The Pack's Doctor

Yorick

I watch Cyra, basking in the look of absolute love on her face as the phone rings.

"Hello brother. To what do I owe this surprise call?" Connor answers.

"I have a very important question for you," I tell him. Since Cyra is sitting in my

lap, I know she can hear Connor's side of this conversation as well.

Connor laughs, thinking I'm being funny. I'm probably about to knock him off his chair or whatever he's currently sitting on.

"Oh yeah. What's that?"

"If I needed you to call the pack to war, would you do it?" I ask him.

There's silence on the other end of the call. When he responds, his tone is much more serious.

"Are you calling the pack to war?"

"Not yet. I'm trying to avoid it, but I need to know that I can count on you if I need you."

"The pack will always support you, Yorick. If you say you have to go to war, then the pack will be there. Now, why don't you tell me what this is all about."

I watch Cyra's mouth drop open in surprise. I knew she didn't believe me, but I know my family. I know my brother. We support each other. Always. No questions asked. Well, there may be some questions.

"I met my mate."

"I'd say congratulations, but you're talking about going to war, so... wait. Is this why Wendy was asking me about alliance bonds?" he asks. I'm not surprised my brother connected those dots so quickly. There's a reason he's the Alpha of our pack and it's not just because he was the first-born son.

"Yes. Cyra's father created an alliance bond with a neighboring pack last year without her knowledge."

Connor growls. "I'm assuming she was underage at the time."

"Your assumption would be correct."

"Why? What's in it for him?" he asks. I smile. This is just one of the many reasons that I love my family. You don't have to lay it all out for them. They figure things out quickly.

"We don't know the answer to that yet, but I have people working on it. My mate was willing to sacrifice herself for her pack, and I refuse to allow her to do that. I'm trying to make her see that she's not alone anymore."

"Sacrifice? Is she an only child?" he asks. I watch Cyra's eyes go wide. This must feel otherworldly for her. If she's used to being alone, she has definitely not had this level of understanding from someone before.

"She is and the other Alpha is a second son."

"So he gets to become Alpha of her pack, but that still doesn't explain what Cyra's father gets from this."

"Agreed and that's the information that I'm hoping will lead me to a resolution other than war. Once I know what he's getting out of this bond, I'll know it we can somehow counteract his reasons for creating it. Cyra doesn't want to pull her pack into a war, and I want to do everything we can to get her out of

this bond and avoid a war."

He's quiet a moment. "If the roles were reversed Yorick, with you being a second son, if you were the one in the alliance bond and your betrothed found her fated mate, her mate would be wise to put pressure on me to get to you, Yorick. That's the best way to break the alliance bond. Once you know what Cyra's father's reason is for entering this bond, you should figure out if there's a way to put pressure on her intended mate's brother. He's the key to

getting out of this bond without a war. Without him, the intended mate has no pack to fight with. What the fuck are their names anyway? I want to look them up."

"Alpha Arden is Cyra's father. Alpha Stellan is her intended and Alpha Christer is his brother."

"Cyra's last name?" he asks, and I hear him typing.

"Teymoori."

The keys stop. "Is this what Wendy has been doing in her room at all hours of the day and night?"

"Probably. I asked for her help, and she's run with it. You need to encourage her to apply to the Academy, Connor. She'd fit in well here.noveldrama

"She already has," he says distractedly.

"She has? When? She didn't tell me that."

"She just did it. Dad was away, so't signed the papers for her. Which reminds me, how did you get through the admission process without either of us knowing you applied or signing for your admission?".

"Uh, I may have slipped it in with some other papers I needed you to sign," I say sheepishly.

"Don't piss me off like that again, Yorick," he growls. "You're lucky I love you."

"I know."

"Christer and Stellan's last name?"

"McDonald," Cyra says.

"Oh, your mate is there? Do I get to meet her?"

I pull the phone away, and hit video. When it connects, I put the phone at arm's length so Connor can see both of us.

"So, you're the woman who stole my brother's cold and blackened heart, huh?" he asks, making me laugh.

"I find your brother to be quite warm and loving, Alpha Connor," Cyra says. I kiss the side of her head and grin at my brother.

"It's nice to meet you Alpha Cyra. And even though you're not wearing my brother's mark, you're his mate and that makes you family. The Hills, the Harris', and the Bishops will be there if it comes to war. We don't agree with forced mate bonds, and we certainly don't agree with someone trying to forcibly take our family's fated mates away from them."

Cyra looks at me with a question in her eyes.

"The other two are Quirin and Henry's packs. I told you, the alliance between our three packs is very strong."

"If you're an only child, Alpha, then you may not understand the power of family,

but in this family, it's everything," Connor says gently.

I see my mate's lips begin to quiver as she nods. "Thank you, Alpha."

He smiles at her then turns to me. "I'll see what I can find out and I'll talk to Wendy

now that I know what's been keeping her sousy. I hope to meet you soon, Alpha Cyra."

"You as well, Alpha Connor."

"Keep me informed with what you find, Yorick."

"I will. Love you," I say.

09:48 Sat, 2 Aug

"Love you too."

We say goodbye and I end the call, turning to Cyra.

"Do you understand now? When I said we'd go to war, I meant it. You are not alone, Cyra. You never will be again."

She nods and bursts into tears again. I wrap my arms around my mate, letting her cry out the frustration and loneliness she's been holding on to for most of her life.

Then I take her to bed, finishing what we started earlier this morning. This time, I take my time, showing her how much I love her, how much I want her, and how much I will never, ever let her go.

AD

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