Chapter 8 Mate's Call

• "Hello, brothers!" Seth mind-linked and waited for their response. It had been years since they last did this. Their Lycgers were awake now, and the world would slowly begin to make sense. However, their pheromones hadn't returned. Regardless, as long as they could finally connect with their Lycgers, everything should be fine.
• "Seth," came Kurt's calm voice, followed immediately by the tired Tricc.
• "Hello, brothers," Tricc greeted as well.
• "If we're all linking with each other again, it can only mean one thing..." Seth began. Tricc snorted but remained silent. "We all heard our Mate's call, and our sleeping Lycgers have awakened," he stated, pausing to wait for their response. But it seemed as though none was forthcoming. "Well?" he asked, a little annoyed.
• Tricc cleared his throat and spoke, "Well, nothing."
• Nodding, Kurt added, "What, he suddenly calls after eighteen years, and we're supposed to run into his arms like lost pups?!" He scoffed. "I'm sorry, brothers, but I'm not at all thrilled by his call," he admitted, his tone bitter.
• "I agree with Kurt..." Tricc started but trailed off.
• "Oh, come on, brothers!" Seth cried indignantly. "For the past eighteen years, our Lycgers have slept... we haven't heard from them, and even worse, we've lost our pheromones. But just this once, he called and our Lycgers are awake again. Don't you think the restoration of our pheromones, as well as our strength and abilities, could be in his hands?!" He asked rhetorically. Silence met his question. "Brothers?" Seth prompted after a moment's consideration. "Didn't you guys hear me? We need this. We could get our pheromones back, and our strength and abilities could all be restored. We've been nothing without them these past years!"
• "I say we've managed just fine without them. What difference does it make now?" Kurt questioned bitterly.
• "You're being unreasonable," Seth tried to reason. "We've barely been alive this entire time... Tricc could hardly stand the sight of an omega in eighteen years, and to think Dirk wasn't even an omega, to begin with, yet his life has been greatly affected by it in the way he perceives omegas. And what about you, Kurt? You've become a renowned playboy, sleeping with anything that moves, all in an attempt to fill a void that could never be filled by another. You have two sons, and nothing has changed!" Seth spat out, feeling the sting of anger towards his brother.
• "Oh, that's rich coming from the one brother who moved on and found himself a human lover. If anyone has had it easy this entire time, it's you, Seth!" Kurt shot back in a low, venomous voice. "You think we haven't seen how smoothly you both go together, like some great power couple?!" Kurt was losing his sanity bit by bit, and he could feel Seth doing the same from how rough his breathing got. "Truly, I wonder if you still have room to love another with how much you love that human!"
• "I agree, Kurt. I can't stand omegas. I haven't even had sex with another in my entire life. Whether it be pheromones from an omega or betas, I get repulsed all the same. The difference between omegas and betas is that betas only release pheromones when they're mated and with their partners, but omegas release them with every emotion they experience. But you, Kurt, you easily sleep around with anyone, no matter who they are, and you even have sons!" He paused and chuckled bitterly. "...and as for you, Seth, coming here to talk about Dirk's sudden call out of the blue... you're currently living with a human boy whom you've loved for many years now..." His eyes stung with repressed tears. "I would say if anyone has had it easy this entire time, it would be the both of you! The one who has suffered the most from all this is me!" His last words ended with a deep growl.
• "Do you think it's been any easier for me than it has been for you?!" Kurt started.
• "Prove me wrong, Kurt!" Tricc growled.
• "Enough!" Seth barked, his patience frayed. "You two need to make up your minds about this before the lycan and tiger in us go crazy the next time Dirk calls... and believe me, they will!" His voice was getting dangerously quiet. "I would also appreciate it if you both could refrain from turning this into a fight." He finished in a lower volume. "We've all suffered greatly. None of us can heal when we get hurt. We have no pheromones, we cannot use our powers, our strength is nothing compared to an omega's, and most importantly, our Lycgers fell asleep... he took all of this away on the night he rejected us... his call could only mean one thing... think, brothers, think."
• He fell silent, waiting for their responses. The three of them sat there in silence, each in their respective bedrooms, and eventually, Tricc spoke up. "One more call," he finally offered, his voice subdued.
• "One more call," the other two agreed, and the link severed.
• **********
• One more call.
• Kurt muttered and fell onto the bed with a heavy sigh.
