Enemies

Chapter three - Alyss

No-one expected to me to get to work right away. They wanted me to take my time, as much time I needed, to come to grips with the new situation. But once I managed to snap out of the stupor that gripped me after Rod's death and I stepped up us Alpha, I didn't want to give in to my grief again.

I asked the elders if there was anything I had to do to officially assume the position and they said there was no need. When they were a wolf pack, before Rod and I and our companions joined, there used to be a ceremony. It gave the Alpha some powers to control the pack. But now, as the wolfs were a minority in the group and the Alpha was not one of them, the powers were impossible to get anymore.

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I remembered how Rod had become the Alpha. There was no ceremony either. He refused to celebrate, as he wanted to honour the death of his predecessor. Arlo from the Fuvyen Forest, the last Alpha of the wolf pack and the first Alpha of our combined groups, was 87 years old when he died. When my brother inherited his position, I believed he would live on to a similar age. As I accepted the position of his Beta I never thought I would have to take over the duties of the Alpha after him.

He also hesitated when the position was offered to him. He thought the function of an Alpha should belong to a wolf. But the wolves convinced him that the more important tradition is that the Beta stepped up to become an Alpha after their antecedent's death. They told him with his strength and abilities he was the best person to lead them. Just as they told me now.

And just as they were unhappy with my choice of the Beta, they hadn't liked me becoming Rod's Beta back then. They had said picking his little sister was irresponsible. They said I wasn't chosen based on my skills, but because of my brother's doting. To prove them wrong Rod had me challenge a few of them to fights and I kicked all of their asses, even though I was only fourteen years old. I couldn't do that now with Desmond, as he wouldn't stand a chance, even against some of the kids.

I really wanted him to be my Beta though. He was the best person to help me. I could fight myself, but I needed someone to discuss my decisions with. I believed this person should be my Beta. And Desmond was a great strategist and he had a vast knowledge on history, technology and medicine. Most people judged him based on his animal form being a sponge, but there was much more to him than that.

"After I die, when he is the Alpha, he will choose a warrior to be his Beta. That'll solve it," I said to Desmond's opponents and it put an end to the argument. No-one wanted to discuss my death with me just a few days after my brother's funeral. I knew that even they didn't oppose him openly anymore, they still weren't convinced, but I could only hope that with time they will come to appreciate the work I knew he would do diligently.

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I vented about it to Star, as she was lying in her cat form on my knees. Petting her soft fur always made me feel better. She moved in with me after Rod and Gwynn got lost and she kept me company all the time. I could see she was very worried about me and I didn't want it to get worse, but we had always been honest with each other.

"What if I made a bad decision after all? What if they rebel against us?" I asked rubbing her soft belly.

She shifted, sat up and wrapped her brittle arms around my shoulders. "They wouldn't do that. Give them some time. Desmond may not be everyone's favorite, but they can't hate him that much."

"I feel bad for him though. He has to endure all these remarks," I whispered into Star's hair.

"He's a tough one. The hardest sponge there is." She smiled. "Now lay down. I've heard that cat's purring has some therapeutic power."

I did as requested and laid on my side. Star shifted again and settled down next to my chest, with her head under my chin. Her loud purring lulled me to sleep.

-----

When I woke up again, Desmond was standing next to my bed.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."

"No problem. I was just taking a nap. Did you come here to talk to me?" I got up and stretched, leaving Star's tiny sleeping body on the bed.

"Yeah. About the Beta thing." He seemed very nervous.

"Is anything wrong?"

"I think it was a bad idea. I want to resign."

"No, no Desmond. Don't..." I started, but I saw his eyes go blurry.

"Haze... f**k!" he growled out and immediately stepped inside his bucket. And then he shifted.