The same problem he had before he met Jou. The same weakness Yami had before Yugi entered his life and achieved the impossible of both winning Yami's heart and awakening the boy he knew and adored when they were children: pride. It was their family's greatest strength as well as the worst of their weaknesses.

In Atem's case, his pride blinded him to the truth. But sadly, there was little Seto could do to change that. He couldn't change Atem's mind. Only Yami, and maybe Yugi, could.

Speaking of which… He thought, taking another drag at his cigar before dropping it on the floor and stomping out the flame with his boot. Yami's been awfully quite the last few hours. The brunette peeked out the cathedral window. The sun had only just begun its decent behind the trees, blanketing the sky in a splash of colors and the moon had yet to show her face. The Wild Hunt didn't begin until Midnight so there was still plenty of time.

That thought suddenly clicked in his mind. Plenty of time.

"Plenty of time for Yami to think of a way to break out!" The realization struck the man to his core. He whirled around and bolted for the doorknob. His head slammed against the door, and he scolded himself for being an idiot. His fingers scrambled to grab the keys fidgeting to find the right one.

His heart was already pounding and a string of frantic curses dropped from his mouth. He faintly hoped that he was wrong, but he knew better.

With a familiar click, the door unlocked. He threw it open and rushed inside without thinking. "Yami!" He yelled and looked around frantically, but all he found was an empty room and a vacant bed. The windows were still locked but a breeze got in through the opened skylight.

"Oh hell no!" Seto said in disbelief. "Not even Yami could pull that off. Fuck!" Seto cursed, not noticing the shadow in the corner. "Atem is going to throw a fucking fit—"

Suddenly, he heard a loud crash in his ear, followed by a sharp pain in the back of his head. His world went spinning until he fell into blackness.

*******

"Crap." Yami grunted, gripping the vase until his knuckles went white. He dropped the vase on the floor and checked over his cousin. "No blood. No head injuries. Good." He sighed in relief before dragging the larger body toward his bed. He dug through his stuff and pulled out a scarf and a few pairs of handcuffs. He cuffed Seto's hands behind his back, then his ankles, and tied the scarf around his mouth. He then covered him with the blankets and arranged the pillows, creating the illusion of a sleeping body.

"Sorry Seto. But in all honesty, I was expecting my brother." He apologized, feeling guilty. He grabbed the keys and grabbed Seto's silver and blue trench coat, throwing it on. Tying his wild mane back and donning the hood, he double-checked to make sure the coast was clear, then locked his room, hiding the key in his pocket.

He slid the windows open and, with an elegant summersault, landed in a crouch position like a jungle cat. His senses were on high alert. No smells, no movement. No signs that anyone had noticed his presence. Good.

He focused his eyes and bit his lip as his body creaked and cracked. Fur danced down his back, claws extended from his nails and toes. Canines extended as his limbs rearranged themselves and his spine snapped as it changed to accommodate his new body. All the while, he remained completely silent. Combating the howl of completion, he broke into a run and, with the speed and grace of his race, sprinted, letting the blood sing in his veins and the thrill of the change fill him.

But his steps were different. This was no freedom or exuberance that he usually experienced and he feared he would never experience that feeling again. His steps were quick and determined, focusing solely on their destination rather than the joy of the actual run. His muscles and bones ached with longing and trembled with need. The need to see his lover, to hold him close to him, to run with him, fuelled by the heartbreaking and terrifying fear that if he'd never see his lover again.

He could only hope and pray Atem didn't find him. Yugi may have been forbidden to see him during the trial but the law didn't say he couldn't see Yugi. And if Atem threw that back in his face, he'd do much worse then punch him in the jaw and ruin his favorite coat. Much worse.

He didn't care how dangerous this was. He didn't care that this was only going to make things harder and more difficult for Yugi. He didn't care that Atem would, no doubt, use this against him. All he cared about was seeing Yugi, in the terrifying fear that this truly was the last chance he'd get to see him.

*******

Hard ruby eyes watched the wolf change and burst into the forest in a desperate attempt to control the sudden urge that came with the change. His eyes hardened even more at the obvious change in the wolf's run.

This didn't make sense. Yami never ran in such a hurried and precise manner. He wasn't even trying to cover his tracks or enjoy himself. He was distracted and timid. His focus was dead set on where he was going and how to get there the fastest.

His nails sank into the stone of the cathedral.

He didn't like it. The change in Yami's run. It was too…desperate. Fearful. Afraid. The stone cracked beneath the force of his fingers.

"Now what are you up to, little brother?" The wolf snorted, jumping to his feet. Nails extended to claws as he backed up. He raced forward before elegantly leaping from the top of the cathedral. He landed as a wolf and broke into a run.

*********

Yugi woke to scratching at his window. He rolled over and his eyes widened at the black-eared young man he loved more than anything on earth stared at him through his window. He threw off the covers in a heartbeat and undid the lock as fast as he could, Yami ungracefully crashing to the floor once the glass barrier was removed.

Unsure whether to help his boyfriend up or blink at the uncharacteristic action, he did both. "Yami what the hell are you doing here?" He demanded, half shocked and half panicked.

"And here I thought you'd be happy to see me?" Yami teased, but there was a hidden terror in his voice.

Sensing that fear and unable to control himself any longer, the teen threw himself into the boy's arms, almost knocking him over. "That's not what I meant and you know it." Yugi snapped in a grave tone. "I'm not allowed to see you until the Wild Hunt if anyone found out, Atem would—"

Yami kissed him quiet until Yugi was panting beneath him. When the elder pulled away, Yugi growled as best he could through his heavy pants, the harsh glare in his eyes not letting the teen forget the seriousness of the situation.

"You're not allowed to see me." Yami corrected. "There is nothing that states I'm not allowed to see you. And if this is the last time I see you, I want to make it count." Yami smirked but his eyes were unable to hide that secret fear. The fear that this would be the last time he got to see Yugi like this, last time he got to hold him, kiss him, love him the way he deserved to be loved.

"That will never happen." Yugi smiled and sat up. "I won't let it." He teased, rubbing his cheek against the teen's naked chest and inhaling his scent. Yami's arms pulled him flush against him, but before he could answer, Yami kissed him hard, silencing any protest. Yugi leaned into the kiss, allowing him to pour all his fear and desperation into him; just in case this was the last time they saw each other.

Yugi returned the kiss with just as much passion and force, pouring his own secret fear into him. They both could smell the terror and consequences their actions would cause but they didn't care. The only thing that mattered was who they were kissing, who they were holding in their arms. The intensity behind their kiss forced them backwards until Yugi was on the floor, his arms wrapped around Yami's neck while the other raked up and down his back. Yami pressed his body flushed against Yugi, arms wrapped around Yugi's shoulders and waist, smoothing up and down every curve of Yugi's body. They hadn't failed to notice the only thing Yami wore was a trench coat and the only thing separating them was Yugi's boxers.

They broke the kiss, only long enough for air, but their lips soon found each other's again. Their hands and claws wondered over every piece of flesh available to them and Yami's coat was lost in the rush. Their limbs moved in perfect sync; skin smoothing over skin; nails and fingers danced over bare flesh and arms; lips parted for only mere moments before returning to the other's skin. Moans and groans escaped them, Yugi more than Yami as the elder wolf's lips and hands moved lower and lower until a skilled hand smoothed over his hips, down his thigh, then slipped beneath the rim of his boxers.

Yugi's eyes flew open, unable to bite back the scream that escaped him, but he forced himself into a sitting position, halting the other's actions. Yami looked up, bewildered at the panting, flushing teen. He gave his boyfriend a knowing smile and his eyes shown with love. "Not that I don't want to make love with you, but I need all my strength if I'm going to defeat Atem."

All of Yami's composure shattered. Unable to control himself, he broke down, burying himself against Yugi's chest and shaking uncontrollably. The sudden action terrified Yugi even more than the still real possibility of never seeing him again and all he could do was hold Yami close to him. "Oh Yami don't act like that. I'm going to win, I promise you that." He said with fierce determination.

"How, Yugi?" Yami shot up. "You can't beat Atem, he's too strong, I know him better than anyone. When he wants something, he's unbeatable and he wants you as far away from me as possible. You know I have faith in you, Yugi, but I need to think of this realistically."

Yugi pressed a finger to Yami's lips, silencing him and met his fearful rubies with an smirking amethysts. "Just like I said, Yami. I don't care about titles or position like Atem thinks I do. I care about you, and I'm not going to lose you because Atem needs to get his head out of his ass."

"You can't beat him, Yugi." Yami looked at the floor. "I wish I could say otherwise but there's no way."

