We came to the edge of the woods, an unfamiliar black truck in my parents driveway, along with their silver car, which I'd never learned to drive, they'd never give me an opportunity to escape, not that I'd wanted to before now.
My parents were waiting by the front of the house, another unfamiliar man talking to them. He looked almost as big as the man holding me, obviously a werewolf as well. The three of them turned at our approach, the man frowning at us.
"Dominicus, what did you do to the poor kid?" he questioned, his voice a deep growl. He looked about the same age as my captor, but with lighter, tanned looking skin compared to the others dark olive. My captors hair was as dark as ink, shorn in a choppy style atop his head, the others a soft honey. This guy also had lighter eyes, the colour of caramel, where the others was almost as dark as treacle.
"He's feisty, bold thing clawed and bit me." Dominicus defended.
"I'm so sorry alpha, his cat nature makes discipline quite difficult." my father profusely apologised whilst glaring at me fiercely.
I stiffened and for once was a little grateful I was out of my father's grasp.
Usually I was quite well behaved, unless something unreasonable was asked of me, or I'd done something I didn't know was wrong, I stood up for myself, that's what my father didn’t like.
I didn't live to please him, I'm not a wolf like him, I'm a cat, and we don't give any fucks about approval. The amount of times I was tempted to knock his things of shelves, I should be commended for my restraint.
I looked away from my father, it was hard with the man gripping my scruff so I mostly lowered my gaze.
I let out a soft meow, it was sad. My tail drooped and stilled, my ears lowered, silent tears still dripping down my face.
In my peripheral I could see my mother's face, she looked distraught, her own eyes damp, hands wringing out the ends of her shirt.
So I was being given to an alpha? It explained his strict nature, they didn't take well to disobedience, it's what I'd read in the books I'd been given anyway.
It was my first time meeting one, he had an imposing stature and dark, intense eyes. His scent was potent, there was no mistaking it, or not noticing it. It was a thick musk, it smelt of damp soil and tree sap, the yeasty smell of canine fur and dominance.
I didn't know how I fit into a society like theirs, my parents were both werewolves, I was different from them though. I turned into a cat, whereas they turned into wolves.
I didn't know why, I just did. I was smaller than them as well, it matched my smaller cat shift, I was all about agility and swiftness, whereas they were about strength and endurance.
"That's quite all right, nothing a few hours won't heal." he assured my father. "Sten, could you please take Pepper for a moment, I need to get dressed." he asked of the other man, who nodded and came closer.
I was shocked at his audacity when Sten lightly stroked my head with a curl of a finger.
"Hello Pepper, you're a beautiful cat, such big eyes and soft fur." he complemented, continuing to lightly rub the space between my ears. "I'm Sten alright? I'll hold you gently, don't you worry." his rougher voice was completely void of violence and ill intent, his caramel eyes warm and friendly, a soft smile curling his lips.
Dominicus carefully handed me over, Sten's hands first taking hold of my scruff and then my rump as Dominicus let go.
Sten's fingers didn't grip the loose skin of my neck so firmly, his other hand supporting my weight rather than pinching my hips with a thumb and finger like Dominicus did.
I was able to turn my head, and he let me, I glanced back at Sten, my tail slowly swishing in the space between us.
I was curious about him, he was only the second person i'd ever met. The alpha was well... an alpha but Sten was something different. They looked much the same but acted completely different.
There was a softness in his light brown eyes and despite the coarse and deep voice it was almost... soothing.
He seemed nicer than Dominicus, not having such a firm hand and an more easy going nature.
My ears twitched, my eyes continuing to watch him.
He tilted his head and raised a brow at me. "You've got one hell of a stare there Pepper." he commented and I finally blinked, breaking our gaze.
I forgot how confrontational staring can be for werewolves, cats giving a good stare is unnerving, it demands attention. We've mastered the art of a dirty stare, and a range other stares as well, we communicate a lot more visually than they would, our vocal range more limited because of that.
I let out a puff of air from my nose and turned my head back around.
Dominicus was almost finished dressing, a pair of faded blue bootcut jeans and half unbuttoned checkered shirt on his broad frame, showing off his large pecks and the beginning of his abs covered in a dusting of dark hair. The sleeves were also rolled up to his elbows, showing off his thick arms still marred with my scratches.
He was tying the laces of some well-worn looking brown boots, foot
propped up on the step of the black truck.
