Chapter 170

"You know, I never would've thought that my brother would be like this." Kratos said as he licked his fingers having finished his meal.

"Like what?" I asked cutting into whatever meat was on my plate. It tasted like chicken and looked like it but who knows.

"Caring. He has a mate, who's pregnant. He is a protector to this place, and more." Shaking his head he chuckled, "It's strange."

I shook my head, "Hmm, yeah but he's not nice."

"No?"

"No." I answered shaking my head.

Raph had left a few minutes ago with Thresh and Thomas to secure something along the barrier. I wasn't too worried about what it was, but the last time Raph had been here he'd fallen and been injured.

I chewed the dry meat numbly as I recalled the worry and panic that had overtaken me.

"Why do you say that?" I heard Thresh's sister, Brissa ask me from her seat across from me on the polished table.

I looked up at her, her long black hair was kept behind her shoulders and she wore a pale, pink shirt that had cut off shoulders and flowy sleeves. Her grey eyes regarded me skeptically.

"Why would I say that Thresh is not nice?" I asked confirming her inquiry.

She nodded, her eyes narrowing.

I smiled, "Well… in my time knowing him, he's proven to be nothing but not nice."

"Have you known him for five thousand years?" Alastor asked.

I turned my eyes to look at his blue ones, "No I haven't." I answered amused.

"Then who are you to judge his character." He stated angrily.

I looked at him through narrowed eyes, "Maybe I haven't known him as long as you guys but we were stuck in a cell for three days and I thought I had a read on him… but recent events prove that I was wrong." I said standing and pushing my chair out.

I didn't look back as I walked to where that enormous mural was. My head craned back as I took in that massive piece.

I heard a tongue click next to me and turned to see Kratos next to me, his blue eyes trained thoughtfully on the mural.

I raised my eyes to look at it once more. There were so many things going on in it that it was hard to tell what was the centre of it.

In the far left corner there were mountains; huge, towering, snow capped mountains. To the far right were trees; tall, immense trees with the smallest minuscule detail of needles. I stood in awe of the fine technique that the painter must have had.

In the centre of the painting was a waterfall with butterflies and gardens, as I stood on my toes I could make out small animals like bunnies, squirrels and birds hiding amongst the brilliant flowers.

A smile grew on my face as I shook my head. I wanted to see the top but my neck hurt just trying.

"Do you have a favourite yet?" I heard Kratos ask a few steps behind me.

My eyes moved to observe the painting with scrutiny.

"I think I like the strange lilacs the best…" I dwindled off because Kratos laughed at my answer. Giving him a nervous smile I asked, "What?"

"Not the mural, although I can understand your fascination. I mean out of my siblings, who's your favourite?"

My eyebrows scrunched together and I laughed in surprise, "Seriously?"

He gave me a nod.

Snorting softly I looked down, "Umm… I guess I would say, definitely not Thresh,"

"No." Kratos shook his head and I smirked.

"Not Alastor, not Brissa, definitely not Dart. You." I finished.

He looked at me with a happy grin.

-Brooke.- Raph said in my mind.

-Yeah?- I asked.

-Come outside, please.-

-Okay.- I said baffled.

"Bye, gotta go see something outside." I said and waved goodbye to Kratos.

Walking back through the hallways I exited the branch door and reentered the warm, snow-free forest.

"Raph?" I asked.

-Here.- He said and I turned my head to see him coming up the path as a wolf.

I smiled seeing his beautiful wolf.

"Hey-" I stopped mid-sentence as he shifted mid run and appeared naked in front of me.

My mouth dropped open and I couldn't move.

His hand reached to scratch his silver hair that was glinting in the sunlight as he slowed in pace. My eyes were still fixed on my husband's fully naked, toned body walking casually through a strange forest.

A wide grin appeared on his face at my reaction and I felt my heart begin to race.

"Well," I breathed, "If that isn't the sexiest sight I've ever seen." I said blushing but still staring at him.

"It was just some Shapeshifters that had formed a small army and had attacked an area of the barrier."

"Hm?" I asked as my eyes moved to his and away from his torso that was only a few feet from me.

He repeated what he'd said and held my shoulders which didn't help as his pecs were now directly in front of my face. Swallowing I looked up at him, "You do realize that you're naked?"

His grin that had never disappeared from his face grew to reach his eyes, "Yes I do. We'll have to head back to the cabin and fetch me some new ones."

I turned my head to look at the branch doors, "Well I don't know, I was having a pretty interesting conversation with Kratos in there."

I turned back to look at Raph who now looked angry.

"But it's okay, we'll head back." I said giving him a hug but cleared my throat when I was reminded that he was nude.

He shifted and I hesitantly reached to pet his head, it was so soft and I could see he liked it. I giggled at the strange experience as we walked away from there.

Returning to the cabin Raph showered and dressed into a new pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt.

When he was finished I played with his hair as he rested his head on my lap.

"I can't believe you did that." I said laughing.

He chuckled, his eyes closed, "Yeah, well I'd left my chain here and forgotten to take my clothes off before I shifted, and there was also not a lot of time to take my clothes off."

I smiled at his explanation, "You do know I'm not talking about the shifting with your clothes on, but the fact that you shifted back without any, in a public place."

He smiled showing his perfect teeth, I paused in my movements as I observed his pearly whites.

"You wanna go home?" He asked out of the blue.

I gasped and stared at him to make sure he was serious. We had been living here for a month and I desperately wanted to return to a warmer climate, our house, and a familiar bed.

Away from here.