POV - Alpha Kyas
Leaving Kaitie to her flowers, I headed back to front of the packhouse to check on the other pups. And then I heard it.
"No, mine." From Sage.
"No… mine." From Brian.
My first instinct was to go handle Sage, the words triggering me from my past with Elias, but I decided to hang back, and see if Brian could handle himself, but be ready to support him if the balance tipped.
They were arguing over the cars I had seen them with earlier. At the time, Sage had the red one, Brian the blue. At the moment, Sage had both cars.
They were the same age Elias and I were in my memory. Three. I had been watching these two, my fears of creating repeated scenario to me and Elias between Sage and Brian causing me to be extra vigilant with the behaviors to watch for.
"Gimmie." Brian demanded. "My car."
"No. I want it." Sage replied.
"Me too." Brian said.
"I like it." Sage said.
"Me too." Brian said.
"Come get it." Sage said.
Brian clawed his hands and a chase around the sandbox began. I saw it. Sage could easily outrun Brian, but he deliberately slowed down, and let himself get caught. They rolled to the ground and wrestled for the car.
Brian got it. "I win! Mine!"
"No, not done!" Sage yelled, and knocked Brian over… and went for his shoes…
I grinned.
"Hey! What are you doing?" I asked them, walking over.
Sage got up. "My turn to play Papa." he said.
I knelt down. "You're doing it wrong." I said.
"Huh?" he asked, Brian also had a confused look.
"You have to put your shoulders across his knees, like this…" I said.
"No! Papa!" Brian yelled, trying to get up, already giggling.
I grab a foot and make quick work of the shoe. Brian pounds my back.
"Where should we tickle, Sage, show me." I said.
He pointed to the middle. "Here?" I said. Brian squealed.
Sage nodded, liking his lesson.
"Well… he likes it there… but the best place for Brian is right… here." I said, nailing the prime spot right under the curve of his toes. This time he lost it. I let him rest. I looked at Sage.
"You have a problem, Sage…" I said.
"Huh?" he said.
I sit up fast and nab him, holding him over my shoulder. "Yeah… now it's Brian's turn."
"Put me down, Papa!" Sage yells.
"Pick a foot, Brian." I said.
"No." he said.
"No?" I asked.
He walked around to my side, where Sage was perched. "Best spot is here." And he goes for Sage's ribs. Sure enough, he had Sage squirming off my shoulder in giggles. Noted.
I help him up and fold them both into a fierce hug.
"KYAS!" a voice from the house.
Papa comes storming out. "Where's my book, Kyas?" he scowles.
"The one that was in the library with a bookmark at page forty-three?" I ask.
He grits his teeth. "Yes, that one. Give it back."
"Why do you ALWAYS think it's me? Cale's coming along nicely, and Sir taught me everything I know. Go pick on one of them." I said back.
"They wouldn't dare cross me." he said, confident.
"You're wrong, Cale gave it to me. Wanna know how it ends?" I ask.
"Where is it, Kyas?" he said.
"No, idea, I gave it back." I said.
"CALE!" Papa yelled.
Cale grinned, produced the book from his lap, and took off.
It. Was. Glorious.