6 years later

Brinn stared at her pups from the kitchen. Shaking her head in disapproval, she knew they had accumulated too much time inside all summer. She didn't want to be a strict parent, but she also knew she couldn't be their friend.

Nara sat on the couch with her back against Kohl's right shoulder and her knees to her chest. She sat the iPad on her knees as she played Sims. Kohl sat slouched next to her, repeatedly pressing the buttons of his Xbox controller.

Kohl now 11, had grown a lot of attention from the small females in his grade. Brinn being the protective mother she was didn't approve. She knew Kohl would grow to be a charmer, but didn't think it would happen so fast.

Titus walked into the house a few minutes later drenched in sweat from his workout. He walked over to Brinn and tried to pull her into a hug. Brinn being used to this routine turned around and gave him a warning look. "Don't you dare. Shower first." He rolled his eyes then pulled her into a hug regardless.

She squirmed out of his grip then glared. "Great now I have to take a shower." She groaned in annoyance. "It's okay, we can take one together." He said suggestively. Brinn glanced towards the pups, then back towards Titus.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Send them outside. They've been inside too long anyways."

"Why do I have to do it?" Brinn argued. Titus chuckled and placed a kiss on her plump lips. "I'll see you in the shower." He said with a wink before he left.

Brinn sighed then walked into the living room. "Okay you two listen up." Kohl instantly paused the game and focused his attention on Brinn, while Nara continued playing her game, paying Brinn no mind.

Kohl for the most part, followed instructions and did as he was told. Nara on the other hand was a sassy one, and always put up a fight.

Brinn grabbed the iPad from Nara and placed it on the fireplace's mantle. Nara turned and glared at Brinn ready to throw a tantrum, but before she could get to it, Brinn spoke up. "You guys need to go play outside for a little while."

They both groaned their disapproval. "What if I call Alex so Ellie and Felix can join?" They both shook their heads, no.

"You guys don't want to play with Ellie and Felix?" Brinn asked in confusion.

"No." They said in unison.

"Why not?"

Kohl was the first to speak up. "Well Ellie-" Before he could finish Nara had cut him off. Something he had grown used to. Nara had tended to test everyone's patience. But it seemed she enjoyed riling Kohl up the most. He had grown to become patient with her over the years.

"Felix is always crying. He's such a baby." Nara said while rolling her eyes. Brinn scolded Nara for her rude behavior then directed her attention towards Kohl. Nara sunk into her seat with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Ellie is a sore loser. She got angry when I won at UNO and hasn't spoken to me in a week."  Kohl explained.

"What does sore loser mean?" Nara asked as she straightened in her seat. "You." Kohl muttered under his breath.

"I'll tell you later sweetheart." Nara nodded eagerly, her shoulders length brown curly hair moving in the process. "Look either you go outside or you're going to grandma Rachel's house." At the mention of their grandmother they sat up and began putting their shoes on to go outside. They both loved their grandma dearly, but they knew Rachel could be a little...overbearing. Between the constant kisses and cheek grabs, they knew outside was the better option.

"You don't have to stay out long but at least 45 minuets." Kohl pulled out his phone and checked the time. "I'll be keeping time." Before they left she pulled them both into a hug, making sure to rub their hair in the process. "Mom!" Kohl whined.

Nara on the other hand enjoyed when her mother rubbed her head. Nara and Brinn giggled as Kohl quickly fixed his hair. He grabbed Nara's small hand and led her towards the front door. "Watch your sister!" Brinn called after them.

Brinn knew the pack was safe, but she still worried for her pups every time they left her sight. Kohl nodded, then gently tightened his grip around her hand.

"I'm waiting!" Titus yelled from upstairs. Shaking her head, she waited for the pups departure, then made her way up the stairs.

As soon as Kohl and Nara began walking away from the house, they saw Ellie and Felix walking towards them. "Ugh!" Nara complained.

"Be nice." Kohl warned. She rolled her eyes then nodded.

"Hi Kohl, Nara." Ellie spoke as she reached them. Her hazel eyes twinkling underneath the sunlight. Ellie had nice tan skin and long thick brown locks. She took a little after her father, but ultimately took more from her mother's Hispanic side.

Felix waved shyly at the two. He had also taken after his mother, but still resembled his father in ways.

"Hey." Kohl said greeting them both. He poked Nara in her side when she didn't say anything.

"Ow!" She whined.

He glared down at her blatant rudeness. Kohl was a little gentleman and didn't take well to people being rude, even if it was his own sister. "Hi." Nara mumbled out.

"Hey Kohl can we talk over there?" Ellie said pointing towards the tree they'd always met at. It wasn't too far from where ther were at now so Kohl didn't mind. "Sure. Nara, stay where we can see you two okay?" Nara nodded before Kohl and Ellie took off .

Felix stared down at his feet awkwardly, while Nara stared off into the distance. She finally groaned and grabbed his hand. "Come on." She said tugging him towards the woods. Felix's hazel eyes went wide as he realized where Nara was dragging him off too. "B-but Kohl said to stay where they could see us."

Felix was a quiet kid and mostly stayed to himself, aside from his time with Nara. She was his only friend and didn't want to upset her.

Nara stopped at the edge of the forest and sat, bringing Felix down with her. "I think we should go back." He said nervously, as he continued to check his surroundings.

"In a little bit." Nara grabbed some of the small rocks off of the ground and began throwing them into the forest. She had a good hand, and the rocks went pretty far off into the distance. Nara offered Felix a rock but he declined. His heart rate increased as he felt something bad was about to happen.

Nara threw one last rock, and as if on cue she heard a boy's voice. "Ow!" Nara and Felix both stared at each other wide eyed. "Time to go." Nara said as she scrambled to her feet, Felix doing the same.