"I know I can't beat him." Yugi said so casually. Yami's head shot up, his eyes almost bulging. But Yugi just grinned. "I don't need to beat him. I just need to win and I will." The determination and certainty in his eyes bore into Yami, filling him with more hope than he had before that horrifying moment when he heard Atem's ultimatum.

Silence echoed between them for a few moments, more dreadful then a scream. Yami didn't say anything, his face was still a mask of conflicted emotions. For a moment, Yugi was afraid Yami didn't believe him. Finally, Yami gave a small smile and shook his head. "You've lost it, Yugi."

Yugi smiled and gently pressed a chaste kiss to Yami's lips. "I know." He replied pushing Yami down and lying on his chest. "But I need to win. I'm not losing you, Yami. Not for anything."

*********

The black wolf growled, his blood red eyes narrowing. More than anything else, he was angry at the younger black wolf's completely uncharacteristic behavior. He remained silent, watching from his post on the roof like a vulture waiting for an aged herbivore to embrace death. His ears were on high alert for anything his brother might say that would betray his position and give Yugi an advantage in the Wild Hunt.

Finally, the two lied down to rest in the other's arms. Yami stroking Yugi's hair while the smaller rested for his competition. He couldn't deny he respected the boy a bit more for refusing to give in to their cardinal desires in favor of perpetration for the Hunt. Only when he was positive nothing forbidden was shared between them did he shed his wolf skin for his human guise.

"God Dammit, Yami! What is wrong with you?" He growled, too low for anyone to hear him.

"Do you really need to ask that question?" Atem whirled around, claws flexed, fangs extended, ready to strike if needed. Instead, all he found was Mai Kajaku standing on the roof with her arms crossed over her chest, her legs straight and a cold look on her lovely face.

"Don't even think it, Temy. I got no problem going downstairs and melting the old lady's silverware if you make even one move towards them. And don't give me any of the rule-breaking crap either."

Atem snorted but relaxed his guard, chuckling darkly. "You keep silver in this house?" He raised an eyebrow crookedly.

"Hey, I find out my baby brother's a werewolf, you don't think I'm not gonna hound Yami until I get all the facts? Besides, silver's only poisonous if it enters the bloodstream. If it touches the skin you're fine, right?"

"That is correct." Atem nodded, with an astounded grin. "Impressive."

Mai's face didn't change, but she gestured with her thumb. "Hence why I said I got no problem melting some of it if you give my brother and his boyfriend a hard time."

Atem growled, impressed and angered by the woman's boldness. She was nothing like Ishizu. "I'm only making sure my brother keeps his word and doesn't betray the secrets of the Wild Hunt. Otherwise, dear little Yugi would be disqualified." His tone changed to a sarcastic mocking, like a bully teasing someone younger than himself. "And that would just devastate him wouldn't it?"

"Oh shut the fuck up!" Mai shouted, breaking her composure so quickly Atem was shocked by the force and anger in her voice. "You're so full of shit! If you were really so righteous, you'd quit being an ass and accept that Yugi and Yami love each other and there's nothing you can do to change it."

Atem's face darkened with rage, his claws sinking into his palms angrily. "Be silent, woman! You know nothing about the issue! Yami is my brother and my Beta and I'm his Alpha. And if that means I must interfere to prevent him from making a mistake then I shall, whether he wishes me to or not." He snarled in fierce determination but Mai caught the hidden message. No matter how hard the wolf tried to mask his fear, he couldn't hide it. She'd been in that phase for too long not to recognize it.

"Yami's young and foolish. He's too blinded by his emotions and he can't see reason." Excuses poured from the man's mouth, even as Mai strolled over to him. But his tone was fake, as if the only person he was trying to convince was himself. "He's my Beta and my brother; he'll get over the affair. He's a wolf after all."

"Yeah and wolves mate for life, right?" Atem shot up, surprised to find the woman standing in front of him. When had she gotten so close?

"How much longer are you going to spit these bull shit excuses?" Mai asked in a bored tone, like a parent waiting for a child to finish throwing a temper tantrum.

Atem blanched, absolutely livid. "Excuses? You-dare—think that I-I…" He couldn't form complete sentences. "My purpose is to protect my pack and my brother and if that means keeping Yami from making the worst mistake of his life, then so be it!"

"Oh, cut the crap, Atem!" Mai snapped, glaring down at him. Enraged violet bore into furious ruby. "This has nothing to do with Yugi or you 'protecting' Yami and you damn well know it! This is about you! You're just pissed your baby brother doesn't need you around to take care of him anymore."

The wolf froze. His entire composure shattered, his eyes bulged and his face went livid with shock. His silence only proved Mai's accuracy in her statement. "Th-That's a lie!" He said fiercely but Mai caught the stumble in his voice.

"Bullshit." Mai countered. "That might work on anyone else, but not me. I can see right through you. You act all tough and hardcore but that's just a cover. Even around Yami, when he does anything to 'break out,' you flip. And it's not because you want to protect him, it's because you can't accept the fact that he's grown up, that he's moved on with his life and he doesn't need you anymore. He's gone out on his own, he's fallen in love, he's found the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with, and that terrifies you more than anything else, doesn't it?" It wasn't a question, but Atem was too stunned by the woman's boldness and precision to argue.

"And do you know why? Because you're terrified that you've lost him. You're petrified that this new person he's in love with will take him away. You're little brother, you're only family, the only person you have left in the, the one you can let your guard down and be yourself around and they won't judge you or think you're pathetic because you screw up or act a certain way, the most important person in the world to you. You feel like they're slipping away and that you're on the verge of being replaced by someone else. So you hate them for it! Hate them with every fiber of you're being but you can't can you?" Her voice grew harsher, more strained and more passionate, as if no longer speaking about the wolf. "And why can't you? Because he's your family! Blood or not, he's still family and he's still the most important person in the world to you. And you can never bring yourself to hate the person you love the most, right?"

Atem could only nod.

"So instead, you project your hatred onto the one who takes him away from you because it's easier." The woman's voice changed. Now it was bitter, cold with remorse. "It's so much easier to hate them but, at the same time, it's so hard to because when you see them together, they're happier. You're brother, he's happier then you've ever seen them and you can't stand that. You just can't understand what it is about that person that makes them laugh, smile, act like everything is right with the world and nothing bad can ever hurt them. And you keep asking why did they never feel that way whenever you were around them? Why? Why? Why? Right?"

The woman's harsh voice was like a whiplash to the side. Atem's claws sank into his palms, drawing blood as he tried to maintain his domineering composure. But Mai's dead-on meticulousness made it more and more difficult to keep from flinching.

"And then you get to the point where, no matter what you do, you keep bombarding them with your feelings 'cause you don't want to accept that you're wrong. And then slowly, so you don't even notice it, you drive a wedge between them, and you make it harder and harder for them because they feel the guilt of knowing their happiness is causing you pain. You want them to know you're causing them pain, right?" Guilt leaked in to her rant, her clenched fists shaking at her side and her wavy bangs masked her face when her head carefully lowered. "And then as you bombard them with your feelings and your wants and your selfishness, you start to push them further and further away from you. Until finally, they start to hate you. And then only then do you finally get it!"

Atem's mask of composure shattered.

"I hate you!"

That sentence screamed in his ears like the dying wail of a ghost determined to drive it's assailant mad. The night before flash in his mind. Yami growling and snarling at anything that came near him as Yugi collapsed in his arms. How he thrashed like a wild animal when Ishizu pulled him aside while Mahad lifted the unconscious teen into his arms and made his way back towards Earthside. His face and his eyes as Ishizu dragged him from the room, scolding him. Not that he listened. Or cared, his focus was dead set on Atem.

The stark pain and naked hatred in Yami's eyes burned Atem to the core of his very soul. The words he spoke next before Ishizu dragged him from sight dripped with venom, each word like a whiplash to the side. "I hate you! I'll never forgive you for this, Atemu! Never! I hate you! I hate you!"

That was only the second time in his entire life Yami had ever called him by his full name. The only other time it had been his first word.

His neutral mask returned in an instant. His eyes were cold and hard and his hands unclenched, revealing red-tipped claws and bloody palms. "And you know of this?" He interrogated. "How?"

Mai only smirked. "Please, how do you think I reacted when I found out my baby brother was dating a werewolf?" It wasn't a question. "Him being one I was fine with, but he was so naïve about it." A hand ran through her pale blond forelock at the memory of Yugi; sixteen and so young, naïve and innocent. The very opposite of the headstrong, confident and independent young adult he was now. "I hated it, but Yami brought out the best in him…he grew up a lot, found friends, a second home, a place he belonged, he had this whole new life! But I was still stuck on the other end. And for a long time, I hated those wolves because I felt they were taking him away from me. Instead, they made him happy in a way I knew I never could and I envied them for that. But I loved Yugi too much to see him miserable, and taking that away from him—" Her eyes met his with a ferocious glare. "His friends. His home. His family. His soul mate! To take all that away from him…that's beyond cruel, that's—that's—" Her entire body shook with tremor as if unable to find an appropriate word. "Monstrous."