My father was dropping a mix of bags and suitcases at the bottom of the concrete steps outside of the front door, disappearing and re-appearing with more.
My possessions.
I sighed, my ears lowering, guess he was wasting no time in getting rid of me, I'd always thought that he was disappointed that he got a kitten instead of a pup.
I never liked his type of play, his wolf much too large to be a decent playmate, his gentle pushes more like hard shoves.
I'd always hide under a cabinet or climb up high when he'd try to play with me when I was younger, he'd long given up by now and mostly left me alone, unless I needed to be disciplined.
I cooked the meals, I cleaned and washed, both dishes and clothes. I did all the chores in the house, I tended to the garden and hoovered.
They'd have to do it now, I hope they forgot how.
My mother wasn't a good cook and I'd never seen my father try, the most he'd do in the kitchen was put the kettle on or open a bottle of scotch or a can of beer.
I liked things to be tidy, it might be my cat nature or my own preference, I don't know.
Wolves tended to be messy, they always had to be doing something, and were hungry most of the time.
I was content to sleep or just relax.
Father dumped the last of the bags on the steps, staying outside, so I'd gathered there was no more. He better have put my blanket in one of those bags, I'd had it since I was a kitten and couldn't sleep without it, my smell was so ingrained to the fabric, it gone so soft from the many washes, it was my comfort.
Dominicus straightened and strode over to the bags and suitcases, easily lifting multiple at a time and starting to load them in the bed of the truck.
I wondered if they'd brought a travel box for me, because I didn't plan on shifting back to my human form, I could defend myself better as a cat.
As much as I didn't want to be locked in a box cars don't agree with me, the few times I'd been in one had made me sick, I wasn't looking forward to it. But if I had my blanket I'm sure I wouldn't feel as bad.
I meowed out loud at the thought, my paw lifting in the direction of the bags. "What is it Pepper?" Sten wondered.
I kneaded my paws into the air and purred, trying to explain. Blanket.
My mother seemed to know what I wanted, crouching over a bag and unzipping it, hand pulling out my neatly folded soft grey blanket.
I meowed loudly, begging for my blanket.
Dominicus glanced over at me as he was making his way to collect more bags. He took the blanket from my mother and threw it over his shoulder, picking up the rest of the bags and loading them into the truck.
I meowed again, pawing at the air, tail curled up, tip swishing softly in anticipation of my soft blanket. Blanket, please.
Dominicus walked over to Sten and I, looking down at me with his dark eyes, his hand reaching up to grasp onto my blanket.
I met his gaze, my large eyes boring back.
"You want you're blanket do you?" he questioned in his low voice.
I let out a whisper of a meow, staring longingly at it. Yes, want blanket.
"You going to behave?" he growled and I held in the huff that wanted to come out.
I only misbehaved because I didn't like what he was doing, I didn't like the situation of going somewhere completely new, leaving all that I knew behind.
I let out a humming whine, pawing in the direction of my blanket. Just want blanket.
He came closer, close enough to swipe, although I was tempted to, the promise of my blanket weighed out my urge to get back at him from roughly scruffing me earlier and threatening to spank me.
He pulled the blanket from over his shoulder, unfolding it and holding it out across his arms. "Let go of him Sten."
Sten's fingers loosened and I used his stomach to propel myself into my blanket, purring at the familiar object and calming smell, I didn't even care that I was close to Dominicus, practically in his arms.
He held me against his chest, pinning me to him, my blanket covering everything but my head. I bristled a little at the grip and sent him a warning stare, licking my lips from slight nerves. Watch it.
"Be good and you can keep your blanket, disobey and I'll use it as a towel, capeesh?"
He wouldn't dare! I gave him my best stink eye, if he touched my blanket he'll get to know what a bad kitty I can be. I'll piss and shit all over his shoes, in his bed, scratch his sofa, curtains, carpet, break everything I can, knock everything off of the sides, block the toilet and sinks, flood the place with stinking water, chew though wires and leave dead animals in his pillow.
"Dominicus, I don't think that's a good idea." Sten broached. "He seems pretty attached to that blanket. You do anything to it and you're going to have one pissed off cat to deal with." see, Sten got it. I meowed and bobbed my head, agreeing with the nicer wolf.
"Good, gives him the incentive to behave." Dominicus glared at me.
