In The Beginning, Chapter 68
Charlie POV
I was stood on the small platform, Ben to my right, Bailey to my left, Maria was beside Ben, Richard and Miranda were part of the crowd, thankfully. I tried not to shiver as the wind bit at my legs, trying to slice through my pants, and leaving my whole body chilled. Giving up on surviving on my own, I reached for my power, allowing it to warm me, and finally stop my teeth from chattering so I could hear what was happening.
“Applewood!” Daniel called into the microphone, and the chatter seemed to be blown away with the winter winds. “Tonight, we accept one hundred and sixty-three new members!” The crowd cheered, but there were also whistles indicating the large number could take a long time to get through. “As such, the more traditional way of doing things would take all night, so I have been assured by the elders the streamlined version we perform tonight, will make your connection to the pack just as strong as if we did this one on one.” Daniel announced and there were murmurs of doubt. “Can all wolves who with a pure heart, and strong soul, who wish to join our pack tonight, come forward!” The new wolves moved into the open space around the platform, Alex came forward with a massive serving dish, it was black, almost looked like it was carved out of onyx. Daniel rolled up his sleeve, and sliced his arm open with his claws, grunting slightly as his blood dripped quickly into the bowl. “Is that enough? I’m starting to heal?” I heard him ponder to Alex, an older man, who was stood to the side of the stage scrambled up the steps to offer his advice.
“I would recommend a little more, if possible, Alpha, we would not want to run out.” He stage whispered, setting my teeth on edge, how much blood did they need for this thing? Daniel sliced himself again and it was finally deemed enough. I opened the link, tentatively, I didn’t want to bother or distract him, just sense his mood, there was a mild stinging sensation, and a little frustration and apprehension, but nothing for me to worry too much about as Alex took the dish of blood away, off the stage. This seemed to shock the new wolves too, as they began asking one another where it could be going. Nine men seemed to melt out of the shadows and made their way to the stage, where one after another they each received some of the blood in a small bowl. After receiving his bowl, he moved aside, for the next man. Once the blood had been divided, they along with Alex moved to surround the stage. “Do you, wolves formerly of Harvest Moon pack, break the bonds of birth, to forge a new family, to join a new pack? A pack that will always take care of you, a pack that will fight beside and for you. Do you accept me as your Alpha? And Appletree as your blood, from this day on?” Daniel bellowed like a war cry.
“YES ALPHA!” The wolves roared back; it was almost menacing.
“Then may blood tie us, and loyalty and love bind us.” Daniel accepted with a nod, and I felt his slight tremble of overwhelming pride. With his words the men dipped their fingers into the blood and smeared it over the lips of every new pack member. “These men are our pack’s best Zetas, it is an honour to have them at your joining, and for them to be the ones to link us all.” Daniel explained to the audience, and the chatter simmered down again until the last person was stained with blood. “Now, complete the joining.” He instructed, and they spoke as one.
“I-" Discombobulated mess of names that just sounded like noise. “Vow to serve my Alpha, and my pack. I tie myself to you with blood.” With that they licked the blood from their lips, and every eye around me shone as their wolves all surged forward. Someone in the crowd howled, and soon many more joined in. Daniel, who looked pale for a second, but was now stood at the front of the stage, the microphone discarded as he roared into the night. Every wolf in the pack shivered slightly, their breath increasing. Then they started stripping, like everyone. I shot Daniel a look of panic, Maria’s sister was just off stage and Bailey’s breathing had increased, while his eyes were glued on her, and I had a feeling I was going to see something I really didn’t want to if I didn’t get out of there. I saw the instant Daniel realised he had forgotten to inform me about the part where nearly everyone gets naked. I swear it was Daniel, Bailey, Ben, Maria and me still fully clothed by this point.
“Bailey, you have the rear.” Daniel stated as he approached us, while keeping his eyes only on Bailey or myself. A sudden snap so loud I questioned what it could be froze me to the spot as Daniel tried to pull me towards the edge of the platform. I turned in horror as I realised it was hundreds of bones breaking. “Shit, I forgot.” He looked at me apologetically while I tried not to vomit to a never-ending cacophony of bones cracking and splintering. “Breath in through your nose slowly, its nearly over.” Daniel whispered in my ear; my eyes were shut as I tried to block out the noise. It was only seconds, but it still felt like an agonisingly long time I remained frozen against him, until there was silence. I peeked out from under my lashes, unsure if I really wanted to see, but the decision was made for me as Daniel howled. My eyes shot open, the hair on the back of my neck was raised as the last time I heard him howl like that flashed through my mind, before I could stop it. Daniel’s arms around my waist pulled me closer, as what sounded like thousands of wolves answered his howl. “Alex! I gift you the honour of leading the first run!” Daniel yelled, I turned to look, expecting Alex the man, not Alex the gigantic light grey wolf. His fur was like the reverse of his hair, the bulk of his body was a soft pale grey, with small patches of almost blonde hair around his face and on his tail. He nodded his gigantic head and leaped past us to the edge of the treeline, as my eyes swept back, I saw the pack for the first time. They were magnificent. A few of the newer wolves, still around the stage, looked a little skinnier than the rest, even the elder wolves had a sheen to their coats that some of the new wolves lacked. I turned to Daniel to ask him, when I realised my panic had been replaced by wonder and curiosity.
