"Come to gloat? Rub my nose in your perfect life?" She doesn't lift her head to speak to me. Her words bite. Looking at her close she seems to be missing her light, her usually pristine skin has a dull colour to it instead of the bright glow it normally has, her normally bright blue eyes are dark; nothing shines back in them. The bags under them just add to the darkness she is emitting. How far she has fallen from the bright bubble she normally is. Leaning over the counter to look closer she lifts her head eyes narrow in on me, her lips are cracked and thin. No make up to show off her perfection. "No. I came for coffee." I dont have the harsh words on my tongue any more, the thoughts no longer hold resentment.

It's pity. I hate pity.

"Of course you did," she seethes before standing to walk to the coffee maker. My hand darts out to wrap around her wrist "sit" I tell her nodding back to her stool. She puts a grimace on her face stepping away from me causing her arm to extend awkwardly. "Please." Closing my eyes, deep breaths in. Don't push away your friends, Cage. Dominics words sit on my chest heavily. I remember the good times with Cheyenne and Scott. Once upon a time we were good friends, spent a lot of time together. Chey never made me feel like a third wheel. Her eyebrows knit together looking me over and she moves towards her seat as I release her wrist. Pulling out the stool she sits glaring at me, "what? Something wrong with my face?" She asks, rubbing at her cheek.

"Ya actually there is." Telling her her face glows beet red with anger.

"If all you did was come her to insult me Cage, Get Out." She shows off her teeth to me and I can't hide my grin. "This isn't funny, leave!" She shoos me away with her hand and I notice they aren't painted up, they were chewed down.

Grabbing her hand looking them over she snatches it back. "This isn't you." Pointing to her hand and her face, "you put a lot more time and effort into yourself than this."

She hides her hands in her lap, pressing them into her shirt while her face darkens more. "It's early in the morning, that takes time."

"Time you always put in before stepping out of that room. I have known you for years now Chey, you always look picture perfect."

"Well maybe I don't have time for that any more." A single tear escapes from her now shining eyes. She wipes it away quickly before placing her hand back in her lap and looking to the counter, blowing out a shaky breath.

"Maybe you don't care enough." I tell her

"So what if I don't, what do you care?" Her words are said in a hurtful tone. She's hurt.

"I'm sorry it got like this. I do care." I try to reason with her but she doesn't take it "when have you ever cared! All I did was try and be nice to you, set you up with a good friend!" She snaps her words with a bite of her teeth as her eyes start to glow and a slight presence is pushed by her wolf towards mine.

"All you did was try to force your bullshit. Get real Cheyenne stop blaming everyone around you. It's time to grow up and take responsibility. I am trying here, you should too!" Snapping back we both have our teeth out, pushing dominance onto the other. To her credit, she lasts longer than expected. Her wolf doesn't cower so easily.

Little feet are heard from the stairs before heavier ones sound quietly and slowly behind them. Cheyenne looks away first before getting up and going to the sink to deal with her mess. I can feel the anger and hurt vibing in the air. I can also taste the salt. Sophia puts Greyson back in his high chair and securing him in before looking between Cheyenne and me, she wrings her hands together before looking to the fridge mouthing "should I feed him." Looking at Cheyenne she is dumping the food in the trash before slamming the frying pan on the counter hitting the sink handle to turn on the water. Banging the plates off one another, one breaks into pieces and she drops it into the sink with an exaggerated sigh. "Get your coffee and get out." She doesn't turn to speak with us. Her hands grip the counter and I can see her nails poke through before retracting back in. Sophia stares licking over her lips and her eyes grow darker from the middles, energy is starting to crackle in the air about to combust between them. Cheyenne whirls around coming face to face with Sophia. Chey has height on her, taller than most females I know but Sophia straightens out not backing down.

"Looking for a challenge?" it's growled out.

"Are you?" Sophia gives a grin I've come to recognize. Come try me, it says.

"Get out," Cheyenne points to the door. I can feel Dusty's little fingers grip into my forearm, his nose pressed in tight. Grey starts to look around before the tears come on followed by his cry.

