Insight

Beta Graham Monroe had returned to his duties after the execution of his father. Clark had always been of the belief that Flint was explosive and incapable of leading; though he had spent forty years as chief advisor to Elijah.

Bastian used this hatred for Flint. Using the name ‘Candor’, the rogue Alpha had reached out to Clark. He made himself seem like a student to the elder, and the old man believed it. Clark gave Candor pack information through letters to the valley. When these letters, and Candor’s true identity, came to light; The elder was sentenced to death.

Graham’s mother, Alice Monroe, had been exiled to the valley. The Beta took some time off to get his mother set up with Star Dust Hope. The rogue foundation would help her acclimate to life among the humans. The time away served to distance Graham from the pack’s reaction to Clark’s crimes and death, as well as giving him some time to grieve.

The Beta had been back for a week and in that time, he felt the rift amongst the pack. His father’s actions had drawn attention to the way that Flint was viewed by everyone. As the Alpha had aged, he’d often lost control of his inner wolf and the power within him. This fact hadn’t been forgotten by StarLight.

Luna Eve’s arrival seemed temper that side of him. The pack simply hoped these changes would last. When Eve went missing, Flint had injured the warriors charged with guarding her. He attacked his own men. Afterwards, he seemingly vanished from all pack activity. He didn’t even explain himself to his followers. He was simply not there.

Graham’s opinion of Flint had always been the same. He was fifteen years old when Selena gave birth to her only son. Clark’s close relationship with Elijah put Graham in a unique position. He watched Flint grow up, while remaining out of his social circles. Graham formed his own views on the Alpha, and they were steadfast.

Since childhood, Flint had been impulsive. He did whatever he thought was necessary to achieve his goals. He was always strong, stronger even than his peers. Flint always sparred with trainees that were a few years older than he was. He was brash, rude, and entitled.

The only pup who could keep up with him was Bastian Anderson. Flint, alone, was stiff. He had an icy glint in his emerald green eyes and, even in his youth, he acted as if his decisions were final. When he was with Bastian, he was just as wild as his companion. They ran through Green Tree like they owned the town. It was more like they blew through the town as twin tornados.

After Selena's attack, both boys were inconsolably angry. Not at one another, but at everyone... At the world. Once Flint's wolf emerged, the beast became explosive. Bastian's exile to the valley only seemed to make Flint more isolated. He became stoic, like when he was alone. Except now; he was always alone.

Graham acknowledged that Eve's presence in his life had made Flint more tame. He even seemed more in control of the power he'd always struggled to contain. But after his reaction to the Luna's disappearance, and his role as Clark's executioner... These thing had hardened Grahams beliefs.

Flint was a danger to the pack, with or without Eve. He was incapable of being a good leader because he was incapable of being stable. He was too impulsive. Graham, being in the Beta position, didn't feel the need to act as his father had.

The issues with Flint as Alpha were known through out StarLight. No subterfuge was needed. Graham had the ears and eyes of the pack. The rift that was occurring in StarLight was clear.

Some thought as he and his father did. Flint wasn't right for the position he'd been given. Others felt as though Flint had worked for, and won, the right to be Alpha. This made it their duty to be loyal to him. Graham thought he simply had to lay the groundwork to mend the sides, while helping them see things the way he did. Obscurely, of course.

All Graham knew about Eve's disappearance was just what the pack knew. Eve had gone missing after the Call. He had inferred that she was abducted by the way the Alpha family closed ranks. The facts of Selena's attack had been so well hidden by the Dolans, and the Elders at that time, that Graham knew next to nothing about it. Neither did the pack.

All that was known was that Luna Selena had been injured and Alpha Elijah had avenged her. Some would say that he did more than just what was necessary. Many died. Including the Andersons. Bastian was exiled, seemingly without cause.

The pack forgot about the Andersons as time passed. Bastian hadn't been named as the rogue commander who'd escaped execution. StarLight didn't remembered his name, except for those who were haunted by it. No one connected him to the crimes.

Now, his hatred had turned toward StarLight. Graham didn't hate StarLight. He, like his father, considered himself loyal to the pack. However, his loyalty to the pack and his family were what motivated him against his Alpha.

He knew that orchestrating any kind of effort against Flint, would mean his doom. Just like Clark's. So, he would simply help the pack to see things 'properly'. Then, what they would do with this information would have no consequences for him.

He stood in the lobby of his office on Main Street just as he often had. Pack members had been coming by with their concerns. They wanted to know what was happening with the investigations. He spent most of his time answering questions as vaguely as possible. He knew the Alpha was keeping things from him. And these were the things that StarLight wanted to know.

Where is Luna Eve? Where is Selena Dolan? Has any progress been made on finding the rogue commander? Graham couldn't answer. He gave ambiguous explanations, while occasionally mentioning Flint's unwillingness to give him the information they desired.

He locked up his office that evening and drove to head quarters. He had grown to hate that building. It made him feel cold and empty, just as he had when he learned of his father's death sentence. On that day, he sat in the conference room. Today, he would be going elsewhere.

After Elder Joshua was injured, he'd moved his office to the first level of head quarters. Graham walked slowly to the chief advisor's door. He hesitated to knock. Many people looked at him with an air of suspicion since Clark's guilty verdict. Joshua was one of them.

The elevator behind him dinged. He glanced at the noise to see Duncan entering the lift. Their eyes met briefly. The commander was just another one of those, that Graham felt were looking at him with unease in their eyes. He shook this off and knocked on the elder's door.

"Come in." The old man grunted.

He entered the small office and looked around. Joshua had shelves on every wall that were full of books, stacks of papers, scrolls, and seemingly random objects. The small desk had a clear line of sight to the window. There were no curtains or blinds adorning the area.

"Beta Graham. What can I do for you?" Joshua took his glasses off.

"All travel out of Green Tree has to be approved by the elders. I need to go to Summerville." He explained. "My mother's new apartment is ready. I need to help her move into it."

"Your mother has been exiled for months. Does she still need that much help?" He probed.

"She was exiled from StarLight, not my family. I'm not asking for anything from the pack. I just need a two day pass to the valley." Graham answered calmly.

"I know. I won't deny you one." Joshua scribbled on a page and handed it to him.

"Thanks." He nodded.

The old man waved it off, watching Graham exit the room. He made his way to the parking lot before looking at the note in his hand. It was a travel pass for four days. He sighed before climbing into his car.

He drove toward his home to pack his luggage. It was exhausting to be watched constantly and act accordingly. Still, he had the time away he needed. Graham hoped to get away from the eyes of those who were skeptical. Though, he knew he wouldn't truly be free of them until his plans came to fruition. Until all of StarLight saw that the true danger to the pack was Flint Dolan.