Blacktail Deer Plateau Brothers under the sun

Though they had not yet had the opportunity to see one another and process the events that had transpired in the last day or so, and of course they obviously couldn't easily communicate about it, Atticus felt much the same about things as Crete did. A caustic mixture of emotions roiled around uncomfortably within him, making him both heavy-hearted, resentful, and fearful all at the same time. Since the pack meeting, he had remained alone, away from everyone else, while he attempted to sort out his feelings.

There was obviously the jealousy toward Peregrine's claim over Hawkeye. Atticus's feelings regarding their Alpha female were awkward and complicated. When he was away from her, the attraction was not so powerful. But in her presence, he felt as if he lost control of his mind and his senses (he didn't realize that this was normal for males under the influence of a female in season). He was driven mad with desire and mindless lust, unable to think of anything else but his hunger for her. He couldn't understand it. Perhaps, in time, experience and the wisdom that came with it would help him make sense of it. But for now, he felt it were better if he just avoided Hawkeye altogether.

Even more complicated and disorienting than his feelings over Hawkeye were his feelings over his brother. He couldn't stomach the idea of another situation like that which he had confronted back home with the Falcons. Tyrannus and he had been close. He had admired his older brother, learned much from him and found an honest, insightful friend in him. Power changed people. He was far closer with Peregrine than he'd ever been with Tyr, but power would change that. He knew it.

His brother's howl had rent the air many minutes ago, yet he still stood still. He had absolutely no desire to face Peregrine right now, and he seriously considered allowing the howl to go unanswered. A soft growl rumbled in his chest at the thought of what was to come. At the thought of having to grovel before yet another brother, having to walk on eggshells, pins and needles, lest he be considered a "threat". The wound was still too fresh. That Peregrine was blind, foolish, and…well, asshole enough to not consider this simply galled and infuriated Atticus.

In the end, he heeded the call. He couldn't ignore Peregrine – he was his Alpha now.

So he trudged toward the howl. It didn't take him terribly long to get there, for by sheer coincidence he had been fairly close by when the howl went up. Crete was already there, and Atticus could almost immediately see the uneasiness in his brother too. With a blank expression on his face and eyes full of accusation, he stood close to Crete, their shoulders brushing, and looked at his Alpha.

Perhaps this would be the part where Peregrine told them they were a "threat" and asked them to leave...