I glared back, already hating him. No way in hell was I ever going to be his treating me this way. I was no disobedient child, I was a man, a young one, but still a man. If he ever wanted my affection and love this sure wasn't the way to go about it. He wanted to take me as his mate, shouldn't he be wooing me? Not pissing me off.
I rolled my eyes, men, well, men like him. I don't want to be controlled, I need my space and freedom.
Is a little understanding so difficult? I don't like you, you grumpy meanie.
Dominicus carried me to the car, opening the passenger side and climbing in, Sten coming around the other side to sit behind the wheel. It rumbled to life, sounding like an angry bear.
I looked over the dash at the house and my parents, well parent, my father had already gone inside, only my mother watched us pull away. I could see tears streaming down her cheeks, fist pressed to her heart as she cried.
I squirmed out from Dominicus' arms, pawing at the trucks window and yowling, fresh tears dampening my fur. Mummy!
Large hands grabbed my middle and moved me away from the window, dumping me back on Dominicus' lap. "If you hadn't of runaway you would have had time to say goodbye." he jabbed. Meanie!
I grabbed a mouthful my blanket and dragged it away from him and across the trucks bench.
I pulled it onto Sten's lap and curled up atop of it, pulling the rest of the blanket over me, turning my head against his stomach, dismissing Dominicus.
"I think that was a fuck you." Sten chuckled a little, his finger briefly running from between my ears and down my neck.
I tolerated it just to annoy Dominicus but softly pushed it away with a paw when he tried a second time, making sure not to use my claws.
He didn't seem to mind and concentrated on driving, happy enough to have me curled up on his lap.
"Why does he like you more than me." I could hear the pout in the alpha's voice and I held off snorting, really? Does that even require an answer?
"Have you done anything nice for him? What has he seen of you that's likeable?" Sten asked him instead.
"I gave him his blanket."
"Which you threatened to use as a towel if he doesn't do what you like." Sten pointed out. "It's an unreasonable request, he's not a werewolf."
"I know that." he huffed.
"Yes, but what might be normal behaviour for him might be bad in your eyes, and you can't expect him to like you for taking him away from his home, scruffing him and not letting him say goodbye to his mother." and threatening to spank me.
"You're taking him away as well, and you scruffed him." Dominicus argued.
"But I didn't make him cry did I? I didn't grip him so tightly that he couldn't move." Sten threw back. "You forget why we're taking him. Sure his parents only suggested it because they thought he'd be safer in our pack, but he won't ever like you with how stern and cold you're acting.
He's not a pup or a young wolf, he's a cat, he has his own mind, he won't do what you ask just because you order him to, the only way he will is if he likes you.
Cat's don't seek approval, they don't give a fuck what you think, they're independent.
He doesn't care that you're the alpha, to him you're probably just an oversized stinky mutt with a bad attitude."
Sten seemed to understand me a lot more, or just cats in general.
You think of an ordinary cat compared to a dog, sure their needs are the same but a cat is a lot less likely to sit for their food, a dog will do it eagerly. They like attention and company, need walks every day. A cat will do that by itself, if it wants affection it will demand it, otherwise it will get annoyed if you force it, it can walk itself.
A cat is more like a roommate rather than a pet, it likes its own space, a dog is more like a needy/controlling boyfriend, wanting to know where you're going, what you're eating, so excited when you get back.
He's right about me not liking Dominicus, and its staying that way if he keeps doing what he's doing.
But what he said at the start interested me, my parents asked if I could move in with their pack?
Why was my safety suddenly a concern, didn't we live out in the middle of nowhere to hide me?
Was I no longer hidden there?
But who would want to take me? My father didn't seem to want me and these guys didn't seem so eager to me lumbered with me either.
"I don't stink." Dominicus' voice grumbled.
Really?
That's what he got from all that?
"And my attitudes fine."
At that I lifted my head, staring up at him in disbelief, we were talking about him right? Mr unreasonable meanie ass.
I snorted and sleepily kneaded the fabric of my blanket.
At the sound he looked down at me, seeming almost… jealous.
Huh.
I let out a large yawn, tired from all the stress and walking, purring as I settled down, nestling my head against Sten's stomach.
"So why is he falling asleep on my lap instead of yours huh?" I could hear the smugness in Sten's voice.
I drifted off, the soft rumbling of the car's engine almost soothing, the heat from Sten's thighs and stomach pleasant, my blanket giving off my own scent, what a great place for a nap.