Sophia crosses her arms in front of her. Unmoving. "Make me" She challenges her. Cheyenne reaches out to grab her and I stand on my feet. "Enough." I tell them with full force. Both lock eyes, neither moving. Stepping up, taking Sophia's hand "I said enough. That's not what we came here for." Looking at both of them.

"I don't know why we bothered coming." Sophia seethes before going to Greyson and taking his hand. "Sorry bud maybe next time." She whispers to him before leaving the house. Taking Dusty in my arms and heading to the door shaking my head to her Chey lifts her chin and stands her ground as I leave not looking back again.

"Wait up," calling after Sophia as she storms off. She stops but her body shakes with the effort to hold together. Turning to me her teeth are starting to show, I can't help but to stare, waiting for more to shift but it doesn't. Instead she closes her eyes, reaching up with a grimace. "It hurts." She whispers before touching the points of her canines and she flinches at the sharp edge and aching in her gumes. Reaching out, I put my hand on her check to try and soothe down the growing pain and fear,, "calm, breathe Sophia." Bringing her closer, setting Dustin on his feet. "You're alright. It's normal." I tell her as she clings to me, body shaking more before she swallows hard remembering how to breathe properly from the gasping and panting she had been doing. Minutes pass as she regains control over herself. Pulling away she nods her head that she is okay before looking away and crossing her arms to hold herself softly. Dusty watches with great curiosity as he tilts his head towards her, he opens his mouth to say something before shutting it closed, stuffing his hands in his little pockets. Picking him up to put on my shoulders he lays his head on top of mine clinging on while continuing to watch Sophia. "Did I do something wrong too?" He asks meekly. I have to stop in my tracks, "what?"

"Mommy did wrong, that's why you hate her, right?" He sits up and I pull him down to set him on the ground to look him in the eye as I kneel down on my knee. "Do you think I hate you?" Asking him this hurts, I can see it in his eyes as he looks away nodding his head. My mouth goes dry. "Dustin." I can hardly speak with how this feels. I never thought he would feel it like this, not with me. A tear runs down his cheek, "I'm sorry, Uncle Cage." He tries to apologise for thinking he is being bad and I pull him into my arms.

"Dustin, you have nothing to apologise for. I don't hate anyone." trying to tell him as I sit him on my knee while he wipes away his tears as he sniffles softly, "you and mommy and daddy have been fighting."

"That doesn't mean I hate them, sometimes people fight buddy but you don't ever stop loving them." Pressing my cheek to his I can feel him slowly press his back as his shoulders shake from his emotions. "I am never gonna stop caring about you."

"You stopped training with us," he whispers.

"That's not because of you, I had to change my schedule. It'll go back to normal now, I promise."

"I don't like Sam training us." He trails off looking away. "He sucks."

It's hard not to laugh as he crosses his arms and scrunches his nose "How about I start today? Would that be better?"

He nods his head with enthusiasm before wrapping his arms around my neck. "I'm sorry, Dusty, I never meant for you to feel this way. You are always going to be my little buddy no matter what." Reassuring him before standing up and setting him on the ground before taking his small hand into mine he rolls his shoulders forward and backward to let out his feelings. He glances at Sophia when he settles himself and he presses in closer to my leg before we start walking towards the training facility. It's empty inside and around except for Scott, checking over equipment as usual only he holds a scowl on his face. He doesn't notice when we come in until Dustin takes off running. calling to him, "Daddy!"

Scott whirls around confused before he puts out his hands to catch him as Dusty launches himself towards his father and he pulls him up, rubbing his cheek against his smaller one as they both smile at one another. "What are you doing here so early?" he asks and Dustin smiles wide, showing off his teeth. "I came to fight!" he informs him as he puts up two small fists with pride like a little warrior before a fight. Scotts flashes his bigger teeth back, showing off to his son what his bite has before setting him down on the ground. "Good answer."