Atem didn't flinch. She hadn't expected him to.

For a moment, the two stared at the other. The were mirror images on opposite sides of the bridge. Their siblings downstairs they had worked so hard to build and preserve. Dark violet bore into Bright burgundy. Silence heavier than a stone anchored them in place, neither willing to end the match or forfeit the clash of wills.

Mai was unlike other women he'd met. She was very much like a wolf actually. She was fiercely loyal, especially to her family, independent, incredibly bold, sharp-tongue and stood firmly in her beliefs. She even spoke with the wisdom of someone well accustomed to such arguments. Like a Queen. He thought.

Finally, Atem spoke. "And what would you have me do, woman? You know little of my people's customs; I cannot just let them be so lightly."

Mai rolled her eyes. "Pledge is just to prove it's the person the challenger wants and not the power, right?" Mai said without flinching. Not even his pride could stop Atem's eyebrows from rising.

Mai closed her eyes and turned around to leave, but her aura was one of pride, not defeat.

She even walked like a Queen.

She stopped to look over her shoulder.

The Alpha hadn't moved. "Look Atem, I know you have to do what you have to do, but if you really care about your brother as much as I think you do, you know what you need to do." Her tone softened, but only someone who had been intently listening to her voice could've caught the change. "But." Her eyes turned grave as if nothing she spoke before was more real than what she said now. "If you hurt Yugi, either physically or because you pull rank and change the rules, I will kill you. I don't want to, but I swear I will hunt you down and I will kill you, even if I have to come back from the dead. And don't think I won't figure out how to do that!" She stopped, and Atem couldn't tell if she was waiting for an answer or not.

The wolf bowed respectfully and crossed his right hand over his left breast. "You have my word."

Before Mai could question further, the Alpha had turned around, leapt on the ledge and leap from it with the stealth of a jungle cat. He transformed once he hit the ground and took to the woods.

*******

The sun had already set and twilight began darkening the sky with hues of dark purple and bluish black. Yugi rolled over, dragging the comforter with him. He'd dragged it off the bed and wrapped him and Yami in it. For a while they just lied there, content at just being in the other's presence. Like all the other times they'd fallen asleep together, Yugi slept on Yami's chest. He'd given up on pillows.

And like all other times, Yami's arms trapped his waist in a vice-grip, and, no matter how much he squirmed and pushed against the man's chest, he refused to move. He pressed one hand against Yami's strong chest and used the other to reach for the alarm clock, which was annoyingly just out of reach of his prying fingers.

Just as the object was in his grasp, a strong arm pulled him back, "Yami." Yugi growled, glaring at the amused half-lidded crimson eyes.

"What?" He asked innocently, pulling Yugi flush against his chest.

"You have to get back. And I need to get some sleep." He smiled softly.

Yami leaned into a sitting position, taking Yugi with him and glared at the alarm clock. "It's only 8:30?"

"And the Wild Hunt begins at midnight." Yugi corrected. "I told you, I have to be at my best to defeat Atem. And you need to get back before they find out you A-walled."

"Shit!" Yami clenched his bangs, knowing Yugi was right. "And I still have Seto tied up in my room." He mumbled, gently placing Yugi on the floor and doing up his coat.

"What?" Yugi blinked, unsure if he heard his love right or misunderstood.

"Don't worry about it." Yami promised and chastely kissed him on the cheek before lifting his chin to meet his eyes with a grave expression. "You have to win, Yugi." It wasn't a request or a promise. "I can't live without you."

He wanted nothing more than to kiss Yugi and Yugi wanted to return that desire, but they both knew if they did, they wouldn't be able to stop. "Don't worry, Yami. I will win."

Yami nodded, his eyes brighter then they had been all night. Instead, Yami kissed Yugi's forehead and disappeared through the window. He was already in his fur by the time Yugi made it to the window, the comforter still wrapped around him. His claws sank into the wall as he watched Yami run.

"Don't worry, Yami." He said confidently. "I will win."

Description
Mai Kazuki never believed in supernatural abnormalities as a child, but she often wished they existed. Despite that, it didn't stop her from enjoying all things supernatural and "make-believe". So, when she learned the true form of her baby brother was that of a werewolf, they both found it incredibly surprising that she was okay with it. Although she initially freaked out, it didn't change anything between them.

That proud, beautiful creature her brother became was as wild and free as she's always dreamed of being, yet he was still the same feisty, spirited and fun-loving boy she knew and loved. Those traits shined even in his wolf form and she fought tooth and nail to make sure she was the only one—aside from the pack – who knew that secret.

It had been a challenge convincing the judge to grant her sole custody of Yugi; she herself being only 24 and fresh out of college, while Yugi was still a teenager. Even after she'd lost the first time, she and Yugi had worked together to expose the foster parent for who she really was. They used video wires, tape recorders, everything and anything to prove that insanely religious, overly strict, old bat who pretended to be a "good" mother by locking the fridge, not letting the kids go out, and making them smile whenever social services stopped by, was nothing but a fraud trying to look good for the media and hoping to mooch off the success of her foster kids. Mai finally got the court order she needed when the old bat tried to lock Yugi in the basement for being a "dirty, bloated slut" when she caught Yami walking Yugi home.

Yami's testimony, the claw-shaped bruises on Yugi's arms when she grabbed him, and the recordings on the tapes were all the evidence the judge needed to grant Mai's claim and remove their foster siblings from the bat's care. Like any sibling, Mai hadn't been too thrilled when Yugi started dating, especially since Yami was a werewolf. She was even less happy when he started sleeping away from home more often as he and Yami got closer. She didn't pretend not to know why, but despite herself, she respected Yugi's freedom and independence, not only as a werewolf who was part of a pack, but as a young man who'd found his soul-mate. After all, having a steady boyfriend didn't affect the time Yugi and Mai spent together and it was much better than having her little brother sit around at home all day while she was away working on her next movie.

Mai wasn't the first human to learn about the existence of werewolves, but she was the first to be left alive. When she'd learned Yugi and Yami's secret, Atem felt she showed great loyalty by not turning them in to the cops or scientists. Wolves always valued the importance of loyalty and family and, having accepted Yugi into the pack, she was technically family. In exchange for her life, he gave her and ultimatum: if she so much as breathed a word of the pack's secret or its location, they would leave and, no matter how hard she looked, she would never see Yugi again.

She didn't need to be told twice. But it still didn't stop her from telling Yami she'd fill his blood with enough silver to make him explode if he even thought about hurting her baby brother. Yugi's safety and happiness was far more important to her than her own self preservation.

So when she had come home that night and found her unconscious little brother in the arms of a tall purple-haired man it had taken all her will power not to scream.

Mahado had tucked Yugi carefully into bed, frowning before turning to his little friend's pack-sister. "I apologize for this ordeal, Miss Kazuki." He half-bowed respectfully, the frown on his face making her heart sink. "But rest assured madam, your brother is fine. He is simply exhausted from the night's events. However…" HHe paused and turned to the circle of wolves who were all casting worried glances at their slumbering pack member. A nod from his head told them to leave. The small pack did so but not without reluctance. "I'm afraid I must speak to you about something very disturbing."

Unsure what else to do, Mai listened to how, in the span of a few hours, Yugi's entire world had come crashing down.

********

Atem didn't know what was worse: his headache or the incompetence of the less intelligent members of his pack. Apparently, they had decided to ignore his order to leave the newly coroneted Beta alone, but instead of punishing them, he felt having them slashed, bitten and thrown across the room.

He launched himself from his seat and stormed down the hallway. He leaned to the side as a wolf was thrown his way, the poor creature whining like a wounded puppy when its head hit the wall. "Get up, you mongrels!" Atem snapped, causing everyone in the hall to jump to their feet. "You're acting like a litter of pups. Now get the hell out of here and Lord help any of you who try to coax my brother without my permission after this!" The snarl in his voice was worse than any bite, but his growing canines were not too friendly either.

The hallway cleared itself in a matter of seconds.

Atem heard a snort and growled, determined to rip to shreds whoever dared to disrespect him. Bakura leaned against the wall of Yami's room, his arms casually folded across his chest with a smirk that rivaled his own.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He warned the Alpha. "Brother/Beta or not, you set one foot in that room and Yami will rip your throat out." It sounded like a joke, but the hardness in Bakura's russet eyes meant he was serious. Whether he was concerned for his leader or actually wanted to see his throat torn, Atem couldn't tell.

"Not that I blame him." Marik growled under his breath. The tawny wolf sat cross-legged opposite Bakura, picking his black claws.

Atem's eyes narrowed.

