It hadn’t been very long since he recall writing the letter to his brother to inform him of the recent current events. It was with a heavy heart that he had to tell him of Moliira’s departure into parts unknown. Krys knew of how close Blaine had been to Moliira and knew that he would feel the loss of another sister. Misty had been heartbreaking enough, but now to lose another of their pack… Krys remembered the tears falling down his face as he finished it before sealing it and sent it to him. Days later, he received a response from him- an invitation to stay with his little brother and his family. He felt some what guilty of having to shelter him and hoped not to be a burden. When it came to Toya and her side of the family, he hadn’t spent as much time as he probably should have. Especially with his nephew and nieces. He nearly forgot that one of them actually had twins sometime ago and he had been meaning to visit them but one thing came up after another.
 
The journey had been long and he managed to reach the city a few days short of a fortnight. He had heard of the tales about Sularia, but the stories didn’t do it much justice in comparison to actually witnessing it. Krystopher merely had himself and a bag of trinkets and some clothes slung on his back.  Most of the travel had been done in his lycan form to save time so that he didn’t have Blaine worry about where he was. Speaking of which, he didn’t think he got too far into the city before he felt a hand came onto his shoulder and he turned to see him there. The two embraced in a hug before he was lead to the White Rose Manor. “Looks like you could use a bath”, Blaine said, referring to his brother’s dirty and sweat form. He also reeked strongly of alcohol but his brother didn’t bother him about it. It wasn’t like he didn’t enjoy drinking as well and knowing his brother and how he was coping with all of this, he wasn’t going to lecture.
 
“Toya should be around here somewhere. Jayden’s elsewhere in town and the twins are doing their own things.” He failed to mention Kite and Tempest, knowing that they were around here somewhere causing mischief. Meanwhile Krystopher looked around quietly and readjusted the strap of his bag. “Probably. I’ll only be here for a few days and then…” Blaine turned and gave him a narrowing stare, “You are staying for as long as you need. You are family and we will help you. Even Toya, and for the love of god, if she offers you Dragon’s Fire Whiskey, do not take it.”


Krys was about to protest but Blaine shook his head. “Don’t make me have to beat you up and then lock you in a room, Krys.” The elder brother sighed and nodded before being lead into the parlor. “Wait here. I’m going to go get Toya.” Blaine headed off, calling for his wife while he unslung the bag and dropped it onto the floor and fell into one of the chairs there. His blue eyes closed as he allowed himself some rest after so long traveling. Heaven knows he didn’t really had a good night's rest in so damn long.

The stranger was unsuspecting. He didn’t know he had walked into the wolves’ den. Deep eyes of blue stared down at him as they perched. They were rather good climbers after all and it didn’t look like Papa had seen them. He was too preoccupied with this new man. He smelled like grandma’s bad days at court and they both wrinkled their nose at it. They could smell the sweat and dirt on him too, he had just shown up to Arri.

His sister went first as she dropped from the rafters of the main room. “STRANGER IN THE CASTLE!” Tempest yelled with all of her lungs. Her brown curls were flying up as she flung herself at the strange man.

Kite had been walking the rafters and he looked down at the man. “GET THE STRANGER,” he gave warning as he dropped down and wrapped himself around the stranger. “Surrender or face the wrath of the Alpha!”

“YEAH!” Tempest was now wrapped around his other side. “Or prepare to get burnt!”

“YEAH!” Kite yelled at his sister excitedly as their laughter and screams filled the entirety of the manor.

In the other room, Toya looked up from her conversation with Blaine and grimaced. “Well… if you have a brother by the time those two are done with him… We should probably set up a room and get him a bath going… Should we save him?”

Far too busy was he contemplating his life as he sat on the chair. He had been through quite a lot in his life so far and yet he didn’t know what purpose it served. Was it to be a leader? Well that was a failure. A protector? That too had met with a dead end. A devoted husband and father? Failure. A sorcerer? Failure. A “king”? Failure. At each turn, he came up empty handed for one reason or another. Every bit, every shred of happiness was taken from him and now he had to try once more to pick up the pieces and start again.
 
Krys was far too into his own little world that he hadn’t noticed the smell of a pair of young wolves high above him. He slowly pulled himself out of his funk and started to think that his brother hadn’t mentioned his grandniece and nephew? Lifting his head up to normal level, he started to notice a familiar yet distant smell, but then it was too late. He had enough time to lift his head all the way when the girl had screamed and leaped down from the rafters. She pounced onto him as he stood up and felt her squirming on him. Just as he was ready to go and pull her off, a boy followed suit and he groaned inwardly as he too tried to attack him in similar fashion. 
 
Blaine found his wife and was discussing his brother with her as they heard the sounds of the cute little devils having inadvertently meeting their uncle. For a moment, he let Toya’s question go unanswered and waited a few moments before things went quiet. “Sounds like he took care of it. Shall we?” He went off and came back to the parlor to see Krystopher looking at him with a bewildered look, and with both Tempest and Kite under each of his arms. “Are these yours or Keria’s?”, he asked with a huff. “Nope, those are my grandchildren and your niece and nephew. Okay little savages, how about you introduce yourselves to your Uncle Krystopher.” Krys reluctantly placed the two back down on the ground so they could do as they were told. “Charmed. So did you know they were there or not?”
 
“Yup. They like hiding up there and jumping on intruders. Think they got my spunk.”

Toya chuckled a bit as she shrugged at her husband. “Sounds like he did. Unlucky bastard that they were in that room though. I had no idea they were there…” Not that she would have stopped them even if she had known!

Crossing her arms as she went in she took a look at Krystopher and chuckled a bit. He had them wrangled like newborn calves under his arms as he looked like he had just been surprised from hell to heaven at least twice. The little savages ran immediately to their grandmother and hugged her legs. They were grinning up at Krystopher.


“I’m Kite,” the little blonde boy spoke up, “Like the bird! Right Grandma?” Toya pat his head softly and nodded.

“I’m Tempest like the storm,” She giggled and looked up at her grandmother who patted her head just like her brother.

“For the record Krys, I didn’t know they were up there. I am innocent in this.” Toya chuckled a bit as she pried the twins off of her and onto Blaine as she went to hug her brother in law. “It is so good to see you Krystopher. I was worried about you there for a bit but I am glad you are staying with us.” It had to be the first time that Toya was actually gentle with anyone other than Blaine but she understood Krystopher right now.

“Keira is out of town on business so we are stuck with the terrible duo.”

“We’re not terrible!” Kite yelled.

“I think we’re fantastic,” Tempest chuckled a bit more as she hugged her grandfather more. They were so smart.

“They are learning well from their mother, you know Keira. She has never forgotten anything. Girl has a good head on her shoulders. As for spunk, I think unfortunately they got it from both of us. I’ve seen them brawl and I know that right hook anywhere.” There was a chuckle from Toya as she eyed the two little ones. “They are the youngest in our brood.”