Wolf Wrongs

Did you abandon him?

He's sitting on the floor now, with his head pushed back against the wall. I figure I should probably sit down, bring myself to his level, but not sit to close. That way he knows he's not alone, but I'm not crowding him and making things worse.

He calms down fairly quickly and the panic attack fades, he gives me a weak smile and begins to make an excuse.

"It was really hot in there wasn't it..." He trails off, knowing that I'm not fooled.

"Are you gay?" I ask him straight out, not enjoying the presence of the elephant in the room. He looks shocked by this. "No!" he pauses, "but you are."

I gasp, "How do you?-" I cut myself off, "If you're not... How come you went so red in there? And then had a goddess-damn panic attack?"

He takes a deep breath, "It's my brother" he confesses as if it explains everything, but I'm confused.

"What is your brother?"

"Homosexual." Harris sighs and puts his head in his hands. "He's a year younger than me, he didn't have the guts to tell our parents about how he felt, so he told me."

He closed his eyes, then grimaced as if preparing for judgement, "And I told them" he begins to weep slightly but brushes the tear roughly from his eye and continues "I told our parents and they disowned him!" He sits slouched with an expressionless face. I feel like I should comfort him, but he was right to expect judgement "How could you do that!" I yell, I don't care that he's sad, he should have stood by his brother!

"I thought they would understand!" He protests sadly. If I had been any other girl at this moment, I would have probably found this intensely cute and slightly sexy because he was a 'tough' guy being emotional and sensitive, but I can't care less at this point. I didn't even know he had a brother.

"Do you even talk to him?" I scrutinize, "or have you abandoned him as well as ruined his life?"

"Sometimes" Harris mutters, and I begin to sympathize, "his name's Michael by the way" he continues meekly. I nod.

"How is he now?" I say tentatively. Harris doesn't answer, but peers at me curiously.

He suddenly stands and begins to talk loudly and commandingly to me. "Do not ask me such things, SUBMIT" I stare at him blankly, uncaring. "SUBMIT!" I must admit I'm shocked at his sudden outburst, my wolf growls, angry at the display.

"We don't submit to him" she growls.

"Why won't you submit?" He asks, completely calm all of a sudden. "The intimidation technique never fails."

"It has now" I reply "What exactly was that about?" Harris shakes his head and returns the attention to my earlier question.

"Michael is fine, he found his mate almost immediately after he was outcast from the pack."

"Good" I respond bluntly.

"It's funny..."

"What is?" I say, wondering what could possible be funny about his brother being exiled.

"Oh nothing" Harris teases.

"What!?"

"He had known his mate for years."

"So he already knew who his mate was?"

"Not at all. My mother got angry so bit one of Michael's human... Acquaintances." He worded carefully and said human with a disgusted tone that made me shudder. "Then Michael's chest starts glowing, so does his mate's and you hear his wolf-"

"WHAT?! You never can hear someone else's wolf," I burst out "It just doesn't happen"

"Well it did" Harris insists.

There is a long silence, "We should get back to the table"

"Yes" he agrees, "And thank you." I turn to look at him and say nothing, "For getting me out of there." He explains.

"No problem, I never liked this top anyway."

We chuckle and walk back into the dining room where are confused and slightly peeved parents await.

"What were you doing? Why did it take so long?"