Fang

Before sunrise my whole pack is awake and restlessly waits with me. All of our worries for now come down to this Alpha’s reaction to my deeds. What if he decides to punish me himself? I can’t help but worry.

When a wolf from one pack kills a wolf from another pack the deceased wolf’s Alpha has the right to challenge and kill the murderer if both Alpha’s agree the kill was unnecessary or deliberate. Wolf’s will be wolfs and fights often break out between packs over things like territory and females. But actually killing or badly maiming someone is frowned upon. I have seen many a pack member show their superiority without ever breaking the skin of their opponents.

“Hush now my little ‘SnowBall.’” DenMother says using her special pet name for me. She has not used it for so long that hearing it now I realize just how stressed out I am and how much it is influencing my pack as a whole. No wonder none of the little one’s have been begging me to play or slept near me last night.

Causing them unease is unacceptable especially if I have to leave them for a time. I want them all to be happy always. Licking DenMothers cheek I turn and with resolve think only happy thoughts seeking out the little ones. They are all so relieved to see my playful thoughts that I quickly find myself buried haunch deep in pups. Not to be outdone WindChaser joins them and for a few minutes with him on the pile up I find myself completely out of breath.

When Ian, his Alpha and what I presume is the Beta of their pack considering the place she positions herself, slightly behind and to the right of the Alpha,appears before the pack den we all quickly sober up and form up ranks around them. Ian’s Alpha shows LongFang all due respect and is allowed to join us in not only the pack mindbut the den as well.

After the formality he turns his full attention which is formidable my way. “Jessie?” He tries the name my mother had left me.

I don’t mind the name but it sounds strange in our pack mind and LongFang gently corrects the still distraught Alpha. “PaleFang is his pack given name.”

“PaleFang…” The Alpha tries my name and smiles faintly turning and nodding thanks to LongFang. “You are Blood of my Blood. Ian showed me the pack memories of your mother . . . “ It takes him a moment to compose his sadness enough to continue. “. . . and you.”Taking a deep breath he composes himself. “I was not only your mothers Alpha but also her father.” Saying this he sits back on his haunches waiting.

I don’t know why he is waiting I already knew his pack, Ian’s pack was my mother’s but it is clear to me that he wants me to grasp the significance of his words.

“Grandfather…?” I finally manage to catch on to what Ian is trying to subtly show me.

There are not many grandfathers in pack history most wolfs go off to live alone and die at a certain age. A rare few special ones stay around longer and become grandfather to a pack as a whole. This is different and on some level I know it.

Ian said they live a long time. That would mean that they would have grandfathers who lived much longer…. I try to put my mind around this concept as fast as possible still it’s hard. I do feel a little embarrassed feeling Ian’s mind nudging me in the right way.

“Grandfather to me only?” I ask Ian astonished turning to the Alpha. I can feel my whole pack’s curiosity peek at this revelation.

He seems very happy about my conclusion and gently probes my memories reassuring me with his firm but light touch on my mind. For a while I am worried that he will see what Ian said to hide but he simply glimpses and does not intrude too deeply.

“Grandson.” The way he says the word infused with pride and sadness and joy is awkward but leaves me exhilarated at the same time.

“LongFang I thank you and am deeply in your dept. I do not understand my daughter’s actions but I can see that she chose the best possible pack for a surrogate family.” He bow’s deep and so does Ian and the Beta.

LongFang is not above preening over compliments but it does not stop him from wanting an explanation from Ian for his actions.

The Alpha nods and Ian shows the pack very disturbing images of Jenny. She had been spying on them and sabotaging their efforts… at least that is the words Ian used …for what seemed malicious purposes for a very long time.

“We are not sure what she intended to accomplish or where her true loyalties lie.” He growls angrily. Their pack had found her out and had exiled her from their ranks. Ian had felt ashamed because he feels responsible for her actions in some way and he is angry that they had not taken care of her in a more permanent way but since that was against Tribunal law there really wasn’t anything more they could have done.

Ian also feels that they should have kept a closer eye on her and that she specifically targeted our pack as a way to get revenge on him since he frequented visited the pack on what he thought of as vacations.

“It was thanks to Ian’s fast thinking and excellent mind that we even found her out.” The Alpha says proudly. I get the feeling that he is trying to distract Ian from the bitter thoughts he is having.

The three of them see what I had done as a fair kill and in a small way as a favour to their pack rather than breaking a law.

“I can’t see that the Tribunal would see this incident any different from what we do. They might be interested in finding out why you were raised by this pack in the first place and not with us.” The Alpha ponders other possibilities but he believes in the law’s and in the Tribunal and their purpose and is willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. “I promise to do my best by him LongFang.” He assures my Alpha with conviction.

His believe is a palatable thing and I have trouble not to believe in what he does. It worries me somewhat that his mind is strong enough to have such a big influence on my own.

The Alpha’s thoughts cheer up considerable when he says. “He would have to come with us and I would ask that he stay for a time at least.”

It is as LongFang explained to me. The Alpha thinks of me as a lost member of his pack he has finally found and will do what is needed to re-establish my place amongst them.

Then the Alpha realizes that my mother had wanted me to be here instead and conflicting emotions has him second guessing himself. The thought that I might not come with them or want to leave them after the Tribunal is hurting him. I do not want him to feel that way so I agreed quickly to stay at least for a time. My own packs sadness at my imminent departure is not so easily soothed. I couldn’t please everyone and really the decision wasn’t up to me LongFang had already decided my fate.

Because the Alpha who I learned was known as Michael and his Beta who was called Allison, had only accompanied Ian here in the first place having other business with the Harpie Queen to attend to and still wanted to before leaving it would be a couple of days before I needed to say goodbye. I immediately made plans for my milk brother and me to make the most of our time together but Ian had other ideas. He excused himself from attending with his Alpha saying that he needed time to teach me a few basics of their ways and the Alpha agrees to let him stay with us.