Marik growled. "Don't give me that look! You know full well you deserve everything Yami said last night and more! To be honest, I was gonna do the same thing but he beat me to it." The blond roared gesturing to the tear on Atem's coat caused five claw-marks, rims crusted with dried blood. It was only a second, Bakura and Marik's grip on Yami faltered but that was all he needed. The result: Yami was on house arrest, both as a punishment and to keep the laws of the Pledge in check, the pack was in chaos regarding the sudden outburst between Beta and Alpha, and Atem was furious that his favorite coat was ruined.

Atem ignored their "concern" and undid the lock on Yami's room, ordering them both to stay outside. The second the door opened, he ducked as a vase was thrown at his head, and kicked the bits of glass out of the way. He closed the door behind him and tried to make his way to the wreckage surrounding him. Furniture was over-turned and most of the more expensive objects lay in pieces of broken glass on the floor. The game station, lucky to be in the corner, was the only thing that survived the wreck. He found Yami on the bed, still in his clothes from last night with the exception of his coat. Pillows and blankets scattered the floor and a storm of feathers and cotton floated in the air when there were kicked up. Even the curtains had been ripped off and torn to pieces.

By the looks of it, Yami had passed out from anger sometime in the later hours of the night and had woken up only to extract vengeance on whoever or whatever disturbed him.

"Yami." The wolf shot up when his name was called. His teeth and claws were barred and eyes were red with pure rage. Temporarily blinded, Yami lunged at Atem, but the elder expected the assault and stepped aside, grabbing Yami's arm and pinning it behind his back.

Yami exploded and spun around to punch him, but Atem grabbed Yami's free hand and slammed the thrashing werewolf to the wall. He remained immobile until Yami kicked Atem's shin. Overcome by shock more than anything else, Atem released him. Yami took the opportunity to pounce on him, throwing him so hard against the floor that the tile cracked.

Atem hissed, feeling Yami's claws sink into his arms. Growling like an angry hound, he extended his fangs and rolled them over. Again, the two lunged at the other, evenly matched: Atem was stronger and more focused, but Yami's rage made him faster and more lethal.

Furniture crashed around them. The wall groaned every time one of them was thrown against it. The glass cracked and screeched when they attacked each other with their fists and claws.

Finally, Atem pounced again and this time, he pinned Yami beneath him with his hands locked at his sides. The younger wolf howled and thrashed but it did little good and he finally collapsed from exhaustion. Both wolves panted and growled at the other, the anger and hatred in Yami's eyes refusing to falter until he finally passed out again.

Atem won, but his victory felt as hollow as a blown egg. He punched the floor by Yami's head, not even caring that his black and purple knuckles oozed blood once he retracted his hand. Sighing from anger and frustration, he hopped off Yami and carefully picked him up, gently lying him down on the bed. Knowing Yami would be much calmer once he awoke, Atem patiently took a seat on the opposite corner. He ran a hand through his lightning-shaped bangs in an effort to calm himself down but it didn't work.

Just as he predicted, he didn't have long to wait. Twenty minutes later, Yami rolled over and slowly began to stir. Atem flinched when he heard Yami hiss as he tried to balance himself on one arm then collapsed back to the bed.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He warned, concerned. Yami whirled around and snarled at him. Thankfully, his eyes were much tamer than they were before, but not wanting to repeat what had happened, Atem beat him to the punch. "I didn't come here to fight you." He threw his hands up in surrender. "I just want to talk."

Yami's fangs and claws retracted but his eyes and face remained hard and untrusting. "I have nothing to say to you." He said in a deliberately harsh tone, bitter with betrayal.

Atem's hand clenched the comforter. "Then just listen." He said in a softly.

A growl was Atem's only warning before Yami jumped to his feet and punched him across the jaw. "There is nothing you can say! And whatever it is, I don't want to hear it! You said everything you needed to last night!"

Atem barked furiously, nursing his wound with his palm. "Last night, I did what I was supposed to! Your brat Pledged, I gave him a challenge, that's that! Don't get pissed at me because your boy toy acted without thinking!"

"That's not what I'm talking about and you know it!" Yami thundered. "You know the why Yugi Pledged to me! He loves me, he wanted to be my mate and, in his mind, that was the only choice because you wouldn't let me be his mate any other way! Had I asked him to Bond with me already, this mess would never have happened! But no—" Yami let all his anger and sarcasm bleed into his voice, each bitter word like a whiplash to Atem's side. "You just couldn't let me have a mate! You just couldn't let me be with someone I love, someone who actually gives a damn about me and not this damn Beta role or this fucking pack status. But no, you just couldn't let me have that one thing because you can't stand to see anyone else happy!"

"That's not true and you know it!" Atem lost control and exploded. He was face to face with Yami in a second, furious blood-red eyes glaring into angered crimson, conveying more emotions than Yami thought Atem was capable of. "Imbed this in your skull." The harshness of each word, pinned Yami in place like railroad spikes. "Everything and every decision I make, I make for you and the benefit of this pack. If I decide something, that is my only intention in mind, nothing else. I promised father I would protect you and this pack, and I will!"

"Even if I don't need your protection?" Yami countered, his eyes hard and meeting his brother blow for blow. In the past, he may have let Atem intimidate him purely out of respect for his Alpha, but not this time, not when the issue concerned someone he cared for becoming a scapegoat.

Atem blinked. "What—"

"I'm not the same scared teenager I was when father died. And you're not the same person I looked up to and adored when we were younger. What happened to that strong-willed and compassionate man who said he would be the best leader this clan ever saw? What happened to him? And don't you dare tell me he grew up because we both know that's bullshit!"

"What the hell does that have to do with—" Atem began, but Yami cut him off.

"Everything!" Yami exploded. "Ever since father died and you took over this pack, you became bitter and cold, especially when it comes to every decision I make! When I agree with you, I'm your beloved brother but the second I do anything independent, you're against it! That's the only reason you hate Yugi, isn't it?"

"He's a rogue! You heard him Pledge! He's just like everyone else who wants to raise their status by mating the higher ups! Just like every other whore in that room! He's not in the same league as you. You're better than him." Atem braced himself for a fight, expecting Yami to lunge at him or curse at him for insulting his lover. Instead, shock froze him in place when Yami just stood there, bangs shadowing his eyes. He looked like a hidden tiger waiting to pounce.

Atem froze when he heard a snicker, then a chuckle, then he almost fainted when he heard Yami exploded in laugher like a mad man. Forcing his authority back into control, Atem growled harshly "What. Is so. Funny?"

Yami lifted his face to face him, the look in his eyes sending a shiver through Atem's entire being.

"The true you would never let something as stupid as "league" bar two people who love each other." The darkness in Yami's smirk made Atem flinch.

Yami expected him to slap him, or punch him—hell, he would've—anything but what Atem actually did.

Atem hugged him.

Overcome by shock more than anything else, Yami just stayed there, limp in Atem's strong embrace until his brother let go. Atem walked by him without another word and Yami was paralyzed, unable to speak until thoughts of Yugi entered his mind.

"Why?" Yami asked and Atem froze in his tracks. Neither were facing each other

"Why what?" The elder asked lowly.

"Why banish him?" Yami growled, fisting his hands. "Even if you won't allow him to be my mate, he has friends here and a home. Why take that all away from him because you can't stand seeing us happy together."

"That's a lie and you know it." Atem said neutrally. "You're my brother, Yami, and even though I don't always show it, I love you. All I want is for you to be happy. And if you must know, I'll tell you. If I defeat Yugi tomorrow and he is unable to be your mate, seeing him constantly, but never able to be with him would hurt you both more than never seeing him again. That's why."

Atem left without another word.

*******

Mai was so deep in thought over Mahado's words that she barely noticed when morning came. She'd stirred her coffee so much, it had turned ice-cold and yet she couldn't bring herself to move from her spot. Instead, she grabbed the folded chair from Yugi's desk and sat at his bedside. Her legs itched where the plastic had ripped but she ignored it. Her nails chipped the plastic where they sank into the sides as she leaned forward, eyes glued on the lump curled up under the thick comforter.

Finally, movement came from beneath it. Yugi squirmed around a bit before slowly pushing himself to his knees and poking his head out of the mass. Light poured through the window, making him whine. He sat back on his knees, the comforter pooling around his sides and the pillow landing in his lap. His crown of spikes fell to a mop atop his head even as he shook it and his eyes dropped as he tried to rub the sleep from them.

"Welcome back to the world of the living." Mai smiled, rearranging himself in her seat. Yugi's head shot up at her voice. Confused as to where he was, his head darted frantically from one side of the room to the other.

