SIGMUND: It was always a mixture of intuition and classic research that kept Sigmund abreast of wolves in his territory. He hadn't been the alpha for all that long, but already he was changing the way the pack worked, loosening restrictions and modernizing the way things got done. The wolf he was searching for at the moment had been incredibly quiet, reclusive. Some of the local supernaturals made note of his peculiar, if not unfortunate family situation. Sigmund knew he was going to have to meet this person, because even quiet ones could cause a great deal of turmoil. He'd kept his ear to the ground and finally got a location on the man. When he showed up at his door, he stood on the other side of it with confidence and strength, but very little threat.

RYLAND: The house Ryland lived in was enormous. He'd purchased it with some of the money from his trust shortly after he'd become a wolf. He was no longer very welcome in his brothers' house and he wanted a place that was out of the way, far from everyone else. He lived at the base of the mountain in a wooded area. The house was a two story cabin type house that he hadn't decorated at all. The only room in the house with furniture was his bedroom. That didn't bother him much because he never had visitors. Gavin came around once in awhile and when he heard the knock at the door, he supposed that was who it was until he sensed it was another wolf. Immediately he was suspicious and he opened the door, just looking at Sigmund. "Yes?"

SIGMUND: "Usually this is the other way around when--well, when you're obviously so stable already." He glanced up at the house, the way it felt established and rich, even though he could see the stark lack of furniture behind Ryland. Sigmund exuded power, but not overwhelmingly so. It was clear though, that he  claimed his space. "I'm Sigmund Lewis. My pack lives here in Providence."

RYLAND: "I'm sorry?" Ryland replied, leaning up against the doorframe. "Am I bothering someone?" He asked, making no move to invite Sigmund in. He'd heard of him from the few wolves he attempted to speak to since his transformation. No one had welcomed him and in fact, most had shyed away. At this point, he didn't care. He was starting to resign himself to the fact that he would be alone.

SIGMUND: Sigmund watched the other's body language, depending on it more than his words. "No, you're not bothering anyone." Yet--he added in his mind. "Usually wolves introduce themselves to us, to me more specifically. You certainly don't seem crazy or incapable of speech, so I waited. But I figured it was time we got to know each other."

RYLAND: "Oh," was Ryland's only reply. He wasn't exactly versed in the ways of wolves. He really hadn't yet accepted what he'd become and he wasn't sure if he ever would. All he knew was that his brothers didn't want him anymore and the few other wolves he'd attempted to talk to didn't seem to want anything to do with him either. "Ryland Volaire," he said finally, extending a hand.

SIGMUND: Sigmund relaxed visibly at the hand extension. Taking it up in a firm handshake, Sigmund nodded. "Good to meet you. You're more than welcome at my house. There are quite a few others there and even loners need their own kind sometimes, you know?" Maybe Ryland didn't know. He had a strange history, or rather strange relations. He was, of course, the most curious about and most wary of Ryland's family.

RYLAND: "Their own kind?" Ryland repeated, still not pleased at the fact that he was any other kind than human. The fact that he'd been turned by a werewolf in a power play for the Volaire family made him more pissed off than he'd ever been in his life. He hadn't asked for this. "I'm sure you have heard of me, or else you wouldn't be here. If no one else wants anything to do with me, why do you?"

SIGMUND: "Because it's my job to protect the wolves in this area." Whether that meant Ryland was included in that protection, or he was what Sigmund was protecting the others from, wasn't clear. Sigmund sighed because Ryland's expectation to be accepted by, or maybe make friends with other wolves was an unfortunate one. "What did you expect?"

RYLAND: "I didn't expect anything," Ryland replied. "Look, I'm not going to bother you guys or anything," he said, running a hand through his hair. "You don't have to worry." He wondered if he should invite Sigmund in. "You can come in. I just...don't have anything to offer you." He took a step back and pushed the door open a little further.

SIGMUND: Sigmund did want to come in, and he stepped forward as soon as Ryland offered. "I don't have to worry? Are you sure" He'd heard enough to know that Ryland's brothers weren't exactly philanthropists. "I have to admit your family tree is a bit troublesome."

RYLAND: "I don't see how any of that is my fault," Ryland replied, shutting the door as Sigmund came in. "Do you see them around here? They don't want anything to do with me." He walked into the living room even though there was no furniture and just kind of stood in front of the big window.

