The True Union

Chapter 2 Derrick

Derrick sat at his desk listening to his uncle update him on the latest pack news. The Dark Moon pack was the largest pack under the Elder Council, with over two thousand members. As Alpha, Derrick had a lot of people who relied on him. As his uncle droned on, Derrick shifted to look at his south border. He was often drawn to this area of his territory. He needed to run, he was too overwhelmed by all of his duties and responsibilities. Even with his pack council and Beta, he still had a million things to do every day. He couldn’t remember the last time he relaxed. It was definitely before his father’s murder, before his world had been turned upside down in unforgiving ways.

Hearing his door open, Derrick looked up to see his Beta Jared walking in. Jared had been his best friend his entire life. As the sons of the former Alpha and Beta, they were practically raised together. They were even trained together so they could be more in sync with each other. Jared had just been promoted to Beta last month when his father retired. “Alpha, we have rogues at the eastern border again. There are about fifteen of them patrolling just outside the territory. Should we send the warriors out to dispatch them?” Great another attack, more and more rogues have been showing up since shortly after his father’s death. He shouldn’t have been surprised though, his pack attacked first, but he didn’t want this. He didn’t want a war. He just needed answers. Before Derrick could say anything, his uncle was issuing orders to attack. His uncle did this kind of thing often. He was bloodthirsty after his brother’s death. “No. Send thirty men to patrol that area of our borders. Do not engage unless they move into our territory.” Both my uncle and Jared looked at me as if I had gone mad. They both agreed we should attack first every time. They believed that was the only way to get the rogues from the area near our borders. I didn’t like all the fighting though. It puts our warriors in unnecessary danger. If the rogues stayed out of our borders, then I see no reason for their deaths, for now at least. There was too much talk about a war coming and he hated it. He had no plans to start a war, he just didn’t know how to stop it. Finally, seeing Derrick wasn’t going to amend his orders, Jared left to lead the patrol.

As soon as Jared left, his uncle began lecturing him on being a strong alpha, about how he couldn’t afford to look weak when he was so new to his position in such a large pack. It wasn’t anything new to Derrick. They had this same discussion almost daily, since his uncle started the attacks on other packs. At first, Derrick agreed because he thought his uncle was just doing integrations. When he learned about what his uncle was actually doing, he immediately called off all attacks. It had been six months now, and packs across the country were still getting ready for a war. He was tired of trying to get his uncle to see his point. “Uncle Eric, we have been over this. I don’t want to see my people hurt. What kind of Alpha would I be if I kept sending my warriors off to die? I want revenge for my father just as much as you, but I’m not willing to sacrifice my people to get it.” He could see his uncle getting angrier with his rebuttal, but he wouldn't change his position. It didn't stop his uncle though, just kept going on about how he was wrong. "I'm the alpha of this pack and you'll do well to remember that Uncle."

After his uncle left, Derrick sat at his desk staring off at his southern border. Maybe he should go for a run. It would do him some good to get out and relax. As soon as he made the decision to go though, there was a knock on his door. Jared came in with a status report. “Hey man, so only two of the rogues tried crossing the border. One had to be put down, but the other submitted after his friend died, and we have him in the cells. Would you like to join me for the interrogations?” And just like that, his plans for a run were pushed aside again for the good of the pack. He and Jared set off for the east side of his pack where his cells were and Derrick made sure his uncle wasn’t allowed down. He knew his uncle meant well, but he had a habit of getting too rough, and the prisoners died before they could get answers. He understood though, it was hard for him to keep his calm also when he thought someone had something to do with his dad’s death.

Three hours and four bloody knuckles later, Derrick and Jared came back from the cells. They had learned a little but were still nowhere near finding out what happened to his dad. Derrick was beginning to wonder if they’d ever get answers. No matter how many people he interrogated no one ever seemed to have any answers, they were all just following orders. He was more stressed than ever. “Hey man, that really stressed you out. Why don’t we go for a run? Maybe by the south border you are always staring at.” Jared suggested. Derrick sighed, “I must not be keeping it in check like I thought I was, huh.” Jared just laughed. “Come on then, you haven’t been running in weeks. It’ll do you some good.” Knowing he was right; Derrick followed his best friend out to the tree line on the southside of his territory. Quickly shifting, the two massive black wolves ran. Most shifters were larger than average wolves, but Derrick’s wolf stood around five and a half feet tall. He towered over most of his pack, who only stood about four and a half to five feet. Jared’s wolf was nearly as tall at over five feet in height. Running for about twenty miles, they finally slowed when they reached the southern border.

There was a small lake there that Derrick loved to sit at when he was stressed. Knowing his feelings on the matter, Jared shifted and sat down on the bank. The two friends sat until well after dark, barely even talking, just enjoying nature and losing themselves in their own thoughts. “Why do you think the rogues are still coming so close to our borders? Am I doing the wrong thing by letting it continue?” Jared looked over at me like he was trying to read my mind. “I think you’re trying to do right by everyone, not just our pack or your desire to find out the truth about your father.” “I just don’t want to see a war. Dad led us to be strong, but always said that it was the responsibility of the strongest to protect the weakest. Even the rogues need to be protected, not slaughtered like cattle.” I looked back at the water, it never made sense to me on why someone went after dad, he was the best Alpha I could have ever imagined. He had left the pack that day to bring food to the rogue camp to the west of us. They were mostly women and children, but they didn’t want to officially join the pack. Still, he would take them things to make their lives easier three times a week. When they finally headed back to the pack house though, Derrick’s wolf whined as they walked away. Derrick went to bed that night the same as always alone and looking to the south.