If the pale red walls and the tacky furniture were any indication, he was back in his room, asleep on his double bed and wrapped in his ocher comforter. An over-sized, deep purple shirt and black boxers he usually slept in when at home replaced his green frock from last night. He didn't remember the last time he slept at home. When Mai worked late—which was often—he usually spent the night at Yami's and he and Mai would hang out during the day.

"Mai…" he asked, his throat parched, "What the hell happened last night?"

"I was hoping you could tell me." Mai said, curling a lock of wavy blond hair behind her ear. "I assumed you had a hell of a party last night but when half your pack brings you here minus your boyfriend, I figured something a lot more went down." She switched positions so she was sitting on the edge of the bed.

Yugi let out a dark chuckle. "Yeah, imagine that, huh? The Pack's Herald tucking me into bed." His hands covered his face as he slid back into the bed, the weight of last night crashing down on him like the after affects of a massive hangover. He felt Mai's fingers gently running through his hair as if to calm him down, but it didn't work. Tears pricked his eyes as last night repeated itself in his mind.

Atem's cold, domineering voice echoed in his mind like a vengeful ghost, his ruby eyes piercing his soul…Fail and you are banished from the pack. Banished…banished…banished. The word echoed more dreadful then a scream as he clasped his pillow and hands over his ears and screamed into the mattress.

When he finally resurfaced, Mai pulled her hands away, concern and fear written all over her lovely face. He wiped his face clean on his arm and looked at the floor. "Mai…" He blurted out a broken stutter. "I…I think I screwed up. No, strike that, I majorly screwed up!"

"That's an understatement alright." Mai and Yugi both jumped. Yugi was on his feet in an instant, flexing his teeth and claws before turning towards the source of the sound.

"Wow!" Malik threw his hands up in surrender, knocking Joey into Ryou, and Ryou almost off the second floor.

"Watch it, you daft fools!" Ryou howled. He sunk his claws into the windowsill and did a summersault, landing from Yugi's window onto his floor.

"You wolves do not know what a front door is, do you?" Mai snapped, rhetorically, annoyance apparent in her voice

"Sorry, Mai." Joey apologized. "We had to sneak out to come here so we're trying to keep a low profile."

"Sneak out?" Yugi relaxed. "Why, what happened? What's going on with the pack?"

"World War Three, that's what's bloody going on!" Ryou snarled, reverting back to his human form and dusting the wood off his clothes.

"Again, that's an understatement." Joey sighed, tossing himself through Yugi's window and landing sideways on his feet. "Yam's under lockdown, which, alone, is enough to make da apocalypse look good. You know da rule about not bein able to see or talk to him? Its cuz Atem's afraid he'll try and help you win da hunt. Bakura's stuck there too. Mostly to calm Yami down, though." Joey shook his head and shuddered "Not workin."

"I'll say!" Malik added, joining his comrades and sitting on the desk, bracing himself on the windowsill, "Yam's freakin pissed! Not that I blame him. Atem crossed a line. I swear I would be this close to slapping Ishizu if she gave anyone that know-it-all 'I-saw-that-coming' smirk of hers again!" Malik snarled sinking his claws into the window sill and scattering splinters.

"So then why are you guys are allowed here?" Mai asked, since Yugi was still digesting what he'd just been told

"Because we're 'harmless'." Ryou replied through clenched teeth, using air quotes to emphasize his point. "No one thinks the three of us talking to you is any threat to the rules of the Hunt."

Mai shook her head and got to her feet. "Alright, what the hell is going on? What Hunt and, Yugi, does this have something to do with what happened last night?"

Yugi looked away, half-blushing and bit his lip. "Sort of." He squeaked. "You see, last night after we got to the party, Yami told me to stay clear of the court until after the ceremony, so I did. And while I was watching a bunch of a girls, or she-wolves, or whatever, throwing themselves at Atem's feet, these two rouges came up to me and told me it was called a Pledge." He lowered his head in a failed attempt to hide his embarrassment. "Looking back, they bragged about it, and I didn't believe them, honestly I didn't." Yugi protested. "I trust Yami more than them, but they kept going on and on about how we didn't really belong to each other unless I made a Pledge, that, unless I Pledged myself to him, I was just a toy or some shit. I didn't believe them until…" He paused and clenched the comforter so tight it began to rip beneath the force of his claws. "Atem got really pissed about Yami flaunting over me, and when Yami called me his mate, Atem just… he smirked and said I wasn't because I hadn't done something. And what those girls said kept repeating in my head over and over and all I could think was I wanted to be Yami's mate more than anything, so I Pledged. Yami freaked out and Atem didn't believe me but I…I persisted and after it was all over, he…said I had to defeat him in the Wild Hunt. If I win, I get to be Yami's mate. And if I don't, I'm…" Banished, he tried to say but the words died on his tongue.

"What, Yugi?" Mai asked, placing her hands on his shoulders and kneeling down to meet his eyes. "What did he say?"

"HE SAID I'M BANISHED FROM THE PACK!" Yugi finally exploded in a fit of emotions, shocking everyone in the room before collapsing on his bed. "Oh god! What am I gonna do! What am I gonna do!" He grabbed his hair and shook his head ferociously. "If this was a race, I could win easily, but Atem, he's the fucking Alpha! How the hell am I supposed to beat him in a hunt?" Yugi collapsed again, refusing to shed any more tears. He fell back against the bed and smothered his screams with his pillow. "God, I'm so stupid!"

"Yugi, calm down!" Mai half yelled, half comforted in a desperate attempt to quiet him.

"How can I calm down?" He snapped, more harshly then he intended "I'm not even allowed to see or speak to Yami until the Hunt, and that's only if I win. And if I lose, not only do I lose him, I lose everyone!" He screamed, then collapsed back onto his pillow, laughing bitterly. "Atem's hated me and Yami being together since day one, he's been looking for an excuse to get rid of me and I practically threw one in his lap!"

"Wow! Let's not give up yet, buddy." Joey jumped in, landing on the bed.

"Yeah, the Hunt isn't until tonight, we got time to figure something out." Malik added.

"What I don't understand is why Yami didn't tell me about this stupid Pledge thing. I mean, didn't he want me to be his mate?" Yugi asked with moist eyes.

"Yugi, I know Yami." Mai said firmly, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Even before you two started going out, all he cared about was your happiness. If he didn't tell you about this, there had to be a good reason. I mean, think about it. You said girls were throwing themselves at his feet, what if this pledge thing was just a way to weed out all the bitches?"

"That's exactly what it is and more." Ryou suddenly spoke up. All eyes fell on him as he strolled over and sat cross-legged on the bed in front of Yugi, his usually warm eyes appearing firmer and out of place. "Yugi, What exactly do you know about Pledges?" Ryou stressed.

"I…I thought it was like letting everyone know we were together or something. You know, like me becoming his mate, for real and not just being in love and spending all our time together?" Yugi guessed, remembering the conversation he had with the rouge she-wolves.

Ryou collapsed his head in his hands. "Damn those rouge bitches. A Pledge is much more immutable than that, Yugi." The whitenette continued, "Wolves, of course mate for life, so clearly, the Beta can only ever have one mate—if ever. But there will always be someone willing to Pledge their loyalty in order to become the Beta's mate. In the case of the Alpha and Beta, mating is much more serious because of the position each one commands. A mate is either consort or regent."

Yugi blinked. "Ryou, what are you talking about?"

"There are many ways to declare or ask someone to be your mate, Yugi. But once status becomes an issue, it isn't so much how declaring a mate is done, it's who that becomes the prime concern. Since Yami's Beta, if he asked you to be his mate and you accepted solely out of love, than yes, you'd be his mate. But as far as your role in the pack goes, your position would be, at best, consort: you would have the status but no political control over the pack."

The white-haired wolf paused to take a breath, then continued, "A Pledge is the opposite. When one Pledges themselves to a potential mate, they are to share the responsibilities that come with the desired Mate's position. In this case, because you Pledged yourself to Yami, you were not only asking to be his mate, but to be his Regent and share his duties as Beta as well. That's why a Pledge needs the approval of the Alpha. Rouges, omegas and any unmated wolf will use it as a way to improve their power and status among pack life. That's also why the Alpha names the challenge. It's like a test to prove one's worth, not only to their desired mate, but to show they're capable of handling the position."

"So that's why he wants me to challenge him in the Wild Hunt. I have to prove I'm good enough to be…second Beta?" Yugi asked, eyes wide from the shock of what he just learned. How could he have been so foolish as to think something so serious could ever be handled so simply?

"Yes and no." Ryou explained. "Atem's obviously using this as an excuse to try and get rid of you, but this way, he can do that and make you look unworthy. In his mind, your Pledge is so that you can increase your control over the pack, and he can use this both to discredit you among the pack and make sure you can't abuse Yami's position." Ryou shook his head, laughing bitterly. "God, it's so easy to forget how clever he is."