• Was that all these many years worth? One more call, and then what? They run and go find him? He left them. Abandoned them. Right on the verge of death, no less. All these years, and suddenly, all it's worth is one more call?
• Scoffing in frustration, Kurt got to his feet and began to pace around the bedroom. The night was young, the moon had just begun to rise, yet his nerves were on edge. There was so much going through his head right now. It can't be that easy. Who said they had to make it easy for him?
• "He's our mate!"
• He winced in pain from the voices of his Lycgers. Pausing in his steps, his breathing grew heavier. He needed to sit down, and rest before he collapsed from exhaustion. Sinking to the floor, he rested his chin against his knees, staring blankly at his bedroom door. A few moments passed, and the voices ceased to exist. He was certain he had heard them both speak at once, and they didn't sound the least bit pleased. But it had been so long; that he was starting to forget what his Lycgers sounded like. But somehow, they still desired their fated pair. And him, could he say the same for himself?
• They had all suffered. And this wouldn't have happened if Dirk hadn't rejected them in the way and manner that he did.
• They were so young.
• Not only had they just experienced their first shifts, but they had also just learned that he was their mate, and there he went, running.
• They should not have followed if they had known how the night was going to end.
• **********
• It was the most calming yet mouth-watering scent they had ever encountered, a mixture of flowers, berries, and fruits, with the occasional hint of spice and perfume. It could only belong to their omega. Their legs moved on their own as they continued towards the source. When they finally reached him, they stopped abruptly, all three males holding their breaths, frowns etched on their faces. Before them stood a gorgeous man dressed in a suit, his gold hair tied into a bun, with stray locks falling onto his forehead. His fair and smooth skin, along with his defined face and jawline, made him look even more attractive. His dark green eyes shone with deep emotion, but something felt off.
• "Dirk?" Tricc asked with a hiss, coming closer to take another whiff. His eyes widened in horror. "No..." he whispered, his gaze flickering from Seth to Kurt, both of whom had shocked looks on their faces.
• "He's a Pride, not an omega, not even a beta. What is this?!" Seth growled, his shift starting first.
• "Not to mention there's only one mate!" Kurt snarled, pointing at Dirk, a look of complete disgust mixed with confusion on his face.
• "We're dead..." Tricc mumbled weakly, feeling faint.
• Their shifts began then, all four of them. Claws broke through their skin, teeth ripped from their jaws, and fur sprouted outwards. First, the triplets shifted into weretigers, then they shifted into Lycans. Meanwhile, the werelion had finished his shift and now stared up at the giant Lycans, towering over him, with multi-colored eyes glaring daggers down at him, blood-red fur standing on end.
• Dirk found himself submitting, his neck exposed to them, but he wouldn't allow that. So, he turned and ran.
• The triplets, without thinking, chased after him.
• As all three ran in the direction their mate had gone, they could hardly breathe normally. His scent was all over the place, his pheromones so mouth-watering they could taste them. His scent, and his fear, made them growl in both hunger and worry. It was a lot to take in, even though they understood. They had thought that they would each get their mate, but the goddess had other plans and gave them one mate who is also a pride.
• They wanted to reject him. In fact, the moment they found out he was their mate, they wanted to reject him. But as they ran through the dense forest, claws digging into the earth, they realized they couldn't. Not with his presence already so strong. Their pheromones responded to his. Dirk wasn't alone anymore. He was theirs, and they were not going to let him go. All three humans and their six Lycgers yearned for the pride who ran from them. And so, they chased on, snapping branches and twigs underfoot, desperately trying to keep up.
• Eventually, they caught up to him, standing by the cliff, wondering what to do next. At first, they thought he wouldn't do it. It was a cliff, for heaven's sake, and he would plummet to his death. But when they saw him take the first step, they knew they had to do better, and so...
• "Dirk!" Seth commanded in a single call. They felt the change in his pheromones, the fear he felt at that moment, knowing they had caught up to him. He tried to turn the other way, but once again...
• "Stop!" both Kurt and Tricc shouted. All three of them began to emit their dominant pheromones, saturating the forest and filling the air Dirk breathed at that moment. Dirk became a mess instantly. The way he looked in that moment was enough to awaken the animal within them, but they held their Lycgers down because they saw the fear and understood him.
• They took pity on him then.
• And in their hearts, they yearned to reach out and comfort him.
• After all, he was their mate, theirs to protect.