Leaning to Sophia she is watching them intently, "hey take Dusty, have him show you where the mats are. I'll be over to help in a minute." Whispering to her. Sophia hums, leaning her ear towards me before looking my way and tilting her head. "What?" she scrunches her forehead and I sigh, gesturing to Scott with my head trying to give her a knowing look and she glances over at them before looking back at me and her cheek dimples in slightly. "Please," giving her a pleading look and she rolls her eyes while pointing a finger at me. Walking to Dustin bending down she smiles at me, "how about you help me find stuff so we can set up?"

Dustin glances at Scott and he nods his head to tell him it's fine before Dusty takes her hand and leads her towards the back storage room. Scott turns back to his prior work as they enter the room, leaving me to shift uncomfortably on my feet. "Went by your place this morning." Clearing my throat he only grunts his response. Fucking awkward. Scratching the back of my neck.

Grab the bull by the horns

Swallowing down before trying again. "Look we need to get this out in the air, one way or another." Scott stops what he is doing, turning around standing taller for a moment. I wonder if this is how things will be between us from now on -only a professional duty to speak to one another- until I catch his mouth moving slightly to the side as he tries to maintain the look of his face. "Alright I'm ready for your apology," he stands waiting.

It's hard not to laugh. "I'm sorry you're an ass." Being as sincere as possible.

"Well, I do try," he presses his hand to his chest as if being proud of this is a great honour before he grabs a basketball in his hand and throws it at me hard. Stepping back, hitting it with my hand to stop it, it leaves a kiss of a sting on my skin. "Pretty sure it comes naturally." Smiling wide he matches with his own. Picking up the ball as it rolls away, spinning it in my hands to bounce it on the ground. It never was the sport for me but it was for him. Looking at him he stands easy. Tossing it to him he catches it easily dribbling it on the ground back and forth between his hands locking to me. "I think we both owe an apology." He says taking it in his hand putting it back on the rack. I look him over and Walk to the ball rack taking it back out. "You get 21 first you tell me how sorry you are, but if I get there first, I'll start this female cry session" challenging him.

"That's not how that fucking works." He laughs.

Bouncing the ball on the ground I don't have the skilled coordination he has, constantly having to look back down to the ball and he laughs harder, "alright only because you suck at this." He comes forward and the game starts. It's easy to tell it's been awhile for him. His moves are sloppier than I remember them to be, he isn't quick on his feet and his aim is off. He makes his first basket muttering, "finally," under his breath.

"You seem stiff," picking the ball off the ground to bounce it off the floor a few times before tossing it to him. He catches it spinning it between his hands, "yeah, sleeping on the couch can do that to ya." He comments looking at the ball.

Taking it from him throwing it at the net it hits the rim bouncing off to the side. "I went to the house this morning, " starting the conversation. He walks over to where the ball continues to bounce into a roll. "Yeah, I know. She is pretty pissed," glancing at me over his shoulder he bends down to pick it up and bounces the ball on the ground. "Wasn't expecting Sophia to be so..."

"Aggressive?"

"Was going to say scrappy. Girl has fight," he corrects. "Shouldn't be that surprising to me but I never did ask much about her."

"No you didn't" I can feel my jaw tightening.

"Look I know I haven't been a good friend lately, I don't really have any excuses for it. I thought I could walk the line and make everyone happy," he puts the ball back on the rack where it belongs. "It's not gonna be easy and things may change but I really don't want to lose a friend over this. I only want to make things right."

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out and I need to shut it again.

The same words keep ringing through my mind and I can't help to raise a lip to his voice. Don't push away your friends. Glancing over Scott I feel lost, tugged in two different directions. How he made me feel recently and how he has made me feel my entire life. That life long friend who has always had my back didn't and I have to ask myself. How do you forgive the one who pushed me away first? I can hear the sliding of material against the floor and Sophia groaning before the rest of the mat hits the floor with a slapping thud.