Before they could get too far they were pulled back by two strong arms. They were turned around to be met with the glare of Jamie Stevens. He was 13 years old and he and his family had transferred in a few weeks ago.

He pushed them to the ground and laughed. Nara stood back up then helped Felix back to his feet. "Who threw this?!" Jamie asked holding up the rock Nara held in her hand only minutes ago. Felix stood next to her shaking in fear, she was sure he was going to pee his pants any minute now. It had happened before.

They both stayed silent until Jamie stepped forward. And that's when Felix panicked. "It was her!" He said pointing towards Nara. He didn't want to tell on his friend but he had panicked. He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.

Nara glared at Felix, but stayed silent. "Who rats out their own friend pup?" He said, knocking Felix's thick framed glasses to the ground. Nara gathered all the courage she had and spoke. "Who picks on 6 year olds punk!" She yelled, catching Jamie off guard.

Bending down to grab Felix's glasses, Jamie stepped on Nara's hand out of anger. Nara cried out in pain. Felix curled into a ball as tears ran down his face, torn between what to do.

Two more boys around Jamie's age ran out of the woods. "Dude no! That's the alpha's daughter." Jamie instantly knew he had made a mistake. He removed his foot from Nara's hand and began pacing. His father was definitely going to be angry. He knew he had to mentally prepare himself for another beating.

Nara held her swollen hand to her chest as she tried her hardest to hold in her tears.

Jamie was ready to take off when he got tackled to the ground. Nara's eyes lit up as Kohl had come to protect her from Jamie. Kohl began punching Jamie repeatedly as he tried to get away. The sounds of Jamie's nose breaking was heard throughout the forest.

Kohl had seen Jamie bully a couple of other people around the pack and warned him to stop, but Jamie just walked away and laughed.

Kohl had no fighting experience, but he would not allow this pup to pick on his sister and get away with it.

He punched Jamie one last time then stood, his hand covered in Jamie's blood. He glanced towards Ellie who was coddling her brother. Her eyes met his and she shook her head, showing her disapproval for his actions. The two boys rushed towards Jamie and helped him up.

Paying everyone dust, he quickly wiped his hand on his shirt then ran towards his sister, helping her up. "Nara are you okay?" She nodded and pulled Kohl into a hug. "Come on let's go home." He said as he pulled her closer.

Ellie held her brother to her side as they walked past Nara and Kohl. "Do you want me to walk you home?" Kohl offered. Ellie shook her head and continued walking. She was angry, Kohl could feel it. They had just made up a few minutes ago and now they were back to where they started. Kohl didn't understand why Ellie was so upset, he was just sticking up for his sister.

He sighed then grabbed Nara's hand, leading her home. "Mom and Dad are going to be so mad." Kohl muttered to himself. He was specifically instructed by his mother to watch his sister and he failed. Kohl was always hard on himself, it was something he and Taylor tried to work on at their daily meetings.

Once they reached the house, he stopped in front of the door. Nervous on how to tell his parents what had happened. He looked down at Nara's swollen hand and grimaced. "I'm so sorry Nara." She shook her head and gave him a reassuring smile.

Kohl opened the door to their house, holding his breath. Brinn stood in the kitchen stirring the chili her and Titus had made. Over the years she had gotten a lot better at cooking, but baking was her true passion. Titus and Brinn instantly sensed something was wrong with the pair, when they didn't walk into the house being incredibly loud.

Kohl and Nara walked into the kitchen with their heads down. Titus glanced at his son's blood covered shirt and growled. "What happened?" Titus said a little to harshly, causing the pair to flinch. Brinn shot him a glare then stared down at the two. "What's wrong sweet peas?" Brinn asked more calmly.

"This kid was picking on Nara and Felix. He stepped on Nara's hand. I-I was supposed to protect her but I was too late." Brinn's eyes went wide examined Nara's hand. She stayed calm, not wanting to panic the pups. Titus was fuming at this point. He was pacing the kitchen growling and mumbling profanities.

"That's not true! Kohl beat up the kid for us!" Nara protested. Titus stilled and stared at Kohl as he held his head low. "You did good son, you stood up for your sister." Titus said as he lifted his head. Brinn had pulled Nara to the living room as she bandaged her hand.

"But if I would have stayed with her this wouldn't have happen." Titus pulled Kohl into a hug. "It's okay Kohl, don't beat yourself up."

Kohl lifted his head up to meet his father's hazel eyes, then nodded. "Now what was this pup's name?" Titus asked sternly.

"Jamie." Kohl said as he held his head down.

Titus knew about Jamie and his family. He was hesitant to let them join the pack since they showed up on pack grounds unannounced, but he believed in giving everyone a fair chance. Now he was slowly questioning his decision. Jamie would pay for his actions towards his pups.

"He's still a kid." Brinn reminded him as she read his thoughts. Kohl had slipped away into the living room to check on Nara as Titus got lost in his thoughts.

He didn't know what Jamie's punishment would be. Nothing too harsh, but enough for him to know his actions were out of line. "Just make him clean up the pack bathroom for a few weeks." Brinn suggested through their mind link.

Titus nodded in agreement. "And a visit with the anger management team twice a week." He added. Brinn shrugged her shoulders.

Yes that's what he'd do. He would also keep a close eye on the family from now on. Titus was no fool, and knew kids usually reciprocated the behavior they see from their parents. He would have the entire family evaluated immediately.

Brinn gathered everyone to the table as she served dinner. They ate in an awkward silence as everyone was consumed in their own thoughts. Kohl spotted the chili sauce that laid on Nara's face and began laughing. He grabbed a napkin and began washing her face.

Titus grabbed Brinn's hand as they stared at their pups lovingly. Tomorrow was another day. But today they would enjoy the company of their small family.