SIGMUND: "You're very defensive. I didn't say it was your fault. I'm not here to punish you." Sigmund had a cool head, logical, and steady. But the stresses of being an alpha sometimes got the better of him and he wished he could go back and unchallenge the previous alpha. "Brothers never stay away for long. In the long run, that's a tie you can't break."

RYLAND: "Okay, so if you're concerned about it then do whatever it is you need to do. Do you want me to leave?" Ryland asked, turning around from the window to look at Sigmund. "I already lost my job and my family. What else do you want me to do?" He knew he wasn't exactly being rational but he hadn't even begun to sort through things.

SIGMUND: "No, no one wants you to leave. But I have to wonder why you're really still here if your brothers don't want anything to do with you." Spite, maybe. Or worse, Ryland didn't want to let them go, and he was still somehow under their sway.

RYLAND: "Where else would I go?" Ryland asked, shrugging his shoulders. "Why should I be the one to have to leave? They can leave if they want to leave."

SIGMUND: That was fair enough. Sigmund finally seemed to take in his surroundings. "Interesting design aesthetic." He was lightening up now, deciding to move on from the topic of family because he could learn more through keeping an eye on him rather than interrogating him.

RYLAND: "That's why I bought it," Ryland nodded. The architecture had appealed to him. "I just don't know much about decorating and I figure it doesn't matter since I'm the only one here."

SIGMUND: "Where do you sit?" He ventured wryly, glancing back at Ryland. Sigmund wasn't huge into decorating, but he thought furniture was pretty important.

RYLAND: "In my bedroom?" Ryland replied as though it were the most obvious answer in the world. "I have a king sized canopy bed and a Lazy Boy in front of the tv. What more do I need?" He asked, turning around to look at Sigmund again. He usually ate dinner in one of those two places as well and the rare guests he had were Gavin and Aiden, both of whom had no need for a kitchen table to sit at.

SIGMUND: Sigmund thought it was a pretty sad existence, the idea of just sitting in ones bedroom and living alone. But he wasn't rude enough to say so out loud. "Are you here a lot? What do you do? I mean, for a job." He always tried to avoid interrogation, but it was hard for him; he liked asking questions and getting answers.

RYLAND: "I was a teacher," Ryland replied, turning away to look out the window again. "High school American history," he added. Things had gotten so crazy in the past year that he'd had to quit his job since he never knew when he was going to be in or taking a day off. "You?" He asked, despite himself.

SIGMUND: "Do you think you'll ever go back?" People who taught were generally those who had a passion for it. The job didn't pay enough to hate it. When Ryland asked about his job, Sigmund grinned, pleased with at least some show of interest. "I write for the local newspaper. So I'm paid to be nosy, if you were wondering why."

RYLAND: "I just thought it was your job to be nosy since you are the...Alpha," Ryland replied, still finding the term to be odd coming from his mouth. "And I would like to...maybe, someday," he added, sighing a little.

SIGMUND: "Glad to hear that." People tended to do better when they continued to lead a somewhat normal life. Or at least that's what Sigmund had noticed. "I take it you don't need anything." Except furniture, it drove him crazy the guy didn't have any furniture.

RYLAND: "No, I'm fine," Ryland replied, sighing a little. Not really though...or as fine as he could be, he supposed. He stared out the window a moment longer before turning around to look at Sigmund again. "Thank you," he added, not wanting to appear ungrateful to this person of importance who had come to check on him.

SIGMUND: He had the urge to threaten Ryland to drive home the point that he didn't want the pack to have any problems because of the man's ties. But he thought better of it, even if he couldn't hide the cautious vibe that was following his movements. "Well, all right then. I'll get out of your hair."

RYLAND: "Oh...alright," Ryland nodded, walking toward the door to show Sigmund out. He wouldn't have responded well to threatening, that was for certain, although he most likely would have responded by dissolving into a mess of tears, probably the least likely thing Sigmund would have expected.

SIGMUND: Even though he didn't like the idea that a wolf was living in his territory with little contact with him, Sigmund would deal with it if it meant a lower likelihood of having to deal with the complications that may stem from his situation. He hesitated a little bit, thinking that perhaps he should stay, but his own uncertainty won out and he left Ryland to his own devices.