"If you two Jackrabbits are finished tugging each other I would love to get that help I was told I would get." She stands red-faced as she heaves a slight breath with her arms crossed before her foot starts to tap against the floor. "If you think I'm gonna waste my energy draggin' these dang mats out here by myself you both have another thing comin' and yea ain't gonna like it." Her face scrunches before she pulls her cheek between her teeth.

"Jackrabbits?" Scott questions and I have to take a step away from him with the look of murder in her eyes. "Nevermind, let us take care of those." He corrects himself quickly, years of arguing with Cheyenne is starting to prove useful for once.

Sophia presses her hands on her hips, "yeah, you do that." She looks him up and down before stomping to the bench plopping down on a seat muttering under her breath.

"Feisty," Scott whispers to me and her head snaps towards us. "We should get those set up for the pups." He coughs and points at the larger, thicker mats, trying to smile. She is not amused.

"Can't quit getting in trouble can you," laughing at him. He rolls his eyes as he makes his way to the backroom grabbing a mat and tossing it to the floor. I grab one end while he picks up the other. "I'm going to start back training the pups now that I don't have to divide my time." Trying to keep the conversation neutral. We bring the mat to the gym area, laying it out correctly and sliding it to the other before getting another. "Sam will like that," he says as he lets go of his side, "he does not have the patience for the younger ones," shaking his head. Sam has been struggling to keep his cool with the little ones, he is used to the shifted adults.

"Chuck came by the house," rubbing my neck. I am already feeling uncomfortable with this conversation.

Scott gives me a funny look, "your house?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, " he clears his throat, "just sounds strange is all, you two haven't been close in a while. Didn't know you still talked."

"We don't, not really," rubbing my face while thinking back to last night and the cold look in Charles' eyes as he watched me. Nothing left of our friendship between us with how we acted. "seems I'm pretty good at running friends off."

Scott shoves his shoulder into mine, "I said I was sorry. I'll make it up to you, why don't you bring Sophia over for dinner tonight. We should all have a sit down chat. I'll talk to her about what happened earlier, it'll be good for all of us. Cheyenne needs to learn to get along." He offers.

"I'll mention it to her, but I can't make promises on that" glancing to Sophia she looks up to me still chewing her cheek, she is going to have a really bad sore in her mouth after today. Going back to watching Dusty jump around showing off, she smiles and claps for him when he does a summersault he is proud of.

"So what did Charles want?" Scott brings me back to the topic we were discussing.

Clearing my throat pulling my eyes away from her to give him my full attention. "Turns out he found her dog hurt away from her property, the dog was chasing down two wolves that broke into her home the other night. Dominic has Charles leading him to them. Couple of rouges apparently. I didn't realise he knew any, or talked to them." Trailing off, I come back to the same thought I had last night when I couldn't sleep. How does he know them that well? He acted like he did. So who are they and why is he associating with them?

Scott's back straightens up, "he drifts out of the packlands now and then. What are you thinking?" His eyes drift to her before coming back to me.

Scratching my jawline, something hasn't been feeling right. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach. The wolf hasn't calmed down, staying on constant alert. He senses it too. "Dominic seems to have a suspicion about a possible attack, maybe from one of our guests, but nothing he would share with me." Crossing my arms, I don't know how I feel about it.

"I'll notify some of the higher warriors and patrollers to keep an extra watch out for anything suspicious," he offers with a comforting hand on my shoulder but it does nothing to settle the wolf. I will settle when he himself handles the danger and threat.

Dusty pulls a stumbling Sophia towards us yelling, "Daddy! Daddy!" while bouncing around.

"Sure is hyper today," mumbling to Scott out of the corner of my mouth. He smacks the back of his hand against my stomach causing me to wheeze slightly. Shoving him back he tries to keep a grin off his face. "What's up little man?" He asks when they step up in front of us.

"Can we eat at their place? Sophia says she can cook." He asks with a wide grin. Sophia looks at me and the thought 'this was not my idea', runs through her mind.

Scott grimaces as he looks to her before glancing at me for a response. "I don't care, that's up to her."