The Silver Wolf

MEETING ADALAINA Cruelty was something I was no stranger to. I was the daughter of the alpha of the Silver Crescent Pack. My father was a ruthless alpha, following in the footsteps of his father and so on. My father and grandfather always claimed that kindness was weakness, and fear was the only way to run a pack. My mother was kind, and she taught me a lot. I always cared more for my mother than my father. As Luna, it was her job to care for those in the pack as a mother would. My father, however, said that if they couldn't care for themselves, they deserved no help from the alpha family. But my mother and I helped as much as we could in secret. Mother said life rewards those who are kind and that it takes courage to be kind. I always wondered how my mother and father ended up as mates. It made no sense to me. She was kind and loving. He was cruel and heartless. I learned later as my mother was on her death bed, that my father was not her fated mate. He had wanted her for the power she possessed as a born luna with alpha blood. When she refused him because she had found her fated mate, he killed him and forced her to marry him. When she eventually got pregnant with me, and I was born, he was livid. I wasn't a boy. A son to pass on the alpha title to. He viewed me as a failure and blamed my mother as well. He beat her to the point that she could no longer have any children. Leaving him with me as his only child. In an attempt to have a son, he began to sleep around, causing my mother to feel excruciating pain and eventually lead her to her death. No son ever came, I remained the only child of the alpha. He and his mistresses were cruel. My mother didn't know, but he beat me often. No marks were left where they couldn't be covered with clothes, so at least all the scars left behind I could cover. After her death, it became worse, and where the marks no longer mattered. I worked with the omegas doing whatever I was assigned. The head omega always cared for me, knowing I had no one else to do so. Per my father's orders, I also lived in the omega housing. I didn't mind at all, I was with kind people, and made a few friends. We had many enemies due to my father's actions. We only had one ally, and when he and his sons came to visit were the only times I lived on the alpha floor of the packhouse, and was actually acknowledged by my father. I made friends with the sons of the alpha of our neighboring pack and only ally. Lyle, the oldest and future alpha, and Damien, the youngest and dearest friend I had. After they would leave, my father would demand that I give him any information that the boys may have told me about the pack. I would always refuse, which led to beatings, and then back to the omega housing I would go. When I was 16, my father started a war, and he couldn't win. He wanted to be alpha of the surrounding packs as well and began trying to conquer them. He did manage to take a few. I overheard his plans to double cross the Forest Lake Pack, our only ally. So I went to one of the warriors who I would help care for his daughter whenever he and his wife wanted alone time, or on days his wife needed extra help around the house. He helped me get across the border and to the pack. I had sent Damien a message to be expecting me. I got there and told him and his family of my father's plan. The next day, right before I was going to head back, my father attacked. He fought and died. Damien's father handed the pack over to me since I was the only successor. Damien didn't want to just be the alphas younger brother once his brother took over, so he came over to my pack to be my beta. Lyle took over the pack a few after that, and we've continued our alliance with them. I gave the packs my father took over back their land, and their alphas and other ranked members their titles back. Things changed drastically in Silver Crescent. Everyone had a home and food, children could go to school, the "dirty jobs", as they were viewed weren't just the omega's responsibility. We all took care of our pack and its members. I had tried a few times to make alliances with other packs, but their alphas all said that the pack wasn't to be trusted since my father went on his rampage. The only pack I haven't tried to reach out to is Black Moon. The current alpha took over around the same I did, but that was because my father launched a heavy attack on theirs and killed the alpha. His son Tanner took over as alpha. I didn't want to remind him and his pack members of what my father did to them, so I haven't contacted them in any way. We've done well, we're strong because we make sure everyone knows how to fight and take care of themselves, our businesses have done well, and every penny goes back to the pack. Everyone seems happier. Lyle called us asking if we'd come to an alphas meeting to discuss alliances and the recent rogue attacks. I wasn't sure at first, I'd be the only luna there in a room of alphas, and the majority of them have past grudges since my grandfather's time as alpha. Damien insisted we go and show them that I'm not like my father. I decided to wash my own dishes rather than allow the omega's to do it. They have enough work to do without me adding to their job. They do plenty between their normal work and then the extra that comes with visiting alphas, betas, and some of their families. Most in Lyle's pack know who I am since we're neighbors, but not everyone. "I heard the luna of Silver Crescent is here for the meeting." I hear one omega say as they clean up the kitchen from breakfast. "At least she was kind enough to bring her own omega rather than give us extra work." Answered the other. I kept working as I helped clean and tidy up some. "Yeah, but I bet she's just as arrogant and entitled as some of the alphas, if not more. She's a born luna. They're rare." "Maybe, but her omega over there seems nice. And Alpha Lyle's brother Damien is her beta, so she can't be that bad." Just then, someone cleared their throat, and the three of us turned to the door. "Adalaina, Beta Damien is looking for you. The meeting is about to begin." I followed her out. Yes, I let her call me by my first name without a title. I don't like being referred to with my title unless it's in meetings. I want others to view me as normal and approachable, unless I'm doing something that is the official work of pack proceedings, dishes, and cleaning aren't very official. I walk in the room, and everyone quiets and turns towards me. Lyle speaks up. "Luna Adalaina, please come in. Your seat is next to Damien." I smile and nod. As I'm sitting down next to Damien, one of the other alphas speaks up. "You really invited Silver Crescent?" His voice was filled with disdain. I try to keep my head up, but sometimes I can't. So I look down at my hands and fiddle with my fingers. "She is not her father." Damien grits out. "Alphas. Betas. Luna, " Lyle says as he looks at me, softening his gaze after his harsh looks towards the others. "This is a meeting to discuss our mutual problems and possible alliances. Luna Adalaina is the current leader of the Silver Crescent Pack. She has just as much right to be here as the rest of us. Alpha Tanner is running a bit behind due to some unforseen pack business. His beta is here in his stead. When I spoke with Alpha Tanner, he told me he would be here after dinner tonight and will join our meeting tomorrow." He finished and sat down. The meeting went on, discussing ideas about what do with the rogues and their attacks, and seeing if anyone knew why they were being so aggressive lately. There were many snide comments about my pack, my father, and some about me. In the end, right before we dipersed for the day, I spoke up. "Alpha Lyle, before we end, may I say something?" I asked somewhat nervously. "Go ahead, luna." He said, nodding. I stood before beginning, taking a deep breath. "I know the reputation of Silver Crescent isn't the greatest. My predecessors have done some terrible things. I would like to say here and now that I am not my father. We have been a peaceful pack for the last five years. I do not intend to be like my father, nor like my grandfather. I have tried to show that in our actions towards other packs, when the war ended, I gave many of your packs lands back that my father had unjustly taken. I would like to ask you all for a chance. Not for me, but for my people. They do not deserve to pay for what my father did. I will gladly accept any disdain and doubts you have, but please do not make my people pay for things they did not do. That is all." I say as I sit down and look towards Lyle. Damien grabs my hand under the table and gives it a small squeeze. "You are all dismissed for the rest of the day. Enjoy your afternoon, we'll reconvene in the official meeting in the morning. Dinner will be at six." Lyle spoke up. Everyone stood and left, except Lyle, Damien, and I.