"But that still doesn't make any sense, why didn't Yami tell me about the Pledge? I was so sure…I never would've even suggested it if I'd known how this all worked."

"Yug," Joey stepped in with a grave expression. "Yami's bound to the pack as Beta, even if he takes a mate, his duty has to come first, no matter what. Do you really think he'd want to chain you to the same fate? Yami would want you to have your freedom."

Yugi growled, clenching his fists so hard he ripped the comforter. "So that's it? If Atem thinks he can get rid of me that easily, he's dead wrong!" He threw the blanket off him and stormed across the room to the closet. He stripped his tee-shirt and pulled on a pair of black shorts and a black tank top.

"Hold on." Mai said, ignoring Yugi's sudden change of demeanor. "You said Atem wants to get rid of Yugi. But why? If he really does care about Yami as much as you guys let on, why would he do anything to threaten Yami's happiness?"

The three wolves shifted their focus from Yugi to Mai and shook their heads. "No one knows why." Joey replied. "Ever since their dad died, he's been like ultra-protective of Yami. He doesn't like anyone getting to close to him."

Malik snorted in agreement. "I swear, the only reason he even lets us around him is because we're already mated."

"Really?" Mai raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"Come on!" Yugi ordered, snapping the wolves from their trance as he pulled on his combat boots. "You said I only got until tonight right? Then let's move."

"Whatcha gonna do Yugi?" Malik asked, as the three hopped to their feet and followed Yugi to the still open window.

"What do you think I'm gonna do?" Yugi smirked, climbing over his desk and bracing himself on the windowsill. "I'm gonna win! I told Atem I'd do anything to prove I love Yami and I meant it."

Joey's jaw hit the floor, Malik grinned until his smile slit his face and Ryou's eyes widened. "This is gonna take a lot of work, Yugi." He told him. "Even if you've got speed, Atem's much stronger. How are you going to win if you can't out best him?"

"I don't have to be stronger than Atem." Yugi corrected. "This is a hunt, Joey, not a fight. I just need to defeat him. Now let's go!" He ordered, jumping out the window and landing gracefully on his feet.

"Kid, you are nine kinds of crazy." Malik announced from the window.

"I know I am, but I need to win." Yugi said firmly, cracking his knuckles. "And I will. I'm not sure how yet, but I will if it kills me!"

"Works for me!" Joey followed Yugi.

"Yugi!" Mai shouted. He paused, turned around and looked up to meet Mai's eyes "Yeah?"

"Make sure you come back here and get some sleep, you'll need to be at your full strength for this." She smiled. Yugi met her smile and nodded; grateful he had Mai to keep his reckless bravado in check. Once the rest of the wolves followed him, he made a mad dash for the woods. He'd have to be in his wolf form to learn all the tricks needed for a hunt.

Mai watched until the four vanished from sight. Her eyes hardened as she recalled what the boys told her. Leaning against the windowsill, her eyes darted to a photograph of Yami and Yugi from last summer. The two of them had their arms wrapped around the other and flashing victory signs with the sunlight blaring behind them. That day had been one of the happiest moments of her life.

"What is your real motive, Atem?"

********

Seto took a drag at his cigar, exhaling a cloud of ashen smoke. He leaned back against Yami's door, bored. He'd hoped the buzz would clear his head, but sadly it didn't work. Then again, that's what he got for thinking Atem would have the brains to deal with this in perspective. He hadn't failed to glare at his cousin when Atem left Yami's room, not forgetting to lock the door behind him. If only to let the man know he was being unreasonable or, for lack of a better phrase, screwed up royally.

He didn't blame Atem for what happened. The Alpha was, after all, the Alpha. Laws were still laws despite the fact that many of the traditions had evolved since the olden days. They were wolves, after all. The democratic diplomats that governed the modern world simply didn't apply to the wolves. Compromise just wasn't an option sometimes. Who was to say the accused would even stay long enough for trial? Or even care? And they couldn't exactly lock them up in jail.

Wolves needed to be harsh. Leaders had to be strong, domineering, and not afraid to use force when force was required because that was what the wolves respected. Their strength and blood earned them their position and they had to fight to keep it. And if they weren't willing to put their heart and soul into what they did, then they were replaced.

But that didn't mean that Alphas were heartless. Just the opposite in fact; the sole duty of the Alpha was the protection and survival of the pack. If an Alpha turned into a power-hungry tyrant, pack could easily overthrow him and replace him. The Alpha needed an iron fist, a heart of gold, and the mind to know when to use which.

But Atem had failed this time, and Seto, especially, wanted to make sure he knew it. This time, Atem had put his own personal desire above what he knew was right, not for himself, but for Yami. He knew Atem didn't think so and that was the problem. The same problem he had before he met Jou. The same weakness Yami had before Yugi entered his life and achieved the impossible of both winning Yami's heart and awakening the boy he knew and adored when they were children: pride. It was their family's greatest strength as well as the worst of their weaknesses.

In Atem's case, his pride blinded him to the truth. But sadly, there was little Seto could do to change that. He couldn't change Atem's mind. Only Yami, and maybe Yugi, could.

Speaking of which… He thought, taking another drag at his cigar before dropping it on the floor and stomping out the flame with his boot. Yami's been awfully quite the last few hours. The brunette peeked out the cathedral window. The sun had only just begun its decent behind the trees, blanketing the sky in a splash of colors and the moon had yet to show her face. The Wild Hunt didn't begin until Midnight so there was still plenty of time.

That thought suddenly clicked in his mind. Plenty of time.

"Plenty of time for Yami to think of a way to break out!" The realization struck the man to his core. He whirled around and bolted for the doorknob. His head slammed against the door, and he scolded himself for being an idiot. His fingers scrambled to grab the keys fidgeting to find the right one.

His heart was already pounding and a string of frantic curses dropped from his mouth. He faintly hoped that he was wrong, but he knew better.

With a familiar click, the door unlocked. He threw it open and rushed inside without thinking. "Yami!" He yelled and looked around frantically, but all he found was an empty room and a vacant bed. The windows were still locked but a breeze got in through the opened skylight.

"Oh hell no!" Seto said in disbelief. "Not even Yami could pull that off. Fuck!" Seto cursed, not noticing the shadow in the corner. "Atem is going to throw a fucking fit—"

Suddenly, he heard a loud crash in his ear, followed by a sharp pain in the back of his head. His world went spinning until he fell into blackness.

*******

"Crap." Yami grunted, gripping the vase until his knuckles went white. He dropped the vase on the floor and checked over his cousin. "No blood. No head injuries. Good." He sighed in relief before dragging the larger body toward his bed. He dug through his stuff and pulled out a scarf and a few pairs of handcuffs. He cuffed Seto's hands behind his back, then his ankles, and tied the scarf around his mouth. He then covered him with the blankets and arranged the pillows, creating the illusion of a sleeping body.

"Sorry Seto. But in all honesty, I was expecting my brother." He apologized, feeling guilty. He grabbed the keys and grabbed Seto's silver and blue trench coat, throwing it on. Tying his wild mane back and donning the hood, he double-checked to make sure the coast was clear, then locked his room, hiding the key in his pocket.

He slid the windows open and, with an elegant summersault, landed in a crouch position like a jungle cat. His senses were on high alert. No smells, no movement. No signs that anyone had noticed his presence. Good.

He focused his eyes and bit his lip as his body creaked and cracked. Fur danced down his back, claws extended from his nails and toes. Canines extended as his limbs rearranged themselves and his spine snapped as it changed to accommodate his new body. All the while, he remained completely silent. Combating the howl of completion, he broke into a run and, with the speed and grace of his race, sprinted, letting the blood sing in his veins and the thrill of the change fill him.

But his steps were different. This was no freedom or exuberance that he usually experienced and he feared he would never experience that feeling again. His steps were quick and determined, focusing solely on their destination rather than the joy of the actual run. His muscles and bones ached with longing and trembled with need. The need to see his lover, to hold him close to him, to run with him, fuelled by the heartbreaking and terrifying fear that if he'd never see his lover again.

He could only hope and pray Atem didn't find him. Yugi may have been forbidden to see him during the trial but the law didn't say he couldn't see Yugi. And if Atem threw that back in his face, he'd do much worse then punch him in the jaw and ruin his favorite coat. Much worse.

He didn't care how dangerous this was. He didn't care that this was only going to make things harder and more difficult for Yugi. He didn't care that Atem would, no doubt, use this against him. All he cared about was seeing Yugi, in the terrifying fear that this truly was the last chance he'd get to see him.

*******

Hard ruby eyes watched the wolf change and burst into the forest in a desperate attempt to control the sudden urge that came with the change. His eyes hardened even more at the obvious change in the wolf's run.