“I thought we were supposed to be making the new pack members welcome?” Ben asked under his breath as they began following Alex into the trees.
“Not now, who is the wolf at the front, behind Alex?” Daniel asked as he watched them with quick keen eyes through the trees, while I could only make out the odd blur after they moved through the treeline.
“Umm, not sure, why?” Ben asked as his head swivelled to spot the wolf in question.
“The new members, they didn’t move until he did, get his name, I want the trainers to keep an eye on him, he might be Zeta material.” Daniel explained as his eyes swept over the now free flowing parade of wolves moving past us.
“Will do, you need us? Or can we go...?” Ben pointed towards the food at that was about to start serving, as the piles of plates and napkins littering any available space indicated.
“Leave some for those who went on the run?” Daniel asked exasperated but gave Ben the nod so he could drag Maria over to the brisket to salivate.
“Didn’t you want to go on the run?” I asked him softly; he brushed a lose hair away from my nose as the breeze took it before he answered.
“In a wild pack, the Alpha defends the rear and the weak, while the female leads the pack forward.” He breathed against my cheek. “It was done this way for safety, and wild packs are small. When a Lycan joins a pack, it became a tradition for the Alpha to lead the run, and the Delta to run at the back. However, this is not a typical joining, there hasn’t been one of it’s like in hundreds of years. When a pack goes to war, and lose, those left behind have to assimilate and adapt, giving them a slightly detached way of joining the pack... At the Spring Equinox you will see, the seniors who have turned eighteen will join. It’s maybe twenty kids, and we do it the traditional way. The way they came to the pack, and the things Eric did, I want to give them time to understand and trust that I’m not like him. Besides, if I’m out there, with Alex, that leaves you with Ben, and Bailey would miss out.” Daniel tried to explain, I wasn’t completely satisfied, but decided I would save my questions for when we were alone.
“If neither Ben nor Maria are running, I don’t mind staying with them if you want to join the pack?” I offered, when I saw his eyes again move to the trees.
“No, I’d rather stay with you.” He tried to reassure me, but I could feel the itch to run eating away at him, despite his attempts to ignore it.
“Go, I will be fine, and if anything happens-”
“You get to the house, link me after. Do not try and take anyone with you, do not try and fight. Everyone here knows to get inside of the school if there is an attack. There are patrols on the boarders, the pack house and in a perimeter around this field, they will protect everyone. You have to protect you!” Daniel insisted, stroking my cheek gently. “I’ll stay, it’s fine you’re more-”
“Do not finish that sentence.” I snapped, looking around. “Are you crazy? First you sleep with a pack member, and she rejects her mate for you, then you were about to announce, with pack members dotted about EVERYWHERE, that I’m more important than the pack!” I berated him through the link. “Are you trying to quit being Alpha without quitting?” Daniel looked at me with a strange look I couldn’t decipher, before grabbing me and kissing me passionately. “What are you-?” I managed to squeak before his lips silenced me again.
“Do you have any idea how fucking hard I am right now?” His gruff voice flittered into my mind, and my body betrayed me, leaning into the kiss momentarily.
“NO!” I barked, pushing him away, but his eyes were still heavy with arousal. “Daniel, I want an answer!” I warned, unsure what provoked his desire.
“I would not be held responsible for Natalie, she may well have believed that I would take her as a chosen mate, but in rare cases where one of the parties later meets their fated mate, if they reject them for their chosen, the chosen is not held responsible for their partner’s choice. Even if the chosen mate also goes on to find their fated mate and leaves their chosen. The choices are ultimately our own, but it doesn’t make you many friends. I never promised Natalie anything, which the pack knows. If I hadn’t found you and tried to take a chosen mate, the laws say that Ben would become Alpha, because the pack would doubt my every decision. And I was going to say, you are more important than one run, and after the attack I would rather stay at your side.” He explained via the link, and I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment.
“Oh... okay. Do you wanna grab some food?” I asked as I led him away from the stage, humiliation spurring me to keep moving and avoid any continuation of the conversation.
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