Chapter 4: Running the Path

P.o.V Alpha Darren/Tybris

Tybris and Axel chose a speed about half of what they'd normally run. Alpha Darren and Beta Owen had decided on this and the course the run would take ahead of time. If the wolf who paired with Baron could keep pace, they would steadily increase until he began to lag behind. Then they would slow to something that pushed him slightly but he could maintain. It may not be a race, but it was certainly a test.

As they neared the end of the first leg of the run, the Alpha, Beta, and Commander were pleased with the young wolf shadowing them. He was chosing his path well and following subtle changes in Baron's trajectory that kept him out of any tough spots. A few times he even began to pace with Axel by mistake and fell back to rejoin the Commander. They were doing about 75% of their normal speed and it seemed to be comfortable enough for the younger one. He seemed to be holding slightly back whenever those behind him lagged too far, but this speed seemed steady otherwise.

It gave Darren and Tybris time to talk before they got back and had to answer some awkward questions. He could feel Beta Owen's confusion as the young Alpha walked up to them. Owen would understand why he hadn't said anything once Moira announced her bond to this wolf. But then the very hard questions would follow. What did a female human side bound to a male Alpha wolf side make? Were they an Alpha? Who was the heir to the clan? Tradition said his first son Patrick was to be Alpha if no "reasonable" option for Alpha appeared, but....

Tybris broke into his spiral of thoughts, "Our pup is an Alpha and should take over when we can no longer lead and they are ready. There is no denying it."

"I know. And they are undeniably a strong Alpha. I could feel the force of their pull as much as you could when they met our gaze. To be able to even impact another Alpha is phenomenal especially at their age. BUT Moira is female regardless of what her wolf side is. That can cause problems for some. And what if she doesn't want it. Either way there will be issues in the pack and Tradition has always been..."

"The Goddess is beyond whatever traditions you humans assign!" snarled Tybris and shocking Darren into silence. This was as close to fighting as he and Tybris had ever come. "She decides who is an Alpha and who is not. She places mates together who are best for the future of our people. Denying her will is what will cause the end of our pack. It would be neglecting our duty to the people to deny them the strongest Alpha when we are no more. As to what Moira wants, she's an Alpha she will be compelled to lead and will embrace the opportunity. It isn't a desire it's built into who she is. You've seen her and her friends interacting, she's already naturally leading those around her. Besides, she said she would let us guide her and we accepted. You felt what happened in the office."

Darren agreed. He'd felt the unspoken bond they'd made earlier. He knew what was right and best and would train and guide her accordingly. But humans are different than wolves. And regular werewolves are different than Alphas. To Tybris this was all stupid semantics. The next Alpha had arrived. It was settled. But Darren couldn't have everyone just live as wolves forever to avoid confronting their human side. Being an Alpha wasn't a title, it was ingrained deeper even than the mate bond. It just was what one was. Before anything, he decided, he would speak with the elders and Coven Mistress Caldwell. They would know if there is any history or precedent he could use to overcome tradition and ease this transition. Especially with his mate. 

She was furious when he told her about the pups' wolves. She didn't want to believe it. It ruined her plans and slapped Tradition entirely in the face. Upon the death or loss of ability in an Alpha, if no Alpha was born into the pack, the first son of the Alpha, or Beta if the Alpha had none, was to become the next leader unless the daughter of the Alpha was mated to an Alpha. So far the clan's leadership line had passed easily father to son in either the Alpha or Beta lines of this clan as far back as he knew. But there had to be something. Something he could use to fend off the conflict he knew was going to start the day he named an heir.

The even pace allowed him to carry on this way until the final leg from the highest town in their territory, where the Ice Herbs were grown, back to the pack house. The bon fires on the lawn were visible from here and at this point it was a straight shot. The young wolves were free to break formation with the warriors and run in on their own.

As Tybris, Axel, and Baron settled into their own formation into the speed they'd started the run at, the young Alpha... fell back. Confusion filled the trio's minds until they heard the thundering footfalls behind them. A black streak shot ahead, followed closely by three other wolves. The four of them maintained a fast pace and tight grouping down the mountain and into the darkness ahead.

Pride swelled in Tybris and Darren's heart. Their pup, the small ball of energy that seemed to bring chaos and joy wherever it went, was leading a pack. It didn't matter that it was just three other teenagers. They chose to follow his pup into the darkness. Into their future. They would cross the bonfires onto the lawn of the pack house as a unit. Moira and her wolf leading them. Guiding them. Directing their movements.

"All grown up," Darren said slightly sadly to Tybris.

"Not quite grown," he responded. "They still have to find their Beta and a mate. And it will take years to learn to run the pack. We aren't useless old wolves yet," he chuckled as the continued towards the fires.

As the trio crossed into the lawn, they saw the four younger wolves laying in the area set aside for them slightly behind and to the left side of the platform. All four were panting up a storm, a light grey one laying entirely prone as his body rose and fell. The large black one was more alert and sat up as they crossed in to better see who it was. He fell back to his reclined position when he saw it wasn't more of their group.

By the time the rest began to trickle in the four had recovered and were relaxing in the cool winter grass enjoying the mix of warmth and coolness that played across their fur as the wind shifted around the bonfires. Alpha Darren and the other warriors each proceeded to the area they stored their clothes in and changed back into their outfits for the party. He checked his watch as he put it on. Only just now 11. Not a bad time.

Beta Owen was waiting for him as he emerged with a smirk on his face. "So that's why you wouldn't let me join you when you trained with the twins."

"Didn't want to spoil the surprise," said Alpha Darren flatly turning towards the crowd to see if he could spot his mate and the progress of the other young wolves. Several more had joined the original four and all were recovering from the new form of exertion.

"I can't tell which one is Moira, though," Beta Owen continued staying by the Alpha's side and surveying the young wolves as they gathered.

"Yeah," said Alpha Darren slowly, surveying the crowd. "I don't think anyone will guess that."