This didn't make sense. Yami never ran in such a hurried and precise manner. He wasn't even trying to cover his tracks or enjoy himself. He was distracted and timid. His focus was dead set on where he was going and how to get there the fastest.

His nails sank into the stone of the cathedral.

He didn't like it. The change in Yami's run. It was too…desperate. Fearful. Afraid. The stone cracked beneath the force of his fingers.

"Now what are you up to, little brother?" The wolf snorted, jumping to his feet. Nails extended to claws as he backed up. He raced forward before elegantly leaping from the top of the cathedral. He landed as a wolf and broke into a run.

*********

Yugi woke to scratching at his window. He rolled over and his eyes widened at the black-eared young man he loved more than anything on earth stared at him through his window. He threw off the covers in a heartbeat and undid the lock as fast as he could, Yami ungracefully crashing to the floor once the glass barrier was removed.

Unsure whether to help his boyfriend up or blink at the uncharacteristic action, he did both. "Yami what the hell are you doing here?" He demanded, half shocked and half panicked.

"And here I thought you'd be happy to see me?" Yami teased, but there was a hidden terror in his voice.

Sensing that fear and unable to control himself any longer, the teen threw himself into the boy's arms, almost knocking him over. "That's not what I meant and you know it." Yugi snapped in a grave tone. "I'm not allowed to see you until the Wild Hunt if anyone found out, Atem would—"

Yami kissed him quiet until Yugi was panting beneath him. When the elder pulled away, Yugi growled as best he could through his heavy pants, the harsh glare in his eyes not letting the teen forget the seriousness of the situation.

"You're not allowed to see me." Yami corrected. "There is nothing that states I'm not allowed to see you. And if this is the last time I see you, I want to make it count." Yami smirked but his eyes were unable to hide that secret fear. The fear that this would be the last time he got to see Yugi like this, last time he got to hold him, kiss him, love him the way he deserved to be loved.

"That will never happen." Yugi smiled and sat up. "I won't let it." He teased, rubbing his cheek against the teen's naked chest and inhaling his scent. Yami's arms pulled him flush against him, but before he could answer, Yami kissed him hard, silencing any protest. Yugi leaned into the kiss, allowing him to pour all his fear and desperation into him; just in case this was the last time they saw each other.

Yugi returned the kiss with just as much passion and force, pouring his own secret fear into him. They both could smell the terror and consequences their actions would cause but they didn't care. The only thing that mattered was who they were kissing, who they were holding in their arms. The intensity behind their kiss forced them backwards until Yugi was on the floor, his arms wrapped around Yami's neck while the other raked up and down his back. Yami pressed his body flushed against Yugi, arms wrapped around Yugi's shoulders and waist, smoothing up and down every curve of Yugi's body. They hadn't failed to notice the only thing Yami wore was a trench coat and the only thing separating them was Yugi's boxers.

They broke the kiss, only long enough for air, but their lips soon found each other's again. Their hands and claws wondered over every piece of flesh available to them and Yami's coat was lost in the rush. Their limbs moved in perfect sync; skin smoothing over skin; nails and fingers danced over bare flesh and arms; lips parted for only mere moments before returning to the other's skin. Moans and groans escaped them, Yugi more than Yami as the elder wolf's lips and hands moved lower and lower until a skilled hand smoothed over his hips, down his thigh, then slipped beneath the rim of his boxers.

Yugi's eyes flew open, unable to bite back the scream that escaped him, but he forced himself into a sitting position, halting the other's actions. Yami looked up, bewildered at the panting, flushing teen. He gave his boyfriend a knowing smile and his eyes shown with love. "Not that I don't want to make love with you, but I need all my strength if I'm going to defeat Atem."

All of Yami's composure shattered. Unable to control himself, he broke down, burying himself against Yugi's chest and shaking uncontrollably. The sudden action terrified Yugi even more than the still real possibility of never seeing him again and all he could do was hold Yami close to him. "Oh Yami don't act like that. I'm going to win, I promise you that." He said with fierce determination.

"How, Yugi?" Yami shot up. "You can't beat Atem, he's too strong, I know him better than anyone. When he wants something, he's unbeatable and he wants you as far away from me as possible. You know I have faith in you, Yugi, but I need to think of this realistically."

Yugi pressed a finger to Yami's lips, silencing him and met his fearful rubies with an smirking amethysts. "Just like I said, Yami. I don't care about titles or position like Atem thinks I do. I care about you, and I'm not going to lose you because Atem needs to get his head out of his ass."

"You can't beat him, Yugi." Yami looked at the floor. "I wish I could say otherwise but there's no way."

"I know I can't beat him." Yugi said so casually. Yami's head shot up, his eyes almost bulging. But Yugi just grinned. "I don't need to beat him. I just need to win and I will." The determination and certainty in his eyes bore into Yami, filling him with more hope than he had before that horrifying moment when he heard Atem's ultimatum.

Silence echoed between them for a few moments, more dreadful then a scream. Yami didn't say anything, his face was still a mask of conflicted emotions. For a moment, Yugi was afraid Yami didn't believe him. Finally, Yami gave a small smile and shook his head. "You've lost it, Yugi."

Yugi smiled and gently pressed a chaste kiss to Yami's lips. "I know." He replied pushing Yami down and lying on his chest. "But I need to win. I'm not losing you, Yami. Not for anything."

*********

The black wolf growled, his blood red eyes narrowing. More than anything else, he was angry at the younger black wolf's completely uncharacteristic behavior. He remained silent, watching from his post on the roof like a vulture waiting for an aged herbivore to embrace death. His ears were on high alert for anything his brother might say that would betray his position and give Yugi an advantage in the Wild Hunt.

Finally, the two lied down to rest in the other's arms. Yami stroking Yugi's hair while the smaller rested for his competition. He couldn't deny he respected the boy a bit more for refusing to give in to their cardinal desires in favor of perpetration for the Hunt. Only when he was positive nothing forbidden was shared between them did he shed his wolf skin for his human guise.

"God Dammit, Yami! What is wrong with you?" He growled, too low for anyone to hear him.

"Do you really need to ask that question?" Atem whirled around, claws flexed, fangs extended, ready to strike if needed. Instead, all he found was Mai Kajaku standing on the roof with her arms crossed over her chest, her legs straight and a cold look on her lovely face.

"Don't even think it, Temy. I got no problem going downstairs and melting the old lady's silverware if you make even one move towards them. And don't give me any of the rule-breaking crap either."

Atem snorted but relaxed his guard, chuckling darkly. "You keep silver in this house?" He raised an eyebrow crookedly.

"Hey, I find out my baby brother's a werewolf, you don't think I'm not gonna hound Yami until I get all the facts? Besides, silver's only poisonous if it enters the bloodstream. If it touches the skin you're fine, right?"

"That is correct." Atem nodded, with an astounded grin. "Impressive."

Mai's face didn't change, but she gestured with her thumb. "Hence why I said I got no problem melting some of it if you give my brother and his boyfriend a hard time."

Atem growled, impressed and angered by the woman's boldness. She was nothing like Ishizu. "I'm only making sure my brother keeps his word and doesn't betray the secrets of the Wild Hunt. Otherwise, dear little Yugi would be disqualified." His tone changed to a sarcastic mocking, like a bully teasing someone younger than himself. "And that would just devastate him wouldn't it?"

"Oh shut the fuck up!" Mai shouted, breaking her composure so quickly Atem was shocked by the force and anger in her voice. "You're so full of shit! If you were really so righteous, you'd quit being an ass and accept that Yugi and Yami love each other and there's nothing you can do to change it."

Atem's face darkened with rage, his claws sinking into his palms angrily. "Be silent, woman! You know nothing about the issue! Yami is my brother and my Beta and I'm his Alpha. And if that means I must interfere to prevent him from making a mistake then I shall, whether he wishes me to or not." He snarled in fierce determination but Mai caught the hidden message. No matter how hard the wolf tried to mask his fear, he couldn't hide it. She'd been in that phase for too long not to recognize it.

"Yami's young and foolish. He's too blinded by his emotions and he can't see reason." Excuses poured from the man's mouth, even as Mai strolled over to him. But his tone was fake, as if the only person he was trying to convince was himself. "He's my Beta and my brother; he'll get over the affair. He's a wolf after all."

"Yeah and wolves mate for life, right?" Atem shot up, surprised to find the woman standing in front of him. When had she gotten so close?

"How much longer are you going to spit these bull shit excuses?" Mai asked in a bored tone, like a parent waiting for a child to finish throwing a temper tantrum.

Atem blanched, absolutely livid. "Excuses? You-dare—think that I-I…" He couldn't form complete sentences. "My purpose is to protect my pack and my brother and if that means keeping Yami from making the worst mistake of his life, then so be it!"

"Oh, cut the crap, Atem!" Mai snapped, glaring down at him. Enraged violet bore into furious ruby. "This has nothing to do with Yugi or you 'protecting' Yami and you damn well know it! This is about you! You're just pissed your baby brother doesn't need you around to take care of him anymore."

The wolf froze. His entire composure shattered, his eyes bulged and his face went livid with shock. His silence only proved Mai's accuracy in her statement. "Th-That's a lie!" He said fiercely but Mai caught the stumble in his voice.

"Bullshit." Mai countered. "That might work on anyone else, but not me. I can see right through you. You act all tough and hardcore but that's just a cover. Even around Yami, when he does anything to 'break out,' you flip. And it's not because you want to protect him, it's because you can't accept the fact that he's grown up, that he's moved on with his life and he doesn't need you anymore. He's gone out on his own, he's fallen in love, he's found the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with, and that terrifies you more than anything else, doesn't it?" It wasn't a question, but Atem was too stunned by the woman's boldness and precision to argue.

"And do you know why? Because you're terrified that you've lost him. You're petrified that this new person he's in love with will take him away. You're little brother, you're only family, the only person you have left in the, the one you can let your guard down and be yourself around and they won't judge you or think you're pathetic because you screw up or act a certain way, the most important person in the world to you. You feel like they're slipping away and that you're on the verge of being replaced by someone else. So you hate them for it! Hate them with every fiber of you're being but you can't can you?" Her voice grew harsher, more strained and more passionate, as if no longer speaking about the wolf. "And why can't you? Because he's your family! Blood or not, he's still family and he's still the most important person in the world to you. And you can never bring yourself to hate the person you love the most, right?"

Atem could only nod.

"So instead, you project your hatred onto the one who takes him away from you because it's easier." The woman's voice changed. Now it was bitter, cold with remorse. "It's so much easier to hate them but, at the same time, it's so hard to because when you see them together, they're happier. You're brother, he's happier then you've ever seen them and you can't stand that. You just can't understand what it is about that person that makes them laugh, smile, act like everything is right with the world and nothing bad can ever hurt them. And you keep asking why did they never feel that way whenever you were around them? Why? Why? Why? Right?"

The woman's harsh voice was like a whiplash to the side. Atem's claws sank into his palms, drawing blood as he tried to maintain his domineering composure. But Mai's dead-on meticulousness made it more and more difficult to keep from flinching.

"And then you get to the point where, no matter what you do, you keep bombarding them with your feelings 'cause you don't want to accept that you're wrong. And then slowly, so you don't even notice it, you drive a wedge between them, and you make it harder and harder for them because they feel the guilt of knowing their happiness is causing you pain. You want them to know you're causing them pain, right?" Guilt leaked in to her rant, her clenched fists shaking at her side and her wavy bangs masked her face when her head carefully lowered. "And then as you bombard them with your feelings and your wants and your selfishness, you start to push them further and further away from you. Until finally, they start to hate you. And then only then do you finally get it!"

Atem's mask of composure shattered.

"I hate you!"

That sentence screamed in his ears like the dying wail of a ghost determined to drive it's assailant mad. The night before flash in his mind. Yami growling and snarling at anything that came near him as Yugi collapsed in his arms. How he thrashed like a wild animal when Ishizu pulled him aside while Mahad lifted the unconscious teen into his arms and made his way back towards Earthside. His face and his eyes as Ishizu dragged him from the room, scolding him. Not that he listened. Or cared, his focus was dead set on Atem.

The stark pain and naked hatred in Yami's eyes burned Atem to the core of his very soul. The words he spoke next before Ishizu dragged him from sight dripped with venom, each word like a whiplash to the side. "I hate you! I'll never forgive you for this, Atemu! Never! I hate you! I hate you!"

That was only the second time in his entire life Yami had ever called him by his full name. The only other time it had been his first word.

His neutral mask returned in an instant. His eyes were cold and hard and his hands unclenched, revealing red-tipped claws and bloody palms. "And you know of this?" He interrogated. "How?"

Mai only smirked. "Please, how do you think I reacted when I found out my baby brother was dating a werewolf?" It wasn't a question. "Him being one I was fine with, but he was so naïve about it." A hand ran through her pale blond forelock at the memory of Yugi; sixteen and so young, naïve and innocent. The very opposite of the headstrong, confident and independent young adult he was now. "I hated it, but Yami brought out the best in him…he grew up a lot, found friends, a second home, a place he belonged, he had this whole new life! But I was still stuck on the other end. And for a long time, I hated those wolves because I felt they were taking him away from me. Instead, they made him happy in a way I knew I never could and I envied them for that. But I loved Yugi too much to see him miserable, and taking that away from him—" Her eyes met his with a ferocious glare. "His friends. His home. His family. His soul mate! To take all that away from him…that's beyond cruel, that's—that's—" Her entire body shook with tremor as if unable to find an appropriate word. "Monstrous."

Atem didn't flinch. She hadn't expected him to.

For a moment, the two stared at the other. The were mirror images on opposite sides of the bridge. Their siblings downstairs they had worked so hard to build and preserve. Dark violet bore into Bright burgundy. Silence heavier than a stone anchored them in place, neither willing to end the match or forfeit the clash of wills.

Mai was unlike other women he'd met. She was very much like a wolf actually. She was fiercely loyal, especially to her family, independent, incredibly bold, sharp-tongue and stood firmly in her beliefs. She even spoke with the wisdom of someone well accustomed to such arguments. Like a Queen. He thought.

Finally, Atem spoke. "And what would you have me do, woman? You know little of my people's customs; I cannot just let them be so lightly."

Mai rolled her eyes. "Pledge is just to prove it's the person the challenger wants and not the power, right?" Mai said without flinching. Not even his pride could stop Atem's eyebrows from rising.

Mai closed her eyes and turned around to leave, but her aura was one of pride, not defeat.

She even walked like a Queen.

She stopped to look over her shoulder.

The Alpha hadn't moved. "Look Atem, I know you have to do what you have to do, but if you really care about your brother as much as I think you do, you know what you need to do." Her tone softened, but only someone who had been intently listening to her voice could've caught the change. "But." Her eyes turned grave as if nothing she spoke before was more real than what she said now. "If you hurt Yugi, either physically or because you pull rank and change the rules, I will kill you. I don't want to, but I swear I will hunt you down and I will kill you, even if I have to come back from the dead. And don't think I won't figure out how to do that!" She stopped, and Atem couldn't tell if she was waiting for an answer or not.

The wolf bowed respectfully and crossed his right hand over his left breast. "You have my word."

Before Mai could question further, the Alpha had turned around, leapt on the ledge and leap from it with the stealth of a jungle cat. He transformed once he hit the ground and took to the woods.

*******

The sun had already set and twilight began darkening the sky with hues of dark purple and bluish black. Yugi rolled over, dragging the comforter with him. He'd dragged it off the bed and wrapped him and Yami in it. For a while they just lied there, content at just being in the other's presence. Like all the other times they'd fallen asleep together, Yugi slept on Yami's chest. He'd given up on pillows.

And like all other times, Yami's arms trapped his waist in a vice-grip, and, no matter how much he squirmed and pushed against the man's chest, he refused to move. He pressed one hand against Yami's strong chest and used the other to reach for the alarm clock, which was annoyingly just out of reach of his prying fingers.

Just as the object was in his grasp, a strong arm pulled him back, "Yami." Yugi growled, glaring at the amused half-lidded crimson eyes.

"What?" He asked innocently, pulling Yugi flush against his chest.

"You have to get back. And I need to get some sleep." He smiled softly.

Yami leaned into a sitting position, taking Yugi with him and glared at the alarm clock. "It's only 8:30?"

"And the Wild Hunt begins at midnight." Yugi corrected. "I told you, I have to be at my best to defeat Atem. And you need to get back before they find out you A-walled."

"Shit!" Yami clenched his bangs, knowing Yugi was right. "And I still have Seto tied up in my room." He mumbled, gently placing Yugi on the floor and doing up his coat.

"What?" Yugi blinked, unsure if he heard his love right or misunderstood.

"Don't worry about it." Yami promised and chastely kissed him on the cheek before lifting his chin to meet his eyes with a grave expression. "You have to win, Yugi." It wasn't a request or a promise. "I can't live without you."

He wanted nothing more than to kiss Yugi and Yugi wanted to return that desire, but they both knew if they did, they wouldn't be able to stop. "Don't worry, Yami. I will win."

Yami nodded, his eyes brighter then they had been all night. Instead, Yami kissed Yugi's forehead and disappeared through the window. He was already in his fur by the time Yugi made it to the window, the comforter still wrapped around him. His claws sank into the wall as he watched Yami run.

"Don't worry, Yami." He said confidently. "I will win."